The Best Laid Plans

Well, because I had a massage class scheduled for Friday to Sunday of this weekend, I decided to take Wednesday and Thursday off to get some things done and maybe even find time to relax - crazy I know! Well, let's just say that things didn't quite go according to plan....and for those of you who really know me....you know how upset I get when things DON'T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN!

Wednesday started out pretty lazy. I knew I had a lot of time since I didn't have a client until 6:30 PM. So, I got up and sent off some e-mails and decided I was going to order cable and internet through comcast. I figured it was time to rejoin the modern world again. So, first I cancelled my ATT internet via the phone. You would think this would be simple, but it literally took almost 30 minutes. I was on the phone with this southern woman who just kept saying, "I have to put in a few more codes". She must have said this ten times. Shouldn't there just be one code that says "cancel service". I couldn't figure it out. Of course, they try to convince you to stay so I had to lie and said I was moving to an apartment where they were already hookedup with service, just because I didn't want to have to deal with the sales pitch. So, now it's 10:30 AM.

I went online to order comcast and after filling out all the order information and my preferred dates for installation, I was connected to a "Live Chat Representative" to complete my order and schedule my installation. This person was the slowest typer ever. It took 5 minutes for him to get out Hi - How are you? Anyway, after talking with him for while, and giving him even more information, I was told I couldn't order online and had to go to the comcast store which is down in Potrero Hill (not close for non-San Franciscans). I then asked him if I would need to place a new order there or would they have my information. Five minutes later, he typed back that I would have to place a new order. I was so frustrated. That was 45 minutes of my time wasted. It's now 11:15 and I decide to eat lunch (I know it's early but I was hungry!).

While making my lunch, I had a person call to see if they could schedule a massage. I figured I could move some of my errands back a day if I scheduled him for 4:30. It was inconvenient but I still had time to clean the building and go to the gym and get there and I could use the money.

Okay, this is getting long - abbreviated version - stupid person moving furniture out in the building without telling me and they left a complete mess and damage so it took longer to finish up in the building. Got to the gym - power outage - couldn't work out but hadn't showered, so had to head to another gym where I had enough time only to do 30 minutes of cardio, shower, and dash to my 4:30 who I had squeezed in only to find he was paying with a gift certificate (CURSES!) so I squeezed him in for no money. Other client was fine and then I went and watched the Olympics with Clark, Larisa, and Justin - that was the best part of the day.

Thursday - more plans including my postponed ones from the day before. All were thwarted by a dreaded MIGRAINE! I could feel it coming right after I put my laundry in. So, I had a horrible 5 hours of taking hot showers and still feeling cold, using the toilet in more than one fashion, and scampering in the dark like a roach (or a Gremlin) because the light was too bright. I felt better around 1 so ate something and went to the gym only to have it return so I headed back home and napped for a few hours until it mostly went away. Then I felt sorry for myself and pouty so I watched Superbad (FUNNY!) and because Netflix has been screwed up and I didn't have anything else here, I watched the full length cartoon movie where He-Man finds She-Ra on youtube. Don't ask me why. I also drank a Capri-sun while I did it. Maybe I felt like being 8 again.

Anyway, that's the report from the last 2 days. Not what I had planned for sure. Oh, and I was still so frustrated with Comcast that I called ATT and cancelled my cancellation (it only took about 38 "codes").

Dirty Fingerprints!

I'm convinced in some ways that we never grow up. Or at least don't get all the genes required to be considerate all the time. Case in point:

As many of you know, I clean the common areas of the building I live in, and in exchange, I get to live here for free. "Sweet!" you say. Yes, "sweet", but I swear when I'm old, some doctor's going to tell me my arm has to be cut off from it's previous history of over-vacuuming.

Well, the building also has an intercom system at the front of the building that is brass. Yes, brass which requires polishing. And I don't mind polishing the brass or cleaning the three large plate glass windows at the front door and foyer. I like to make them sparkly clean!

HOWEVER, after cleaning them yesterday, I look at them this morning and there are smudgy fingerprints on both! And let me tell you, this is not a rare occurrence. It's as if visitors to the building are so exhausted by the two steps up to the landing that they just have to lean on something to catch their breath and "WAIT!, there's a pretty, shiny, brass intercom I can push my big meaty hand against. Woohoo!" Similarly, people do not use the handle of the front door to swing open the front door. No, it's much more fun to push against the glass. If truth be told, I really blame the UPS guys for this one....I'd be inconsiderate too if I had to wear those brown shorts.

Off to get my brasso and windex!

It's Back to School Time!

I was on the Muni today on my way home and passed a huge sign in the Walgreens' window that said "Think Back to School". I checked my calendar just to be sure. It's freaking July 2nd! Students just got done with school! Why they hell would they want to think about going back already? I would be so pissed if I was a school aged child. Stupid Walgreens. I ought to boycott out of principle. But seriously, businesses keep promoting holidays and seasons much too early for my taste. I remember as a child, I would get excited because the day after Thanksgiving, all the Christmas decorations would go up, and Santa's house would magically appear in the parking lot of the Woolworth's shopping center. Now, it wouldn't surprise me if Santa doesn't peak out next week. It causes the holidays and special events to seem much less special.

And while getting ready to exit the bus, I overheard two acquaintances who had just run into each other:
Woman: Hi, so good to see you.

Man: You too! You look different with your new Amy Winehouse hair.

Woman: I like to mix it up.

Man: You had a birthday party recently.

Woman: Oh, yes. It was a really fun bonfire.

Man: Yes, I HEARD....but I wasn't invited.

Me (loudly): AWKWARD!!!!
then I stepped off the bus.

I'm Becoming My Mother

Now, not that that's necessarily a bad thing. Daisey is a wonderful person! But I do notice as I get older that the things I made fun of her for (and Lord knows the woman has put up with a lot of abuse), are things I do more and more often.

I can not tell you how many times we'd get in the car or even out the driveway, when suddenly, we'd hear: "I think I might have left the coffeepot on" and of course we'd turn back and check. Now, granted, the coffee pot was always on in our house, so you would THINK it would become the norm to check it before leaving the house...but I digress.

In all seriousness, though, I do find myself becoming much more of a worrier. My grandmother O'Day (Daisey's mom) was a worrier with the best of them. And Daisey's a bit of a worrier. And now I'm becoming one too. I think we worry about different things but I do find that I'm constantly thinking about ways to make sure things go okay and according to plan. And when I entertain, I'm definitely like my mother: too much food, and constantly second guessing decisions I've made about what to serve.

I also always gave my mother a hard time about never sitting still. We'd sit down to watch a movie and she'd be trying to do a million things at once, up and down, up and down from the couch. It was hard for her to not always be "doing something". I have found recently that that's who I am now too. I'm finding it harder and harder to just relax. And when I do have down time, I can't just enjoy the moment. Instead, I think about what I'm going to do next.

It does make my wonder about genetics. How much of our personality is genetic? Or is it just that we observe our parents and take on those traits? It's certainly hard to say. I just hope that I age as beautifully as Daisey :-)