I just knew today was gonna be a good day. I woke up early, even before my alarm! Not that my alarm going off is a terrible thing. Nowadays instead of rudely blaring “classic” rock (primarily rude because some of the music of my high school years is apparently now considered classic. Pffft) it very gradually eases me into consciousness with a sweet little melodic serenade. Anyway, no need to expound on how I wasn’t awoken. But I got up, got my Wordle worked in TWO guesses (!!!!), had a very pleasant early morning phone call (those words don’t even sound like they go together, do they?), viewed a majestic sunrise, and had a perfectly pleasant commute to work, where I cracked an egg to scramble and it had two yolks!! I was amazed. And it was a carton store bought eggs, to beat all. I don’t know how it even made it to the carton. It was considerably bigger than all its roommates, oddly so. I had been saving it to last. And I was not disappointed. I felt like this was setting the precedent for a great day. I felt lucky.

And it was so short lived.

First thing that happened was the new prospective renters came by. Well they must have signed the deal on the spot, because they stayed all day, shrieking and carrying on like eighth grade girls. And honestly, they didn’t appear much older. I would be excited about my first office too, but I would also be aware of the fierce redhead down the hall who is attempting to put together a financial report to send to the state.

I just shut my door and grumbled like the grouchy old woman I am.

The shrieking continued well into the afternoon, as well as a parade of Hispanic people with children, inexplicable photography equipment, and painting supplies. Not like, art painting. Like, wall painting. But he only toted one roller, one tray, one drop cloth, and I saw zero paint buckets. I also didn’t appreciate the tromping through my office when I had a producer there. But I guess the message was clear when I shut and locked my hallway access. You’d think my hairy eyeball would have done the trick but twenty-year-olds high on responsibility are apparently oblivious to the finer nuances of “find a new way of coming and going”.

Hopefully they will shape up or ship out. And parking was supposed to be a non-issue, anyway. They told the landlord they would be parking at the church. I understand that it was move in day, but I saw absolutely no moving of any furniture or otherwise. More on that momentarily.

It took me three hours to listen to a 42 minute webinar that I missed yesterday. But I did pause it to call the people for the state banking system to set up an online account. It was no problem, and I got right in, but now when I log in it tells me happily that I have successfully logged out. With no menu to log back in.

Sigh. I’m gonna try it again tomorrow, when I hopefully have more patience and maybe it will reset.

I had board tonight and I typically leave the agendas for the last thing to print for the packets, because I tend to add to it as the day goes on and I think of stuff I need to tell them. And that saves trees, because I’m not printing and throwing out as I add.

Well, I go to print them this afternoon and guess what? The printer laid down on me. Of course it did. It happened yesterday, too, with a simple enough fix of powering off, then back on. Tried it today, no dice. I gave it a few minutes, held my mouth right, and tried it again. Nah. So I unplugged it and uttered a little prayer. Nope, nothin’.

I admitted defeat and messaged our IT guy. I was obviously not the first one having issues today because he said a wordy-dird about Chicago and took control of my computer.

Three test pages, one update and restart, and fifty minutes later, I was back in business with freshly printed agendas in hand. Matt T., you’re a genius.

By this point, my DC has arrived and we’re anticipating the rest of the guys shortly. And here comes one of the new tenants. I can’t keep track of when they’re there or not, as their cars have been moved about two dozen times by now and I’d been hearing them when no cars were in the lot. It’s all very strange and disruptive. I am fixing to have two more vehicles in our lot, which only has spaces for six total. And there’s already six taken. I go out the door to issue a warning, “Hey,” I call. She looks at me. “You’ll probably be parked in if you park here. I’ve got two more coming.” “Oh, you’ve got more coming?”

Was I not clear? I blink. “Yes. You can park across the street or in their lot.” I point to our neighboring business, as they cleared out at five.

She nods, assenting. I think this is solved, and go back to pouring coffee and divvying up cookie cake.

We have our meeting, everything goes fine, but imagine my surprise when my DC learns that he’s blocked in.

That’s right, by the girl I told to park in the other lot.

I immediately and thoroughly began to melt down by cussing one complete blue streak. How can people be so patently STUPID? I had to eat another bite of cookie cake to regain control.

So anyway. That’s what happened to me today. I came home and cut up my strawberries before they went bad and they were so very delicious from where they have ripened perfectly on my counter. I could have eaten every last one. But I refrained.

Thank God tomorrow’s Friday. Thank God for dogs that listen better than people. Thank God I have doors that shut and lock. Thank God for friends who understand and whose mere presence ground you. Thank God for DC’s who care more about their farmers than their hair 😉

Thank God for my warm bed and a smidgen of self restraint. It’s probably just barely enough to keep me out of jail, but I reckon that’s enough.

Judgmental and irritated in Appalachia,

~Amy

P.s. here’s my Wordle. I didn’t want to put it at the top in case somebody hadn’t worked it yet. Don’t cheat!! And I sincerely hope this isn’t cropped upon posting.