Jumping through hoops...

Today has been a pretty trying day out here in PDX land.

Hoop # 1:
I went to my first appointment with a trainer at 24 Hour Fitness today. They were supposed to look back into my file and renew the three training sessions that I didn't use last year when I quit going. But, when they looked back, not only did they say I wasn't entitled to 6 sessions- only 5, but they said that the girl who used to be my trainer had said that I used up all my sessions with her. Not true... I went three times and quit because I couldn't keep up with work and school and working out all at the same time. It was just impossible. So, she (what's the polite way of saying "screwed me over" on the last three sessions?) fudged the records and I had to spend $312.00 to pay for 6 more sessions. Normally, I wouldn't have bothered... but I have no idea how to use the machines or what is considered to be a healthy diet these days. Low carbs, no carbs, high protein... all pizza and milkshakes? They do all that stuff for you... meal planning, education about how to use the machines, ways to avoid injury, etc. And the last thing I want is to injure myself and not be able to continue. I want to lose this weight and I want it gone now! I hope that they will be able to get those three sessions back... that would be so helpful. We shall see.

Hoop # 2:
I went to the vet to get them to sign the Bill of Health Certification for Buddy so he can go to doggie daycare. Now, it's important to this story to remember that I was just there last week and asked the doctor then if he was up to date on all his vaccinations. She said "yes" and to just bring in the form for them to sign. Something told me to bring Buddy too, just in case. Well, when I get there they say, "Oh no, we can't sign this because he isn't up to date on his distemper-blah-blah-blah and he needs his Bordatella." I was anticipating the Bordatella concern and had another vet fax the records of that vaccination to them that morning. So I told them that he had gotten the Bordatella on 12-16-03 and that if he needed the other that I would like them to give it to him and sign the form. So the girl says, "Well, they are very busy today... could you leave him for four hours and come back?" Okay... not part of my plan for today, but okay. Something in my brain started whispering that I should find out about the money part of things. So, I ask if there will be a fee for kenneling him and will there be any other costs involved, etc? So she says, "Well, the shot is $28.00 and the exam is $25.00, and if you pick him up by two p.m. then there won't be a kenneling fee..." And I'm like, "Wait, wait, wait... what exam? He doesn't need an exam, he was just here last week." She says, "Oh, they always examine them when they get their shots." So, now I am frustrated. I said, "I wish that the doctor would have told me when I asked her last week if he was up to date on everything that he needed to have that shot done... I would have had it done then and avoided the extra exam fee." So the girl says, "I'll see what I can do." They take Buddy in the back and I get lost for a few hours.

Hoop # 3:
I get a call from Franz's sister saying that she talked to her supervisor and let her know that I had sent my application out over cyberspace. Teresa's supervisor said that she plans to talk to the internet guy, have him wade through said cyberspace until he finds my application, and then it will be sent to her supervisor. If I meet that person's approval, then Teresa's supervisor will get to see it. If all goes well, they might be able to call be in for an interview in about a week or two. After that, there is a longer process that has to happen... all in all, it may be a month, maybe more, before I will know what is happening and if I got the job. (sigh)

Hoop # 4:
I get a phone call from the vet at 1pm. "There is another test that we have to do in order to sign this certification." "Fine," I say, "go ahead and do it." (big sigh) I am thinking to myself "What do you want to bet that this other test costs about exactly the same as the exam that they are supposedly not going to charge me for?" (big sigh)

Hoop # 5:
I come back at 2pm. Sure enough, they can't find his file. When they do find it, there is a charge for both the shot and the other test... and the exam fee!! So, I talk to them again and explain the situation again. And the whole time I am thinking to myself, "You know, if this keeps up, the savings that I had... the ones that I thought I might be able to make it for three months if I was careful... are going to be gone in less than two. And it might take as long as a month, maybe more, to see if I have gotten this job." Anyway, eventually, they took off the exam charge and I got out of there with my dog for the rock bottom low price of *only* $47.00! (giant sigh)

Hoop # 6:
I take Buddy over to the daycare place. We arrive ten minutes early. And are kept waiting outside of a locked door on the sidewalk for that ten minutes. And I am thinking to myself that sometimes dog trainers really want to train humans too. "Fill out these papers, wait here, sit, stay!"
So, we finally get in to see her and she takes Buddy back to see if he is social enough to hang with the other urban doggies and not lose his cool. "In the mean time, though, Sherry I would like it if you would fill out these other papers, and when you are finished, please have a seat in the waiting area and wait for me to come back and give you a progress report." SO, I get done filling out, and am sitting and staying like a good dog owner until she comes back. Luckily, Buddy is ubercool and a super social dog. Then, she drops the bomb on me... "We are not open on Mondays, and we encourage folks not to leave their dogs here more than three times per week."

At this point in my head I am screaming, "Are you &@$!ing KIDDING ME???!!! What kind of a &*^%ing daycare only is available three days per week??!! AAAAHHHHH!!!!!" Now what am I going to do with the Mouthy Man on Mondays and one other day per week? Now, in my mind, I am going on a murderous rampage throughout the city... killing the people who thought up the 40 hour workweek, laying waste to people who hit dogs with cars or otherwise hurt them and make it so you have to keep them locked up all day when you aren't there. Picture me as Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes) about to stomp on the miniature snowmen. I am Godzilla on a bad day. I am seething. I am raging. I am a thunderstorm on a Florida afternoon... the kind that just might be packing a tornado.

But on the outside I am smiling and saying something like "I guess I will need to make other arrangements... no problem... blah blah blah... nicety nicety nicety... and Buh-Bye!"

(huge heaving sigh)

I get home and Buddy promptly plops down on the carpet for a nap. I call Franz and he agrees to take me out for a nice dinner. I don't have to work out again until tomorrow. And Buddy is beautiful when he is sleeping. I have jumped through all the hoops I need to for one day... and I made it without killing anyone or going bankrupt.

All in all, it's shaping up to be a good day.

Love to all,

Sherry