24

6:30 a.m. Sleep late; skip classes. Going to Richmond today to interview for a summer associate position. Walk the dog

7:00 a.m. To the gym for a workout

8:00 a.m. Review interview schedule and directions to office. Review firm website and bios of all six interviewers. Review potential interview questions from Monster.com. Draft questions to ask at interview so that I can appear “spontaneous” and “engaging” instead of “mortified” and “desperate.” Print an extra copy of the resume and school transcript to take with me.

9:45 a.m. No time to waste; get in the shower

10:45 a.m. Eat "lunch" before leaving so that I will not have to (1) stop to eat and (2) spill anything on myself.

10:55 a.m. Pop a Xanax. Begin travel to Richmond.

11:15 a.m. Attempt to listen to class lectures, but it is information overload; have to resort to mindless chatter on radio. Finally drive in silence and practice answering interview questions. Practice asking interview questions

12:50 p.m. Get ripped off by 75¢ toll that takes four quarters to open gate. Probably my fault.

1:05 p.m. Get ripped off again by 40¢ toll that takes five dimes to open gate. Now convinced it's a conspiracy.

1:15 p.m. Take the wrong exit.

1:20 p.m. Have to pay 25¢ at toll booth to get back on highway. Dammit!

1:30 p.m. Arrive in Richmond. Realize that height limit for parking garage is 6’ 0”, which is not conducive to my truck, which is 6’ 7”. (Note to self: Buy a sports car if I receive the summer associate position.)

1:35 p.m. Circle downtown Richmond searching for parking. Realize parking decks in Richmond must have been constructed before SUVs were stylish. Wonder why half of downtown Richmond is under construction. Whisper prayer of thanks that Xanax has kicked in, which is apparent from the fact that I am not plastered to the roof of the truck as a result of this serious parking dilemma.

1:45 p.m. Finally locate parking several blocks away. Deposit $1 in parking meter for two-hour parking. Begin long walk to office building.

1:55 p.m. Arrive at reception desk. Start smiling.

2:00 p.m. Interviews begin.

5:20 p.m. Interviews end.

5:25 p.m. Stop smiling.

5:30 p.m. Locate truck (no parking tickets; yea!). Head for home. Attempt to merge into downtown Richmond rush-hour traffic.

5:55 p.m. Pretend like I know where I'm going.

6:00 p.m. Wrong exit. Trapped on the parking lot called I-95 going in the wrong direction
Make good use of the downtime by consulting the atlas. (Daddy always said to keep an atlas in the car. Thanks, Dad!)

6:30 p.m. Point the truck in the direction of Lynchburg and set cruise control.

6:35 p.m. Occupy travel time with telephone calls to friends to review interview details.

7:00 p.m. Drive thru

9:00 p.m. Arrive in Lynchburg. Go to grocery store to buy items to make cupcakes.

9:30 p.m. Arrive at home

9:31 p.m. Peel off pantyhose.

9:45 p.m. More phone calls. Seriously trying to stay awake.

10:00 p.m. Go to bed. Lulled to sleep by the throbbing of my feet.

2:30 a.m. Get up. Bake cupcakes and make homemade icing for birthday party. (Seriously, what else would I be doing at 2:30 a.m.?)

3:30 a.m. Prep for classes.

6:00 a.m. Walk the dog

6:30 a.m. In the shower.