In which I almost lose my mind because I am stupid, part 1.

thanks to bill, blake, and jason my exxxxxxxtremely long (not pornographically of course) day is 45 minutes away from ending.

here's the rundown:
7 am: wake up (anyone who knows me understands the evisceral experience of me in the wee hours.)
8:10 am: run out the door, coffee in hand to go to court.

8:11 am: shit, out of cigs, stop by astro where creepy dude gives me the schmarmy up-n-down.

8:13 am: on freeway, traffic looking good.

8:25 am: downtown, nice, nice. i can see the courthouse on the other side of the massive bronze elk statue that splits the street. awesome.

8:28 am: no parking on the street, no big, there's a garage.

8:29 am: said garage charges $4.25 per hour or any portion thereof. crap. i have no cash and might have to max out my credit card if 1) my ticket isn't reduced from $355 and 2) they won't let me set up a "plan"

8:30 am: found a spot on 6th floor, run to courthouse

8:35 am: in line for Traffic/Criminal windows after removing my shoes and checking my keys which hold a mini-leatherman tool.

9:35 am: speak to nice Eastern European lady about speeding ticket which gets reduced to $206 because, after all, I am guilty and I was in a construction zone. I sign a paper and then I'm done.

9:49 am: leaving courthouse. could make it home in car and then hop train to work which will make me late about one hour. OR can drive to work, be early one-half hour, pay $6.25 to park for five hours, and smoke a cig. I choose option 2 even after paying $8.50 for one hour and 20 minutes at garage across from courthouse.

10:00 am: work. aaah. slow day in the library, boss in good mood, got a bagel.

To Be Continued...