Thursday, January 10, 2008

One of those days


There are days.

Days when you wake up and know for a fact things will go wrong.

This wasn’t one of those days. This was the other kind when wrongness hits you over the head like a ton of bricks.

You get to the office and call the elevator. The doors open. You walk in, reading your book, punch your floor number and realize a minute or so later that you’re not moving. At. All. Ok, ok, so it took some time. In your defense, it’s a good book. And it's really early.

So you punch another button, and another. Stillness. Not quiet though, nope. Can’t get quiet because the damn fan keeps clunking away. And clunking. And clunking. This, for the record, is the elevator that's always breaking down. The only thing that works is that dam clunker of a fan…

So you use the emergency phone, sit on the floor and wait (and read – always good to have a book with you, but more on that in another post). Eventually the techs show up and get you out about a half hour later. You’re not even late for work. In fact, no one has even arrived yet. So much for your story… A "trapped in the elevator" story loses much of it's oomph an hour after the fact.

And you know, you just know that the elevator hates you. It’s always broken and you tell people regularly, "just watch someone will get stuck in here one day". And now you know that the elevator has it in for you, the way only inanimate objects can.

It will get you. And no you aren’t paranoid.

Later on you use boiling water to rinse out a thermos and the boiling water splashes all over your hand and you realize that the thermos is in on it with the elevator and you wonder if next time you touch your computer it will explode. Not that your computer has any reason to hate you, but you never know…

And it’s almost time to leave and you can’t help but wonder what perils await in the subway….

12 comments:

ticknart said...

To think, just a few days ago you were worried about 2008 turning you all positive and optimistic.

Chelle Blögger said...

lol! My computer has oh so many reasons...now I am paranoid, thank you! :)

Dave said...

Well, from the way I look at things... things always happen in threes! Sorry to be so fatalistic.

Seriously though ... I hope you have a better day tomorrow. :-)

Stay cool!

Jocelyn said...

Wow, you are an earlybird, to have still beat everyone!

The one time I got stuck in an elevator, it was in Vienna, and I didn't know how to say, "Hurry! I have to pee!" in any understandable language.

geewits said...

I pictured you sitting in the dead elevator reading and it reminded me of the "Twilight Zone" episode with Burgess Meredith reading in the bank vault although you are 1000 times more attractive.

Do you have aloe for your burned hand? I hate burns with a passion!

Rachel said...

Stay in bed over the weekend. When mondays rolls around, I'm sure they will all have forgotten the war against you. They are only clumps of cheap metal, after all...memories are small.

Joe Jubinville said...

Using your computer to diss an elevator is not wise. They're in the same union.

furiousBall said...

I take my computer and car transmission out to dinner once a week or so, and sometimes I surprise them with flowers. I need to stay in their good graces.

Cycling Goddess said...

Aww you poor thing... all that on a Friday, makes you wonder if it's not a conspiration to make you appreciate the weekend more ;)

Jazz said...

Ticknart - I'm feeling relief actually...

chell b. - oops

Dave - Thanks for the encouragement :-p

Joce - Mr. Jazz works in the same area as me, at 8:00. So he drops me off around 7:30-7:40. I could take the bus and get here later, but I have to leave the house at least 20 minutes earlier. I'd rather sleep.

Geewits - thanks for saying I look so much better than BM. And yes, Mr. Jazz made me put aloe on it soon as I got home.

Rachel - A comforting thought, but I'm not quite sure I believe that.

Joe - I'm beginning to find out all about the Machine Union.

Furiousball - I'll tray that

HapDow - Ummm. That was Thursday. Today was a "Consultant Friday", you know the ones, where they need the whole universe taken care of before 5:00...

CS said...

Aw, what a lousy day! I'm sorry.

Hageltoast said...

lol, oh dear, hun. Yup I know those days.