I wrote for four hours last night and accidentally drank 5 blueberry-infused beers (lovely) and was suddenly too loaded to continue. Getting 5 beers deep led to way-past-my-bedtime Netflix hopping and this morning I’m uncomfortably one step behind everything. This rarely happens–getting wasted– especially in the middle of an intense training cycle. But nevertheless, here I am, dehydrated and slow, getting prepared for what will probably be shitty training over my lunch break.

To help myself out I grabbed a coffee from a local place. As I walked back onto campus I started chatting with the chief of security who was posted at the front gate. Our conversation was interrupted in an unusual way: a big line of black SUVs began to enter through the gate and the guard said something I’ve definitely never heard before: “Say Hi to the King of Jordan. Don’t move until they pass.”

I was able to peer into the cabins of every car as they slowly drove in, and in just about every seat I saw pretty serious looking protection, mostly suited up and sunglassed. I kept looking.

My eyes were met by shining rims and cleanly shaven faces looking back out, hands on laps, relaxed but ready. Every occupant turned to look at me as they went past. In an unplanned way, I began nodding at them–perhaps for lack of anything better to do and not wanting to merely stare– and I watched as they nodded back, one by one. Yes and now I will nod at you, and you will nod back. And now we’re nodding together, and I will nod some more, and so will you, and we are now friendly nodders, whereas before we were nothing to each other, and now there is an obvious agreement, for we are nodding, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes to you to, and yes to me and yes to you.

And suddenly the king appeared.

Abdullah II, sitting on the side of the vehicle closest to me. He wasn’t wearing sunglasses. He looked at me and smiled as he rolled by, and I nodded some more and he nodded back.

He has a controversially hot wife, Queen Rania, who I certainly didn’t see in any of the cars. Aside from that, I don’t know much about him.

But yeah, me and the king, we had a moment.

Relax. I’m hungover. And now the King of Jordan is part of it.

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The heat wave continues and high temperature warnings for tomorrow are already being broadcast. This has already been the hottest 12 month period in recorded human history and most people in this douchy city will ignore it, like good little workers, going about their business, wearing the blinders that enable them to carry on the routine without needing to think much, lest they kill their buzz.

Enjoy Monday more than me, please.