Last night I had a rare evening alone, all by myself, no one around. It was thrilling and confusing at the same time. What would I do?

That was a good question.

I answered it by making a series of choices. First I got up from flopping on the bed after I got home from work.

Next I poured out a small portion of Limoncello that we had left in the cupboard and decided to go to the store to get Father’s Day cards and a bottle of vodka.

Next I walked to the store. Chose three cards (one for a wedding later, the other two for Father’s Day) and walked to the liquor store. I purchased a bottle of medium priced vodka. The clerk asked for my Id. He noticed I was from Yakima. He was from Roslyn—”Got the hell out of there as soon as I could,” he said.

Next I strolled down the street towards home, walked up the stairs and opened the door. My phone was ringing, but I just missed it. It was my father-in-law. I called him back. He wanted to go see a movie if I was still on the Eastside. I wasn’t. “Read a good book tonight,” he said as he hung up.

Next I milled around the apartment. Debating whether to install the last shelf in the kitchen of the studio we’ve been remodeling since January. I did. I finished in a few minutes and took out some recycling.

“Now what?”

Next I walked to a corner market that I’ve never been to a couple blocks away. They make sandwiches with Boar’s Head meats and there’s hot soup always on plus they have bakery items in front. I was looking for a non-Coke cola. No luck. I purchased 1 liter of Coke. I needed $5 to use my credit card. I purchased one more liter of Coke, a bag of all natural cheddar popcorn and a bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Delicious. The clerk asked me if there was an NBA game. “I think there’s a Storm game,” I said. I had no idea. I don’t follow sports.

Next I cruised home, put away the things I just purchased and quickly decided to watch a movie.

“But which one?”

Next I went to our cabinet that holds the movies and chose between Miami Vice and Dan in Real Life. I chose Miami Vice. I texted my friend Sean—the one who has seen more movies than anyone alive.

“I’m about to watch Miami Vice. Is this a mistake?,” I asked.

“No, anything by Michael Mann is going to be pretty good,” he wrote back.

Next I went to the kitchen to make some dinner. I looked in the cupboard and looked in the fridge. Slim pickings. I chose Annie’s Mac and Cheese and added all natural beef franks which I sliced and diced.

Next I poured some rum into a glass full of ice. Then the Coke I just purchased. I mixed it all together with a fork. I like forks for stirring things. I tasted it. Then I added more Coke. Tasted it again. Yum.

Next the macaroni cooked on high. I sat down on the couch and checked my email and looked something up online. I don’t remember what.

Next I mixed all the ingredients together: cheese sauce, macaroni, all natural beef franks into the pan. I added pepper. I always add pepper.

Next I served a good sized portion into a good sized bowl. I brought the bowl and the rum and coke to the couch, got situated and pressed play.

Next, after the movie was over, I texted Sean back. “I liked the way it was shot,” I wrote. No reply. I learned the Michael Mann uses subtle techniques to segue into the next scene. For example one character will just turn her head to another character. Cut to the next scene which includes the two of them. Subtlety. I like it.

Finally, I went to bed