I came to San Francisco to become a bohemian, but today, I was officially anointed a representative of The Man. And I'm happy about it! What has become of me?

I went for my second interview today at Starbucks, and I was definitively hired on the spot. (I made an effort to make eye contact, which is something I don't do well. For some reason, I tend to stare at people's lips. I always forget I'm doing it, too.) I have coffee school on Thursday and Saturday, and after that, I am going to be put on the schedule.

As insidious as the stupid company is, it's a good company to work for. I get full benefits, including a 401K plan, even as a part time employee. And the guy who interviewed me said that if things work out, it's incredibly easy to work your way up the company food chain.

I told Abby about my new job, and she said, "Wow. This is the first time that I'll be making more money than my sister!" Thanks for rubbing it in, kid. Naah, just kidding. I'm not actually bitter. I'm excited. I mean okay, I'm not making lots of money. But at least I'm making more than what I have been making (namely, zero) and I think it will be fun.

And, hey, once I have had the job for a while, I get to cross number 11 off my (slightly expanded) list. My first completed item!

I've already confronted a number of scheduling conflicts about this job, though. I agreed to go to coffee school on Thursday and Saturday. As soon as I got in the car, I remembered that Joan's birthday party is on Saturday night. Actually, Saturday evening, at 6:00. In Los Angeles.

This is a problem because I can't really bow out of either obligation. Joan is turning 40, and she's a lovely woman, who doesn't have very many friends. She's put a lot of money and effort into her party, which will include an open bar, and a raffle, and party games. I promised I'd be there. In fact, I've been promising since before I moved. I really don't want to let her down.

On the other hand, I don't want to blow the opportunity for this job. I may very well get fired when I tell them I need three weeks off for the holidays, but once I'm trained, they can't take that away from me. Being qualified to work at the ubiquitous Starbucks isn't something to sniff at. That's like a "get out of unemployment free" card for every city in the world.

So, as of right now, my plan of attack is to go to the training, hop in my car, and drive to L.A. as fast as I possibly can, in the hopes of making the party by 6:00. I'm actually hoping to go to Thursday's class and find out that there's one on Friday that I can attend instead.

Here's hoping.

Today, I discovered that there's this place. You go there, and there's books, like, everywhere. And they'll let you take the books, and put them in a pile, and put them in your car, and take them home, and read them and then bring them back. And it doesn't cost any money.

This place is called, apparently, a "library."

So I went and found this "library" thing today, and got a "card" to "check out" stuff. I checked out two movies from my list (It Happened One Night and Some Like It Hot) and I grabbed a stack of books. One of the books I got was a "how to" book on writing a novel. It's basically a book about creating a story and moving the plot along. I figure I might find some good information in it. I also broke down and got O is for Outlaw, but I am saving it for a treat once I've finished some more of my required reading.

In addition to the books I've never read, I checked out To Kill a Mockingbird. I haven't decided whether or not to re-read all the books I've already read, but I haven't read this book since I was 13. And I love the book, so it's not exactly going to be a punishment to re-read it.

I realize that people have discovered libraries before. I'm not exactly conquering a whole new world here. But ever since that time I racked up a hundred dollars in overdue library book fines, I've shied from the whole experience. I guess I now have more confidence in myself as a mature adult.

And besides, the late fee is only 20 cents a day. At this rate, it'll take quite a while for me to get to $100. January, at least.

I'm watching Ally McBeal. Man, how hot is Robert Downey? I mean, he's no Dr. Romano, but he's pretty freaking hot.

Or maybe I just need to get laid.

"No matter how much I love him or how tightly I hold him, he could still leave me."