Thirteen hours - and whadda ya get?

Not your typical day, but a brief glimpse of my day this past Tuesday.

5 a.m.
Alarm goes off. Too.Tired. Must.Get.Up. I smell coffee and I'm up and running for the day. Or am I? Do.Not.Hit.Snooze. I.Repeat...too late.

6 a.m.
I'm standing in a line at Milwaukee's Intermodal station, sipping coffee and balancing my laptop bag on my shoulder, waiting for the line to start moving to board the train. There's a guy trying to bum $17 to buy a ticket to Chicago. I feel bad for him but don't offer to help.

7 a.m.
On the train reading when guilt seeps into my mind. Maybe I should have just bought the guy a ticket. Who cares why he wanted it?

8 a.m.
Walking through Union Station, hoping I don't have to wait too long to get a cab. I get one right away - #3763. A man of unidentified African origin is my driver and I tell him where I want to go. I notice a sign letting me know of a $1 gas surcharge imposed by the city. *sigh*

9 a.m.
Conference call of non-epic proportions.

10 a.m.
Chit chat with co-workers I hardly ever see. Amuse them with stories proving how cute my kids are.

11 a.m.
Second meeting of the day ends. Gripe to boss about co-workers. We share a laugh at their expense.

Noon
Off to a user group meeting. Hope they're serving something good for lunch that's easy to eat while chatting with people I don't know. I remember the lunch meeting I went to that served TACOS. Bad.

1:00 p.m.
I'm sitting in a chair in a conference room of another law firm, balancing my lunch in its box on my lap. Note to self: If I ever organize a user group meeting to be held at our firm, 1) make sure there are tables on which to eat and B) no tacos. Check.

2:00 p.m.
Meeting went well and was attended by representatives from the software company from London. They make me want to say "Cheerio!" I learn that Brits (at least these Brits) like to end emails to each other with "Ta!" A few minutes later I'm walking through the Chicago sunshine, watching the tourist boats cruise through the teal green water. (Unnaturally so because the Chicagoans dye it green each year for St. Patty's Day.) Thinking its a beautiful day - too bad I have to head back to the office!

3:00 p.m.
I catch a cab from outside the office driven by one Wahabi Afolabi, cab #5143. (How could I make up a name like that? Note to self: Wahabi Afolabi is a good name for a minor character in that future novel of mine. Second note to self: Start writing novel.) I make it back to Union Station with just enough time to hear my train's boarding call. I'm thankful to not have to sit in the plastic, chained-together seats watching FOX News, which is blaring at a deafening level on a TV suspended from the ceiling. Its trying to compete with the volume of the overhead departure announcements and losing. I pass an Amish man and think it strange to find him in the middle of such urban chaos.

4:00 p.m.
My seat is facing backward, but feel pride in the fact that I've been successfully able to remember which side of the train will be in full sunshine on each leg of my journey so as to avoid a trip in the heat. Something smells like saukraut and I'm hoping its not the elderly people sitting behind me.

5:00 p.m.
Train arrives back in Milwaukee on time and I head home to take the sitter home and pick up something quick for dinner for me and the kiddos. Its beautiful - sunny and warm but not hot. Thinking that hot dogs in the park sound good. I drive with the windows wide open, my hair blowing wildly and am happy to be home.

So...that's me in a nutshell on an atypical Tuesday. Does reading about it make you tired? Me too.