Damn it Feels Like Mercury Retrograde Again

 Except it isn't.  We're not due for another bout of Mercury Retrograde this year until April 28th, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Unfortunately, this means I have no one to blame, but myself.

I had a hell of a day yesterday.  It started out quite nicely, but then quickly spiraled into a very retrograde kind of day.  The Loft contacted me about teaching a writing workshop on the craft of writing science fiction and fantasy short stories (to adults) in August. (Don't even ask me about how many times I went back and forth with her about the dates, because I apparently am determined to have only MIScommunications with people).

I've had a handful of short stories published, many of which I'm very, VERY proud of, but... you know, I also I happen to be rather close friends with a person who has won the Asimov's Reader's Choice award and who is CURRENTLY UP FOR A NEBULA AWARD IN THE SHORT STORY CATEGORY.  

So, I said to the Loft coordinator: Yes, of course I will teach, but I think the class would be a much bigger success if I can coerce my friend Naomi Kritzer into co-teaching with me.  Naomi has foolishly said yes, and yesterday, I went to talk to her about how we might structure the workshop and maybe start figuring out a course description and all that sort of jazz.  Anyway, we met up at the Dunn Bro's attached to the Roseville Ramsey County Library.  We're talking and all of a sudden my phone rings.  

It's my boss at work.

Can I work at the Roseville Ramsey County library today?  I think... I guess so, I mean, ironically, I'd have to go home long enough to change into more work appropriate clothes and grab my ID badge, but you know, sure?  I mean, part of the problem with saying 'no' too much this month is that I somehow completely spaced on getting any FIRM hours this month. Usually, as a sub, I get both firm shifts, where I know in advance where I'm going and when, and fill-ins, like this one.  My boss calls one day a month with a schedule and if I miss that call, I kind of miss getting any guaranteed hours.  This would be a bigger problem if we were really hurting for hours/money, but it occasionally happens and I still tend to pick up enough fill-in to make it all work.  Anyway, feeling the pressure of no guaranteed hours, I said, "Oh sure, I can work 11 to 3!"

I hung up and instantly had to dial back.  Because, somehow, once again, I forgot that I can't teleport.  I have to actually BE at Mason's school AT 3... Roseville isn't that far away, I could MAYBE make it in ten minutes, if I broke the speed limits and had perfect traffic conditions, but, yeah, NO.  My boss was apparently already on the phone to Roseville, because I rolled into her voice mail.  I said that I would talk to the local branch manager and see if it was okay for me to start a little early and end a little early and that she should call me back if that's not an okay thing to do.

I didn't get call back, and so I drove home briefly, and then back to the library.  I actually brought Naomi with me so she could see the new kitty, and since I was basically going back to where we were....because, yeah.

I show up at work a few minutes early, make my deal with the branch manager, and go along with my day.  When I call Shawn to let her know that I got called into work, she asks, "Uh, so... I should cancel my B12 shot for today at 2 pm?"  I'd totally forgotten I was meant to take her to that appointment... so she cancels.  AND THEN I SEE THAT I'M ONLY SCHEDULED UNTIL 2. (I figure my boss must have called back and said, "Lyda can only work until 2" but neglected to tell me, figuring I'd figure it out, but that would require me NOT TO BE COMPLETELY STUPID.)

So, yeah... I could have maybe taken Shawn in?

Especially since I ended up arranging to LEAVE EARLY FROM WORK at 2 instead of 3....

Oh my God.

And it was kind of like that all day.  I never did entirely recover.  *checks Mercury again*  *still not retrograde.*