CLOUDBURST?

I was still very much in a 'head in the clouds' mood on Monday.  "Did you have a good weekend" was not a question I should have been asked if the person posing did not have a lot of time.  I could not resist giving all the details.  

The migraine symptoms that had started to manifest on Saturday and Sunday were gradually disappearing and I was feeling a lot better by Tuesday but then, from nowhere, I started to sneeze.  

There is nothing common about 'the cold', but that is what I was experiencing.  Symptoms of a common cold.  Everything became an effort.  

Storms came, and storms went throughout the week, and a walk across the car park in searing heat and clear skies, could be followed by a walk back through a tempest.  I did not leave the office without an umbrella!  Dropping off an overnight package on Tuesday, by walking twenty to thirty feet was a pleasant experience.  However as I turned to come back, a lightening fork ran across the sky and thunder rattled the windows of the building outside of which the collection box stood.  Wind howled and rain started to beat against the buildings, splattering off cars and causing pond like puddles.  Welcome to Austin, Y'all!  I did have my umbrella, and pushed it into the oncoming health puffs of air, with difficulty!  'If you don't like the weather in Austin, wait five minutes', was never a truer quote!


It rained Wednesday, and then it stopped, and then it started again.  On and off the tap was turned.  Water could be heard inside the electrical room at our office as storms continued to come and go.  Samantha entered the door from going outside and said she could hear something.  I went to the cupboard and listened.  It did sound like water.  Grant appeared and looked under the door.  "Looks like the lights are on and there is water pouring down from somewhere!"  Is the door locked. Yes, it is locked.  Do I have the code for the key box?  Officially no, actually yes.  Could I find it.  Actually no, officially yes (if I looked for it).  Would I use it. Definitely no!  This was a job for super maintenance man.  However, some things are not as common as the cold that I was experiencing, and calling in to the 'management agency' to report a problem is so last millennia!  We have to go through the 'portal'.  Like Alice, I have to eat something to make me small, and then something to make me big again, and then follow the rabbit!  Well, perhaps not quite that bad, but when it comes to an emergency, if I am surrounded by others I tend to panic somewhat.  When I am on my own I do very well.  I was surrounded by others!  I chose not to use the portal.

"Is it an emergency?" asked the operator.  I replied that it was.  "And what building are you, again".  I told him my address.  This was not the emergency services I was dialing, but the number for the building maintenance people.  "And where is the problem?"  I explained again, as quickly, succinctly and calmly as I could.  "There is water pouring into the electrical room.  We can hear it, and if you look under the door, you can see it".  Silence did not seem golden at this particular juncture!  "And you want someone to come and check on it?"  I resisted the obvious comments relating to the young man's powers of observation, or lack thereof, and continued, calmly and succinctly.    "Immediately!" I said!  

The rain finally stopped, and when I stepped out into the hallway, the sound of running water had stopped.  I wondered if someone had been inside the cupboard and then come out, but that would not account for the room being locked.  However, I was more concerned that my emergency had not been looked into.  I picked up my pile of post and walked it down the stairs to the lower level, in order to walk out and down to the post box.  Normally, the postman who collects at 4:15pm takes my letters from me, and does not make me struggle with the pull down flap that has a rather energetic spring.  Today, he had parked his truck by the door where I usually exit.  Also, at the foot of the stairs, was super maintenance man, on the phone to (presumably) the operator to whom I had spoken earlier, as he was saying "Yes....but who called?"  I stood, post in hand, pivoting on one foot.  "I called. Hang on", I said as I went towards the door leading outside.  "Is it your room, again?" asked super maintenance man, as I headed out of the first door.  "No.  It's ...hang on!" I said again, opening the second door.  "Where?" he said, following me out. "Stay there!" I said, as if I was talking to a child.  I had to get the post to the mailman.  "Didn't want you coming down that hill in this rain", said the postman.  I thanked him profusely.  How nice!  Super maintenance man was still hovering by the door, daring not to walk out, as if my words had any authority.  I bid the postman farewell, told him to "be safe" and headed back in.  Standing awaiting my return, super maintenance  man looked expectantly.  "Curiouser and Curiouser", said Alice (me) at the fact that super had not turned and walked away.  "I am so sorry!" I said, attempting to build bridges.  "It is the maintenance cupboard.  There appears to be water flowing in".  He followed me up the stairs and to the cupboard.  "This is the electrical cupboard", he said, in his strong Latino accent.  "I know!" I said, trying to sound concerned, rather than flippant.  

The rain was pouring in through the skylight, that some 'bright spark' had left open.  Super was not sure who was working on the roof or why, but his mutterings did not appear to be joyous!  He had to climb up an release the catch, which did not want to be released, and so had to get on to the roof, in the pouring rain, to release it from the outside.  I thanked him profusely, and he thanked me for my call.  He explained that the operator had told him that someone had reported a possible leak!  I know my accent is sometimes hard to comprehend, but I cannot fathom getting 'dire emergency' confused with 'possible leak'.  

My temperature was rising, which had nothing to do with the language barrier, but more to do with the chills that were being experienced.  There was a bright side, however, the migraine symptoms had gone.  "You know they don't worry about your stomach when you go up in those small planes, it's the inner ear problems that make you sick", said Grant's mum on Wednesday evening, when we were discussing our flying experiences of last week.  "Cause all types of problems."  I thought for a while.  "Like migraine symptoms?" I asked.  "Sure.  Anything to do with balance and stuff".  I felt somewhat better.  My (ever so slight) envy at Grant having taken part in loops and barrel rolls was dismissed.  When Grant explained that the sharp dipping of wings, and sharp descending and ascending were so many g's, I realised why I had the symptoms.  I would never have been able to lift my head in time to go to the concert!  Strange what makes me happy!

I received an email on Thursday to say that my message had been received regarding the 'emergency', and had I forgotten my user name and password for the portal.  I responded that I did not have time to use the portal as this was an emergency and I thought it best to phone, rather than dilly dally with a form.  After sending the email, I felt a little conflicted, and wondered if I had been too harsh.  The response was most polite, apologising if I was offended for their suggestion, and letting me know that the messages on the portal were actually picked up quicker and placed in priority order.  The 'call centre' was not always the best option.  So it would seem!  I wrote back, explaining that I was not offended, and that it was I that should be apologising for being a rebel.  We ended up accepting mutual apologies, and we were 'all good'.  I promised I would use the portal next time!  

My computer froze, then died, on Thursday evening.  Mid typing, it just stopped.  Good thing we did not have a dire emergency!  I tried everything to release it, but in the end had to resort to pulling the plug.  When I tried to start it again, a screen told me that I did not have a hard drive.  Having limited, but some knowledge, I went through the various tests but the screen still maintained that the hard drive was not there!  I called a help desk.  "Have you tried turning it off and on again?"  Did I mention that I did not feel too good, due to the common cold?  I just wanted to go to sleep.  "Yes", I answered.  "Did you try .....?"  I sneezed.  "Yes".  "Do you have another computer you can use?"  Was it still April 1st?  "Sounds like a windows corruption problem".  Really?  What would be the solution.  I was incredibly patient when I thanked the technician for his time, despite screaming inside when he offered me the next piece of advice.  "Take it to a local person to look at!" I had already sent Edward a 'screen shot' and he confirmed my thoughts that it was dead!  The hard drive was deceased.  

Friday was perhaps not the best day to come to grips with a new computer.  The lady who talks at you through the screen would not be quiet.  I did not want her to help me at all.  I just wanted to get the thing up and running and ready to use before the work day started.  "Stop it" was a phrase that was used throughout the day.  "Help" was another one, as with new computers come new language, and new set ups, and it is not always obvious what to press to get what I want!  However, I survived the day, and came home ready to sleep for a week!

Saturday's shopping trip was somewhat of an ordeal and I slept for most of the afternoon.  Sunday was Mother's Day in the USA and I received my t-shirt from Abuelo's as is our tradition.  

I am looking forward to the rise again, after this week's dip.  (I did not win a contest this week.  First time in a couple of months I think!)  The common cold is on its way out, as I am feeling sorry for myself and a little impatient at not being able to 'get things done'. Signs of getting better?  I am not sure if it is or if it was just something my mother used to say.  "You must be feeling better if you are getting bored!"   I am sure I will bounce back for ..... another story!