Darkest Before the Dawn?

I had an appointment this morning at ten, so I carefully set my alarm clock for 8 am to ensure that I'd be up and out in a timely fashion. When you routinely stay up 'til two or three in the morning, this is a sensible precaution.

When the alarm went off this morning, I was still incredibly sleepy and tired. I was cranky because it was still rather dark out, and isn't spring supposed to be just around the corner? It was forecast to be nice today, not cloudy and grim. I dragged myself to the shower and threw on some clothes.

Maybe I'll have time for a cup of coffee and a newspaper browse before I head out, I soothed myself...

And then the radio said something like, "It's 6:52 and traffic is moving smoothly on the outer ring of the beltway."

Say WHAT???

I look at the clock, which clearly says 8:52.

The pipes in my building are relatively quiet, and there's not a lot of the usual morning clomping and stomping coming from upstairs. The truth dawns on me in a slow agony.

I look out the window, and the lightening gloom. It hasn't been overcast, it's been dark.

Somehow, last night, as I was setting the alarm, I also managed to set my clock time ahead a couple of hours. My exhaustion is legitimate ~ that's two hours' less sleep than I originally planned.

The morning suddenly stretches ahead of me, filled with unexpected swaths of unscheduled emptiness. It's too late to go back to bed; I've showered and dressed already.

So I'm up, and I've had my grapefruit-pear-lime-ginger juice and my very strong coffee. I've read the newspaper. And I still have an hour to go before I need to leave.

God, I hate mornings.