DAMN! >>>

I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the water spots on my office ceiling. The drips turned silent, and seemed to be working in unison. Suddenly, the drips took on the aspect of sand in an hour glass, bringing to mind the idea of time.

I thought of the passage of time - time's role in the measurement of our personal achievements, time as an ever-diminishing quantity in our lives.

I thought of an old Pink Floyd song.

Then Intern Ted jauntily bound into my office, like a leprechaun. He sat opposite me and asked, "What's up, Pappi?"

"Oh, just thinking about my life, you know, failures, successes, that sort of thing," I replied.

"Well, speaking of success, I have some big news: Did you know Jamal from MSM Deli won the trip to Dublin on Doyle's dime?

I peered out the window and saw several of my employees catching snowflakes on their tongues. I thought of the two Jameson bottles I was lucky enough to have had the last shot of within the last year - thus entering me (twice) in the annual Doyle's drawing for a free trip to Dublin - the same trip that Jamal from MSM Deli has apparently scored.

"Get out!" I yelled at Ted.