I tried. I really tried.

I even got up at 6 a.m.! (Okay, snoozed. 7 a.m.)

Playing catch-up with thesis research things. Currently sitting in the Main Library.

First of all, I’ve brought everything — my sketchbooks, my notes, my 10-ton MacBook Pro. (Walking with this brick is not fun.) Everything.

Except a pen. Doh.

(I steal a pencil from the box by the lib computers. No problemo.)

Then I gather my books for the next hour, proud of myself for hunting them down on the shelves and getting ready to check out.

Except I’ve left my library card.

You know, it’s that thing you forget when you remind yourself not to forget. I bet it’s still sitting right on my desk, exactly where I left it to make sure I’d see it on my way out.

No problemo. Imma scan these babies!

I walk over to the copy center, throw in my thumb drive.

Nothing.

System is down.

I think.

Maybe my thumb drive’s busted. I lug the heavy stack of books and sit again to whip out my laptop to check. Only the battery’s dead.

No problemo, tons of sockets right here.

Except none of them work.

Oi.

Maybe the Universe wants to me to sit and read these right now. No scanning, no saving for later, no shortcuts.

I chuckle as I read a tiny note on the typography book I’ve just opened.

“Mmm. How interesting.”

It’s going to be a long afternoon.