Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction

I was going to title this Pay It Forward (revisited) but The Guy Who scared me into thinking that everyone associated with the story is going to die soon! :-)

There is no way I could make this up. Remember the story about me losing the notebook and someone finding it and calling a phone number in the notebook, etc., etc., etc.

So. Today I call Tony and ask him if I can come by and get my notebook. He told me I could pull into the taxi zone by the Continental building and he'd run out. I got there early enough to snag a meter spot so I waited in the lobby of the building. I actually miss working downtown. Something about the hustle and bustle and being a tunnel rat.

So. Tony meets me after I call him to let him know that I am waiting. VERY nice guy. He handed me my notebook and I could tell that several cars had run over it because the spiral binding is a bit warped. And there are a few tire marks on some of the pages.

I notice that Tony is wearing a Strake Jesuit sweater. Turns out that his son is a student there. I told him that I went to a Catholic high school in Ft. Worth.

I told him that I had told several people the story about him seeing the notebook and going back around to get it. That morning he was late to work. He said that he happened to say a prayer and hoped that someone would get the notebook and then he realized that if he didn't go and get it no one would so that is why he went back several blocks.

He said that once he got the notebook and saw some of the items in there he realized it could be important. So he said another prayer that he would find the owner. And as it turns out he only called one person and that was Elaine. Of all of the phone numbers in the book he picked the one that would actually figure out who the notebook belonged to!

So I told him about my prayer to Saint Anthony and he just smiled. I'm telling ya. There is something to saying a prayer every now and then.

We chatted some more and he had to get to a meeting and my meter was running. It was really nice meeting Tony.

I didn't tell him about my blog but wouldn't it be funny if somehow he stumbled across it. And to all of you wisenheimers who think you might be able to pull a fast one on me, I know Tony's last name so don't try to pull one on me 'cause I'll ask you for your last name!

In other news:

I had to miss a Krewe meeting tonight. I sorta had a panic attack this afternoon about getting something done and I knew that I would be a wreck sitting in the meeting worrying about it.

Didn't go running today. Didn't go to the gym. Instead, I pulled a homemade rum cake out of the freezer and had a slice. I'm gonna get as big as a house I tell ya!

World AIDS Day - Dec. 1

www.worldaidsdayhouston.org

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 6.2

This is an enhanced version of T 'n T for Sunday November 25, 2007.

Pay It Forward

On Tuesday night, when I left for Reef and then Cyclone Anaya's, I took my little notebook with me because it had some phone numbers in there that I might need. In that notebook were notes from various meetings as well as all of my physical activities and a grocery list. You get the picture.

So I get to Ft. Worth and I can't find the notebook that I thought was in The Cal Mobile. And of course one of the phone numbers that I needed while I was in Ft. Worth was in there! UGH.

I get back to Houston and look all over The Cal Mobile again. No sign of it. I look in some bags from Target (from Tuesday); not there. UGH! Yesterday I even said a prayer to St. Anthony who is the patron saint of lost causes.

So this morning I get a phone call from Elaine. Elaine was one of the ladies who worked at Tropical Depression #46. I haven't talked to Elaine in about a month so I'm thinking, "How nice to hear from her."

Sidebar: If you live in Houston and if you ever need dependable help at a party, hire Elaine.

So Elaine starts to ask me if I've lost a notebook and I tell her that I'm going nuts trying to find it. She got a phone call from a guy named Tony who found her phone number in there and note about September 15 (which happened to be the day of Tropical Depression #46). He called her on Wednesday but until today she couldn't remember where she was on on September 15 and then it clicked.

So after a nice chat with Elaine (BTW...she is also looking for a job. She has experience with medical records and she also has cared for people who are home bound.) I call Tony. I introduce myself and mention Elaine's name and then it clicks with him who I am.

He said he was on his way to work on Wednesday and saw a notebook in the street on Brazos. He thought it might be important so he went back around and picked it up.

I'm going to get it from him in a few days.

So, a gold star to Tony and a gold star to Elaine. It is a nice reminder that there are some good people in this world. And I hope that one day, someone does them a big favor too.

I've commented on here about paying it forward. And it goes with that saying that I will misquote and I can't remember who said it, "The good that you do is the good that you will receive in return."

Grande Sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte non-fat with no whip and with an extra pump and an extra shot

That's my new other favorite drink at the office these days.

It is actually much better if you don't do sugar-free and if you do whole milk and whipped cream.

Anywho. This morning I'm at the office at my big desk reading the paper, just minding my own business and a lady walks up to the table and lets out a scream of glee. Scared the sh_t outta me. Wait it gets better.

It's not me that she is happy to see. It is someone behind me. OK. That's cool BUT she throws her purse down on the other chair at my desk, puts her coffee down RIGHT in front of me, and lays down some sort of a plastic bag on MY NEWSPAPER and walks off!

Never acknowledges that I'm sitting there. She doesn't ask if she can lay claim to my big desk. She just does it.

Eventually she comes back to gather her belongings which I have rearranged, except for the purse, and still doesn't acknowledge me.

If it hadn't have been for the phone call from Elaine which happened after this incident at the office, I'd probably still be seething over it.

Oh. So on my way out of the office, I accidentally kicked her table. LOL I swear it was an accident!

Nanook Of The North

What are the chances of me hearing that name twice within less of 24 hours? LOL

So yesterday while I was working on cards, Unzipped comes on. I've seen this frockumentary umpteen times. I could watch it another umpteen times. Every time I watch it I still get excited when Isaac shows his collection.

In the movie he refers to Nanook Of The North for his inspiration. OK. So that was yesterday afternoon.
This morning as I'm leaving LeFittes I run into Cruise Director Tom. (Haven't seen him in awhile and he always makes me laugh because he usually has some good gossip about something.) We comment about the cold to the bone wet weather and he looks at the sweater I'm wearing and says, "You're all bundled up like Nanook Of The North." Go figure.

I've never watched the movie so I guess now it is time to do so.

Post-Thanksgiving/Holiday Party

So this afternoon I made my way up the road to the annual party given by Scott & Micheal and Steven & Grant. Can't remember why but last year I didn't attend.

A fun time was had by all. Many familiar faces and as always some new faces. Great conversation and many laughs. Embellishments to events and stories at the drop of a hat. For instance, I am now adding Hapsburg (EDIT: the correct spelling is Habsburg) to my name. Sort of a long story so just use your imagination.

I could have stayed another hour chatting and drinking but I left to go to the 500p Mass at St. Anne's because I thought it was the first Sunday of Advent only to find out it was the Feast of Christ The King which is the last Sunday of the year.

So I'm home now. The Calvinator has been walked and we're waiting for The Amazing Race!

World AIDS Day Dec. 1

www.worldaidsdayhouston.org