Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Least favorite errand= getting oil changed in car

I received a compliment from a colleague at work today. She said, "Heidi, you just have it all together. You set quite the example." I've never been good at accepting compliments. My first reaction is to say, "yeah right" or "you must be thinking of someone else", and try to change the subject. However, today, I almost giggled at how funny it sounded to me. I sensed this as a genuine compliment, however, and I said, "thank you, that means a lot to me". It is funny to me that this statement came on a day when I felt a little crazed and disoriented. After working several overnight shifts, my body is trying to catapult back into being awake during the day. For anyone who has worked overnight shifts, you know that reorienting yourself can be a struggle. So, in addition to having my days and nights reversed, we have been busy planning our next move: across the country to the east coast. My grandma made the comment yesterday that I must be getting really excited about making the road trip out to the east coast. It hit me that I had not even given second thought to the fact that we are moving again and that John resumes classes in just a few days! Wow. I don't feel stressed, but rather, just a little out of sorts. The following story will be proof. I got my oil changed today. As I pulled up to the empty lane at Jiffy Lub, I immediately jumped out of my car. I do this because of a bad experience......A few years back I pulled into the same Jiffy Lube, and drove forward as the guy direted me to do so. At the last minute he yelled, "STOP STOP. HIT YOUR BRAKES". Apparently I was not centered on the lanes and was at risk for driving my car into the big hole in the ground that is supposed to be placed BETWEEN your tires. The guys working thought it was funny and did not try to hide the fact that they were making fun of me. I now avoid getting oil changed at all possible costs, but I knew that I could not avoid mom for much longer who has been telling me to get it changed. Anyway, after getting myself all prepared for getting the oil changed, I got my plan in order: I would drive up to the garage door opening, then jump out of my car and say that I need an oil change. This would avoid the possibility of ME having to drive over the big hole. I did as planned. I pulled up, saw the guy preparing to motion me forward, and jumped out of the vehicle before I made eye contact. He approached me and asked what services I needed. He said, "okay" to an oil change and I proceeded to the waiting area. I was so proud of myself for avoiding potential embarrassment and being "cool" that I did not notice the guy trying to get my attention again. I turned around and asked, "what?" He began talking in a different language, something about the oil grade and filter replacement and I started to panic. I thought, act cool Heidi, so I just started nodding and said, "uhh, sure, yeah that's cool". He talked right over me and it was at that moment that I realized he wasn't talking to me. He was talking to another employee who was behind me. I couldn't believe this was happening. Was this place jinxed? Was it me? Why do I act like such a moron at Jiffy Lube? Only Courtney could understand the situation. As I drove away I laughed outloud at the humor that I saw in the whole thing. This is why I was surprised to hear the compliment that I appear (key word is appear) to have it "all together". Looks can be quite deceiving........