It's one of those days. Nothing's precisely going wrong, but things aren't really sailing smoothly, either.

This morning, just as I was knee-deep in a particularly tricky bit of a report I was creating, Penelope dialed me up for the training call I'd forgotten about. I couldn't think of any questions to ask her (although I did take a moment to diss her for quitting just when I'd taught her how a few things about correct comma usage) because every time I let my control go for two seconds, I realized I'd been staring at the screen thinking about my report, instead of listening to her talk. To be honest, I have very little memory of what she talked about.

The next time she calls, I'm going to have to turn my screen off.

Then I had to run home at lunch to grab something I'd forgotten. I usually lunch from 1-2. I arrived back at the office at 1:50 only to discover that I'd completely forgotten today's second conference call, an all-department meeting irregularly scheduled for every other Thursday. I think I've actually remembered that call twice since I've been here. From what I hear, Vela (my boss's boss) was roaming around the office searching for me. So embarrassing.

I particularly wanted to listen to NPR at 2:00 today. On their "World" program, they were doing a special on 1948, interviewing people about the establishment of Israel and covering both sides. (Few stories told in the UsofA include anything about the local population callously displaced by the high-handed establishment of a "Jewish state" on occupied land.) I remembered to bring my walkman, and the conference call, fortunately, ended a bit early at 2:15. But you know what?

NPR's signal isn't strong enough for my walkman to pick it up at my desk. (Yes, I know, I can stream it from the website when I get home this evening, but I had other plans for this evening. I wonder if you can capture a streaming audio file for later playback?)

I haven't lost an ounce but I'm still cranky from being on a diet. Mostly because I didn't have any breakfast today. I didn't see myself making it through the day on my 200-calorie lunch, which is why I had to go home at lunchtime.

I need food and I want junk food. I feel no enthusiasm for tonight's dinner of 4 oz of roasted turkey breast and 1/2 cup of mixed broccoli-cauliflower.

I want nuts. Crackers. Onion rings. Chips and cheese and salsa. French fries and French onion soup. Guacamole with a side of sliced avocado. Baked potatoes loaded with sour cream, chives, and butter. Bruscetta and garlic breadsticks. Corn on the cob, dripping with butter. Spaghetti and meatballs in a garlic red sauce. Cheeseburgers with grilled onions. Artichokes, with each little leaf-spoon glistening with butter. Biscuits and sausage gravy. Nachos, loaded. Chip and dip. Hashed browns. Bacon.

Sigh. You know the diet is working when you start having food hallucinations.

In less-caloric news, today's rainstorm is moving out, leaving the cars in our parking lot thickly sprinkled with pink flower petals from the flowering trees.

And this year's Gardening Experiment is already starting to produce results. The R.C. and I each planted some seeds on Sunday and we already have little sprouts!

______________

* Don't wig out. I'm not starving myself. It's a pity-party, so I'm not mentioning the carefully measured snacks I have at intervals through the day.