Only SMART librarians have good Mondays...

When I woke up this morning, I had full intentions of having a good day. Why wouldn't I have a good day? I had a great weekend - time with my kids, time with my grandkids, time with my husband, and a couple of really nice long naps. The perfect weekend! Therefore, I was all set to follow it up with a great work week. You see, I am one of those CRAZY individuals who is not only grateful to have a job but who LIKES their job!

So, I got up, threw on my clothes brushed my hair, combed my teeth (wait... reverse that) and started to put on my shoes but I couldn't find my one of my red flip flops (well, poop!). That's O.K. though, I just threw on my red tennis shoes instead. Before I left the house, my daughter (a college student who is currently at home) told me she was going out of town for a few days to visit friends. I told her that was fine but I would feel a little better if she posed it as a question rather than a statement (you know, out of respect). She then treated me to a 10 minute diatribe on the fact that she is 19 years old and a grown woman and should be treated as such. (I almost began the "then perhaps you should pay rent or get your own place" rebuttal but I stopped myself.) "This is going to be a good day," I thought. I just said, "Well, I understand how you feel and hope you understand how I feel. Have a great time... Text me before you leave." And I left for the Library.

On the way to work, I enjoyed the weather. (Those of you who know me, know that I am a rainy day girl but the sun wasn't too hot and the breeze was just perfect! It was a great Spring Day!) The ticket machine was out of tickets when I pulled into the parking garage, which kind of backed up traffic but that's alright. I still stayed positive and made it into work right on time. I greeted everyone cheerfully but apparently a few people had called in sick and being short of staff had brought the mood down to "Yuck!" But I just kept smiling... Yes, it was going to be a busy day but HEY! it would make the day go faster (At least that is what I kept telling myself!) I did, however, try to tone down the "chipper-ness" because it was VERY OBVIOUSLY pissing people off.

By lunch, in addition to my usually duties, I had been called a moron by a patron who called the library in search of an answer for her crossword puzzle (I transferred her to a SMART librarian), my computer needed to be rebooted three times, I had tried to explain the microfilm machine to a really elderly couple who were incredibly hard of hearing and wanted to see the local paper for the entire year of 1932, and tried to convince another couple who were looking to attend a meeting in Room 403 that we did not have a Room 403 (we don't even have a fourth floor). I have to admit that at this point my good mood was wavering a bit but I just thought lunch would replenish me and I would comeback strong! I was wrong, so very, very wrong!

I went home at lunch, nuked a frozen burrito, folded a load of laundry and headed to the bank. That is when Satan (the ATM machine) ate my card. Just ate it, before I could even get any money. I called the bank on the way back to work and the teller I spoke to seemed a little perturbed that I wanted my card back. She said told me that the repair people would be in the next day and then they would just shred the card. I asked her NOT to shred the card and she said... seriously said this... "What did you want us to do with it?". I offered to come pick it up, she finally (hesitantly) said that was alright.

WhenI got back to work the mood was worse but I fought through it. At 4:30 I started to get excited! "Only half an hour more to go", I thought, "and then I am going home and crawling into bed!" I would just start over tomorrow! Right? Wrong! At 4:35, my son called to tell me my daughter had left (she did NOT text me, like I asked) and that he had a band concert... TONIGHT! (He claims he didn't know.) Oh yeah, and he needed a new pair of pants! So I left work at 5, picked up my son, borrowed some money from my mom (no ATM card, remember?), and went to 3 different place before he found the right pants in his size. We then came back home, I kissed my husband good-bye (he was leaving to Umpire a baseball game), I did the dishes while my son took a shower (he then yelled at me to stop because it was stealing his hot water), and then he got dressed quickly and we left for the concert.

I sat through the concert and applauded at all the right moments (my son did spectacularly). After the concert we had to stop at the store before we could go home. And here I am, venting to all of you. What started as a good day, slipped downhill so quickly! But maybe it will be better tomorrow.

Anyway, I am sorry that this is all I have to offer you today but it has been... "a day". But tomorrow is another day. Hopefully no one will call in sick, I will get my ATM card back (in one piece), and I will know any crossword puzzle answers that patrons ask me. Well, I guess "Hope Springs Eternal".