Diversion

Wednesday:

I spent yesterday at home, mostly sleeping, instead of going to work. Today I had my last visit to my TAFE in the city, a consultation with a teacher about my big research assignment. I was feeling a lot better than yesterday so I decided not to cancel. Maybe not the best choice. When leaving home, I could hardly get out of our street due to traffic banked up on the main road. It turned out there was a big accident on the nearby bridge (at least one truck and several cars) so the road was closed. Everyone was diverted to next crossing, a long way around with only one lane each way (the usual bridge has three lanes each way). With so much traffic everything was slow, and we also had to inch around a minor bingle (car accident). Getting to the station took me an hour instead of about 15 minutes. And I had to park a long way from the station at that time of day. Of course I don't equate my minor inconvenience with what people actually in that big accident went through!

I was lucky enough to catch an express train to the city, and I walked really fast at the other end, so I ended up only 20 mins late - for a 30 minute meeting. I was rather hot and tired by then from brisk walking while feeling sick! I even have a blister on my toe. But the meeting itself went well. My teacher was happy with my progress on the assignment, which is nearly finished. It was the last time I needed to go into TAFE, ever. I will see my teacher one more time when she comes to visit me at work to assess me there, otherwise I just have some online stuff and finishing work placement. My teacher mentioned they only have one graduation ceremony a year so I think that will be nearly 12 months away! I might just get them to mail it to me.

The trip home was much slower and less stressful, I half-dozed through most of the train journey. Didn't appreciate the icy rain getting back to the car. Very glad to finally get home again.

At least I got some exercise today!

Patience

Friday:

If yesterday was all sitting at home, today made up for it with a million errands. I was running around all day. I thought I would have some time at home but then got a call that one box hadn't been ticked on my son's passport application (interviewer's fault, not mine) so I take in some documents I'd already provided. Annoying. One other errand was frustrating at the time but turned out kind of interesting.

I'd decided I just had time to drop in and pay the deposit for the flooring we are getting installed next week, between picking up a book from the library and going to my physio appointment. I only had a few minutes to spare but I figured if there was a queue I'd just leave and come back later or another day. I was able to park nearly out front, and only put 10 cents in the parking metre, giving me 3 minutes. The store was empty save for two staff, perfect. The man who I'd been dealing with throughout the quote process wasn't there, so I was served by a fairly elderly man. Who was sloooooow. And didn't seem that keen on the whole technology thing, you know, computers and credit card machines and such. He passed my credit card through the machine every way except the right one, despite my helpful suggestions, and couldn't understand why he couldn't get it to work. He asked what day the flooring was being installed as he peered at his screen. Next Thursday, I said, the 18th. He couldn't find it. It's there on the invoice, I said, pointing. Still couldn't see it, as he scrolled around. Finally found it. Possibly realised he didn't actually need that information.

I'd remained standing so far, but now he invited me to sit while he carefully wrote me out a receipt, by hand. Slowly. Then printed out the computer receipt. Ambled to the printer to get it. Found the print-out from the credit card machine. Stapled them all together. Held it out. My intestines were wound pretty tight by this stage, I was calm and polite on the outside (to be fair I never said I was in a hurry) but knowing my parking would have expired (and Canberra parking officers are notoriously strict) and I was going to be late for physio. So I jumped to my feet and took the receipt. Or tried to. He wouldn't let go. He held tightly to it so he could point out various important notations. The total price. What I had paid. How much was left to pay. The fossilised remains of his last client's will to live. I thanked him, managed to wrench it out of his zombie hand, and leapt into action.

I kind of wish I could have seen his face, it might have been amusing. I went from a standing start into a sprint. I literally ran across the store to the door, ripped it open and ran down the street to my car, and sped off (not actually breaking the speed limit, or course). Luckily didn't get a parking fine, and made it to my appointment not noticeably late. But the funny thing was I really enjoyed sprinting out of the store. I have a mental image of this old guy gawping after me. Ah, the young kids of today, no patience.

Report card:
Diet: Ok. But I see chocolate in my near future.
Exercise: Ok. No deliberate exercise, but I moved around a lot today.
Water: Ok.
Sleep: Poor.
Mental health: Ok.