When daytime drinking is not an option...

So I think there may be something to this whole Second Life thing. The Avatar version of myself (besides having longer and proportionally less unfortunate legs) would probably be sitting at a side walk cafe drinking prosecco and reading a book like "one hundred years of solitude." In my online world I will be significantly smarter and have a longer attention span, and will be able to differentiate between the 8000 characters named Arcadio that appear in the book.

When my friend, LP, forwarded an article about coping with the quarter life crisis, one suggestion was to make a list of where you would like to see yourself in 5 years. Apparently having goals will help prevent the feeling of being a completely unproductive member of society.

What the article is missing, is information on what to do when what you want to do is unattainable. Ideally, I would be at a cute apartment in NYC making crafts, but to live in said apartment and make said crafts, there would need to be some sort of income. Having been completely spoiled by my parents all my life (yes, still now,) I am not ready to give up the life style I have become accustomed to. This sadly means, sticking with my doctoral program. Really, what the article should have included was a subsection titled: What to do when daytime drinking is not an option.

I sadly do not live in an avatar world, and I do not have a second life character as I am completely technically challenged and lazy. I do have 2 things, however, that help me get through the day. I know what you are thinking, friends and family. Yes those are great, and I am very fortunate to have an excellent set of both. But on a deeper level, to really get through the day I rely on food carts and the cupcake truck. If I were now to have a conversation with you, the reader, it may go something like this:
"Really? Food carts and cupcakes get you through the day" you may ask.
"yes!" I say.
"Then why aren't you there now? Why are you blogging?" There is confusion in your voice.
"Because if I go to the carts without deciding between Shrimp and Green Beans or Noodle Salad ahead of time, I may make an impromptu food cart choice. Like Moroccan plate...which will undoubtedly ruin the rest of my day. This is a very important decision. One that must be delayed until properly weighing out the pros and cons of each lunch decision. You see, lunch is the most important meal of the day." I try to explain.
"I though breakfast was the most important meal of the day!" you exclaim matter of factly.
"Lies!"
...and so on.

Fortunately, you are an online audience (all one of you, hi Hayley!), and doth hath no capacity to inquire about such things.

As I still have not decided what to eat for lunch, I will continue on my ramble about cupcakes.

On my google home page on my lab computer, there is a very peculiar application. I am not sure why or how it appeared, but I am pretty sure it was sent from somebody who wants me to feel bad about myself. It lists my most frequented sites in order.
1. google. nothing wrong there.
2. gmail. makes sense, I must stay connected...for work purposes obvi.
3. pubmed. this pleases me. it means that in the year i have been in this office, I actually have done a substantial amount of work to beat out all subsequent websites on the list.
4. the cupcake truck. The cupcake truck blog lists the timing/location/flavors of the truck each day. Apparently I visit this website more than I read the news (cnn is at #5), look to see if old classmates are doing something more prestigious than myself (facebook is #6) or check the weather (#8).

The cupcake truck is more important to me than both the news and the weather. Pathetic? yes. but yet something to be proud of, as it means I am passionate about something!

It reminds me of the little kid that called me out one Sunday morning last month for eating a cupcake for breakfast. I tried to explain to her that it was a muffin. I do not know why I even bothered. She saw it for what it was, and what I deep down knew it was as well. a cupcake.

And with that, I am off to get noodle salad for lunch, knowing that avatar allison is somewhere with a glass in her hand looking down on me fondly.