What made me unhappy today ?

[CatrionaGrace]

Not unhappy, exactly--- can't afford the luxury of that. But today is shaping up to be a challenge, and it isn't even noon.

Honey, if this sort of morning doesn't make you unhappy, then you are a better person than most of us. Or at least better medicated.

 

[Amontillado]

Like I said, I can't afford to be unhappy. I'm the grownup in the room, and it's my job to be attentive and encouraging and helpful. And yay, I helped a kid brand-new to the tenor tax figure out how to hold the reed in his mouth to get a decent tone.

But Band class the next period was crazy. Of course the teacher didn't leave them enough to do. So they're making noise, tipping their seats over, roaming the room, bugging each other, physically and verbally . . .

You're doing a good thing. Trumpet was my instrument. Band was the only thing that kept me in school.

 

[Catrin Lewis]

Honey, if this sort of morning doesn't make you unhappy, then you are a better person than most of us. Or at least better medicated.

Medicated? Nope. I haven't even gotten at a cup of tea.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Medicated? Nope. I haven't even gotten at a cup of tea.

Well, attagirl! All this and insufficient caffeination, to boot.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Not unhappy, exactly--- can't afford the luxury of that. But today is shaping up to be a challenge, and it isn't even noon.

In the first place, I got called at 6:36 AM for a sub teaching gig to start at 7:20. Ohhhhhh, gosh. Split junior high and high school, and I'm in for the same teacher tomorrow. Did I really want to do Band two days in a row? But I need the money and made myself get up. Skipped cleaning litter boxes, skipped breakfast, all but skipped making lunch.

Arrived at the middle school at 7:30, "only" ten minutes late. That was all right, because I was hearing individual kids play me their lessons.

Only--- on my drive there, my 2004 car's dashboard display started going crazy. Gas gauge went from Half to Full. Trip odometer flipped over to the lifetime odometer. Check engine light, brake light, seatbelt light, all came on. Worse, she suddenly wouldn't accelerate. Scratch that, she died. I restarted and floored her in third, and got up the hill.

On a "good" day, half the private lesson kids won't show up. Today, with my blood sugar crashing from no food and worry, they mostly did. And the ones who were absent, the kids who came to play, played through till the next player arrived.

Like I said, I can't afford to be unhappy. I'm the grownup in the room, and it's my job to be attentive and encouraging and helpful. And yay, I helped a kid brand-new to the tenor sax figure out how to hold the reed in his mouth to get a decent tone.

But Band class the next period was crazy. Of course the teacher didn't leave them enough to do. So they're making noise, tipping their seats over, roaming the room, bugging each other, physically and verbally . . .

I didn't get mad. You lose control when you get mad. I dealt with each issue as it arose . . . all the time wishing I could get at the sandwich I packed, or do research on what's wrong with my car. Too bad. You keep smiling, and you endure.

Out to my car in the parking lot, to go to the high school. Hooray, the gauges are back to normal and she starts just fine. Pulled out of the lot, turned the corner--- and she died. She died three or four more times on the way over, and a couple times, the power steering went out. And I got a new idiot light, saying "TRAC OFF." Apparently, TRAC helps the wheels hold the road properly. By the time I limped into the high school parking lot, the Oil light was on as well.

Quick lunch bought from the cafeteria, but no time to eat it before my first class. Too busy making phone calls. My garage guy can't get me in till Monday, but drop her off this afternoon. I looked up car rentals. Cheapest would eat up all but $162 of the work I'm booked for through next Tuesday. I've got a call in to some friends I've borrowed cars from before, but I can't get a call back till I get out of here--- the Band room is in a dead zone and I have no signal on my cellphone (I'm shocked I have Internet on the laptop!). Had to use the school landline.

After that, I had high school Band, and it was chaos again. That is, until the majorettes stepped up and conducted the kids through the music for a concert they're giving tomorrow night. Chaos was over, but it was loud, loud, playing-out-in-the-open-air loud. I said nothing. I sat and smiled and looked supportive. They can't help it. Playing loud is what they do. "I will not get a headache!" I said to myself. "I will not run screaming from the room with my hands over my ears." Their playing was fine, I just have sensitive ears.

Meanwhile, I managed to eat the sandwich I bought for lunch. And for the next half hour, I have Prep, and it's quiet in here, barring the whirring of fans. I have time to decompress.

God willing, I'll be able to limp home after school and won't need a tow. And I'll be able to find someone to lend me a car the next few days.

I need to buy a new one. Mine is on her last legs, and the safety inspection expires the end of the month.

*hands Catrin the Paracetamol ... and two brand-new sandwiches ... and a cup of tea*

Ouch. Just reading about high school band makes my head hurt. *winces in sympathy* I've performed with youth choirs, so I know how loud they can get.

I hope you get your car fixed soon.

Outside of journalists, almost every writer I've ever met pursued at least one other career concurrent with writing. I've always worked in other fields, not only for the reasons Rath cited, but because those jobs contributed to my life experience which enriched my writing.

Very true. I must have worked in almost any industry going: healthcare, transportation, construction, defense -- but always in the admin and accounts space. *nod* Everybody needs admin. Everyone needs good, trustworthy accountants.

I had a bit of accounting experience, which I used to get a contract job in healthcare. A 12-month contract turned into another 12 months, etc., until they finally offered me permanency. That place had cutbacks, but I used my time there to find other jobs ... and now, I've been working in accounting (mostly in healthcare) for nearly 17 years. I wouldn't have lasted that long without being either trustworthy or good at it. *G*

 

[Rad Scribbler]

I still can't get over the flu. I had a Covid test and its negative, thankfully.

Been bedridden for a week.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Oh. :-( Sorry to hear, Rad Scribbler ... that stinks.

I hope you're getting plenty of hot drinks. I found that hot tea with sliced raw ginger, lemon juice and honey is wonderful for easing the pain. (Berries are good too - they're full of vitamin C and antioxidants).

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Rad Scribbler]

Oh. :-( Sorry to hear, Rad Scribbler ... that stinks.

I hope you're getting plenty of hot drinks. I found that hot tea with sliced raw ginger, lemon juice and honey is wonderful for easing the pain. (Berries are good too - they're full of vitamin C and antioxidants).

Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks Rath, much appreciated.

 

[Trish]

On monday evening at 6:30 my dog, Barnaby, got out of the fence. He tried to follow my daughter, who was leaving, she didn't see him, and he was hit by an oncoming car, who swerved onto the shoulder to hit him and did not stop, despite leaving pieces of his car all over the road. He spent two days in Cornell University ICU before we had to admit defeat and let him go. He was only one.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

On monday evening at 6:30 my dog, Barnaby, got out of the fence. He tried to follow my daughter, who was leaving, she didn't see him, and he was hit by an oncoming car, who swerved onto the shoulder to hit him and did not stop, despite leaving pieces of his car all over the road. He spent two days in Cornell University ICU before we had to admit defeat and let him go. He was only one.

Oh, Trish, I'm a dog mom, too, and there aren't enough words in the world to express how much my heart breaks for you.

 

[Louanne Learning]

Oh god, @Trish I am so sorry. Losing a dog is heartbreaking. Hugs to you.

 

[Catrin Lewis]

On monday evening at 6:30 my dog, Barnaby, got out of the fence. He tried to follow my daughter, who was leaving, she didn't see him, and he was hit by an oncoming car, who swerved onto the shoulder to hit him and did not stop, despite leaving pieces of his car all over the road. He spent two days in Cornell University ICU before we had to admit defeat and let him go. He was only one.

That's awful! My heart hurts for you.

But did you say the driver swerved onto the shoulder to hit him? Like, deliberately, and not because he was trying to avoid other traffic? Appalling.

 

[Naomasa298]

Waiting 3 hours to get a 2 minute task done, which I could have done myself if I had system access.

 

[Maycontainthunder]

On monday evening at 6:30 my dog, Barnaby, got out of the fence. He tried to follow my daughter, who was leaving, she didn't see him, and he was hit by an oncoming car, who swerved onto the shoulder to hit him and did not stop, despite leaving pieces of his car all over the road. He spent two days in Cornell University ICU before we had to admit defeat and let him go. He was only one.

I'm sorry for your loss. Dog V4 sends a hug.

 

[Trish]

That's awful! My heart hurts for you.

But did you say the driver swerved onto the shoulder to hit him? Like, deliberately, and not because he was trying to avoid other traffic? Appalling.

Yes, deliberately. The police are looking for him as it's considered misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident and felony animal cruelty here. The officer spent an hour and a half going door to door for camera footage to get as much vehicle info to track him down as possible.

 

[Rigor Mortis]

Yes, deliberately. The police are looking for him as it's considered misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident and felony animal cruelty here. The officer spent an hour and a half going door to door for camera footage to get as much vehicle info to track him down as possible.

Words fail to describe someone like that. I can think of a few, all the same.

 

[ps102]

Yes, deliberately. The police are looking for him as it's considered misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident and felony animal cruelty here

I sincerely hope he gets caught and properly punished for his actions so you can get the closure you deserve.

 

[Catrin Lewis]

Yes, deliberately. The police are looking for him as it's considered misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident and felony animal cruelty here. The officer spent an hour and a half going door to door for camera footage to get as much vehicle info to track him down as possible.

Oh, I hope they find him. Someone who'd do a thing like that needs to be stopped and made to face the kind of monster he's become.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Oh, Trish, that's terrible! I'm so sorry to hear about your poor good boy.

I also hope this guy is found. Imagine deliberately swerving to hit a poor innocent animal. Despicable.

 

[Kiraann]

Condolences, Trish. I’ve lost several dogs to automobiles over the years.