!!!**&$*^@E*^@%#*

I consider myself pretty lucky because most days are really good for me. It's rare that I have anything happen that could really make me feel like I had a "bad" day. I guess with all the counseling training, coping skills training, having 10 close friends who are social workers, etc. has taught me a lot over the years and I can generally deal with anything and keep on going with my happy day. And don't get me wrong, I deal with a lot. I'm not saying I don't have problems, because like everyone, I do. But I can usually deal with it, decide the best thing to do, and move on. Well, today can be classified as a BAD DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I am angry, ticked off, disappointed, let down, frustrated, and my blood pressure is probably off the chart!! Why, you ask?? Well, even if you didn't, I will tell you!!!!

I got up EARLY this morning, which I hate, to do those last minute things before the housekeeper comes. She puts my bath rugs in the dryer IF the dryer is empty, so it's things like that - folding the clothes in the dryer, picking up things in the bedrooms because I only have her sweep/mop - not clean the bedrooms, etc. So, I get that done and leave home at 8:00am so that she can have the house to herself and so that it isn't so awkward for me sitting here watching her clean and getting in her way. I drive 1/2 way to my mom's since I'm planning to get there around 11 and I go to Target in Baton Rouge and replace my new mesh float that the kids busted a hole in Tuesday night ($15 - not amused), bought a cute shirt that was on sale ($8), a $2 magnetic tic tac toe game to use with my students at school, and a HUGE battery operated toy fish that Landen saw on a commercial and really wanted ($10). It's called a Rainbow Reef fish and is too cute. It swims in the pool with you and I can't wait to see it work. So, anyway! I went to Target because there is a coffee shop next door that has wireless internet and I brought my laptop so I could chill out with a cup of coffee and check my email, blog, plus I had some research to do for free school supplies for one of my students and was looking forward to some quiet time. Well, my internet connection on my laptop would NOT work! And trust me, I am NO computer dummy!! I could install the wireless internet and hook every computer in the coffee shop up if I was so inclined (and well, it's already there so it would be a waste of time), and no matter what I tried, the computer kept telling me that I was not able to reset the wireless internet due to my network connections!! I take the laptop on trips and it always works with no trouble. So, I take my stupid laptop and my stupid coffee and it's only 9:30. I call my mom and tell her that I will be 1/2 hour early (which is no surprise - I am NEUROTICALLY early everywhere I go, but I had PLANNED this out to be casually on time!!!!) So, I go to my moms & visit with her & my step-dad for awhile and my mom & I go to lunch. We had a nice lunch and I resisted the French Dip Roast Beef Poboy and got a shrimp & crab meat salad and it was good. We went back to my moms and I visited a little longer, then drove home knowing the housekeeper would be gone and it would be around 3pm when I got there. I drove the 1 1/2 hours home, walked in the door, and wouldn't you know, SHE HADN'T BEEN HERE!!!!!!!!! My money was sitting on the counter where I left it and every bit of dirt was right in place where it was this morning. And we have company coming over this weekend that haven't seen the house, which will require a tour of the WHOLE house. And, I've just spent SEVEN HOURS wasting time so that she could do this. While I am glad that I got to see my mom, had I known the housekeeper wasn't coming, I could have visited her YESTERDAY when I drove Amy's kids home within 15 miles of where my mom lives. So, I called the lady, who lives on my street so you don't want things to be awkward, and asked her what happened today? She said, "oh, was this your day?" I said, "yes!" She said, "oh yeah, I see it on my planner. I forgot!!" Then she says she will come in the morning, but we are having our screened in porch started tomorrow and the house will have people in & out, including me because I am NOT leaving! So, I just said that wont work. Then she says she can come Wednesday, but I have an all day training for work Monday & Tuesday (if I don't have to go to JP's co-defendant's trial in Houston) and I am NOT going to be leaving the house Wednesday, so I just said no and I would call her later and decide what to do. She called again this evening wanting to come tomorrow, but I said no and that i'm not sure what we'll do. Here's my thing - I can't deal with people who aren't dependable. My motto has always been "say what you mean, and mean what you say." If you tell me you are going to do something, then you dang well better do it or i'm done with that. People have good excuses sometimes, but for the most part, it's just plain irresponsible and disrespectful to treat people that way. I felt REALLY good because my normal response would have been "it's ok" and told her when to come back. Instead, I said "this has really inconvenienced me and i'm not sure what i'll do." One of my co-workers says I don't speak my mind because I try to make everyone happy, and I do. It comes from being a middle child and the family peace maker, but when she told me that I recognized that I still do it even though I KNOW what I think and feel, so I'm working on saying what I think. And then, to top it off, Hilltop, home of my beloved steak night, is CLOSED this week!!! And I knew that!!!! I just forgot!!! Walter & I went to another seafood/steak restaurant near our house and it was good, but nothing compares to Hilltop. So, I just had to create this post to vent a little about my very frustrating day, and now I will let it go, along with my housekeeper! My next door neighbor's niece cleans houses and i've been wanting to know what she charges, and this is as good of a time as any to find out! So, thanks for listening!!! You've been a big help!