just for future reference

no specific instance in recent time has prompted this memorandum; but over the past few months, i have encountered, so many times, people in my life who don't quite understand why i have fallen off the face of the earth and am so inept at returning phone calls, emails, or scheduling lunch dates. some of them will never even read this because they don't know i have a blog. nearly every time i write an email now, it begins with "sorry i took so long to get back to you" or "i've been meaning to write, i swear." so it's more out of a sense of guilt and the longing to be understood that i post this manifesto, that is: a day in the life of sabominator. i know a few of my pals know exactly how it is; other grad students further along in their studies, or nurses working the night shift - i give you all mad props, for some of you are even busier than i. but my life is full right now, and i want everyone to know it, so that the next time you wonder if i still care about you, you can refer back to this post. a typical week day (nb: no i am not whining):

6.45 am - alarm
7 am - scarf oatmeal
7.10 am - dress and do bathroom things
7.45 am - begin morning commute
8.30 to 9 am - arrive at school
9 to 11 am - class
11.15 to 12.30 - gym
12.30 to 1 pm - lunch
1 to 4,5,6,7,8,9 pm, depending and unforseen - lab
(sometimes class in the afternoon)
(any free moments spent doing homework or trying to get cell reception to call whomever's most due in these categories: disputed bills and insurance problems, car repair issues, wedding planning items, name change fiasco continued, health care issues)
6.30 to 7.30 - most likely time to be commuting home
7.30 - clean kitchen, shower, start homework
8.30 or 9: dinner with kz
9 to 10: watch some sort of tv with kz, for the love of god
and then, in no particular order, finish homework if necessary, clean kitchen again, sort mail, call mom if there's energy remaining
11ish: bedtime

if i'm ever lucky enough to get out early (4 or so), there's always a list of study-related items i should be doing but always put off, and then there's other things like picking up Rx's, depositing a check at the bank, or doing a monthly wal-mart household items stock-up trip. there is, every woman can attest to, ALWAYS SOMETHING. imagine once i start squeezing out puppies. also please note that i live in one state and go to school in another; it's amazing how many state-specific items arise in your life, and i've got to strategically arrange my time to leave early in order to get back to NH before business stops at 5 pm and i'm SOL again.

and then on weekends is when i study, do laundry, clean the rest of the house, attempt to make some progress on wedding planning, call all the people i didn't get to during the daytimes, and try to spend some time on the part of my life i enjoy the most - my relationship with kz. and sleep.

so honestly, my days are really planned to the max. if you feel like i don't have time for you anymore, you're right, i don't; but you have a lot of company.
most of my friends are really understanding because nobody sits home all day and eats bonbons. but sometimes i feel like people think "full time student" is a more leisurely occupation than it deserves. and this is just me, letting you know how it is; doing what i do best.