BSOD brain
For those not married to computer-whizzes, or computer whizzes yourself, BSOD stands for "blue screen of death": that terrible screen that comes up on computers from time to time announcing that whatever you were doing has been fatally and irretrievably lost...
Today, my brain was like that.
Here's the short version. Amidst a LONG list of errands to run (including a University Religious Council meeting, a hair cut, and a trip to the dermatologist where my mole removal count hit 34...), I also had to put together some paperwork to renew my work permit, and do some shopping.
I had made photocopies of both our visas, passports, marriage certificate and other crucial pieces of paper which allow us to live in the US legally. I put these in a folder and walked over to the grocery store thinking "How terrible it would be to lose all this paperwork at once..." and made a mental note to keep track of it. As is the way of pregnant women, I first stopped in at the ladies room.
While washing up at the basin, one of the store employees who works in the deli section (where I was ABOUT to go and order lunch), finished up in the stall and just left the bathroom... without washing her hands. I was stunned. Should I:
1) follow her and say "excuse me miss... but would you mind washing your hands before you made someone else's lunch?"
2) go and tell management (but I really didn't want to do that since it would probably get her fired)
3) just ignore it and hope that it wouldn't happen again.
In a confused and cowardly stupor, I bought my deodorant and chocolate chips, and then opted for #3. I continued with my frantic day, ate lunch, picked up passport photos, went to meetings, drove to sacramento... etc etc etc... and finally got home. I unpacked the groceries. The chocolate chips did not survive the afternoon and were a thick, chocolatey SOUP in their bag. I sighed and thought "at least the day is over".
I looked over at our answering machine which was just about leaping up to greet me there were so many messages. The last of the messages was from the store manager - to say that I had left ALL our paperwork in the ladies bathroom - passports and all - and all this on the eve of Jeremy's departure back to South Africa! In a whirlwind I picked up my keys and headed back to the store, gratefully retrieved my packet, bought replacement chocolate chips and headed home one last time...
Only to have someone run after me a few seconds later saying "excuse me miss - I think you left your keys behind..."
Today, my brain was like that.
Here's the short version. Amidst a LONG list of errands to run (including a University Religious Council meeting, a hair cut, and a trip to the dermatologist where my mole removal count hit 34...), I also had to put together some paperwork to renew my work permit, and do some shopping.
I had made photocopies of both our visas, passports, marriage certificate and other crucial pieces of paper which allow us to live in the US legally. I put these in a folder and walked over to the grocery store thinking "How terrible it would be to lose all this paperwork at once..." and made a mental note to keep track of it. As is the way of pregnant women, I first stopped in at the ladies room.
While washing up at the basin, one of the store employees who works in the deli section (where I was ABOUT to go and order lunch), finished up in the stall and just left the bathroom... without washing her hands. I was stunned. Should I:
1) follow her and say "excuse me miss... but would you mind washing your hands before you made someone else's lunch?"
2) go and tell management (but I really didn't want to do that since it would probably get her fired)
3) just ignore it and hope that it wouldn't happen again.
In a confused and cowardly stupor, I bought my deodorant and chocolate chips, and then opted for #3. I continued with my frantic day, ate lunch, picked up passport photos, went to meetings, drove to sacramento... etc etc etc... and finally got home. I unpacked the groceries. The chocolate chips did not survive the afternoon and were a thick, chocolatey SOUP in their bag. I sighed and thought "at least the day is over".
I looked over at our answering machine which was just about leaping up to greet me there were so many messages. The last of the messages was from the store manager - to say that I had left ALL our paperwork in the ladies bathroom - passports and all - and all this on the eve of Jeremy's departure back to South Africa! In a whirlwind I picked up my keys and headed back to the store, gratefully retrieved my packet, bought replacement chocolate chips and headed home one last time...
Only to have someone run after me a few seconds later saying "excuse me miss - I think you left your keys behind..."
posted by Bronwyn at 7:26 am
4 Comments:
Aah...Only a pregnant woman would do this sort of things, as far as I heard. =)
I used to work in a office where there just seems to be women getting pregnant one after another. ("Don't drink our water", they used to say to me...) Anyhow, some colleagues of mine played this joke on one of the pregnant administrative assistant. They took her keys away from her desk while she had gone to the bathroom, and hid it somewhere else at her desk. She would return to her desk, and later (seconds, moments, minutes, etc.) realize that her keys were no longer on her desk where she left them. She would frantically search for the keys, all the while blaming herself for being pregnant and forgetful. Boy! Did my wickedly funny colleagues had lots of fun!
Been there. Done that. Got the kid to prove it.
Sadly, I have yet to return to full normality. I still have moments where my brain is completely fuzzed out... so while it is DEFINITELY brought on by pregnancy, I don't think it is exclusive to pregnant women. Sorry to burst your bubble!
Ahhhhh - the bliss of being pregnant. ;)
Yeah - My boss is pregnant at the moment as well, and holding meetings is fun. First she writes down things to talk about but she forgets where she put that piece of paper....
Irene: that is laugh out loud funny! I am definitely in that category..
... and to add to the BSOD madness - the following day when taking Jeremy to the airport, I managed to LOSE our car in the carpark. I thought we were on level 4 - but after walking levels 4,3,5,2,6... I finally found it on level 7!
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