Let me set the scene for you. A week or so after I returned to work I ran into Michelle from Facilities and started teasing her. I said, “Well, I can see that at some point, you guys took that ADA seriously and cut out the front sidewalk on the south side of the building and put in a nice slope from the parking lot. So, how come the only Handicap parking spaces I can find are on the north side, in the overflow lot for the building across the street? Since we’re friends, I though I’d ask before the lawsuit.”
She laughed and said it was so I could get some exercise. The other folks in the office laughed as well and I thought that was the end of it.
But, today (Thursday) she stopped by, wearing her hard hat (don’t laugh; I still have the one I was given when I worked in Facilities although she looks better in hers than I do in mine). She said, “Well, you got your wish!” I said, “Huh?” She said, “We’re putting in a Handicap parking space for you just outside the door next to the ramp!” I said, “Don’t you dare! Everybody will think I asked you for it!” She said, “Too late! Look outside.”
Sure enough, a maintenance guy was taking down the Customer Parking sign and replacing it with a Handicap Parking sign. And, they had already painted a blue line on the pavement!
Oh, God...
So, I immediately tried to find Paul, the Building Manager, and talk to him, but he was out for the morning.
So, I left for lunch. I went to Barnes and Noble to get that book I couldn’t get at the library. Since Applebee’s was right across the parking lot (this is the northwest corner of Haggerty and 6-Mile Road we are talking about), I walked over and ate lunch there. I had one of their combination lunches and picked French onion soup and half of a grilled roast beef and bacon sandwich. The sandwich was greasy but good and the soup was excellent!
Back at work, I parked in the Handicap spot. Well, now I had to. Nobody else in the building can and why should I take another spot from somebody else? But, I got a lot of teasing, either about using pity to get the best spot or because I’m friends with Facilities (and Michelle in particular). My pleas of innocence were ignored.
Paul finally did come in, so Cindy let me know (I had told her I wanted to see him as soon as he was there). Now, I’ve know Paul since my old company was bought by this one in 1996 (or so), so I explained the situation and told him I did NOT ask for this to happen. He assured me that it was okay, it just never dawned on him the building didn’t have a Handicap spot. I apologized for taking up one of his Customer Parking spots and he said not to worry, it was fine. He said he has a bad back and if he ever needed to, he wouldn’t want to try and walk in from where I’d been parking.
I finally gave up and left, but I still felt stupid (and still do!) Dammit!
Back home and still in a foul mood, I checked those tulips and decided it was time. It was only after I’d posted the pictures that I realized I need to read the camera manual again. I need more contrast in those shots. I picked a lilac bloom (they are almost in full blossom) for the bedroom while I was at it
I drank a big glass of V8 juice, and then started the Wednesday wash and the dishwasher for good measure. Next, I mopped the kitchen floor and locked myself in the bedroom, office and the main bath area. I suppose I could step over the kitchen floor into the living room if I wanted to, though.
B___ called to check up and ask about weekend plans (I wish I had weekend plans worth talking about!) I told him the parking story and he laughed so hard he choked (its not funny!). He also gave me a tip about the camera I’ll try on Friday. He said it’s a flaw in the auto-focus. We’ll see...
The floor was dry by the time the wash machine shut off, so I got the clothes in the dryer. I was hungry, so I popped in a chicken pot pie in the microwave for my dinner. I ate dinner watching Jeopardy. I checked the TV listing and nothing popped out at me, so I started to read my book. I was interrupted by hanging and folding clothes, but went back to the book afterward.
The room was filled with the lilac scent and reminded me once again of my childhood. You couldn’t escape the smell of lilacs in the spring back on the farm where I grew up. My Mother had planted every variety everywhere.
I wasn’t as tired today so I managed to stay up past 10:00 PM (what a party animal!)
Don't worry about the space man. You grab that parking spot by the horns and say damn it I've earned it...get some! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Jeopardy, I am not a fan of Time Warner. With Comcast, if you switched to Jeopardy at 7:57 PM and hit record, you got the whole show. With TW, I get the last three minutes. They offset this by offering a feature called look back, where you can view the entire show (if it's popular) even in the last few minutes. However, they break fast forwarding and rewind. So, you have to sit and watch the whole thing at once. This is not what mother technology intended.
ReplyDeleteProps on the parking!
@ Carla: Your comment sounds so like YOU! I miss that! Love you, too.
ReplyDelete@ Jake: I don't know what to say, except I didn't know that Brighthouse offered "look back." I'll have to check it out.
Dad,
ReplyDeleteAs to the parking space, quit worrying about it. The high chair was built on top of a wood pallet with heavy duty cardboard, felt like wood to me and said 36 lbs but was light enough for the man to bring it in for me and my son took it downstairs, it's still wrapped up I'm almost afraid to open it since I don't want to damage it. Speaking of lilacs, On the side of our house next to the pool we had lilac bushes that were over 7 feet tall and full blocked the neighbors house while in the pool so you never knew we had neighbors They were really full and when you mowed the grass it was a little bit tricky, however the neighbor asked if I and I quote minded if "he trimmed" them. I said if you want to go ahead, Should preface by stating this was in the fall during football season. We are inside the house watching Sunday Vikings game and we hear this huge chain saw, my husband asked what kind of idiot does loud yard work on during a game? I shut the screen door so it would muffle the noise, Didn't think about it again When I went outside I notice he cut all the bushes down to the stump and burned them in his firepire!!!!! I was so mad. I finally got up enough courage to walk over and ring his doorbell and I said apparently we have a different definition of trim. You cut my trees and we liked the privacy of having the trees. He stutters when upset and he stuttered an apology I said you can not un cut my trees. Admitedly I should have checked what he was doing, but I told him in no uncertain terms is he to do any landscaping on my property and he had the balls to say they would grow back, and they are starting to but it will take a longass time so I don't see his windows I secretly wish he would get a transfer and move now. Enough of my ranting I have lilaces along the other side of my house. But love the smell of lilacs always remind me of Grandma. Sorry I ranted aboput my bushes now I'm all worked up again. Need more coffee.
@ Amy: Well, I'm glad the chair was well protected and got there safe.
ReplyDeleteThe story of your lilacs is horrible. But, the guy was right, they are hard to kill and will come back. I transplanted a row of them from Mom's house to the front of the Palms Road house when we first all moved.I thought a hedge might cut the west wind some. None of them were a foot tall. But, I saw a picture our old neighbor took last year and they are over seven feet tall now!
But, I suppose that doesn't help much right now. Sorry!
P.s. There is one plus in your case. I transplanted tiny bushes and they grew. But just think of the root systems yours have must have! They'll shoot up like a rocket!