There and Back Again

Watching: American Idol
Pondering: Things turn out best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out. (John Wooden)

You know some days you just don’t get a break? Today was that day for me. Mistake after mistake, bad luck after bad luck. Early in the morning, I debated whether to stop by the office on the way to my off-site interviews at the library. Mistake #1. I arrived to some disturbing phone calls - work-related, of course - which ended up ruining the day. I managed to prepare a rating sheet for an upcoming interview only to realize later that I didn’t save my latest revision. Bad luck #1.

Then I decided to come back to the office after my morning interviews concluded. I had an hour and a half to spare, might as well get some work done. So when I got to the office, I returned some e-mail and got to some of the paperwork I needed to do. As I was rushing out, this agency I was renting a mailing list from called to tell me they haven’t mailed the list yet on account that I have not sent in the necessary forms. Something our ad agency assured me was already done. So instead of leaving at 1:45 PM, I left at 2:05 for a 2:30 PM appointment. Bad luck #2.

On my way back to the library for the second half of my interview, I decided to take Highway 101 instead of Highway 280. Now I tell you, I never take 101 to this location simply because I don’t like 101 all too much. But today, of all days, I decided to take this route and guess what, there was an oil spill near the Ralston exit which caused major delays. MAJOR DELAYS. Mistake #2. Bad luck #3.

My afternoon interviews went longer than scheduled and I missed a 4PM employee relations meeting. Somewhat a blessing because I didn’t have to rush back to the office and managed to sneak in a chit-chat with my boss about this project we wanted to start. Bad news is now I have to drive to work on Friday - I telecommute half a day on Fridays - and meet with the group I cancelled today. Bad luck #4, Mistake #3.

As I was headed out after such an excruciating day, I realized that the important recruitment ads our ad agency - again! - was supposed to post online did not go up as scheduled. Today, of all days, it had to happen! I had to write a nasty, angry e-mail to them in 2 minutes to get them shaking in their space boots and get them to give the ads to us for free. Bad luck #5!

On the drive home, this cowboy Blake Shelton’s “Some Beach” played on the radio. The chorus calmed me down and hit the spot. It goes, “some beach, somewhere…there’s an umbrella casting shade over an empty chair, palm trees are growing, warm breeze is blowing. I picture myself right there on some beach somewhere.”

Yeah, wish I were on that beach right now…