I woke up on my own this morning, about ten minutes after six, rolled over, looked at the clock, and thought, "Oh holy hell, I didn't set the alarm. Time's a-wastin'! I have to get to the lab!"
Fifteen minutes later now, with my backpack packed, breakfast cooking, and a towel around my waist for a pending shower, my mind clicked in: "James, it's Saturday."
For a moment there: euphoria mixed with inner frustration. Sure, I'd been up and about for fifteen minutes, but now I could shed these meager drapings of a first-year graduate student's rushed weekday morning, skip down the hall, and join Zach in bed.
Then, the next moment: cold acceptance. Even though it's Saturday, this first-year graduate student does have to get ready and get into lab. He does have things to do.
Never before has wearing something as ridiculous as a towel been accompanied by such sobering reality.
Posted by James at October 1, 2005 06:30 AM