Chaos: Here for It, #302

Hi! It's R. Eric Thomas. From the internet?
Hi!

Okay, so remember last week when I said I can never nap? Well, apparently the solution to that problem is to introduce a little thing I like to call Time Zone Chaos. I just woke up from my second nap of the day. I'm broken! Help!

Whenever I travel I like to play a game called "What Time Is It In My Body?" where I basically estimate how much my internal clock has synced up with the local clock. Sometimes I've only partially synced up with local time. So, locally it might be 11am, back home it's 1pm, but in my body it's about 12:20pm. This is useful information to no one but me. But you know how sometimes you're just like "I feels like lunchtime" or "I don't know why I'm so sleepy"? It's because it's a different time in your body! And the body is always right! Throw your clock out the window!

I started my Time Chaos journey by going to Puerto Vallarta last week, which is in the Central Time Zone, but does not observe Daylight Savings Time (aka Government Time Chaos aka What Time Is It In My Corn Field?), so it was aligned with Mountain Time in the US. Basically, it was two hours ahead of my local time. I added to the Time Chaos by frequently staying up until 3am dancing with my friends, which, to my body, felt like 5am but more importantly felt like 2009.

I left Mexico last week but I was only home for about 36 hours so my body basically stayed two hours/14 years behind. Then I got on a plane to meet David after his work trip in Scotland ended. My flight left at 6pm and I worked the entire flight on finishing a play (aka College Finals Chaos aka What Time Is It On Blackboard?), so I hadn't slept when I landed at 6am local time.

Of course, they say the thing you're supposed to do with jet lag is not sleep when you feel like it but instead wait to sleep when locally it's night time. So, I forced myself to stay up until about 9pm here in Scotland, at which point I had been up for 36 hours. I promptly passed out, then woke up at 2am Scotland time, which was 10pm my original time, and 8pm Mexico time, and--most importantly--a completely useless time to begin one's day. I read for a few hours then took my first nap of the decade from 8am to 10am (aka Sleepy Time Bear Chaos aka What Time Is It on the Truman Show aka Good Afternoon Good Evening and Good Night).

When I ask myself What Time Is It In My Body? now, the answer comes out like the plot of a Christopher Nolan movie. Isn't travel rewarding?!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm due for my third nap of the day.

This week I found out that the audiobook has been made available to a couple of influencers (who loved it!) and I was shocked by this because I literally just recorded the book two weeks ago. I don't know why I felt like it needed time to cook or something. But I guess it doesn't. I haven't even heard it! I'm not an influencer. I have to wait and buy it like everyone else.

If you're still thinking about preordering the book, my personal advice to you would be "Yes, you should do it."

There's so many ways to get the book!

Order it from your favorite indie bookstore or any retailer.

Request it from your local library!!

If you want a signed, personalized copy order from Greedy Reads and put your personalization in the comments at checkout.

If you want a signed bookplate, order from The Bookshelf Thomasville.

If you want to get a copy when you see me on tour, register for one of my tour dates!

WASHINGTON, DC
East City Bookshop at Miracle Theatre – Monday 8/7/23
In conversation with Chasten Buttigieg
REGISTER HERE

PHILADELPHIA, PA
The Free Library of Philadelphia – Tuesday 8/8/23
REGISTER HERE

NASHVILLE, TN
Parnassus Books – Wednesday 8/9/23
REGISTER HERE

BALTIMORE, MD
The Ivy Bookshop – Friday 8/11/23
REGISTER HERE

WHITE MARSH, MD
Signing at Barnes & Noble White Marsh
Sunday 8/13/23
MORE INFO

PROVINCETOWN, MA
East End Books – Thursday 8/31/23
REGISTER HERE

WINSTON-SALEM, NC
Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors!
September 22 & 23
MORE INFO

two hours/14 years behind,
Eric