I love flying. I know some people hate it, and I won’t lie and say I even love the security check lines or the dry recirculated air, but the truth is…I kind of do. I spend so much of my day isolated in the apartment, with just a puggle and TiVo for company while I work, that the novelty of the airport and all its quirks is invigorating.

And thank god for that, because I am a zombie today. I’ve spent the past 5 days working nonstop to create a new press kit – an idea Adam and I had almost a year ago but, being the procrastinator I am, I didn’t start until last week – and slept an average of 5 hours a night, with no sleep at all last night.

Caffeine no longer has any effect on me. No, that’s a lie – caffeine actually puts me to sleep, completely knocked out within half an hour of drinking it. Whatever that means is happening in my brain can’t be good.

Case in point:
I arrived in Atlanta for a long layover a few hours ago, and went wandering toward the shops in a sluggish haze, having consumed half a latte at O’Hare before boarding the plane and promptly passing out cold. I went to Bath & Body Works, hoping for something to both refresh my senses and nourish my cracked, dehydrated hands (dessicated, that’s a good word for my skin right now – I rocked the GRE).

I was in Bath & Body Works for close to half an hour, rubbing different creams into my hands and breathing in peppermint and lavender to wake my ass up. Eventually, I left, got a piece of pizza, and played around on the internet for a while. Then I decided to head toward my gate, and as I passed the Bath & Body Works again, a strong sweet scent caught my attention.

Looking into the front of the store, I couldn’t miss the giant purple Sweet Orchid display – two tables decorated with lotions, scrubs, creams and sprays all in the newest B&B scent, topped off with a giant (not kidding – towering at least 3 feet over my head) slowly twirling faux orchid plant.

This wouldn’t have shocked me so much if I hadn’t just been in the store an hour earlier and not seen any of it. So I went in and asked the woman at the counter, who recognized me (guitar cases make it very difficult to travel incognito), how long ago they’d set up the display.

“Um, over a week ago,” she replied, looking at me suspiciously.

I am so tired that I am completely oblivious to my surroundings, even when they involve giant spinning bouquets of flowers.

I will now enjoy my Ben & Jerry’s Mint Chocolate Chunk hot fudge sundae.