Living on the Edge

Wednesday I awoke to the last 15 minutes before I was to catch my last ditch bus that puts me at work on time. Having no other transportation at my beck and call (I leave the truck at work) I assembled my wares and dashed, unhydrated out the door, disorganized, staring through the thin film of paste the night and my dreams had left behind on my eyes. The nice part is that I was able to wake up on the ride in and the walk in to work down the tree-lined path summoned in me the vigor to face the day head-on. This is probably all old news to people who wake up, work out and saunter into their daily routine with a fresh layer of skin and a lively stream of blood feeding their minds the oxygen they need to make the most out of the day, but for me, a nocturne, it has never been this way.

I've lived as a child of the night for many years and to disrupt this most basic biorhythm is to change onesself considerably. Take for instance my diet. Last night, I arrived home late, work having kept me an extra hour or two and I found myself ravenous for food. Traditionally, a bowl of cereal would have sated my needs, but my system demanded protein and I whipped out the George Forman grill, threw a chicken breast upon it and let it rip as I cracked a can of corn and layered some greens on my plate. It was just what the doctor ordered and I fell fast asleep completely satisfied. Now, I can probably count how many home cooked meals I've made for myself in the past year on two hands and a foot, so this is way outside my normal routine. Being a nocturne requires a late and usually heavy lunch with a light to non-existant dinner which has all sorts of odd effects when staying up to all hours of the night.

Before I started riding the bus, I would encounter periods of grogginess throughout the day, but now, it's a steady stream of energy, meted out like an IV drip. It's kind of nice. My system is now craving foods for which I had little desire, such as fruit, which used to require herculean effort for me to even want to eat for the most part. It's been a bizarre transformation and I have to say somewhat welcome.

Today I walked with Red Backpack Guy who is a virtual speed walker and two new people who I'd never seen before. It almost felt like a busy city sidewalk today.

The book I'm reading (A Walk to Remember) which my sister has informed me is a "chick book," has finished it's funny side and firmly ventured into new tear-itory. I'm glad I didn't know it was classified a "chick book" otherwise I probably wouldn't have read it (although I suspected it fairly early on.) Chalk one up for not judging a book by its cover.

I filled up the truck today after visiting with sis and family for the first time since the "Sir Pumping Gas" post, believe it or not. Like Cap Metro says, "Dump the Pump. Ride the Bus." I hope to never look back.