(Scarf adapted from the Wanda’s Flowers shawl. Chloe Sparkle, this is the leftover dyed-by-me baby alpaca from your shawl.)
Pride. I could have been knitting. But the pride got me.
I am not the handbag-for-every-outfit type. Buy one good practical plain leather purse, preferably one that won’t snag lacewear every which way, and wear it out.
Which I did. I mean, it’s really worn out and I should have replaced it about a year ago. It’s big, it’s comfy, anything you want you’ve got it right there with you and you could stuff almost a whole afghan project in the darn thing–t’ain’t dainty.
I do have a nice, small purse, and when I say small, it’s iffy whether the cellphone can squeeze in.  Maybe not so practical.
So guess which one went downtown with me this afternoon?
We haven’t gotten a utility bill since May. I’ve called and been told, Oh, you’re all paid up. But wait, tell me, how does that work exactly?…
So given what tomorrow is and wanting things squared away and done, I simply went down to City Hall to see the printout of the bill that never came and to get it taken care of once and for all.
There was no bill. Our solar installation coincided with their changing how they processed households with solar systems, and I ended up in an upstairs office while they tried to figure out how to get their computer to generate one. Ever. Four people were trying to figure out for about an hour how to let me give them my money; it was pretty amusing.
Finally, they cried uncle. Good thing I came near the end of the workday, I guess. I gave them an estimated amount that was pure guesswork against the coming amount (electric, water, sewer, refuse, gas–the city owns them all, and we only opted out of the first) and they gave me a much-desired receipt.
I’d had a feeling to take my knitting; but… I was simply going to walk up to the counter and hand them a payment and that was going to be that. It didn’t occur to me to put my knitting bag in the car just in case, I mean, why would I?
I could have brought my jaded, faded, coming unsewn old purse and that scarf project would have been finished.
Although, then I would have been sitting there wishing ruefully I had thought to bring more knitting.
Okay, now, back to work.
22 Comments so far
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Now that’s funny. All those people whose job is to take your money and they couldn’t figure it out. typical govt, I think.
Comment by Carol 08.04.09 @ 6:43 pmI’ll be thinking of you and sending healing thoughts. Sending strength and endurance as well.
*hugs*
Sounds like what I did yesterday evening. Went to Giant, to the pharmacy. My replacement-for-aspirin-because-I’m-allergic-to-aspirin prescription had been partially filled. They called and said rest of it is “on backorder and may never come in”. Yikes. Well, bill me for what you gave me and we’ll call it even. OK. Went to pay. “Can’t pay, I have no bag”. Right. I didn’t take the original back with me. So…she was going to shoo me away. I went over to the pharmacist-help area. Hm…you got a bill for me? After hunting around…yes, he did. Paid them $12.99 and got a $10 gift card. Net–$2.99.
I guess the city doesn’t know how to add using negative numbers?
I’m praying for you for tomorrow.
Comment by Karen Lewis 08.04.09 @ 7:28 pmThinking about you, thinking about you, thinking about you. Big day tomorrow. But by this time tomorrow (it’s 8:30 p.m.) it will be all over. You will be in recovery, or wherever they put you after surgery. And you know that we all wish you well.
Which reminds me of a joke, which I think I may have told before, but here goes:
This part is true. Some years ago there was a woman skier on the U.S. Olympic team by the name of Picabo Street. I believe she won a medal. Joke: Someone suggested that if Picabo ever become a nurse and work in the intensive care unit of a hospital, she could answer the phone, “Picabo; ICU”.
Comment by Don Meyer 08.04.09 @ 8:35 pmI adore the Wanda’s flowers shawl, and love the scarf too, and it seems more doable, to me. I also have an aunt named Wanda (and also aunts named Vera, Esther, Marilyn, Shirley, Melva…. and my mom is named Doris. Their mother is named Lola. Unusual. And Lola also named 5 boys (Marshall, Gail, Allan, Dwight and Paul.))
Comment by Diana Troldahl 08.04.09 @ 8:45 pmHope you can get some sleep tonight. I know, you’ll sleep away much of tomorrow — but sleep makes the time pass easier.
Comment by Barbara-Kay 08.04.09 @ 8:46 pmThat sounds like a scene from a comic strip…too funny!
Comment by TripletMom 08.04.09 @ 8:52 pmWhen we both lived in San Jose, my friend Gail and I used to take our kids and go down to the beach at Natural Bridges State Park. Then I moved to VA and she moved to WA, but sometimes we would agree to meet there in a daydream. Well, now Gail is located in Heaven, but sometimes we still hang out on the beach together in daydreams. So if you would care to join us, pack a picnic and hang out and chat a bit.
Comment by LauraN 08.04.09 @ 8:56 pmPrayers being offered for you. I know you wanted to get that lovely scarf finished before tomorrow. I will be knitting in your place for the next couple weeks–anything special you want me to do? I have an Opal baby cardigan on the needles plus a pair of socks and the Traveling Shawl scarf. I think I will get the scarf done, in between times.
BTW, I read the above comment re: Picabo Street. Picabo is from a little town in the Idaho desert called Picabo–pronounced Peek-a-boo.
Comment by sherry in idaho 08.04.09 @ 8:58 pmPraying that you’ll receive the best of care and have the very best outcome possible tomorrow. Sending healing thoughts along with wheelbarrow loads of good wishes.
Comment by Shelly H 08.05.09 @ 12:25 amIf I were you, I would put that receipt in a VERY safe place, and then make a note where that VERY safe place is. Maybe make a photocopy. I have this strong feeling that City Hall will be “allowing you” more opportunities to knit in the not too distant future. And on THAT upbeat note, I’ll let you start your day. On your behalf I’m wishing the world to spin a little faster so it’ll be August 6th even sooner!
Comment by LynnM 08.05.09 @ 12:26 amSounds like a Rodney Dangerfield skit: “Take my money PLEEZZZE!”
Comment by Sue H 08.05.09 @ 4:26 amI’m sure they’ll be talking about you – and your billing situation – today. You know, I still carry a little project bag when I carry my “nice” clutch vs. my regular BAG.
Comment by Channon 08.05.09 @ 5:40 amMeanwhile, in Illinois, my husband received a bill from his doctor’s office for $275-ish that, supposedly, covered the reading of his bloodpressure test results!!! Turns out it’s the price of a visit, which is covered by the insurance co-payment system. Now, if they can only code it right…
I hope you accomplished all you wanted to before D-day so that you can concentrate on relaxing.
Know you are in my thoughts and in my prayers!
Comment by Suzanne in Mtl 08.05.09 @ 5:57 amI have some companies I could use your strong arm on – I’d love for them to say uncle. As is, I’m the one saying uncle. In any case, good luck with your procedures – hope you feel better soon.
Comment by Heather 08.05.09 @ 10:51 amWoulda’ coulda’ shoulda’… I hate those times. I fear getting stuck somewhere without my knitting, but it does happen sometimes. I’m amused that they had such a tough time billing you. hahahha
Glad to hear you got another to-do off of the list so that you can focus on your knitting.
It is soo frustrating… I never go to any governmental agency without ample supply of knitting and crochet projects. I find that they are very “creative”, and I can either knit or get mad.
Comment by Henya 08.05.09 @ 2:10 pmI wanted to stop by to tell you that I am thinking of you and that you are in my prayers.
Comment by Momo Fali 08.05.09 @ 3:32 pmI don’t know what to say except you are a very special person and I hope that everything goes well and you are up and knitting very, very soon. I’m sending you hugs and positive energy.
Love, Nancy
I am thinking of you! Wishing you well. In the meanwhile, I read your post and saw this phrase:
“Households with solar systems.”
It totally struck me funny. Is the earth an enormous household with solar system? Or is it that your household has its own solar system?! (hah–the sun, and the moon, etc…) We have to come up with a better phrase for people who have solar panels on their roofs, I guess. 🙂
I hope this silliness amuses you as you heal.
Comment by Joanne 08.05.09 @ 8:07 pmAmy, who now lives in Old Town ME, had her Old Town ME sewer bill show up in her name at my place in MD. While I’m part owner, you’d think that they’d send it to the ME address! She got it straightened out. I guess they are used to part-year residents, but she’s going to be there year round. I guess it was a good opportunity for her to make some new friends at the town office. There’s always a bright side to everything. 🙂
Comment by Karen Lewis 08.06.09 @ 7:40 amLeave a comment
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