For the first time in God-knows-how-long, I'm awake on a workday before my alarm went off. And quite frankly, I shouldn't be, considering that I was up pretty late last night -- couldn't sleep, so I ended up watching episodes of Family Guy from the DVD set. 8am actually seems like a respectable time in Los Angeles. It's almost like the only time of day when the sheen comes off the city and it seems just like any normal city out there. Everyone, regardless of who they are and what they did last night, is dragging themselves out of bed and getting ready for work, be they rich and powerful corporate executives or lowly Starbucks employees. The city is quiet with the only sounds coming from car engines -- nothing really else going on except businesses getting ready to open... or those early morning places already open with customers silently milling around inside as they get their breakfasts or caffeinated beverages. Me? I'm content to sit back and watch the pandemonium unfold. I've never been a morning person, so trying to interact with me just after I've woken up is relatively futile. At my last job, someone hung a sign outside my cube that said, "Do not attempt to engage Keith in conversation before 10:30am" (this was despite the fact that I had to be at work somewhere in the neighborhood of 8:30 every day, so I'm very thankful the job I have now allows me to get in closer to 10:30 -- makes me more productive... and coherent). There's something going down at work. One of the big guys in the company is leaving -- technically, Friday's his last day but he's moving out to New York and leaving on a redeye flight tonight after work. I've been told that the repercussions of his departure will involve me, but I haven't been told how it will all play out yet. I guess I just have to sit on edge for a few days while they work stuff out upstairs. I hate waiting. I'm completely the kind of person who hates surprises. I just want to know. I guess that's why I can't sleep.