Well hello.
I've been delaying writing on here because when I want to, it's usually because something has happened that's annoyed me. And I figure some of you probably get tired of reading about everything that makes Mollie annoyed (which, it turns out, is kind of a long list). But this one just can't go undiscussed.
It all started when I drove back to Boston on Saturday morning. I went to Anne's house and we hung out for a while until it was time for me to go to my church basketball game. So.. I drove to the church and parked on Appian Way where the Ed. School is. I hastily shoved my 4 quarters into the meter, checked my watch ("I have to be back at the car by 2:07") and ran to the building because I was late.
We played the game and lost, no thanks to me. (Ok, I admit, I am not very good at basketball, which shouldn't come as any big surprise to any of you. And my team really really wanted to win. Well, we were up by 1 and they passed me the ball to wait out the last 15 seconds, and someone stole it from me and made a basket. So we lost. Not that it's my fault or anything. I don't even care, but I know other people on the team do, so oh well.) Anyway. The game got over and I ran back to the car.
My meter said 2 minutes. My watch said I had about three. But I really had to pee. I was parked right in front of the library, and they have a bathroom on the first floor about 20 feet inside the door. I took about three seconds to contemplate: "I could put another quarter in to be safe, but I'm wasting time thinking about this, and if I just hurry I can be in and out before my time is up." If I was a few seconds over, no big deal.
WRONG. I ran (and when I say "ran", I mean "ran") in, did my business, washed my hands, and ran back out to see a meter maid walking away from my car and a parking ticket on my windshield. I could not have been more than 60 seconds over the time, and he had stalked the meter so he could slap a ticket down right when it got to zero; he would not talk to me about it. When I said, "Wait. I am less than one minute over!" he just walked away. I mean, he couldn't have checked the two cars parked behind me before stopping to give me a ticket? Not even a thirty second grace period?
*sigh* I was so angry I was shaking. I mean, I know it's his job, but really? He saw me running out and he tried to walk faster to get away from my car before I noticed. Time stamped on the ticket: 2:08.
And that, my friends, is why hand-washing is over-rated. If only I didn't feel it necessary to follow standard rules of cleanliness, I would have run out of there with reckless abandon and my dirty hands and would have avoided the stupid ticket. I could have even opted for the no-touch hand sanitizer on my way out of the building, and I still would have avoided the ticket. I mean, if I was a man, I would have made it back in no time. (Do you think I can try to argue giving me a ticket was sexist?) *sigh*
Oh, and how much is the pesky ticket, you ask?
Twenty-five dollars.
Yeah, most expensive minute of my life. I wanted to just leave my car there for the rest of the day to get my money's worth, but I had places to go. I was hoping I'd calm down about it after a few days, but it still makes me mad. I have half a mind to explain the story to them, include a check for $10 and say, "Here, that's me being GENEROUS!" But somehow I don't think that will fly.
So anyway. That's it for now-- until something else annoys me enough to warrant a new post.
