First things first

When I sit at my desk, I am surrounded by clutter. It's not junk -- far from it. (Unless you think the electric bill is junk.) Bills, papers to be filed, tax forms, slips of paper with phone numbers scribbled on them ... we've got it all here, and in abundance.

So I sit down. Where to start? Well, I should work on that stupic masters degree I never bothered to finish. But I have to pay bills. And that would mean collecting them. Ugh. How about writing some Linux articles? Hmmm ... a strong candidate. Time to play my iTunes. What's that on FoxNews? Ope, the phone is ringing -- hold on, Mr. Computer. I have to do billing. Can I do that while I'm on the phone? Nope, the cord doesn't reach. Chat a minute, claim to have to get back to work, hang up. How nice of her to call. Dang, I need a refill on my coffee. You wanted me to find the survey of our property and make copies? The copier is out of toner, isn't it? No, I replaced the toner; there's something else wrong with it. Too late to call the repair man. I'll put that on my list of things to do for tomorrow. Ok, where was I? No, I don't know whether that fax went through. Hey, I've got mail! What about that other email accounts? Check them quick, too. It'll only take a sec. Please turn off the TV -- Bill O'Reilly is distracting me. Time to change songs on the iTunes -- I don't like this one. Why is it on my iPod? I'm sorry, what? No, I didn't go to the cleaners today. Can it wait til Friday? I promised him I'd print out that article, but now I can't find the link. Wait, how big was that check you wrote today? Well I didn't know it was going to cost *that* much. I have to grade those papers. No! Don't touch that pile! If you move it, I'll never find my stuff!

And that, my friends, is why I don't get anything done.