Monday, June 23, 2008

My Evening

Let me tell you about this past Friday evening. I worked late, as usual, driving home around 7:30. I had to first stop at a copy shop to see a proof of our board agenda book to make sure it was okay to print 35 copies of a 350 page agenda book with numerous colored inserts. I get there and stand in line while another person at the counter is yelling at them for not getting her project done on time. This does not bode well. Ten minutes later I get to the counter and let them know I was there to look over a proof. They immediately pull out a box, but all that is in it are my originals with instructions that I would be by after 6:00 on Friday to look over a proof.

Copyman: “Oh, I guess it didn’t get done. If you want to wait, I can get one printed out in about 30 minutes.”

Me: “You know, I don’t have 30 minutes to stand around here. I’m exhausted and I had to drive out of my way to come here.”

Copyman: “Well, it’s a pretty simple project. I’m sure it will be okay.”

Me: “Well, I’ve done this enough times to know that it is never simple. Many things can and have gone wrong”

Copyman: “If you want to come by tomorrow, the proof will be ready”

Me: (Big long sigh while rubbing my face) “Okay, again, I’ll have to make a special trip AGAIN. Can we get any additional discount on this since it has taken up my time?”

Copyman: “How about 5 percent”

Me: “Deal”

I’m driving home after this and realizing I have absolutely nothing to eat. All I wanted was a baked potato, so I stopped at Wendy’s and picked one up. Oh, it smelled so good on the way home as exhaustion was really starting to settle in. I get out of my car and I see my neighbor D. walking up.

Back up to two weeks ago, as I was mowing my lawn the mower started sounding funny and then all of a sudden the blade flew off! I realized I hadn’t been cleaning under the lawnmower and it got completely gunked up with clotted grass. The blade kept banging into it and finally said enough of this and flew the coup. I tried getting the blade back on but realized I needed a special wrench that came with the mower and God knows, I had NO idea what I did with it. So a few days back I asked D. (who has the same mower) if he had the special wrench and if I could borrow it.

Back to Friday night. You know how you should be grateful for small favors. I know I should have been happy to see D., but all I wanted to do was to get in my house, feed the cats and have my baked potato. Maybe he will just drop off the wrench. But, no, D. was there to help me with my mower. The light is quickly fading as we are both sweating and swatting mosquitoes who, I’m sure, are overwhelmed with the smorgasbord of ankles and feet. Did I mention that D. is retired. He’s a big guy but does everything s l o w l y. I could tell that he had the blade on backwards but he really thought it was on right. So, I humored him and started it up. Oh, the rattling it made.

Me: You know, I really think the blade needs to be turned over.
D: You may be right. Let me look at my mower and I’ll be right back.

Great, at least I have a little time now to feed the cats. Phone rings, it’s my neighbor K.

K: Hey, C, could you do me a big favor.
Me: (muffled cry in my head) Sure!

K: I was transporting some feral cats today and one bit me really bad. My whole hand and arm is swollen and I’m supposed to be taking care of Kelly’s cat. Would you mind running over there and feeding the cat?”

Me: No problem.

When I hang up I see D. walking up. Sure enough, the blade was on backwards. He fixed it and my mower was humming like new.

Me: Gosh, thanks so much D. This is great.
D: No problem, just let me know if it needs to be tightened up some more. Say, did I tell you about………………..

Another 15 minutes go by as I listen to D. talk about various neighborhood news. A lull finally appears in the conversation.

Me: Well, thanks again. I need to run over and feed Kelly’s cat.
D: Okay, goodnight.

Whew, I run across the street and down about a half block to Kelly’s house. The cat is outside and food is on the deck. Hmmm, shouldn’t there be some water around here? I put out food and run back home and call K. asking her about the water. Yes, there should be some water, would you mind putting out a bowl. I take a Tupperware container and fill it with water and run back over to Kelly’s. As I’m walking back to my house I notice my front storm door is wide open. Damn, I forgot to lock it! For some reason when the humidity level is high my storm door doesn’t close properly and sometimes flies open. I get to the stairs of the front porch and see Sweet Pea (inside only cat) on the front porch. Our eyes lock and we both freeze. I quietly and slowly say “Sweet Pea” and BOOM, he is gone like the roadrunner, streaking off into the night. I cannot repeat the words I said at that point. By now it was closing in on 10:00 and I decided to let Sweet Pea run while I finally sat down at my computer while eating my reheated baked potato. I tried twice after that to get Sweet Pea back in the house but he was just toying with me. After the second time when I did get a hold of his back end, but he hissed and lashed out at me, I said, ENOUGH! I’M GOING TO BED. IF YOU WANT TO STAY OUT HERE ALL NIGHT SO BE IT! I marched up the stairs to the front porch, opened the door and stood in the threshold and said “Last time”. Sweet Pea then just sauntered up the stairs and into the house.

I sighed my last sigh of the day, locked up and went to bed.

6 comments:

KGMom said...

Oh PL--what a day. There are just some days like that. Things go from bad to worse to can't get any worse.
Too funny (in an annoying sort of way) that Sweet Pea chose that evening to assert INDEPENDENCE.
Glad you could see the touches of humor in it all.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

You poor woman! I could feel my irritation level rising as I read each new "thing" added to your day. At least Sweet Pea saw the light and came in!

Dorothy said...

Hey Hi Christine!!!!
Yes, I'm back.....it takes a herd of elephants (no pun intended) to get me to blog. Well..actually, blogging isn't the hard part, it's the patience required to upload photos.
Thanks for checking in with me..the new momma is my niece Jennifer my brother's daughter. (He is the one bending over the pond to retrieve his cell phone).
The last guy in the photo spread is my DH. He's gonna kill me for putting that up there. LOL

Now..your yesterday sounds so much like some of my days....I really felt for you!!! You are waaaay too nice of a neighbor. And that Sweet Pea! Just the perfect touch to the end of the day. Thank God he came inside - I was so relieved to read that.
Hope your potato was OK after all that. What a way to end a TGIF!!!
Hugs!

possumlady said...

Thanks everyone. This is why I love to blog. When you're single you really have no one to vent/rant to so this is the perfect vehicle!

Donna, yes I was totally surprised to see Sweet Pea on the porch. Usually it's one of my other ones--Woody--that tries every chance he gets to make a break for it.

Lynne, I was reading this entry over a number of times to get the wording right and I had to stop because just reading it over and over was making my blood pressure go up!

Dorothy, I certainly know how you feel. But, that's what is so great about "Blogging without obligation"! Very handsome family especially your DH!

Not to worry about Sweet Pea as I took him in as a stray many years ago and even after that he was actually an inside/outside cat up until 2004. So, though he hasn't been out in years, he certainly knows the area so I wasn't too concerned. Much more perturbed then concerned.

MmeBenaut said...

I think we've all had days like that but this one was so bad for you, poor thing. In between all of your caring so attentively for the animals dear, you must try to remember to plan some food for yourself. I have a similar problem - sometimes I go all day and only then realise that I haven't eaten anything. No wonder I feel drained and cranky!
Sweet Pea must have really enjoyed his time outside. What a wonderful game he had teasing you! I find the same thing, if I ignore them and walk away they want to come straight back into the house!
Don't worry about the lapse in blogging dear, we'll still pop around from time to time to see how you're doing. Thank you too for your lovely comments on my blog. I'm sorry that I mixed you up and called you Lisa. My addled brain doesn't work to well in the mornings.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Gosh--you must've been freaked to have an indoor-only sneak past you.

I always think that if they can weather the first year or so, they develop a wariness that may keep them away from cars. I'd be afraid she'd run right into one!