A not so un-typical day in the life of Fej.

I awoke on time and dragged the kids out of bed. After breakfast I yelled repeatedly until they were dressed and in the Jeep (remember my Suburban is at the shop). We braved the brutal traffic and dropped kid #1 at school on time. After a short drive to the younger kids’ school, we killed a half-hour on the playground waiting for the “duty” teachers to show up. I then drove to work.

I attended my usual morning meeting and anxiously awaited a call from the dealership. After 10:00 AM I called them and they had no idea who I was or what car I was talking about. About an hour later someone called to say they would find the problem, they do at least have my car. Another meeting and it was time for lunch. My super sandwich I made myself was not so super. I’ll just stick to what I know I like. I then received a call on my mobile phone, which lost signal of course and then reminded me the battery was low. I also forgot to bring the charger. Crap.

It was my wife and she then called my desk phone. She was gasping for breath and begging me to help her. I calmed her down and attempted to discern the problem. She said she couldn’t breath and repeatedly begged me to help her. I told her to call 911 and I’d be there soon. Check Bipolar disorder and Hypochondria for an explanation of my mild reaction.

I made the 15-mile drive to her apartment and explained some of her background and symptoms to the crews of two ambulances and a fire truck. After helping her down the stairs they loaded her up, I locked the apartment and went home. I plugged in my dying phone and sat down with my dog on the couch for three minutes after checking the mail. It was probably the high point of his day and come to think of it, mine too.

I grabbed the charger and went to take out a loan. I figure I’d need the cash for the car repair and this weekend’s trip to Colorado. I then rolled back into work (just a bit late..) and went straight into another meeting. I left my phone to charge in my office. Upon returning, of course I had missed the call from the dealership. He left a message and I subsequently left him a message in return. I then ran down stairs to talk to production and then left again to pick up the kids from school.

I picked up kid #1 and we headed to the younger kids’ school and killed another half-hour waiting for school to finish. During the hour and a half after missing the dealer’s call, I placed numerous unanswered calls back to my service “specialist”. After asking to talk to another “specialist”, who couldn’t help me, I finally got a call from “my” specialist. He proceeded to inform me that everything would total just short of $1000. Lovely.

I called my mom to see if they could watch the kids while I went back to work. They had just got back in town from vacation and I decided not to bother them. My boss understood and I made the kids wait in the Jeep until I packed up and sent off one last email. I couldn’t get a hold of my wife at the emergency room, I have her keys and I know she’ll need them. I knew I wasn’t up for cooking dinner so we went to McDonalds. After getting home, I left my oldest in charge and delivered my wife’s keys to her. She had been discharged with antibiotics for her strep throat. My mother-in-law had picked her up.

After a 1.5-hour conference call with China, I read stories and put the little ones to bed. My oldest remembered a forgotten assignment and just now finished with a little help from me. Now you’re all caught up.

Fej.