ugh.

every morning i get up at 6:50 AM and i hit snooze for 10 minutes and the cat comes up from his perch by my feet to curl himself around my head. i lay in bed and think about nothing. the alarm sounds again and i sit up reluctantly, and the cat jumps off the bed with an echoing thud the neighbors are sure to complain about eventually. i get up and turn on the TV to the Today show. Al Roker is talking to someone from Arkansawuh and I'm heading to the bathroom, brushing my teeth, shooing the cat out of the bathtub where he is now laying, turning on the water, climbing in. there is a ceiling tile loose that may or may not fall down one day, unexpectedly, while a child somewhere is eating a snack or playing in a sandbox. i wash my body without looking too closely. i step out of the shower, wet feet on cold tiles -- the cat pees on bathroom rugs. i towel off, brush my hair. choose my outfit for the day. now let's turn to bill henley for today's weather report. why does it always fucking rain. my black flats smell perpetually like feet. why do things smell bad and others smell good? why do birds fly? i eat my breakfast quickly and stare at my phone for the text message that signals my morning ride. the cat nips my ankle. the phone vibrates. i set my dishes in the sink. i turn off the tv. i announce my departure to the room. the walls stare blankly back at me. the cat twitches his tail. outside the cars are rushing by, two by two, the endless cycle of the work week.