Posted 9:23 PM by Ben
Maybe I couldn't do this for the rest of my life. I've spent the last two hours sleeping and the two before that feeling comatose. My muscles ache and I just don't want to move. I'm not saying I have it as bad as a coal miner or something -- I'm just not used to 7 1/2 of nonstop running around and lifting things.

It's such a weird feeling, staring at the walls with a paranoid look on my face and nothing going through my head. I feel like an insect just peering around the room waiting for something to happen. There's a level where thoughts are happening -- hence the blog entry -- and an even bigger level that is in a constant state of "ZUH?".

Not sure what it all means...I just hope it doesn't happen every night. Thanks for reading, and I hope your night is more productive than mine (even napping would qualify).

Posted 7:50 PM by Ben
A good day at work today.......it seemed to last longer than usual but was still fun. The restaurant gets progressively busier through the week and today was hectic.

It didn't help that I reached into the sink for a metal dish and burnt myself. It felt like I wouldn't have any fingerprints left on three of my fingers; there was just this instant scalding pain.

In true martyr form, I let out a silent scream and jumped up and down as hard as I could. Nobody noticed, since I work back in the pit. Oh well. I always lightly touch pots and pans at first, but this was just a plate. I should have known it was an evil one.

A few minutes later I whacked my head on the coffee mug rack. Again, the martyr-ific "I'm okay!" before the pain even had time to register. I just don't want to make a fuss, or maybe I'm just afraid that nobody will make a fuss over me.

But a productive day and now I'm too tired to move. Katie, good luck at work tonight -- I hope it goes quickly and that the tipouts are lucrative. I'm going to have some soymilk and sit in my room until I fall asleep.

Posted 7:40 PM by Ben
Life has been good to me lately, so I shall repay It and write about It in my blog. My days are lasting longer and I'm not stressing every second over the fact that principals aren't breaking down my door slobbering over the prospect of me teaching at their schools.

Work is a blast. It was a point of contention between me and my sister about whether I should have applied at the restaurant where she is waitressing. In any case, I hope she knows how great this job has been for me and how much I appreciate the opportunity I've received.

The seven hours fly by because the work is constant but not overbearing and the people are nice. Today was my first day washing all the dishes by myself and I did great.

Once I get off my butt I actually enjoy work. Cleaning old food off of plates, taking out the trash, getting drenched with garbage water....none of it bothers me at all. I feel like I'm actually contributing to society. I don't find employed people imposing anymore. I still tip well at restaurants but no longer out of an unemployed guilt.

This past weekend was also awesome. I drove 2 1/2 hours to Sanford and met Katie working at Bennigan's. It was so cool seeing her in her working element. She hostessed for a while and talked to me when things weren't busy.

We spent the next 18 hours together, eating pancakes, playing with her dog, seeing Finding Nemo. 18 hours is miniscule, even for us, but our schedules are packed this summer. For what it's worth, every minute made me happy.

Then a half-hour drive to Evan's in Orlando. We had the same day we always have, and not many things are better than spending time with my best friend (aww....). We talked more than usual and cracked up at in-jokes old and new. And stuffed our faces with two dinners, but that's a given. It's not our old record of four Steak-n-Shake visits in one weekend, but it was still stomach-ache worthy.

It's profoundly depressing that my favorite people in the world live hours away. But time spent with them is still absolutely worth any trip I have to make.

And what do you know, the principal of Williston High School called this afternoon. I have an interview on Monday. Wish me luck, and have a great night. Thanks for reading.