A mini rant about how screwed up a day off can get.
Yesterday I took the day off of work so that I could get my daughter to the dentist. She sees the dentist my sister works at in the Napa area, which means I had to drive to the north bay. They happened to have a spot open for my son too, so I decided to take advantage of it.
I got into my car at 7 am and started driving. First to Napa area to pick up my son from school for his appointment. Then once he was in the chair I had an hour before picking up my daughter from her school (different school, but a 25 minute drive from the dentist). I stopped at a favorite diner and got some breakfast. Then shuttled my daughter to the dentist, expecting to pick up my son and return him to school.
Like all of the best laid plans, this one hit the skids at this point. My sister caught me coming in the door with Unique Jr and let me know that they had found new cavities in my son's mouth and would work him in so that they could take care of them all that day. The draw back is that between my daughters extractions (for braces) and my son's fillings my whole day would be consumed instead of the original 2-3 hours.
Add to this hiccup that my ex is now waiting in the waiting room of the dentist office. Who the hell invited him?! If he had the free time to show up, why did I bother to take a day off of work during our busy season?! I also was wary about why he was there based on our last encounter at the dentist. He of course just confuses the issue by offering to take one of the kids back, but not the one that would free up my day........ and oh yeah, he needs a favor from me.
It seems all the paperwork I filled out so that my daughter can get a passport was tossed since I did not get it notorized. In order for her to get the passport both parents must be present or the absent parent needs to notorize the application. He wants me to go to the post office to file the papers. Going anywhere with him makes me want to puke. He tries to sweeten the deal by offering to go to child support services to get the ban on my passport lifted since he's screwed me over for child support in arrears that I really shouldn't have to pay.
I wanted to scream. I didn't want to go anywhere with asshole, I'm pissed because my son has managed to get more cavities and I know if they don't get done today I'll have to take another day off, and I want to be home in the afternoon to unwind after the 2 1/2 hour drive back. If I wait too long it will easily be a 3 1/2 hour drive with commute traffic.
I ended up taking my car with my daughter and what's his butt to the nearest post office with passport services. My ex "remembers" when we're at the post office that he doesn't have a certified copy of her birth certificate with him. Wasn't this his idea? So, now that we're in Napa and can't do that I take Unique Jr for a protein shake at Jamba Juice so she doesn't starve to death since her mouth is numb and she can't eat. Back to the dentist where I drop my ex off and tell him to take my son home after his appointment. I drive my daughter back to school, stop by Beringer Winery for a 6 pack of wine and head home.
I'm starved, brain dead and in a fog. I figure I can fix starved by picking up some fast food and eating on the way back. Bill has already called 3 times to find out what's taking me so long. I don't bother him with the details since it's only going to serve to make him angry with my ex. I catch the first wave of commute traffic in Oakland, but it's not too bad. I have crumbs from my zucchini fries all over my clothes.
I get home and find out that when Bill gets bored he cleans house. (file for future reference) He has taken the day off of work and slept in. He also managed to clean up his shit for the first time in about a year and I can see more carpet now than I have in months. Great!!! No laundry or dishes, but I'll take it. We go out to dinner since I'm about an inch from drooling from mental and emotional fatigue.
The day should end here, but it doesn't. On the way home from dinner (where Bill put his life in danger by eating part of my baked potato) I come down with a bout of stomach flu. Oh yeah, it's flu or perhaps the fast food I had on the way home. I spend the rest of my evening on the couch with frequent visits to the bathroom where I pray for death.
My boss often wonders why I don't take days off other than for sick days. If he had my days off he wouldn't have to ask.
