22

December

2008

How much bad luck can a person take?

Posted in : Uncategorized

I’ve always been generally content in life. Life isn’t too bad, it isn’t too great. My luck is pretty mediocre; I haven’t won a lottery to help me pay off debts yet, but I’ve never had so much bad luck that I’m crippled beyond any means.

This all began to change this year. When luck changes, it changes with a BANG.
In particular, the bang my car made when it hit the rock cut, shattering the back windshield and busting up the prettiest thing I’ve ever owned. My car still sits in the backyard, full of snow since my dad forgot to cover up the gaping hole of my back windshield. I’m going to shovel that out once it’s warmer, but not so warm that it begins to melt inside. The car is salvagable, after all.

That was November 24. Exactly seven days later, on December first, I lost my job. I can’t say I didn’t see it coming, though I always expected I would have a bit more warning that what I had. So now I was in the situation of having no car, car payments and repairs, and no income. Joy. I applied for EI and somehow managed to be approved, so yay on that. I thought my school loans would get in the way of that for sure.

I waited a week before I actually started sending out resumes, enjoying a bit of a vacation. To be honest, and I don’t know why, but I never felt a sense of urgency looking for a new job. I sent out a resume to AYR1.com, and within an hour had a call back on it. Score. I had a job interview for the next Monday but – surprise (screw you Mondays), it rained and made everything an icy hell. (It also rained inside my car!! /sigh) So I rebooked for the next day.

SCREW LUCK. It all started so very, very bad.

My brother was supposed to drive me. He chose to just give me his keys and roll over and snore. So now I had to drive this monster hawnking truck – a hemy GMC thing that needs a realignment. Now, keep in mind, I’m an accomplished driver with 10 years perfect driving (until recently). I just don’t drive trucks. They’re big. Powerful. In normal circumstances, I’m a bit leery. Now? I’m a nervous wreck in a car and I have to drive this truck. AAAGH.

I get stuck on Elm street behind a train. It’s a quadruple track because there’s a trainyard right next door, downtown, and I got stuck behind not one, but two trains. I called ahead – I would be late due to the 20 minute wait behind trains. Fortunately, the person I was interviewing with understood.

Then I got stuck behind the pothole repair crew.

And then I get stuck in traffic.

Then I get -every- red light I can.

Then I pull into the parking lot, and there’s no room, and people have parked in the laneway. I have to BACK UP this HAWNKING HUGE truck…and it has no rearview mirror.

I get into traffic again, I take a turn at a light, and try to park in a park backing lot. Except in the glare ice, I can’t get up the hill, even with four wheel drive. Christ, have mercy on me, I begged.

I backed down into the road (Thank god it wasn’t the main thoroughfare). I pull back out and find a place to walk, only to realize I have to WALK. In heels. On ICE. No traction. Surprisingly though, I didn’t fall. I had to cross a snowbank though, so of course I got stuck in my knees in snow. I stepped out, turned around, pulled my shoes out and dumped the snow out and made it to my interview.

Fifteen minutes late. Not bad.

On the way home, I got stuck behind another pothole repair crew.

Oh, and I got the job. ^_^

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