Sunday April 06, 2003

Bad karma on the Sabbath

I don't believe in karma. Really. Back in high school I was really into the new-age mystical multi-religious eastern stuff, but that faded from my life about two years ago. So karma hasn't really been part of my vocabulary for quite some time now. But after the day I've had, I'm going to (temporarily, at least) reclaim that word, because I'm at a loss to describe what the heck went wrong today.

It started off this morning when I made an early stop to the art supply store. I decided that I need to re-mat my drawing (which is currently in the student show) since I did a horrible job last week. All I needed was a mat cutter and some mat board. When I got there, I read a sign on the door that said it wasn't opening until 11:00, so I drove back to my room.

When I got home my roomie told me my best friend had called, asking why I didn't make it to her birthday party the night before. The truth is that I didn't want to drive across town to watch a bunch of people drink themselves into a daze. Been there, done that, and I'm not into that anymore. But I didn't know what to say to her, because I really should have been there for her birthday.

We spoke for a half-hour, until I realized that daylight savings time was in effect, and my clocks were an hour behind. It wasn't 10:30, it was 11:30. I high-tailed it back to the art store, bought my stuff, and made it back in time to be late for work. I was about 5 minutes late to the lab, where I spent a frustrating hour and a half trying to get our rats to behave (they didn't).

After that I went back to my room to cut the mats, one of which I screwed up on (thank you Lord for reminding me to get extras). After finishing the mats I went to the gallery to get my drawing. I unscrewed the frame and slid the new mat in place, only then realizing that my 24 x 34 inch glass was broken into three pieces. After swearing a few times in Croatian (I've been trying to cut back), I threw the broken glass in the dumpster and high-tailed it back to the art store to buy more glass. I have no money left.

Back in the art gallery I was replacing the glass when it slid through my hands and cut my left palm from pinkie to thumb. It bled pretty badly, so my friend got me some antiseptic wipes (which stung like mad). After bandaging my hand I finished screwing the frame back together and left. For the next 40 minutes I sat at Friendly's whining to my roomie (over ice cream) about the day I've had. (Un)fortunately, she also had a rough day (bad Saturday night date experience) so she was able to empathize.

I still don't believe in karma, but all I can say is that this day has been un-blessed with nothing but bad things. And I missed the one thing that always helps me to calm down and put my life in perspective. My head hurts, my hand stings, and I'm ready for bed right now. Goodbye you vile Sunday.