Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Drowning in blue...

I left the house this evening for a quick trip to drop my RX off at Walgreens...then to get gas, pick up dinner, and go back home...
Dropped my prescription off.  Everything went bad after that...
I ran out of gas in the gas station parking lot.  If only my car had made it just a couple more feet to the pump...
So there I sat, stranded at the gas station...And of course, there must be a run on gas or something, because cars were lined up all around...and everyone was giving me dirty looks for not getting my car out of the way...
I called D, no answer.  My grandparents, no answer.  My brother, no answer.  D again, no answer.  I called home to let C know what happened, and she is, of course, online, so I couldn't get through.  Finally, I called my mom at work...there was nothing she could do, of course, being at work, but she could at least listen to me cry out of frustration. 
She told me to try to push the car.  I tried, but I couldn't get it over the hump.  She told me to go in and ask for help.  I told her that I only saw one worker in there, who was extremely busy with the hundred people who decided to get gas between 7 and 8 p.m. tonight.  She said ask a customer for help...
I couldn't possibly have done that...First, because I'm shy...Second, because they were all giving me dirty looks since I was blocking everything...and Third, because I live in a melting pot neighborhood and I swear I didn't hear anyone that could speak enough English to understand me, and my Spanish doesn't extend beyond numbers...
Finally, someone approached my window and asked if I need help.  Guess who?  Out of all the hundred MEN that came in and out of the gas station parking lot and heard me trying to start my car, after twenty minutes, it's the one and only WOMAN customer who comes and offers help...
So the two of us WOMEN were able to push my car over the hump and out of the way...
Go, girl power...who needs guys anyway?!
...
I left work early yesterday because I was SICK, and didn't go to work today...I went to the doctor and he gave me an antibiotic and told me to stay out of work until Monday.
But then I wouldn't be able to go to Midnight Madness on Friday, and I couldn't possibly miss that...so I'm going to try very hard to get all better tomorrow. 
Very hard.
...
I took my daughter out of school last week and told her she wouldn't go back if she didn't want to.  I then received opposition from all sides, including...
My mom, who kind of agreed with me, but says it was too sudden...
My grandma, who told me I was ruining my daughter's chance for a good education...
D, who told me that I should have at least made her stay in until fall break (which starts this Monday)...
The really bad part was that, on the very same day, C had her first appointment with her new therapist.  Dr. W said that homeschooling would make his job infinitely more difficult...because the last thing socially 'immature' children need is to be completely isolated...etc etc etc.
Well, I hardly think being 'isolated' for a few months would make a huge difference, but anyway...
C and I discussed it and she agreed to go back to school for one more day, so that she wouldn't have an absence on her record, while we went in and spoke with the principal about our issues.
New principal this year.  She's really nice.
The next day, C informed me she was going to stay at school after all...mean kids and all...because she wants to go on the eighth grade field trip to Washington D.C.
She's serious, too.
I had no idea a field trip could carry this much weight. 
(I should, though, because I still remember my eighth grade field trip...we went to Space Camp...so, so cool...)
So what do I do?  She's still miserable, but she actually WANTS to stay.
So I let her go back this week...the principal said she would make some changes and...she actually did...Principal called the ringleaders down to her office individually and 'talked' with them...Principal changed the rules at lunchroom and C can now sit wherever she wants...
Things have been marginally better since then.  It encourages me to see these changes being made, just for my daughter.  I was looking forward to homeschooling her, but also a little apprehensive about what it meant for my daughter getting into a good high school next year, and how effective I would be at it, seeing that I work full time.
So I guess now I'm just going to wait and see.  I hate when life gets like this, and you have no idea what is the best thing to do...
...
Did I say, 'Who needs guys anyway?'
I take it back...this weekend, D paid to get my brakes fixed...$280.  I guess I do need my guy!  :)
...
So far in the last two weeks, I've had to get the fuel pump replaced and the brakes fixed.  The brake people said I need four new tires, too.  I'm supposed to try and get those Friday before going to LEXINGTON for MIDNIGHT MADNESS.
All this for a car that is barely three years old.
(sigh)
It's a Ford Focus.  Be warned...

5 comments:

  1. we did our stint with school bully last year.....It was horrid and I cried as much as she did....

    kelly

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  2. I remember when I was about 7, my parents had to take me to COlumbus for a Dr's appt with the cardiologist. We broke down along the intersate. At that time, there was no such thing as cell phones so we were pretty much stuck. We watched hundreds of cars zoom by as Dad frantically tried to get the car running out in the summer heat. Only one stopped... a nice young lady about 30 ish dressed in a nice dress. She took my Dad to the nearest exit for the items he needed to get the car running again and brought him back and wouldn't accept anything in return. I wonder how many men even gave it a thought to stop, seeing a woman and a young child in the car. What ever happened to the days of chivalry????

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  3. wow...

    At least someone finally helped you...and of course it was a woman!!  Men don't help unless they have to!!  lol

    And C...gotta give the girl credit for wanting to stay.  Good for her.  I know how hard this must be for you...but it sounds like things are on the way to settling down, and the principle helped calm things down a bit too...

    And yikes on your car!  It's a shame we need a car so much hey?

    *hugs*

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  4. I'm reading you entry and all I can think about is MIDNIGHT MADNESS!!!already! I miss KY so much I could cry every night. I will have to watch or listen via internet I guess. I'm dying here! Glad your daughter is taking the high road in the school. Character building sucks, but she will be okay, I just feel it through the tone of your entry. And that is so wrong that noone asked if you needed help..DUH! Thank God for women.

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  5. I hope things are better witht he car.  I am catching up on journals since I am hoem for a few weeks   john

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