I didn't get my passport!!!

Ha ha fooled you, of course I got it! I got up at 6.30, went to the passport office (and there was nobody there at 8a--on Tuesday it was packed at 9.15a. So have we all learned a lesson here?) and was in and out in 25 minutes with the pickup notice clutched in my little pink hand. Got to work at 8.40a and paraded myself all over the office, because nobody would have believed that I could ever have gotten my carcass in at such an hour without evidence of their own eyes, and worked like a demon all day (taking time out to pick up my precious passport, natch).

One of the only other things that could only be done yesterday was getting my sticker on my student card, which I simply had to have what with student prices being ubiquitous in London. I rang and found that though they do in fact stay open until 8p every other weekday, on Friday they close at 5.30. So it was lucky that I had come to work so early, as I was able to finish everything that I had to do and do all of my filing by 5p, race onto the train, tear down the six blocks to the school, and gallop into the Bursar's office and 5.31p.

"We are closed we are closed we are CLOSED!"

They chorused, as though they were in some sort of Bursar's version of Horton Hears a Who (Kymm Hears a Bursar?). I said, with shock and sadness in my voice "But, but, but I only need a sticker on my card! And I'm leaving town tomorrow! O dear, o dear..." and they relented and gave it to me. I have found that that is the best way to handle situations like that, 'cause if you say angrily "What's the matter with you, it's only 5.31! How hard is it to give me one lousy sticker?!" or whinily "Please please please give me my sticker! C'mon, give me a break!" you'll never get anywhere. But if you radiate disappointment, you'll usually get your way.

For instance, this guy was calling me at The Company That Must Not Be Named today, because we are in possession of a mighty overdue invoice, but he was incredibly mean! I made Michelle answer the phone, because I didn't feel like taking any calls, and she kept putting him on hold and asking me "Is there anyone else he can talk to? Who is the supervisor?" and I kept saying "I'm not here, Diane's not here, and Dave really is on vacation this week!" and she was trying to explain to him that she wasn't even in the AP department, and he was just meaner and meaner and I got so mad that I just told Michelle to tell him to call on Monday, when Diane and I will both be gone and Dave will be there but I know he won't take that call.

You see? That's no way to get your invoice paid. It means that people won't take your calls and will hold off paying you for another week or so to punish you. But when people have called and been really sweet and sad and disappointed, I've jumped through hoops to get that check cut.

Heard from Bryan the other day with the great news that he and his girlfriend Michelle are getting married on 4th July! Which means either that they wanted to make certain that everyone would always remember their anniversary, or they really like picnics and want to make certain that they could celebrate their marriage with one every year.

Send them congratulations!

There is still time to get a postcard while I'm gone, as long as I get that e-mail today before 4.30p EDT! Also, if you want to be on my one time only notify list so that I'll let you know when I've come back and posted a new entry, E-mail me! No time limit on that one--send 'em while I'm gone all you want. And if you haven't written me before, tell me how you found me.

To Do List