A True Experience which took place just over 25 years ago

 Many of the thoughts I had accumulated were while I was working in Salt Lake City.  Shares passed through email as facebook was not a thing.  I do remember writing the following.  I had even created a picture in "paint" to go with the story.  Created on my mom's computer.  If I saved it, I no longer seem to have access to it.  But here is what I wrote:

Date: 2/11/98 3:04pm

Subject:          Just in case you need a laugh . . .

 

have you ever read the story of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, no good, Very Bad Day?  As I was relating my experiences to my co‑workers, I decided that my experiences could be counted as similar ‑

sometimes I even wish I was in Australia (although I forgot to include it with my true life experiences that I am sending) ‑

and so I wrote up this cute little essay.  (I am also including a self portrait so that you will know that I am not exaggerating)

 

(If you read the WP before the e‑mail attachment, it will make more sense)

 

My Story:

subtiled: I was too tired.

 

 You will not believe the day I’ve had (this is a true story by the way) I really should have just stayed in bed. 

I wrote an e-mail to Pat - I should not have tried to send an attachment - or I least I should have printed up what I wrote - instead of trying to write it again.

 I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

 My back’s really been bothering me, and it’s been hard to sleep.  I’m always tired.  And I really didn’t feel all that well this morning.  And I tried to sleep in.  My back’s been making it hard for me to sleep at all.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

 Okay, let me back up here, and see if I can get my thoughts together -

When I finally did force myself to get up (still not awake, mind you) I called my work # and left a message for Arabella - to tell her I’d be late.  And then I proceeded on taking my sweet time (not sweet enough) getting ready.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

 After I ate breakfast, I decided to do a load of clothes.  I was cold and put on my robe and matching booties.  I remember turning the washer on - so I do have that much going for me.

I did get dressed and ready for work - or so I thought . . .

 I placed a dollar bill with my backpack and coat, etc.  I purposely left it out so that I would have it when I got on the bus.  Somehow it disappeared.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

I locked the door and stepped out of the house only to discover it was snowing.  I set down my backpack and removed a bunch of items in search for my keys.  I retrieved my umbrella and wondered if I should get my boots.  I decided it wasn’t snowing that hard and decided not to make the big trek downstairs.  I wish I would have gone with my first impulse.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

 I walked toward the bus stop and stopped in at the Food Mart - because I figured I’d have time.  The orange juice I got was 22 cents more than if I had made a purchase at the 7-ll where I transfer (or usually transfer anyway)

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

I took the first available bus (an express) and decided I would transfer at the mall.  A fellow passenger pointed out that my shoelace was untied.  It’s a wonder I hadn’t tripped over it.

Okay, there was one good thing that came from my morning.  I didn’t have to wait for my transfer.  The #10 left as soon as I boarded.  Meanwhile, I retied my shoelace so that I wouldn’t trip.

After I got to work, I went to change my shoes and noticed for the first time that I wasn’t wearing any socks (boy, am I observant - or what) and my booties don’t at all match what I’m wearing.   I’m actually surprised that I was able to get my shoes on over my booties and that they didn’t slip down inside my shoes while I was walking.  And why in the heck didn’t I notice while I was tying my shoe for the second time?  What an idiot.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

 And so I put my sandals on over my bare feet, only my feet got cold (surprise) and so I put my booties back on.  And it looks really stupid.  Not only that, but the jeans I am wearing have turned out to be major floods on me.  If they were any shorter, they’d be knickers.

I mean anybody can see by the way that I’m dressed that I must not feel [well] and that I’m still not awake.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

After I got trough eating my lunch, I found the dollar I had misplaced.  It was in my lunch bag.  What a brilliant person I am.  And what a brilliant bill to have hitched a ride in something warmer than the cold air I had intended to flap it in.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

 I wrote an e-mail to send to Pat Peterson.  And while working on a self-portrait to send as an attachment, the power went out (just blinked off) and I lost everything.  So now I have to rethink it all.  Somehow this story sounded funnier in e-mail.  But maybe not.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

 Katie keeps saying she’ll be coming in this week.  But we haven’t seen her.  She also told Arabella that Friday will be my last day.  Yes.  Sure it will.  Friday the 13th.  Come now.  I have strong doubts about it ever being my last day.

I don’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week.  I am too tired.

 Just now I think I either wrote on my pants, or Shelly’s shirt (which I have given myself custody over) What a klutz.

Oh, and about the pair of pants I picked out - I really thought I had ripped in the knee.  I even looked for it.  I found it five hours after I put them on.  It was in the other knee.

I didn’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I was too tired.

 Judy says she has loads for me - but she is too busy to find it right now.

And so I am now working on this oh, just so important document to send to anyone who might need a laugh.

I don’t think about it being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I am still too tired.

Comatose Weather and Downright Lazy Weekend

           I remember the weather when we first went into lockdown last year.  It was nice.  Jenna and I would walk around the neighborhood (or just our yard – pre the neighbors' arrogant chickens and Bonnies) and take pictures.  This year has been overcast, windy and cold – except when it’s not.  It’s like mother nature has a endless case of PMS and is wreaking havoc with the skies.  Sending awful turbulence and bleakness – at least in my neck of the woods.  Strange, but as I write this, the sun is shining like it has been there all this time.  Never enveloped with clouds or darkness.

          I have blamed the weather for my being tired - though I have probably OD’d on sugar since Easter.  It did not help matters when yesterday after feeling bloated, Roland insisted I take some Alka-Seltzer -which would be fine but the only Alka-Seltzer we have is for cold medicine and as if I wasn’t already feeling comatized, the medicine only added to my tiredness and weakness and desire to do absolutely nothing but sleep.

          Roland and I have been taking lots of naps – sometimes intentionally, often not.  Poor Jenna.  Reminds me of something I had posted to facebook last year (though I have not come across the memory as of yet)

           Me:   “Help! I am stuck in the house with a business freak and a drama queen!”

           R:       “Help!  I am stuck in the house with two drama queens!”

           J:       “Help!  I am stuck in the house with two old fogies who think sleeping is the greatest thing ever!”

           Jenna doesn’t understand sleep.  It’s not in her vocabulary.  She’ll be up at 2:00 am texting whoever else happens to be awake.  She’s awake before Roland’s alarm goes off.  I doubt she gets more than 4 hours of sleep per night (she has ALWAYS been an early riser) and she is still one of the happiest people that I know.  Wouldn’t it be great to get by on only four hours of sleep and have that much pep?

           I hope she may continue and not let her parents sleeping habits bring her down.

Holidays and Brain Out

          Valentines Day is a non-Federal holiday full of traditions and legends which may or may not be true.  There were at least two, perhaps three, patron saints who bore the name St. Valentine.  Their lives ended in tragic massacres; perhaps it was the way they lived that got the Valentine’s celebration started.  There are many websites to choose from when “Valentines” is the subject entered into a search engine such as Google.  I have never been much into the Valentine spirit.  The concept behind Valentine’s Day seems noble enough, but the commercialism is what keeps the holiday alive and I could do without that.  No one gets off of work or school in honor of Valentines.

https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

           President’s Day was created in honor of George Washington, first president of the United States.  President’s Day was initially established on February 22, 1885 in honor of his birthday.  President's Day is a Federal holiday - which means most governement businesses, banks, and schools are closed on Presidents day.  In 1971 the date was changed to the third Monday in February.  This was done as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (see here) 

https://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0219/calvert-county-presidents-day-schedule-.html 

I had accepted an assignment that put me with kindergartners and first graders on Valentine’s Day.  The first graders surprised the aides when we were invited to play a trivia game to test our knowledge of George Washington.  Each time we answered correctly, we would get a point.  If we answered wrong, the children would get the points.  I thought it fairly easy as all of the questions had multiple choice – though I either hadn’t been aware or agreed with the answers as being correct – like the cherry tree incident I learned to be a myth.  Or that his teeth were not made out of wood but ivory – however ivory was not one of the listed choices.

I don’t remember how many questions there were.  Two of us answered all of our questions correctly.  One answered a couple incorrectly and one I think got only one right.  The aides won.  Later on that day I helped set up for the Valentine party.  I passed out the punch.

We had a three day weekend and did not return to school until today.  I had picked up an assignment to work today as well as Thursday and Friday.  I had accepted the assignment yesterday.  Oh my word, I was soooooooo sleepy.  The fact that I was sitting in a middle school math class was not helping in the least.

A snail travels 0.029 miles in an hour.  How much will he travel in 10 minutes?

saved from Emma Portel Pinterest file

Way too early for my brain to convert anything.  So glad NOT to be a student today.  The second class was more of the X Y chart but now introducing Z.  My brain hurt.  The instructor played this YouTube video.

Next was a prep class.  The instructor wrote a paragraph about a blizzard in the “maintain” and some other misspelled word – no punctuation.  I didn’t know if it was intentional so that the class would correct whatever they happened to write.  But they had to have three paragraphs.  It was definitely interesting. 

Only one recess was required with the schedule I had done on Friday, but the schedule I am doing this week has me outside three different parts of the day.  Though recess is not my favorite, I do enjoy this schedule overall.  But today was fricken cold and I never did get warm or felt awake.  I think I’ll be going to bed early.

Division Street is Closed

My water aerobics classes

had started when

I was still out of town.

I've gone everyday this week

except today.

Each member of the class

including the instructor

faced a new challenge yesterday.

Division is getting a makeover.

I don't know that it had even been

worth it.  The air was cold before

we got in.  The wind against

our wet bodies made it feel even

colder.

I guess I still had time to go

if I had not continued with this post, and

if the road is finished, but only if I

didn't have to wait for the construction

workers to direct me.

I was reminded of this commercial

When I approached the elderly lady

dressed from head to foot in fire engine

yellow - almost like the government

descending on Elliot's family in

the movie E.T.

It's a long way around and

will be late for certain should

I choose to go that way.

Probably I should go for

a walk in the park.  Perhaps

I should have gone this morning

before I took my assessment.

I am so tired all of the time.

I went outside to do some weeding

and watered the plants.

Roland asked me to plant the

cantaloupe.  That wore me out.

I was awake for a while.  Searching

for answers for assessment put

me back in a coma. As

soon as I post this to my blog

I will go in the kitchen and

do dishes and then

I will go through many boxes of

clutter to see what might be

keepable and what can be

donated for the citywide yard sale.