Tuesday, November 11, 2008

How was your day?

It’s been snowing, sleeting, raining today depending on the hour. I’m having trouble with my neck and every day as I sit down to write the next issue of Notes from Toad Hall I have trouble concentrating. Am trying to be matter-of-fact about this slow-down. Today I thought, no matter the weather, I’ll walk down to Caribou, get a coffee, (as a treat – first time in a week, honest) come back here and get busy. I grabbed a little cash. Left the door unlocked, cell on desk, no key (stupid woman), and out into the sleet. Ran into Darcy, the manager, who told me all about the two new puppies she and her boyfriend are getting. The other barista needed to tell me about how on the way to work today she saw a car spin out and total the car next to her. Stupid drivers! she said. It took longer than I planned. Walked back home in rain and cold. Meanwhile a friend who’s been sleeping at our house left and responsibly locked the door.

Denis is sick. He’d gone back to bed with a noise machine going. I rang the doorbell over and over. Pounded on the door again and again. Stood on the porch watching it snow for twenty minutes. Drank my coffee to keep warm. Banged on the door some more hoping the vibrations would penetrate the bedroom. Useless. I went around to the side yard, thought about throwing a brick up at the window. And (brilliant woman) realized he might hear me call since the window is slightly open so we can sleep in arctic temperatures under polar tech. I bellowed, DENIS! Finally woke him up and he let me in. He said he dreamed that someone was making jewelry with little hammers. He felt bad, I felt sheepish and dispirited.

I won’t be ending this with … and so, I’m grateful for shelter, meaningful work, a husband who loves me despite all, because it’s Veteran’s Day and there is no mail which means the netflix I was hoping for won’t be arriving, and because I’m a petty, fallen, indulgent creature. …maybe tomorrow.

15 comments:

domandkat said...

Thanks for ending grumpily...

Anonymous said...

Margie,

Glad you made it inside. What an adventure....I really smiled when you mentioned your lack of netflix in the mail today. I had the exact same experience.

(well, not the part about being locked out of the house....only the part about the lack of the expected red envelope)

Alina said...

Oh, man. That sounds like one of those days. I laughed out loud at the jewelers with "little hammers." Call me crazy but the rain, sleet, snow combo sounds delightful to this Floridian.

Jessie said...

Maybe you'll laugh at it this time next week.

And on another note, I just finished the last issue of Notes this weekend; so know that, as "painful" as it is for you in the moment, the blessing goes on and on for others well into the future. Thank you for putting your heart in to it!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like my day yesterday. Finished cleaning up the soda pop that had sprayed all over the kitchen when a can accidentally got punctured--the second cleaning, since everything still felt sticky after the first cleaning--washed out the salsa that my son spilled inside his backpack (left over from his lunch), and then while he was wiping out the backpack, he knocked over the open bag of pretzel sticks that were sitting on the counter, all over the floor. The entire bag. Newly opened. Pretzel dust and all.
Not to mention the new puppy's contributions to messes throughout the day.
It's a good thing God's mercies are new every morning.
Hope your red envelope comes tomorrow! :)

Margie Haack said...

Friends! This so proves misery loves company.

Travis said...

hah! i just read this out loud to brooke and it was hard to get through as we were both chuckling and laughing. with you, not at you of course. tiny little hammers, classic. sounds like a band name doesn't?

jenni said...

It's hard for me to be chipper and grateful on days like that, too. I hope today is much better.

Anonymous said...

Isobel pooped on the floor, I got locked out of work for an hour and then spilled three candles worth of hot wax not ON, but IN my shoes. The big question: laugh or cry? But on a better note, MY red envelope was waiting for me when I got home.

Margie Haack said...

Your red envelope?

Anonymous said...

Netflix, ma. You know, the little red envelope in the mail. :) Abbie knows what I'm talking about. Hope today was better. I love ya.

Margie Haack said...

smart a--.

david, kelly & sam said...

margie and sember,
i love you both! I knew what the RED ENVELOPE was b/c i get them too. :) also, david called me a smart a-- the first time he met my mom...that's how she knew he was my future husband!

Anonymous said...

What happens when a quirky scandalous woman marries a smart a-- man? They have little sarcastic smart a-- babies who grow into smart a-- adults seeking revenge for being written about so many times without permission.

Anonymous said...

You commenters are a frisky bunch!

:-)