Channeling Hank Moody and Being Assaulted by Hazardous Chemicals

The full realization of my Internet dependence hit me when I realized I would be without it at home for a few days. In the process of moving to a new apartment, these things happen. Yet, I'm still amazed at how much I basically use my home computer to go online. I catch myself attempting to log on in the morning to check the weather before I head to work, only to shake my head at my own stupidity.

So here I am, writing this entry from a large university computer lab. It makes me fondly recall the episode of "Californication" when Hank Moody -- having smashed his home PC in a fit of writer's block-induced rage -- bangs out his blog entry for "Hell-A Magazine" from a nearby Mac Store. The difference being I'm not getting paid to write this. Nor am I as cool as Hank Moody. And I'm not in California, either.

Okay, so maybe there isn't that much of a resemblance.

I also had to take a break from writing for a few days. I've been cleaning to such an extent (both the old apartment and the new) that at this point I'm pretty much exhaling Clorox and sweating Windex. Yeah, I baked my brain on cleaning chemicals. I wore a filtration mask, but that can only do so much. And no, I didn't actually mix bleach with ammonia. I used to clean rooms for a living, so I've learned that much at least. Regardless, the fumes of the chemicals I was using were overpowering. Even Mr. Clean's bald head would've shriveled under the sheer power of what I was cleaning with.

So after a weekend of heavy cleaning and heavy lifting, I walked into work on Monday and immediately knew I was too ill to be there. Have you ever watched a sane person talk to someone completely out of their mind? The crazy person rambles on and on, and the sane person just smiles and nods those little polite nods, desperately mapping out possible escape plans. I was getting those very same smiles and nods at work whenever I'd open my mouth. Who knows what point I was even trying to make. So after awhile, I brought up the option of taking half a sick day and just going home early. My co-workers immediately agreed. One even suggested that I just take off the whole day.

My poor co-workers. Yet again, strangeness and I are pretty good buddies by now, so they're probably used to it anyway.

So until I get Internet at home, which probably won't be until next week, I'll be doing most of my writing here in the lab. Ah well, writing is writing, regardless of where it's done.

Later, everyone. Stay outta trouble.