Should have seen it coming

Yesterday I left work at 3:00, ninety minutes early, for which I will not be paid. Drove home at breakneck speed, grabbed the kids, hopped back in the car. Drove to the town in which we used to live, battling early rush hour traffic, all for my son’s school physical appointment.

 

We arrived at 4:09.

The appointment was for 4:15.

The parking lot was vacant.

The offices were dark.

The doors were locked.

 

I called the doctor. The answering service picked up, said the office stops answering calls at 4:00 but they’re open until 5:00. They tried to reach them; no answer. They “didn’t know what to tell me.” We waited ‘til 4:27, hoping in vain that someone would show up and/or my blood pressure would go down. Then we drove back home. Two hours in the car roundtrip. I could have driven to NY in that time.

 

This morning I called the doctor and was immediately put on hold. Then the receptionist said, “Yeah, it looks like we tried to call you…no answer…wrong number.” No explanation of why the office was closed, although I assume it was due to a doctor’s pressing golf engagement. Certainly no apology. Because, of course, it’s my fault for not calling ahead to verify the appointment. The customer/patient must do all the legwork.

 

Me: “The answering service said you should have been open ‘til 5:00.”

Her: “Oh, they must have thought you were talking about the N-wich office.”

Me: “Um, I told them I was standing outside the C-chester office.”

Her: “Yeah, they get confused.”

Me (WTF?): “Well, I guess I need to reschedule this appointment.”

Her: “Do you have a new number we can reach you on?”

Me: “It’s the same number I gave you when I made the appointment.”

Her (rifling papers, perhaps seeing they did in fact have the correct number): “When would you like to come in?”
Me: “Well, I guess I’m looking at November now. I’m going on maternity leave November 6^th and I can’t afford to take off any more time for appointments that are going to be cancelled.”

Her (ignoring my sarcasm): “I have November 2^nd available.”

Me: “No, I need something after November 6^th.” (Duh?)

 

Wow. Just…wow.

Today’s SNAFU

My kids start attending the after school program today. Normally they meet and walk home together; I’m just assuming that my son reminded my daughter to get on the bus instead of waiting for him to walk home.

 

Yes…I will give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

My daughter has dance class on Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30. Normally my husband drops her off; however, due to the fact that he’s now employed and working until 5:00, I’m on the case. My supervisor did agree to let me leave an hour early on Tuesdays as long as I make up the hour by staying 30 minutes late two other days (which makes me wonder: does she have to make up her time when she leaves early for bowling every Thursday?).

 

So this morning, I gathered up the dance bag. Made sure we had socks, outfit, two pairs of dance shoes. Decided I’d keep it in my car so that she wouldn’t have to try to fit it in her locker or leave it at school. The plan is to take it to the after school program and have her change there, or change at dance class. It’s gonna be tight, just like yesterday’s drive.

 

A little while ago, I received a call from the man. The phones are down and they were let out at 1:00. Great news! Now he can pick up the kids and take the girl to dance class. And I don’t have to leave an hour early (and stay late the next two nights). Ohhh, but wait…the dance bag. Yeah, it’s in my car. Never mind. Get ready, for the second day in a row, to risk life and limb trying to get kids delivered to their extracurricular activities.