Friday, July 1, 2011

Oops! Or Why Sometimes It's Not Worth Getting Angry About

Hello! I think I'm blogging today. And I think it's Friday. And no, I'm not drunk.

I'm in London, baby!

So when I say I think it's Friday, I mean Over There. It's definitely Friday here, I think.

The fact is, I'm not sure what day or time it is, because I'm SO EXHAUSTED. I'm so exhausted partially because I flew overnight, but mostly because when I arrived there was . . . you guessed it!

A MAJOR OOPS.

Basically, the caretaker gave the wrong key to the cleaning lady. The key he gave her was the only one that locked the deadbolt. So she locked the deadbolt.

And then took the key with her.

To Stratford. Or Surrey. Or somewhere Far Away and Sibilant.

Which left me in London, all red-eyed and crazy-brained, with nowhere to lay my head.

What ensued after was ridiculous, with the owner of the flat being out of town and hiring a courier and me hanging with the caretaker and the caretaker's caretaker (he has cancer! That's bigger than a misplaced key). Then we went to Waitrose (heaven!) and I stepped in dog shit (hell!) and FINALLY the courier came with the key.

That's the version my mind's able to narrate at this point, through the fog.

And don't get me wrong: I'm totally freaking tired and I'm definitely not thrilled about spending my entire first day in London locked out of the (very expensive) flat I'm renting. But OOPS HAPPEN.

Nobody here meant to lose the key. Everyone has a good excuse to be distracted. Yes this is my vacay and yes I want it to be perfect . . . but I also know perfect doesn't happen. In my world, as much as anyone else's, OOPS HAPPEN.

Now, I know some people who define themselves by their life's oopsies: everything was out to get them, everything was wrong, everything was a mistake. But I've never been a big fan of this approach to life. Instead, I'm all about shrugging off the oopsies and getting on with it. I'll have a good story in a few days, ONCE I GET THE SHIT OFF MY SHOES.

Okay, maybe I'm a little bitter about the shit, but I'm not perfect.

What I am, however, is running late to see my friend. So this is going to be the most rambling, random post EVAH (until the next rambling, random post). But next time something piddling, annoyingly bad happens, just tell yourself "oops happen" and shrug it off. It's amazing how much better you'll feel.

Now who wants to clean the shit off my shoes?

5 comments:

L.G.C. Smith said...

Aside from the poo on the shoe, I am so jealous! I want to be in London! And I'm impressed you got a post up at all. Cheers. :)

Juliet Blackwell said...

Oh Nicole! Amazing how surreal and challenging those OOPS can be when you're fresh off a jet and can't recall the last time you slept, right? Sorry to hear about this, but glad at how soon it will be a laughable memory. Wish I were with you in London!!!!!! Have some fun for me, will ya?

Martha Flynn said...

WE NEED TO GET THE OOPS HAPPENS T-SHIRT BIZ RUNNING ASAP!

Lisa Hughey said...

Loved this (except for the poop)! So jealous you are in London. YOU ARE HAVING AN OOPS IN LONDON!!! (as opposed to a very annoying oops at home :) ) I'm a huge fan of 'oops happens' myself. You can either get annoyed or let it roll off of you. Fingers crossed for only one oops on your vacay. :)

Nicole Peeler said...

Lynn: I had all sorts of alarms set on my phone and iPad for the post, and when they went off I nearly shat myself. ;-) Then I was like, "OMG what am I going to blog about." Then I saw the topic and was like, "Oh. Sweet. I can do oops, right now." LOL And thanks! It's going to be a great trip. Gonna be hard to go back!

Juliet: And I am SUCH a baby without sleep. It's terrible. I wanted to suck my thumb and cry. And I will have fun for all. Wish you could come on over! ;-)

Martha: YES. And you are the woman to make it happen. *salutes* (That would be a really fun group blog conference T, actually. Pens Fatales: Oops Happen)

Lisa: That's very true! Hard to complain when I get to spend a month here. And thanks! Me too! LOL