Summary

The author begins documenting the year 1978 on January 13. His first entry included a list that read: “1. I’m cold. 2. I’m bored. 3. I spilled a full glass of ginger ale on the floor and have nothing to clean it up with. 4. I went to the grocery store and spent $ 5.37 on total crap. 5. I made beans and franks on my hot plate and it was just a mushy mess. 6. I want to be in school. 7. My radio is suffering from me falling asleep on it” (18). The author’s pitiful tone continues in the following entry written at the end of February where he expressed his frustration towards the status of his current situation. He lamented over the lack of momentum in his life, distressed by his inability to identify something positive to look forward to.

The author’s stress filled entries continue to emit a glumly...