An ever so long update.
The little one did not win the science fair this year. She lost to the digestive system. The digestive system report was pretty cool for third grade. The little girl who did it color coded each section of the system and explained how it works and why. She made a 3-D clay model to go with it. So if my little girl was to lose, I'm glad she lost to someone who put a lot of effort in to the project and deserved it, and not to someone who won because their mom contributes to the PTA. The little one is a little disappointed. She says she doesn't want to do the science fair next year. I'm seeing babies and bathwater all over the place. If she doesn't want to do the science fair next year, that's fine with me. But I don't want her to quit just because she didn't win this year.
I have one more final tonight, then I'm done for the summer. The first thing I am going to do is grab 15 books that are not required for school and read them in a weekend. Oh, to read for pleasure again! Then I am going to travel. I'll make a few Salt Lake trips, a Colorado trip or two, and I'm looking hard in the San Diego direction (Kate?).
I must have done better in some of my classes than I thought I did because I have been invited into the Honors program. I'm still debating about accepting. Though it would be nice to be taught and learn something, and not just pay for my grade. I have the summer to think about it.
Tonight's final is for English. It's a writer's portfolio, so I assume we're to write in class then read it aloud. I'm supposed to have 5 pieces ready to go and I only have 3. I'm empty. I thought a stop here would help me refuel, but the prospect does not look good. I still have time. The class doesn't start until 5:00 and I work best under pressure. No worries. Yet.
Oh, and here's something. In January I got a wireless internet connection for my laptop. I spent more money than was necessary on a router that never did work properly and I had to replace it a month later. With the new router everything was bliss for half an hour. Then I couldn't get on the internet again. I called the Geek Squad and John came right over. He fixed it and was gone. The next time I logged on, half an hour later it was down again. So I called the Geek Squad. John came out and fixed it. This is how it has been going, Rinse. Repeat. for the last two months. This wireless internet, for all its convenience, has been nothing but trouble. I am now on a first name basis with the Geek Squad at Best Buy.
Last Friday I couldn't get on the internet again, and John had just left my house. He updated all my spyware and firewalls, gave me the best of the best of the best, and I sold one of my kidneys on ebay to cover the damages.
I've learned a lot from all of John's visits so I pinged and troubleshooted (troubleshot?) my way around to try and figure it out to no avail. So on Monday I took my laptop to Best Buy so the Geek Squad could fix it, again.
Here's where the story starts:
I'm driving out to Best Buy with my sister and my daughter. We're chatting and reading and all is good with the world. We get to the store and my sister says she'll just wait in the car.
"I don't know how long this is going to take."
"That's OK. I want to keep reading."
I shrugged and got out of the car. I saw my keys on the seat and I thought I'll leave my keys here since Dooda is staying in the car. But then I grabbed my keys anyway. At least I'm pretty sure I did.
So in one hand I have my laptop, and in the other I have my wallet, my phone, and my keys. I go up to the Geek Squad desk and in 5 minutes they have me up and running. I packed everything up and looked at the little one, "Do you have my keys?" She shook her head, no. "Maybe I did leave them in the car," I said. Because I do that. I'll think about doing something, then do the opposite, then I'll get confused and I won't be able to tell if I really did something or if it was just a really strong thought.
I took some time to wander around the store. I found a new laptop bag that looks much more snazzy than my black one. The little one and I checked out the music section and she bought a new Disney CD (which she can't listen to for a week, but that's another story). We went back to the car and I asked Dooda if my keys were in there. She looked around, "nope." I went back in the store and asked the Welcome Center and the Geek Squad if anyone brought in a pair of keys. (Yes, I said a "pair" of keys. Twice. Have you not been reading? My brain wasn't working right). Dooda laughed, "Heh, pair." They said, "Nope."
I retraced my steps through the store, even though I know I noticed they were gone when I was at the Geek counter. We went back out to the car. We looked all through the car, all through my bags, we looked under the car and under the cars around us. I thought maybe I dropped the keys in the parking lot and somebody took them to the store next to Best Buy. Dooda went up to the customer service girl and asked her if anyone brought in a pair of keys. I laughed because she wasn't even trying to make fun of me. She seriously said it.
It was looking like the keys were really gone. Vanished. *poof* Just like that. I called my dad and asked him to bring me my spare. I filled out the lost and found report at Best Buy and went out to the car to wait. And wait. And wait. I wanted to know what time it was, the clock in my car doesn't work right, and without the key I wouldn't be able to see it anyway, so I looked for my phone. I slid my hand underneath the console where I keep my phone. It wasn't there. I looked at my sister, "Don't say it." I looked behind me and in the cubby holes.
::blink::
"Don't say it!" I say again, panic level rising.
::blinkblink::
"I can't find my phone."
I did find my phone. The little one was playing games on it. But the keys are still missing. I'm driving around using my spare which is always always Always put in the same place. I lose my keys all the time, but this time I don't think they're coming back.