Glass half full or empty....

What a interesting day! Being here in Arlington has been delightful, it really has, but today put some serious question marks in that thought. It started with a call from the housing dept. saying our dog was too noisy according to our neighbor, and unless we wanted to move, we must get rid of it. I, being the rigid rule follower, complied with the request, with much angst. I spent the morning trying to call housing but got no reply, until a lovely email asking whether I could be reached by phone as there was some other pressing concerns regarding our stay in this apartment. Are you kidding me? What could that mean..... one guess.... noisy children. Sorry, they are not going to the shelter, no way, no how! I guess the actual complaint from same glass half empty neighbor was that they were concerned about how many people where living in our apartment. It seemed to them that we were over the limit. ALL FOUR of us. Guess what.... not ok to have too many friends coming to visit. The 11th floor of this complex is for the friendless.

Mid day, I have a telephone interview from the HR department of the job I have applied for. I have already had a personal interview with the manager but now I have to do what is called a 'talent' interview. I must answer the questions but not be given any context in which they are meaning.

#1 Are you a person who likes to accomplish things or get things done? Obvious answer would be yes. Answering no, I like to sit on my ass and watch the world turn, probably would not get you the job.

#2 Can you give me an example of how you accomplished something in the last two days? What like the laundry, feeding and dressing my kids, getting them to school on time, or making dinner?

#3 Are you an extrovert or introvert? and can you give me an example of this behavior in your life?

#4 Have you ever been surprised by know what someone was going to say before they say it? AM I a mind reader? What?

#5 When coming into a room with a group of people, can you immediately tell what is wrong and how to fix it? .... why does something have to be wrong with a group of people. OMG when 2 or more are gathered one must know something is amiss.

This interview went on and on for 45 mins, not including the time she had to quickly hang up the phone as the interviewer thought she had lost all the information and we would have to start again. She called back and assured me, she had not lost the information, and we could continue. This left me wondering, if this was part of my talent test. Did I perform well to disruption, and could I be pleasant to an incompetent co-worker?

As the day progressed I was sadden to see the crate which our beloved dog (of which we had for a month) slept in. I loaded it up to return it to the pet store. I had lost the receipt so I had to take a store credit. So I bought our now overjoyed cat, who was free from said dog, a new cat post. While waiting in line at the check out. My lovely boy, B, decided it was a great swinging toy, and promptly launched himself off of it, and kicked an elderly lady square in the knee. Oh joy! She bellowed and moaned, and B smiled and smiled until I asked him to say sorry. He yelled at me and the lady he would not say sorry..... OMG, mother of the year for me! The lady must have glared at him or something because now he was on the floor screaming and crying like he was going to get a vaccination shot. This was a very embarrassing moment. I did manage to get him up off the floor and to utter some sort of 'sorry' before the lady promptly left the store. I, being the nurse, watched her leave, and there was no limping (just to clarify)

I am thankful today. Yes I am.... for what.... that Miss Glass Half Empty across the hall is now fully empty, and my kids will never be asked to be quiet while we are walking down the hall. They can be as loud and running free as they wish. I am thankful for the goldfish cracker B dropped and is now wedged underneath her door. It's good to be thankful for the little things in life, and to know, my glass is half full. No matter what happens, it's full and can not be tipped over!