whining

When in danger or in doubt
Run in circles, scream and shout.

This has been a challenging week. There were numerous things to be happy about, but I’m having none of that. I choose rather to focus on the sad, stressful, and inconvenient events and issues. To wit:

* Four separate serious personal issues that I’m trying to wade through right now that can’t be published in this forum.

* A little girl in my church died. Her funeral was this morning.

* A past mistake of mine reached out to bite me.

* I gravely insulted a close friend.

* Another close friend is having a really rough time with an Ex who is being threatening and unreasonable.

* Taxes are due.

* I’m behind on numerous work deliverables.

* The IRS wants $500 for some sin that I’m not aware of, but they’re probably right about.

* I have to get my house ready to show/sell, and find a place to live afterward.

* I have conflicting priorities at a particular client site; I did not manage that issue (or my time) well, and the client brought it to my attention.

* My main client took two weeks longer than expected to pay me; I’m over the edge financially right now until I sell the house, so that was less than convenient.

* I just spent 11 days on the road. A scheduling miscommunication means I will have less than 2 days at home before I ship out again tomorrow for 4 more days. Not a fun thing to have to tell David, whose depression and separation anxiety are exacerbated by my absence.

* I neglected to communicate properly with Hannah re next week’s travel, meaning she had to cancel plans she had made. (FTR, she was gracious about it.)

* Sam & David were really unkind to each other today. The thing I want most in life is for my kids to be happy, and often I’m powerless to make that happen. David blames me for having to work; Sam blames me for not having enough time to spend the day with her exclusively.

* I have a list as long as my arm of to-do’s to finalize the divorce (eg, separate bank accts, attend a parenting class, get cars fixed, submit financial documents, etc)

* Trying to make it back from Texas last night, my flight had mechanical problems. All of us with Denver connections missed them. We were taken off the plane in order to try other options, but the agents seemed flustered and disorganized. They didn’t prioritize the line, or re-group us by destination, just handled people in the order they lined up. After a half hour they had only serviced 3 people out of 20 or so. I finally walked to the front of the line and said “There is an America West flight leaving for Seattle via Las Vegas in 20 minutes which you have agreed to cover me on, but if you process me in order I will not make that flight.” They printed my ticket and that of the other Seattle passenger. Most in the line understood, but I got some pretty sour looks from others, even after I apologized. The other Seattle passenger and I ran 20 gates and made the AW flight, hot and sweaty. The gate agent had to shut the jetway door temporarily to handle us; when another passenger questioned it, I said “If this was Russia, you might be able to bribe him to open it.” The agent frowned and said “I don’t take bribes.” (?!?) Then he mixed up our names (the other passenger’s *first* name was Torre) and gave us both the same seat assignment for the second leg. Luckily when we got to Las Vegas there was room to fix things, but it was a stress all the same. My bag of course did not make it to Seattle with me.

Also: I don’t actually know what “to wit” means, or how to use it. Sue me.