6:45 AM Alarm rings. Time to wake-up and tune in to a livestream of a religious liberty conference.
6:46 AM Baby Gus is hungry. I know this because of his increasingly persistent high-pitched yowls.
6:51 AM Collect my sleepy self enough to remember what kind of food I'm supposed to set out for the cats. Also remember that my work day is about to start and grab my laptop and headphones.
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM Enjoy first conference session. Smile at the peacefully sleeping cats.
8:31 AM - 9:45 AM Change locations in order to plug in my computer. The movement appears to bring about an unfortunate shift in the cats' attitudes. Marvin knocks over my briefcase and starts batting my chapstick around the condo. Gus scrapes at peeling paint on the wall. I grab him but have to release him when he squirms. He continues to scrape at peeling paint. I grab him and shut him out of the room. I let him in. He scrapes at paint on the wall. I begin to question whether I can ever have children.
9:50 AM Drive to McDonald's to recharge with a large, sugar-free vanilla iced coffee. Yum!
9:55 AM Arrive home enraged at how much ice the McDonald's staff dared to put in my drink. Express outrage to the cats. And then to the online comment section of the McDonald's website. Notify my mother that I may be going crazy.
6:46 AM Baby Gus is hungry. I know this because of his increasingly persistent high-pitched yowls.
6:51 AM Collect my sleepy self enough to remember what kind of food I'm supposed to set out for the cats. Also remember that my work day is about to start and grab my laptop and headphones.
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM Enjoy first conference session. Smile at the peacefully sleeping cats.
8:31 AM - 9:45 AM Change locations in order to plug in my computer. The movement appears to bring about an unfortunate shift in the cats' attitudes. Marvin knocks over my briefcase and starts batting my chapstick around the condo. Gus scrapes at peeling paint on the wall. I grab him but have to release him when he squirms. He continues to scrape at peeling paint. I grab him and shut him out of the room. I let him in. He scrapes at paint on the wall. I begin to question whether I can ever have children.
9:50 AM Drive to McDonald's to recharge with a large, sugar-free vanilla iced coffee. Yum!
9:55 AM Arrive home enraged at how much ice the McDonald's staff dared to put in my drink. Express outrage to the cats. And then to the online comment section of the McDonald's website. Notify my mother that I may be going crazy.
10:35 - 11:15 AM Regroup and re-tune in to the religious liberty conference. Spot my boss on the livestream.
11:30 AM Gus wants to be friends now. I hesitantly allow him onto my lap, shrieking when he gets close to the keyboard. I must protect my conference notes at all costs.
11:30 AM Gus wants to be friends now. I hesitantly allow him onto my lap, shrieking when he gets close to the keyboard. I must protect my conference notes at all costs.
Noon Talk to my editor on the phone about the conference and an article we're trying to wrap up. I sound calm and collected, having put the McDonald's incident behind me. Scream into my editor's ear when Gus climbs back into my lap with his claws out.
12:45 PM Glare at Gus and move on with my day.
12:50 PM Feast on a small salad leftover from last night's dinner. Applaud myself for eating leftovers.
1:00 - 1:40 PM Wrap-up my conference viewing and note-taking. Enjoy the company of the newly relaxed cats.
12:50 PM Feast on a small salad leftover from last night's dinner. Applaud myself for eating leftovers.
1:00 - 1:40 PM Wrap-up my conference viewing and note-taking. Enjoy the company of the newly relaxed cats.
1:45 - 2:00 PM Take a long-awaited shower. Pluck my horrendously neglected eyebrows. Feel good about life.
2:01 - 2:29 PM Return to the impromptu desk I've created on the bed to type up an interview I did yesterday. The cats are resting.
2:30 PM A neighbor dog starts freaking out. Gus is displeased.
2:31 PM - 3:59 PM Finish the Q&A. Play around on Twitter. Plan a new article. Forgive Gus for his indiscretions.
4:00 PM The work day is done! Time for a nap ... if you're a cat. I had to do laundry.
2:01 - 2:29 PM Return to the impromptu desk I've created on the bed to type up an interview I did yesterday. The cats are resting.
2:30 PM A neighbor dog starts freaking out. Gus is displeased.
2:31 PM - 3:59 PM Finish the Q&A. Play around on Twitter. Plan a new article. Forgive Gus for his indiscretions.
4:00 PM The work day is done! Time for a nap ... if you're a cat. I had to do laundry.