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To hell in a hand basket.....

2/27/2013

13 Comments

 
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I don't think I looked this graceful when I fell but the chin and glasses show a close resemblance.
I would like to share yesterday with you.  It wasn’t extraordinary, just crazy: an accumulation of bad energy leading to a calamity of errors and I've got the wet pants and bruises to prove it.

I’ll set the tale spinning by first setting the stage with the events of the day before. Monday I had to get up at 6:30 to take my two male pups to the Vet’s for the snip at 8
:OO.  I’m not used to getting up that early, I’m never conscious until about 8:30, but I managed to make it there on time
and after a few hugs and wet kisses I left my babies in strange hands, something that tugged my heart strings all the way home.  Having to leave my babies for surgery created a lot of anxiety but I didn’t want them to sense my  worry  and stress them more than they already were, so I told them they were going on an fun adventure......oh the guilt!

So I drive back home for breakfast to drown my sorrow in bacon, the number one comfort food
on the planet. I love bacon and would eat it every day if not for the cooking mess and the fact that it’ll kill ya.  But it worked its magic and I almost forgot to worry until the phone rang just as I was leaving for work. 
It was the vet office and I knew it had to be something bad. My heart jumped to my throat until I heard the words, “don’t panic, nothing is wrong” (they know me well) but then listened to the surgeon tell me that both of my boys had an elevated ALT liver enzyme and it was best not to  proceed with surgery until we fixed it. 

The only logical thing to do was have the girls tested as well, to see if they were all effected and if so, then it was a dietary problem.  So I took my girls in for the same test and sure enough they all had the elevated count to a greater or lesser degree.   We could rule out toxins...there is nothing in my life that would harm a fly, even my floors are washed with vinegar.  As far as we can tell, I’ve been feeding them too rich a diet of protein and not enough carbs.  So the plan is to stuff them with potato, rice and veggies, along with meat, for a two week period and then have them retested and hopefully get them neutered.  All this took several hours and the morning was now shot.  I didn't get to the shop until noon.  Sorry to anyone who came by but my hairy kids trump rug hooking.  Emergencies happen, and besides, it's not like I'm running a Walmart...it's just a little craft business and sometimes life has bumps that need to be flattened.   
 
Getting the males neurtered is a bit of a panic as the two boys have come into their own and have taken a shining to the girls.  Poor Honey and Fiz  are sitting on their woowoos pretty much most of the day.  I'm doing a lot of monitoring and separating.   It's amazing how insistent the boys can be when they're surged with testosterone.   Luckily it comes and goes so we all get a reprieve but I can’t leave them alone for a second or goodness knows what I’d find when I get home.  The two boys would be smoking a cigarette and the girls would be phoning the rape hotline.   I'm just making a joke...I'm not insensative to anyone that has been raped)

So that was my day Monday.  Long and tiring and then after a sleepless night I wasn’t in the best shape Tuesday morning and was late for work again.  Cooking potatoes and carrots and chicken for the pups wasn’t part of my regular routine so that slowed me down on top of the regular dragging of feet. 

So I get to work and the phone rings.  I had made up a custom kit for a woman last week who was at the door at 10:00 and waited ½ hour for me to show up.  I hadn’t realized she would be there at that time but that doesn’t really matter, I was in the wrong.   I should have known better and posted a sign on the door.  The woman was wild. Told me so, said she was not a happy camper and it wasn’t the words she used, it was the way they were enunciated.  I could see her teeth in my head as she snarled out the words.   She then asked if I plan be in on Thursday at 10:00 and I said of course, I always plan to be there, things just happen, and she hung up on me.


Now it was my fault but there are better ways to communicate and being rude isn’t fair.  You  can get your point across without maiming the receiver. I’m not proud of it, but when people go off on me I sink to a dark place and I wallow there.  I can’t just brush it off or let it cascade down my back.  It’s a part of me that I don’t like but I guess past experiences have impaired the ability to bounce back as fast as I should.   Defend & Deflect...that should be my motto!  No one likes to be treated in a mean way and I  let it brow beat me…give it power I shouldn’t.  I was wrong to be late, but I am only one person doing the best I can, there was no need to treat me that unkindly.   I got the feeling if I told her something serious had happened, maybe a death or an accident, it wouldn’t have mattered in the least.  
 
So that set my mood for the day and a dark cloud followed me about, waiting for the opportunity to rain down on me.   I phoned hubby and he helped  talk me into a better place but it was still nagging at me for most of the day, making it difficult to smile and count my blessings.  When upset, my entire body slumps like a whipped child and was probably the reason I couldn't  lift my leg as high as I should have. 


I tripped on the handle of a basket coming out of the closet under the staircase in the shop.   I twisted my foot and bent back the big and second toe in an odd angle.  Now footless, I dropped to my knees like a lead brick.  Now legless, the top part of my body fell forward and came down on the sharp corner of my desk in the middle of my throat, right in the esophagus area!   Seeing the edge coming toward me in an almost slow motion fall, I braced my right shoulder to take some of
the impact and in the process hit my collar bone pretty hard as well. 
 

As the pain of the fall and the realization of what could have happened hit me I started to cry.  I kept swallowing to make sure I was okay, then sat on the floor like a big baby and sobbed my heart out.  Funny how a few tears can release every ounce of stress building in your system and open the flood gates to a good old fashioned bawl.   My son ran to my side to see if I needed an ambulance but I assured him I would be alright.   I was ranting and wailing as I slowly got to my feet while thanking my lucky stars that it wasn’t more serious. I kept swallowing, it felt like I had a ball in there but it was only sore and not damaged.   Luckily I'm not a man with an Adam’s apple or it would have been apple sauce!  

So, I limped around the rest of the day, favouring my right knee the most as it sent shoots of pain up my thigh….some sort of nerve quiver. My left knee is just bruised and sore. I was soooooooooo very lucky I’m a tough old bird physically.   To bad the mental part wouldn't follow suit. 

So the universe wasn’t through with me yet.  You can't dump that much negativity and not expect the boomerang effect.  Wallowing will be pummeled with more crap…that’s the law.   I was limping around feeling sorry for myself with an upside-down smile, priming myself for more  disaster.  I had to work late to get an order out and by 9:00 I was  aching, tired, hungry and cranky so I was locking up when an overwhelming urge to sneeze gripped me.  I tried to brace my sore body from the force but nothing could soften that blow.  I sneezed like I was trying to catapult a dust fragment from the tip of my big toe up and out through my nose, and my full bladder just couldn't handle the assault.  So...I peed my pants.  How cheery and such a lovely cherry on the sundae of my day! 
 

So I drove home thinking I'd better start smiling or goodness knows what would be waiting for me...not dinner or a warm house that's for sure!  So I soaked in an Epsom Salt bath and put on my jammies and made dinner for the hairy kids and me hoping I wouldn't be too stiff in the morning. So I had a bad day and although I'm stiff and sore, I can see the humour in it.  I keep saying everyday is an adventure for me....nothing is ever boring!  I attract stories like white cat hair on a black dress. 

So I think I need to change the hours of shop operation.  I  find it hard to get there at 10:00 and the stress of keeping people waiting makes it even worse so maybe I’ll change the hours to come by chance between 10-10-30, giving me a half hour extra to get there if needed.    I used to open at 10:30 when I was on 14 Pleasant Street and I don’t know why I changed it so I’ll go back to it and hopefully that will spare folks from waiting and me from being at the end of their wrath when I screw up.  Life can be so complicated…..



New Shop Hours
Until further notice.....Opening somewhere between 10:00 - 10:30 Monday to Saturday..... closed at 5:00 as always, but I am usually here working late if you want to call after hours. 
                                                     
13 Comments
Donna
2/27/2013 02:03:48 am

Sorry you had such a bad day. You at least had a great ability to be in touch with your feelings. I've had a few customers like the one you had. Fortunately, they have been few. Hard to deal with, but I usually come away with a few lessons. If nothing else, I know never to treat someone else (at least I hope) like that. Days like yours, and I've had 'em, make me really appreciate the good ones all that much more.

Reply
Starr
2/27/2013 02:13:51 am

Christine,
I was told after I've had those days similar to yours, we need the bad in order to appreciate the good ones and rejoiced in the good days more instead of taking them for granted. Now I try to rejoice everyday just to keep from having a bad day! ( my crazy way of thinking).

Reply
Christine Chapman
2/27/2013 03:00:52 am

Oh my Dear,

Relax and do as you can and remember that, unless someone called and set an appointment with you for a specific time, they need to relax. It's common to arrive at a shop and see "closed due to unforeseen circumstances", or "back in 5" that turns into 30.

Unless they have made an appointment, they have to understand that life happens to everyone...not just their "special snowflake" self.

I'm sorry you had to deal with someone else's bad day on top of your own.

Hope today is going better for you :)
Chris

Reply
Joni Black link
2/27/2013 03:44:53 am

Oh dear - what a day you had! I felt so bad for you, I'm with you on the fur babies - they take priority in my life too. I am sorry to say that that woman could have been a little more compassionate and realized that things do happen and it was not because you were lazing in bed eating bon bons. Life happens. I am glad you are ok (I hope so) and that you have bounced right back. I know it can be hard to deal with negativity - it sours my whole day too but over the years i've learned you just have to flick it away. Take care! Joni

Reply
trish levan
2/27/2013 04:03:00 am

I so identify with your fall, and the spontaneous tears. Also unfortunately with the wet pants! So glad you didn't hurt yourself more. It sounds like it could have gone bad easily. Take care of yourself

Reply
Eva Pearce-Ingram
2/27/2013 05:56:55 am

My goodness, hope you will feel much better in a few days. I have to say more happened to you in one day than most people in a full month. I am sure it was a case of Murphy's Law, what could go wrong certainly did go wrong. Overlook the rude customer and focus on all the happy ones. I so enjoy all of your facebook posting an look forward to coming to your shop in the near future.

Eva, Dartmouth, NS

Reply
Glenna
2/27/2013 09:52:36 am

lol...sorry...lol...Ok I will stop now. You have to admit that this day is one of those days that you see in the movies. I feel sssoooo bad that you got dumped on and the babies were having troubles and yes you were very lucky with your fall (you could have been hurt very badly) and yes I feel bad that you peed your pants...lol..sorry...I am done laughing now,I really hope you have a great weekend!!! see you soon

Reply
Myrna
2/27/2013 09:59:17 am

Christene Little....................priceless!
Your attitude is inspiring...............sorry you had such a dreadful day. Hope you heal quickly.

Reply
Christine Little link
2/27/2013 10:29:47 am

Thank-you all for your kinds words! I'm feeling very lucky today despite the stiffness. Like Bond, I'll live to "DYE ANOTHER DAY".

Reply
Stacey Van Dyne
2/27/2013 07:26:27 pm

Sorry you had such a rotten day and I'm glad you weren't hurt worse. I don't like to wait either when I expect a place to be open but life does happen & it's not like you have employees who are around to cover when it does. Some people are just too full of themselves. Try to forget the bad ones & appreciate the good ones. I am definitely going to get to your shop in June & I will wait for you to open, whatever time that happens to be & I won't complain if I have to wait either. Take care of yourself.

Reply
Charlene Scott
2/28/2013 01:37:53 pm

Christine
Sending happy thoughts your way and encouragement to the girls (Honey and Fiz) that their trials will be over soon. There is never any reason to be so rude. Gains one nothing in the end and the waiter might spit in their soup.

Reply
Anne Lewis
3/12/2013 01:51:52 am

Love the Pup in a Cup photo. Looks like: With Cream.

Reply
Anne Lewis
3/12/2013 01:52:35 am

Love the "Pup in a Cup" photo "with cream".

Reply



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