I like this kid.

So this is the first week back to school at East Jesus Community College. As I am sure you all can imagine, I love the first week back b/c of the huge influx of rude, stupid, crazy people. I have a particular dislike for the first week of classes b/c I have to be a greeter for students and new faculty. I have to stand near the entrance of my building and tell the lost where to go. (Yes, it a huge temptation to tell them where I really want them to go.) The traffic ebbs and flows as classes get started and end. I noticed this one kid come during a particular busy time and just sort of look around. I asked if he needed help finding something, and he said he was just hanging out waiting for his girlfriend to get out of class. I loved his shirt... "I don't like people." After the busyness died down for that round, we had this conversation...

Me: *looking obviously at his shirt with a grin* Me either.

Student: *quick as a wink* Sucks to be you then, huh... with a job like that?

Me: *laughs* Tell me about it!

Student: *laughs*

Ahhh, it had been a really stressful morning. I really needed that bit of comic relief. And seriously, he had perfect timing with his retort.

Rainy Day Rewind

We really had an outstandingly wonderful visit with Anne and Brook last weekend. They are always such gracious hosts and seemingly always up for a visit. Even when I email out of the blue and invite ourselves to come and visit in less than two weeks. Obviously, I have no manners. It isn't my fault - I was homeschooled. Ahem. I really enjoy spending time with them. And I love that Kim gets to meet a part of my family who are loving and supportive of us and our relationship. That is such an awesome thing for me.

We drove up early Saturday morning, after our stay over in Fredericksburg. We actually got up and out as planned that morning (a rarity for us) and were making really good time. Then we missed (what turned out to be a rather critical) step in the mapquest directions, because the margins never fuckin' print right(!!!), and managed to get ourselves lost. We went from being right at the D.C. border (from Virginia) to being in Maryland, nearly to Baltimore. Uh, yeah. Once we managed to get ourselves back into D.C. proper, we were even more lost, b/c we entered the city from a totally different direction. We had to call out the rescue squad (aka Brook) and sound totally stupid. Again. (Yes, we got lost last time we came to visit too.) All told, we arrived about 90 minutes after our planned arrival time. And that doesn't include the extra 30 minutes of *get lost* time that I built into our schedule of when to leave that morning. Fun, fun.

We had time for a bit of visiting before we decided on our plans for the day. We had fabulous Lebanese for lunch, we really enjoy that place. Brook did the ordering for us - we all shared dishes from the mezza menu. After a quick pit stop at home, we were off to the Museum of Natural History. It was my first time, and I could have spent SO MUCH MORE time there. I have an absolute love affair with museums. I could easily spend hours in probably any museum in the world. I find them so fascinating. We checked out about 3 exhibits and then it was time to start for home. I really, really want to go back!

When we got back to their place, Anne tempted us into a light snack before dinner, with the intoxicating aroma of baking bread. Kim and I (Amanda was catching a quick nap.) each had a nice thick slice smothered in real butter. O.M.G. It was orgasm on a plate. Have I mentioned how much I love bread? And it was very good bread. It had great holes. YUM!

After a bit more visiting, we headed to dinner. The three of us got to try Ethiopian for the first time. We all enjoyed it. It made for very interesting eating though! (No dishes/plates and no silverware.) It was a cool experience and great food. Brook did the ordering for us. (Notice a theme here... starring Brook as rescue squad?) We wouldn't have had a clue what to order, and he made great choices.

We took a short walk after dinner, so we could see a bit of the D.C. night life. It's a happenin' place! We finished up the evening back at their place. Great conversations and lots of laughter ensued. Our stuffed selves still managed to find room for a piece of Anne's fabulous homemade pie ala mode. Most of us had blueberry, but Amanda got to try a piece of plum pie - her first time. She approved. :) We decided it was time to call it a night when I could no longer hide that I was falling asleep at the table. I was totally zonked. I think I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Ooooh yeah, they had a great guest bed. We were so comfy and the quilt was gorgeous. Not quite as erotic as the one in Fredericksburg though. ;)

We had a great homemade breakfast before hitting the road the next morning. Handmade chocolate croissants (drool!), excellent french toast from homemade bread (my wife still gets the award for best french toast though!), and BACON. Plenty of delicious bacon. Have I mentioned that I like bacon?

All in all it was a great visit. We can't wait to go back!

Ummm, ok...

Background: I've put together "how-to" guides for the stupid fucks instructors who can't seem to figure out the more basic tasks that come with their jobs. I recently mailed out this semesters newsletter and mentioned, as I do every semester, that I have these how-to guides available for anyone who would like them.

Here is the email conversation I have had today with one such stupid fuck instructor.

Courtney,

I received the newsletter in the mail today. (Yada yada about what she found most helpful, in an attempt to win a gas card - bribery!) I would appreciate having all of the how-to guides sent to me. You can mail them if you want (yada yada home address), but I would prefer you email them to me, if you have an electronic version, because I don't want to wait for them to come in the mail. (Emphasis mine - it's important.)

Signed,
Annoying
Instructor

Dear Annoying Instructor,

I have attached the "how-to" guides you requested. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

Thanks,
Courtney

COURTNEY,

I HAVE YOUR EMAIL BUT I AM NOT GOING TO OPEN THE ATTACHMENTS BECAUSE I AM ON DIAL UP AND MY COMPUTER SAYS IT WILL TAKE OVER 2 HOURS TO DOWNLOAD THEM!!! DO YOU SEE HOW UNACCEPTABLE THIS IS?!? YOU REALLY NEED TO REALIZE THAT NOT ALL OF AMERICA HAS FAST INTERNET AT HOME YET!! I SAID THAT YOU COULD MAIL THEM TO ME. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO EMAIL THEM. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. IT IS KIND OF POINTLESS TO HAVE HOW-TO GUIDES IF NO ONE CAN GET ACCESS TO THEM. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS MESS.

Signed,
Annoying Instructor

Hello! Rude, much? Can we say overreaction?? Sheesh. Is it any wonder I really hate my job some days. FTR, the newsletter did mention that these were full color, multi-page guides. AND this particular instructor has always emailed me from her full-time job before, where she does have high-speed internet. But all that aside, do we still need to be so rude? Good grief. That was this morning... I haven't responded yet. I don't think I can be polite. *eye roll*

I hate phones. # 3,279

*phone rings*

Me: East Jesus Community College, Division from Hell, this is Courtney. How may I help you?

Dumb-ass Student: *garble, garble, crackle, garble*?

Me: *fucking cell phones* I'm sorry. Could you repeat your question?

DaS: I'm trying to order my books for class online, and the link-thingie to get to the bookstore isn't working.

Me: Ok, hold on just a moment. *tries link and it works perfectly and quickly* Ma'am? The link seems to be functioning properly. Can you tell me what page you are getting a link from?

DaS: It is a direct link that I have saved in my favorites thingie.

Me: Hmmm. Well, ok, let's try going through a different way, just in case your link is expired or something. We can get there through the current students page on the main website. So, first go the EJCC home page. Do you have that web address?

DaS: Well, I can't do that right now, b/c I don't have internet access.

Me: *crickets* ... *stunned silent*

DaS: Uh, hello?

Me: Um. Sorry. You, um, don't have internet access right now?

DaS: Yeah, our phones and internet and everything are down.

Me: So, uhm, do you think that might be the problem with the link to the bookstore?

DaS: I wouldn't think so. I mean, I have it saved in my favorites and everything. Do you need internet to go to a page you have saved?

Me: Uh. Yeah, I think so.

DaS: Well, that stinks! Shouldn't the online bookstore be accesible to everyone, whether they have internet or not?!

~
Me: *crickets*

~
Me: Would you like me to transfer you to the bookstore, so you can talk to them?