The powers that be had me working until 1 a.m. last night drafting the fifth revision to a brief we may or may not file. Downside: working until 1 a.m. Upside: Thai food on the client's tab.

Boy did I screw this one up. I see a menu item described as "crispy rice noodles with prawns and tamarind sauce," and I think, "ooh, that sounds interesting, I'll have one of those please." Schmuck. I ended up with a tub full of what I'm pretty sure was deep-fried styrofoam in corn syrup and vinegar. I think I'll stick to spring rolls and green curry with coconut milk from now on.

I guess there's a silver lining to this story: I've been at work since six this morning, and I haven't had a bite to eat yet today, but I've got half a tub of cold, sticky, greasy shredded newspaper waiting for me in the fridge down the hall. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?