So, I am taking a break from reading several hundred (ok, two hundred) pages of dense, cold text about diagnosing people with mental illness to 'blog'. I've been studying for about 3 hours, so, it is time for a break.
What a day. It started with me grabbing the car keys at 8:24 a.m. and taking my daughter to her job. I was wearing my pajamas, my slippers, no bra and I figured I'd just run her over to her job, come home and then get ready for a busy day.
Dropped her off, and noticed a funny smell in my car. Funny smells are not uncommon in my little trashcan on wheels, so, no worries. Then, noted the temperature gauge raising quickly, then, the smell of steam and noting that steam was coming out from under the hood. I parked the car, muttered words that started with an 'F' and was pretty upset.
I got out of the car, in front of a bagel shop and a grim little man watched me, and said, 'yep, the radiator, look at it go!' as radiator fluid spilled from the bottom of the car. Well, this is Lawrence, right? A nice place to live, with nice people, right? Surely, given the fact that I was stranded in downtown Lawrence, with no cell phone (it was sitting quietly on my nightstand, next to my debit card) and wearing pajamas would signal my fellow citizens to help me. Well, not exactly.
First place I stopped: Miltons, which is a great place for breakfast. I stood up at the front, again, remember, I am only wearing pajamas and eventually got the attention of someone behind the counter. I explained my situation and asked to use a phone. Hesitation, then, reluctantly he handed over the phone. 'It IS a local call, right?' Of course, I reply.
So, I call my dad and my sleeping son. Neither of them pick up. I am screwed. I leave and walk some more. Nothing is open at 8:30 a.m. I eventually go back to the bagel shop in which I started my journey, and ask another person at the shop if I can use their phone. "No, company policy is that we cannot let anyone use the phone". Remember, I am wearing pajamas (and yes, these look like pj's, not regular clothes) and slippers. I must have looked pretty pitiful because a nice young man from behind their counte handed me HIS cell phone. I gave him a quarter and thanked him.
While I waited for St. Fred (dad) to arrive, the ticket lady came by to write me a ticket. I ran up to her 'Please, no ticket! My car overheated and is getting towed!' I must have looked especially upset because she said she'd just keep walking....
On to the mechanic to arrange for the car to be towed.... all I see are dollar signs, dollar signs, dollar signs.... then, off to rent a car. But, of course, all of the cars at Enterprise are spoken for, except for the 1000 ft. CARGO van that is available. I take it. Again, I am in my pajamas....
Eventually, I drive home in the giant van to pick up my son. Phone rings, a client wonders where I am, why I am not cleaning their home. I have the client scheduled again for NEXT Wednesday. Oh, no, it is EVERY Wednesday, don't you remember, she asks? I promise to get there asap. So, we cleaned 3 houses in 6 hours. That means 9 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, and a lotta vacuuming....
Eventually, I get my car back, and return the giant van. Only $240 or so dollars was spent today, even though I was expecting to be MAKING money, not spending it....
And so, now, I am reading about how to diagnose mental illness and I am tired.
I'm back in the pajamas, my cell phone and debit card ready for tomorrow....
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