Coffee Break?

Not a good combination of  'events' and this has been the week from hell.  Do others have it worse than I?  Of course they do!!  In the grand scheme of things my week or so has been small potatoes, very petty.  Have I had worse weeks?  For sure!  I've had much worse months and years.  Funny how with the big things in life going awry you grit your teeth, pull up your socks (or 'gird your loins'...you pick...) and keep moving.  Why the little...no, miniscule, things drive one (or maybe just me) batty...who knows.  They just have.

Two weeks ago KW ordered a new book cover for my Kindle electronic reader.  Gawwd, it is beautiful...even has a beautiful name.  'Roof of Heaven'.  Actually, the name really appealed to me before I even looked closely at the design.  Plus it is hand-tooled leather and I have a strong weakness (Huh??? ..lolol) for anything leather.  Love the feel, love the smell.  She had actually won a Kindle, 2nd. generation, at a business event a few days prior, affording our household the luxury of owning two of them.  The new one, unlike my original, came without any kind of protective cover and since I had been drooling over the leather one for my own, decided her need was greater than mine.  I decided on FedEx shipping.  It had to come from CA. and I wanted it to be here before she took her trip to Chicago.  It didn't arrive on time so we had to make do with wrapping 'her' Kindle in padding etc.  When it did arrive, we were even more in love with this cover and she ordered one for mine...for my pending birthday.  I suggested that rather than pay the higher price for FedEx and since there was no immediacy for mine, have it sent USPS Priority Mail.  Wednesday of last week we were notified the cover was finished (they make each one to order and it takes about three days) and shipped.  I expected it this week.  Friday last I went to pick up the mail from those community mail and package boxes in our development.  Hurrah!  A key for a package box was in the mail box so I skipped merrily down to the bank of boxes to pick up my cover.  Not so fast...the key would not fit into the lock.  I tried countless times...no joy.  Several neighbours were standing by the mail boxes chatting and they offered to give it a go.  No harm in trying...they did with no more success than I.  Seemed like the key was slightly bent at the end but I was not gaining access to my package that day.  Decided to be up there when the mail lady arrived with the  Saturday delivery and get my gift.  We never know when the mail person will be there but she never come before noon so...noon, Saturday, off  I went.  Even noon is early for them and, since I needed stamps, I sped over to Food Lion to get a book, picked up a magazine and...good thinking on my part...also got a cup of coffee and a sandwich.  Back to the mailboxes, I parked my car, read my magazine, had a 'picnic lunch' while I waited...and waited...and waited.  Some time around or shortly after two, I'm still sitting there when KW drives up, home from work.  She said she would wait and I could go home but, just then, up drives the mail lady.  Our Saturday delivery is done by a different person than the weekdays.  Explained the problem to her, she said she would make a note of it and let the supervisor know.  Eh?  What about my package?  She couldn't get into the package box so I'd have to wait until next mail delivery.  That wouldn't even be on the Monday, I realised...being a holiday.  Tuesday, soonest.  Neither one of us pleased, KW muttered that she could get into it if she went home for the sledgehammer!  Sure...great!  Interfering with federal property...a huge fine and I'd be visiting her in jail.  Not a chance!  Not that she would have...but I was frustrated, she was empathetic.  Paying for Priority, the thing was here in only two days and it mattered not a jot.  Returned home and I decided to call the post office to let them know and...who knows, perhaps they could do something to expedite.  Of course...it also occurred to me to call Geraldo but I was in no mood to be on tv...lolol.  At any rate I spoke with the supervisor there...he assured me there was nothing he could do until Tuesday and then I would get my package.  I was also to get a phone call letting me know when it had been retrieved.  I just had to wait.  At the same time, a horrid thought occurred to me...my prescription meds are covered by the military and recently, they have been sending me all sorts of materials encouraging me to get them to send them via mail instead of me going to a local pharmacy.  I have declined so far and glad I did...what if those had been meds in there?  So this all nipped at my head over the weekend and when I'd go reach for a cigarette...nothing!  Grrrrrrrrrrrr!  Well, this too shall pass...she thinks. 

Tuesday, I had decided to take five  jars of coins to the bank.  Thought about taking them where I always used to...Rehoboth...but decided I didn't want to do that so just make a run to Millsboro branch.  Luggs the bag carrying all the coinage into the bank and had to stand and wait...several times the tellers would tell me someone would be with me in "just a moment".  All I could think was if the bottom dropped out of this bag a few tellers would be helping me get all those coins off the floor.  Eventually, I was called to a teller and as soon as I stopped at her cubicle she said "Oh...coins?  I'm sorry, we don't have a coin machine.  If they are wrapped we can take them but otherwise...Rehoboth or Georgetown...."  Hmmm...last time I took coins to a bank they WERE wrapped and rolled and they told me they needed to be loose!  Fine...I didn't really want to head into town but I did.  Lugg the bag out of the car into the RB branch.  At least there they didn't have me wait but just said "I'm sorry, we don't have a change counter..."  Okaaaayyyy...what now?  She said "Georgtown or Lewes".  Back to the car, slightly worn out.  The heck with Lewes...I was going to Safeway Starbuck's for a coffee...I thought I remembered seeing a coin changer there.  Yes!  Sure...they charge where the banks do not...I had no idea what they charge, nor did I care.  Had enough running over the county, just do it!  Went out...lugged the bag once more.  Last time!  Wrong!  I read the instructions then began pouring coins into the tray.  At that, a cashier came over to tell me "It's not working...out of commission because it won't print...".  Aaarrggghhh!  Not only lugging back to the car but had to get all those stupid coins up and back in the bag.  No...I didn't empty the bag onto the tray but there were enough!  Fine!  Lewes it is.  And off I go.  This time the lugging was worthwhile...and I thanked God.  Talk about  cardio-strength training?  Two hours...two hours it took to take care of this little matter that wasn't even necessary but when I start something I finish it.  And I have no idea why the Rehoboth bank no longer has a coin counter.  The Millsboro branch said they had one but it didn't work "so we had them take it out".  Maybe the Rehoboth branch is too fancy in their new building and all new staff for a coin machine.  I could have taken it to any bank, probably...but I don't do business in any of the others so didn't know for sure which one had a coin machine and I'm really NOT a glutton for physical punishment.  So from there I had one more stop then home.  Pull into my development and swing into the mailbox circle.  Check my box...no substitute key, no package...maybe dropped at the front door.  Nope.  Called the post office..."Where is my package?"  Tells me the box had been checked and apparently vandalized "have to get maintenance out...tomorrow".  Great...we were heading up to Annapolis to get our Smart serviced (another pain in the derriere...means a full day off work, at least a three hour return trip and a three hour wait for the job to be completed).  Barely a sorry...still no smokes.  Did you happen to hear a blood curdling scream around four last Tuesday afternoon? 

Tuesday night, around 10pm. KW gets a call  from her keyholder...an SPCA cat missing.  Huh???  Sick kitty, KW had moved into the employee restroom for quiet, isolation etc.  It was nothing more than a URI but it wasn't eating either.  She had left instructions...all over the store!...to be watchful of cat, do not let it out of the bathroom because it is timid, scared and it does not come to anyone.  Okay...he lost it and was unwilling to stay to find it soooooo....we looked at each other.  She decided to go up to the store and find the cat while I would stay home with our lot since we were to be leaving them all day, next day.  That's a two hour round trip.  Add finding the cat etc. and we were supposed to be up at six to head for MD...maybe yet another service to be cancelled?  She found the cat within half an hour, home by just after one, cup of coffee then bed.  Six came really early.  Left at eight arriving at ten to run the car over for it's obligatory oil change and service.  Meanwhile, they ran us to Annapolis Mall to spend the waiting time.  Ughhh!  We aren't shoppers so even in a Mall that size you can only go into Spencer's, Brookstone, Teavana and Borders how many times?  And THEN KW said..."Gawwd...I'd love a cigarette!"  Ooops!  Me too...figure the odds on finding any in that mall so we decided to go check for a mini-mart or such.  I'd say I'd hate to be addicted to an illegal drug, trying to come off it but I'm here to tell you even though I don't know that experience, cigarette addiction doesn't seem to be much better.  Heaven knows how far we walked...sans jackets (we'd left them in the car, back at the service dept.).  Before we left the mall I'd mentioned I probably should find a restroom before doing so.  I didn't...I should have.  Half way on the trek I made KW promise not to make me laugh and prayed we'd find somewhere...cigs or not...with a restroom before the same walk back!  We found ourselves on the main highway...something of a back road...and eureka...a gas station!  Bathroom, cigarettes.  By then, truth?  Neither of us really wanted the cigarette but having come that far on foot, threatening rain and a chill wind...what the hell.  One pack each.  One pack between us would have sufficed had it not been that we each smoke different cigarettes.  She hates menthol and I only smoke the minties.  I know what you're thinking...get the kind nobody likes and it will help the quitting.  True...except for the fact that now we were seeking a 'reward' and it's only a reward if you enjoy it.  My logic and I'm sticking to it.  (I will say we probably only smoked about half of our cigs before stubbing them...tasted awful).  Back at the mall we sat with coffee and our magazines for a short time then...yep, went outside for a smoke with what was left of our coffees.  I know there has to be a leper colony somewhere around the Annapolis Mall...we had stepped all the way from the mall to the roadway and I swear the looks we were afforded from people going in and out...I think they all probably had masks, gowns and rubber gloves on.  Only visible to smokers, of course.  We got the call asking if we were ready to be picked up...the car was ready.  Yessss!  Back at the shysters...sorry, service dept....we got our bill.  Now, this car is under warrantee and other than oil change and whatever warrantee service the only thing to be done were, apparently, a couple of upgrades from Smart...free of charge, of course.  So why was our required service costing us $410???  We had already questioned them when we dropped the car off and the agent gave us the "cost of this service" as being $340.  Our first 10,000 miles servcie cost $240 which we were a little surprised at given the warrantee agreement.  But where did the other hundred come from in six months"?  There WERE no repairs required!  And the kicker is...I had written SMARTUSA to ask if and when a service centre would come to Delaware.  We DO have Mercedes dealers and service centres here so what's the problem?  Had a response...no plan now or for the foreseeable future to put one in Delaware.  Lesson ONE...no matter how cute or great a car is, if it's new to this country do NOT buy it until you find out exactly where the services will be done.  Of course we knew there were none in the country when we ordered the car but we assumed that once they began coming in those centres would be popping up.  At least a couple in each State.  Yes, I know it won't change the exorbitant charge for services but at least it won't take a full day off work into the bargain.  KW has done car repairs, oil changes of course...but on these computerized-to-the-max vehicles, these days?  Hardly.

Back home sometime after six...checked the mail.  No package.  Apoplectic now.  Thursday, went up to park at the mail box and found the usual mail lady there, putting out mail.  She saw me pull over and I saw her shake her head no...and I cannot tell you what thoughts were running through my frazzled mind by then!  However, in retrospect it must have been her response to the stormy weather.  She gave me my package.  The guy had just been down there Thursday morning (no explanation as to what happened to him on WEDNESDAY!) and dismantled the locks.   Ya know...if I'd just had the darn thing sent FedEX it would have been there the same day but delivered to my door!

And that has been the week that was...crummy, to put it politely.  The smoking?  Nope...have not started back as a habit, still struggling.  It's not the smoke I miss, it is not the taste.  I miss the ritual...taking one out of the pack as I type here, lighting up, taking a drag...while making a face for I haven't liked the taste for a long time...and setting it in the ashtray where it will burn out.  And I repeat the process.  That's what I miss.  For some reason it gets my head together.  Or keeps it together.......    I am quitting this time and, at the moment, KW tells me several times a day how proud she is of me.  Yes...she too is quitting and doing well...better than I am...but (in my defence..lolol)  she also smoked less than I have.           

This may be the only blog from me for yet another week but for the moment I can only vent.  Have a great week!