Insomnia!

I had thought we were through - she and I - and yet, here we are. Four twenty-one in the morning, and the birds are making a steady ruckus outside. I see myself alone in this large room when I look at the window, which means the sun hasn't come up yet. They have to tend to the earth, I know. And they start early. I know that too. I'm supposed to be at the office in... six and a half hours or so, making edits and going down the to-do list that will, undoubtedly, be lying on top of the pile of printed emails and script fragments next to Linda's computer. Coffee will help, but five... and a half hours of sleep would help more. Can dehydration keep you awake at night? Even if you don't feel thirsty?
Maybe it's because I looked at photos.
Maybe it's because I thought about my own personal to-do list that is still more to-do than done.
Maybe it's because I had a platonic DTR-type, why are we friends, conversation. (Funny!)
Maybe it's because I'll be in Sioux Center in one week, and that is weird.
Maybe it's because Honduras travel is after that, and arranging for the camera from Volkers and thinking up a loose script for the video.
Maybe it's because Volkers and Rob Taylor and Hani and the film festival to be planned.
Maybe it's because there's a running list of people I want to talk to before summer continues to slip away from our clenched fingers.
Lying in bed and making an effort to keep the eyes closed, kicking around and trying to slow your heartbeat is one of the most frustrating times you will experience in your life, I think.
Unless you golf, and are bad at golf.
I know what you're thinking. "Alvin, you should drink a beer as fast as you can! That's what I do and it always works for me." Well, all right mom. I'll keep that in mind if it gets to six and I'm still up.

Four thirty-six. Took a break because I'm not too interested in this post and read that Iran's supreme leader claims that because so many people voted in the election, there's no way voter fraud could have taken place. Also, "The legal structure in this country does not allow vote-rigging." It's a tall order of pomposity* and delusions with a bowl, not a cup, of organic lies on the side.

Four forty-one. Do you ever get it when you're running around during the day, lying awake at night, or showering (or doing anything, really) and a scene or a dialogue pops into your head, and you play around with it mentally, before you scribble it down somewhere. And then, when you finally do, you can't believe how self-centered you are? I mean, seriously. There was a time in my life when I used to observe the scenes and exchanges of the people around me, and not just my own.

Linda has a masters in theology and drama. Hopefully we'll get to talk about that before I take off.

I want to ask why Koreans like posing so much, but I'm starting to think that maybe it's just girls...

Four forty-eight. Birds still going. Getting that late-night, exhausted but wide-awake cold creeping in. It starts with the extremities of course, working its way toward the core.

Why doesn't Matt eat sushi anymore? What the heck is that about? Maybe he tried it in France and it sucked, but he thought it would be good because it's France and so forth. I bet that's what happened. Crazy.

I'm going to try and secure the nickname The Body this year. Really go for it this time. Alvin The Body Shim. I know. I KNOW. There should really be at least two syllables in my last name for it to really catch on... are there any asian last names with two syllables? Shim, Kim, Han, Yang, Yoo, Kang, Lee, Park, Ryou is one I guess... James The Body Ryou. Damn, that sounds better doesn't it? I need an epithet that goes well with my first name... like Alvin The Battleship Shim. Oh crap. Ship Shim. Nope. I really want the article though... Alvin The Pain Shim. Geez. That last name is really screwing this up... Alvin The Rage Shim. Alvin The Hazard Shim. Alvin The Taskmaster Shim. Alvin The Blade Shim. The Blade... Boris the Blade... try for alliteration? Alvin the Alka-seltzer. Alvin the Alienated... Rage.
Frick.
Seeing all those asian names in one line is weird. I know (several) people with those names. I know them well... but all of a sudden, we're a bunch of stereotypes. Our families own convenience stores (some friends do), laundromats (some friends do) and sushi restaurants (yes, some friends do - many others work there).

Five o'seven. David The Middle Brother Shim, got the job at a Bank in GR. I don't know if I told you this already. Big news, though!

Also, yes, we are very good at math.

-------------

Ext. Front porch. Late evening.
Three characters: Amy Adams, Tom Waits, Martin Sexton.

AMY and TOM step outside. Tom's clothes are rumpled. Amy holds a glass of wine.


Amy: What are you doing here?

Tom: I'm sorry?

Amy: Sorry. Hi. How are you? is what I meant to say.

Tom: Hello. What am I doing here?

Amy: It's good to see you.

Tom: I'm all right. I just got back...

Amy: Oh. Right. Yeah, I knew that. What's up?

Tom: Um. Well, shit. Do you want to hang out?

Amy: Ah. Yeah...

Tom: I mean, I just got back. So, whatever. Sorry.

Amy: No, it's just that a bunch of people showed up out of nowhere.

Tom: Sorry. I'm kind of tired anyway.

Amy: I don't even know who they all are, actually. They just kind of called each other.

Tom: I've got to do... something tomorrow. I have to do it, but I forget what.

Amy: Ah shit.

Tom: I'm sorry. This is weird.

Amy:No! It's... Fuck, what happene-

(enter MARTIN)

Martin: Hey! You're back! How's it going?"

Tom: Hi Martin. I'm really, really tired. I'm about to collapse right now. I was just about to go away to sleep and all that. How are you?

Martin: Doing well! Yourself?

Tom: ... ...?

Amy (mumbles): You stupid fucker...

-----------

Five sixteen! The sky is a deep, dark blue. Let's try for a few hours.

*The actual noun is pompousness, but which do you think is more fun? Exactly.