Jerri and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day August 28, 2013 Today is the second time in a week that I find my life following the pattern in a children’s book. Today’s story is: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. By Judith Viorst. WARNING…this story has not been proofread…it is more free style! When I taught sixth grade reading/language arts…I loved to do various activities to enhance student engagement in my lessons. We had reading groups, writing groups, journals, reading logs, and I also read out loud. Many students enjoyed reading along as I read out loud. I loved reading about “Alexander” early in the year. The students would create their own “terrible day” stories complete with illustrations. Some of my former students are my FB friends. I decided today…I needed to write my own “terrible day” story…but without the pictures! My story is dedicated to my former Starling Middle School students. The last few days have been so busy…and I was looking forward to a day of pampering starting with a 90-minute massage. I went to bed and set my alarm to get up early. My day started with me waking up late. I checked my iPhone and had set the alarm to go off at 8:00 p.m. not 8:00 a.m. Then I noticed that Massage Envy had called and left a message. My massage therapist had called in sick! Would I like to reschedule? No, I needed a massage today. Sorry, they said…we have no openings. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Then I remembered there was another Massage Envy not too far away…maybe they had an opening. I called right away. We can help, they said…but we only have a 60-minute time available. I thought I could make it work if I left right away. So, I gathered my things and ran out the door. I jumped in my car and turned on the key and nothing happened. What? This cannot be! I just bought a battery at Wally World, don’t you see?? I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I ran back into the house and cried…Bob where are you? I need your car! Mine won’t start…and I have lots and lots of appointments I must keep. Bob was very helpful…because he knew I was making a Fed Ex drop for him! I rarely drive Bob’s SUV…it is much too big for me! I pulled out of the driveway and checked my iPhone… and I could tell it didn’t get charged very well. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I thought I would return a few calls on my way. So far…so good. Maybe, just maybe…it all was going to be OK. I arrived to my massage appointment with time to spare. The massage was great. I had time for lunch and time for a few errands. I ate lunch at Chili’s and went to my first stop. My first stop was Barnes & Noble. I needed to return a book that was sent to me in error. I waited in line for the next cashier. I told her I had planned on ordering the book, but my computer said, “Your order cannot be processed. You must call customer service”. I then ordered the book from Amazon. A few days later the second book arrived. The cashier said,” I need to call my manager”. The manager comes over. She tells me she doesn’t know what to do. She would need to make a call. OK, I tell her I need to go pick up my watch at the Fix-It Shop. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I get to the Fix-It Shop and once again get in line. Now it is my turn. “Hello. I am here to pick up my watch”. They take my last name, which starts with an “E”. They begin searching in all the bins. “Were you called?” they asked. “Yes”, I replied. “Did you talk to someone or did they leave a message?” “I spoke with a woman.” “Are you sure she said it was ready?” “Yes.” “Maybe they filed it under “J” for my first name.” No it wasn’t there. Finally, they found it under “C”. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I go back to Barnes & Noble to see what the manger found out. She put my total owed on a gift card, while telling me they will not refund my shipping in the future. I replied…”they said they were not going to complete my order”. I’m back on the road, heading to my next appointment. I decide to call my brother, Chuck to check on another brother, Jim who had been admitted into the hospital. My phone hung up a few things because it was not fully charged. I get to my next appointment early. I continue to charge my phone and talk to Chuck. He was telling me a story connected to “911”. I told him during that time I was the Principal at Dominion Middle School. Two staff members had relatives in the area at the time…they later heard they were all right. All of the sudden…I remembered a former student who passed away during that same time period. He had leukemia. (I had a sister who died from leukemia years ago.) I just started crying. I was so sad. I talked about how the community really came together for him and his family during his illness and death. I looked at the clock and realized it was time for my appointment and if I didn’t hurry...I would be late! I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I sign in and wait my turn. A lady I don’t know calls my name. I wondered where my lady is. I tell her I need to charge my phone. We plug my phone in. She asks a few questions and soon I am on my way. I have about an hour or so before my next appointment. I get ready to leave and realize I can’t find the car keys. It’s 103 degrees outside…in the shade. I walk outside and looked in the window and saw the keys. I came back into the lobby. I found an outlet to charge my phone so I could call AAA. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I left a message for my next appointment. I told her I was right down the street...but I wasn’t sure if I could keep my appointment since my keys were locked in the car. I called AAA. I gave them all the info… then I realized I was talking to a person at a call center. Not the local AAA. I was transferred to the local AAA and they asked the same questions. Then they wanted to know what kind of car, make, and color. I said, “I can tell you it is blue”. I couldn’t remember what kind of car/SUV Bob had. I told the lady I am in the lobby, the car is right in front of the building. I will see AAA when they arrive. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, day! Within thirty minuets AAA arrived. They popped open the door in less than five minutes. I got inside and drove to my next and final appointment. I got there early…and checked more email. This appointment was fine. Now, I needed to drop a package off at FedEx. I walked right in…and there was no line! I decided to go across the street to another Barnes & Noble...to buy the book about “Alexander”. I also bought a “Purple Peace” phone purse and a cool pack of markers. I started heading back home. I called Bob to tell him I was getting on the freeway. Bob told me he was fixing taco salad for dinner. It should be ready when I got home. I returned more phone calls. It looked like things had finally turned around!! I pulled into my community and I saw a beautiful full rainbow. Then I remembered…it takes both the rain and sunshine to create a rainbow. I stopped the SUV and took a picture with my iPhone that was about to shut down again. I didn’t capture the full rainbow…but I do think I got the perfect picture. I was so grateful to be HOME and have dinner waiting too! We can’t always control what happens to us…but we can control how we respond. Tomorrow is going to be an Awesome Day! Jerri and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day August 28, 2013 Today is the second time in a week that I find my life following the pattern in a children’s book. Today’s story is: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. By Judith Viorst. WARNING…this story has not been proofread…it is more free style! When I taught sixth grade reading/language arts…I loved to do various activities to enhance student engagement in my lessons. We had reading groups, writing groups, journals, reading logs, and I also read out loud. Many students enjoyed reading along as I read out loud. I loved reading about “Alexander” early in the year. The students would create their own “terrible day” stories complete with illustrations. Some of my former students are my FB friends. I decided today…I needed to write my own “terrible day” story…but without the pictures! My story is dedicated to my former Starling Middle School students. The last few days have been so busy…and I was looking forward to a day of pampering starting with a 90-minute massage. I went to bed and set my alarm to get up early. My day started with me waking up late. I checked my iPhone and had set the alarm to go off at 8:00 p.m. not 8:00 a.m. Then I noticed that Massage Envy had called and left a message. My massage therapist had called in sick! Would I like to reschedule? No, I needed a massage today. Sorry, they said…we have no openings. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Then I remembered there was another Massage Envy not too far away…maybe they had an opening. I called right away. We can help, they said…but we only have a 60-minute time available. I thought I could make it work if I left right away. So, I gathered my things and ran out the door. I jumped in my car and turned on the key and nothing happened. What? This cannot be! I just bought a battery at Wally World, don’t you see?? I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I ran back into the house and cried…Bob where are you? I need your car! Mine won’t start…and I have lots and lots of appointments I must keep. Bob was very helpful…because he knew I was making a Fed Ex drop for him! I rarely drive Bob’s SUV…it is much too big for me! I pulled out of the driveway and checked my iPhone… and I could tell it didn’t get charged very well. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I thought I would return a few calls on my way. So far…so good. Maybe, just maybe…it all was going to be OK. I arrived to my massage appointment with time to spare. The massage was great. I had time for lunch and time for a few errands. I ate lunch at Chili’s and went to my first stop. My first stop was Barnes & Noble. I needed to return a book that was sent to me in error. I waited in line for the next cashier. I told her I had planned on ordering the book, but my computer said, “Your order cannot be processed. You must call customer service”. I then ordered the book from Amazon. A few days later the second book arrived. The cashier said,” I need to call my manager”. The manager comes over. She tells me she doesn’t know what to do. She would need to make a call. OK, I tell her I need to go pick up my watch at the Fix-It Shop. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I get to the Fix-It Shop and once again get in line. Now it is my turn. “Hello. I am here to pick up my watch”. They take my last name, which starts with an “E”. They begin searching in all the bins. “Were you called?” they asked. “Yes”, I replied. “Did you talk to someone or did they leave a message?” “I spoke with a woman.” “Are you sure she said it was ready?” “Yes.” “Maybe they filed it under “J” for my first name.” No it wasn’t there. Finally, they found it under “C”. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I go back to Barnes & Noble to see what the manger found out. She put my total owed on a gift card, while telling me they will not refund my shipping in the future. I replied…”they said they were not going to complete my order”. I’m back on the road, heading to my next appointment. I decide to call my brother, Chuck to check on another brother, Jim who had been admitted into the hospital. My phone hung up a few things because it was not fully charged. I get to my next appointment early. I continue to charge my phone and talk to Chuck. He was telling me a story connected to “911”. I told him during that time I was the Principal at Dominion Middle School. Two staff members had relatives in the area at the time…they later heard they were all right. All of the sudden…I remembered a former student who passed away during that same time period. He had leukemia. (I had a sister who died from leukemia years ago.) I just started crying. I was so sad. I talked about how the community really came together for him and his family during his illness and death. I looked at the clock and realized it was time for my appointment and if I didn’t hurry...I would be late! I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I sign in and wait my turn. A lady I don’t know calls my name. I wondered where my lady is. I tell her I need to charge my phone. We plug my phone in. She asks a few questions and soon I am on my way. I have about an hour or so before my next appointment. I get ready to leave and realize I can’t find the car keys. It’s 103 degrees outside…in the shade. I walk outside and looked in the window and saw the keys. I came back into the lobby. I found an outlet to charge my phone so I could call AAA. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I left a message for my next appointment. I told her I was right down the street...but I wasn’t sure if I could keep my appointment since my keys were locked in the car. I called AAA. I gave them all the info… then I realized I was talking to a person at a call center. Not the local AAA. I was transferred to the local AAA and they asked the same questions. Then they wanted to know what kind of car, make, and color. I said, “I can tell you it is blue”. I couldn’t remember what kind of car/SUV Bob had. I told the lady I am in the lobby, the car is right in front of the building. I will see AAA when they arrive. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, day! Within thirty minuets AAA arrived. They popped open the door in less than five minutes. I got inside and drove to my next and final appointment. I got there early…and checked more email. This appointment was fine. Now, I needed to drop a package off at FedEx. I walked right in…and there was no line! I decided to go across the street to another Barnes & Noble...to buy the book about “Alexander”. I also bought a “Purple Peace” phone purse and a cool pack of markers. I started heading back home. I called Bob to tell him I was getting on the freeway. Bob told me he was fixing taco salad for dinner. It should be ready when I got home. I returned more phone calls. It looked like things had finally turned around!! I pulled into my community and I saw a beautiful full rainbow. Then I remembered…it takes both the rain and sunshine to create a rainbow. I stopped the SUV and took a picture with my iPhone that was about to shut down again. I didn’t capture the full rainbow…but I do think I got the perfect picture. I was so grateful to be HOME and have dinner waiting too! We can’t always control what happens to us…but we can control how we respond. Tomorrow is going to be an Awesome Day!
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 07:57:19 +0000
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