99 Problems, but a Bracket Ain't One

Today has been the definition of "one of those days", and it earned that title before noon, which is always impressive, let me tell you. Here's the rundown: So three weeks ago I decided to buy a treadmill, because it's been absurdly cold and doesn't seem to be making any promises to lighten up.

I just thought it would be a good investment. I like to run. It's the one thing I don't get as easily burned out on. I love to run outside on the bike path in particular, but I found this treadmill that seemed like it could really be something nice for the time being. It's a NordicTrack T6.3. It does all kinds of cool stuff, including letting you pick a path on Google Maps to run. I was like, oh yeah, this has got to be the one. We found one that was used and decided to go for it (They're incredibly expensive new, but if I'd known how this was going to go, maybe I would have splurged). Anyway, we get it home and realize that, as the men at Sears were loading it into our car, a cord got cut. I was totally crushed. Just my luck, right?


So, anyway, we start looking at it even more to see if anything else got messed up. I noticed a small bracket was missing as well. Not too big of a deal. I call Sears, they say they're mailing out the parts. A week goes by. Nothing. So I call the NordicTrack company. They say they're sending out the parts but it could take 7-10 business days. I wait.

The box finally arrives today. I open it up. The cord is there, but the other piece is completely wrong. I call. I spend at least a half an hour trying to explain this missing bracket to the woman. After thirty minutes, she picks out a piece. It's completely wrong. It's nowhere close to what I was describing or the place that piece was located. I want to scream. She suggests I take a picture and send it to her. WHY was this not suggested after like 10 minutes of trying?

So then we get to the business of scheduling a tech to be sent to my house to fix the cord. And, what's that? He will contact me in 3-5 business days to SCHEDULE his appointment with me. Basically what they're reassuring me is that, by the time this gets fixed, it will most likely be warm enough to run outside again. I feel murderous, but agree, deciding that I will consider it for the day and decide whether or not I want to just take this stupid thing back to Sears, get my money back, and go and find a treadmill that actually works. I have never worked so hard to work out without actually ever getting to work out! The entire point of this is that I want to be in shape for Disney. That is in 67 days. That is not a lot of time. But I am trying not to have a really horrendous breakdown. I'm trying to keep my cool and decide if it's worth going out and trying to find a new treadmill. The problem is that I really like THIS treadmill. It has a lot of cool features. But, you know what, I don't even know if the stupid thing will run when they actually DO fix it. So it's the question of whether or not I want to pretend that I'm lucky.

I don't know. And on top of all of that, it's bill day. So I get to spend at least an hour paying bills. And when I got on Ameren's site to start off the torture, it kept popping up an error message. Seriously. SERIOUSLY this is my day. It may not sound like a big deal, but I am super anxious about being in the shape I want to be for Disney. So I guess what that means is that, once I pay all of these bills, I'm going to put on about five layers of clothes and go run out in the 20 degree weather. Probably contract pneumonia. I could just stay in and do Tae Bo, but I'm so bored with it. I just hate today. That's just all there is to it.

WHY can't I be in Disney RIGHT NOW? Why am I here rather than at the most magical place on Earth? Not that I would want to be in this shape, where I get worn out so easily and my knee threatens treason whenever I have it folded up for too long. BUT STILL. Just get me out of here!!

Anyway, I really got on here to avoid the bills and to rant in order to calm down a little, but I should probably also mention that I finally finished my thesis. It is currently in the mail with all of the required forms, on its way to the provost to be signed into reality. And it has actually been a good year so far for my poetry. I've already received two acceptances. My list of accomplishments now looks a little like this:

Zone 3: "My Uncle Sings La Cucaracha" & "Echoes of Bovary"

the minnesota review: "I Could Call You Worse Things" & "There Are Bright Signs in the Crystal Ball"

The Hartskill Review: "Sea Closed to Public"

Revolution House: "Vietnam Asks for Love Letters"

Parable Press: "I'm in St. Louis to Find You"

Revolution House and The Hartskill Review are the two new ones. I am thrilled about them, really. I am particularly proud about Revolution House though. Not just because it's so well-known, but because that poem means a lot to me. I really desperately wanted it published, and it had just last year received a not so flattering rejection. This was my redemption, but also just my joy to have that poem published, since it's my tribute to my aunt Debra, who I never met.

So yay me! But besides that, there's also my plans for the future. I've been thinking a lot about my thesis, and it's changing for me. I don't want the same thing for it now as I did last year, so it will be facing some big changes before I send it out in hopes of publication. That's going to be my project this year. I've already written a new poem. Not sure if it will work in my new manuscript idea, but I'm sending it out individually anyway. It's another Uncle poem.

But anyway, I have some big goals for the year and a lot of stuff to look forward to. As always, I'll be keeping my blog posted.