What a Day

This morning began as a rather OK day. I was attending a seminar which dealt with a part of the assessing system here in Michigan that had changed completely while I was off being retired. I knew that I was going to have to become knowledgeable regarding land banks and the tax reversion process before the year was out. This would take care of it and all would be well.

Shortly into the class I began to fear that these properties had not been properly handled and that I was going to have a big mess to straighten out. Arriving back at work this afternoon, I began pulling files and going through them one at a time. By the time I had reviewed all the folders I had 5 separate stacks on my desk. Every stack had a problem and they were all different in how serious resolving the issue would be.

I called our support guru to just try to get it all sorted out. He began talking to me about the software program we use and how things should be coded for the system to work right. I began hearing a sound like pebbles were being thrown against my window. I looked up and said "It's hailing!" And it was. Hailing. It was storming! That's why it was hailing.

I tried to pay attention to my support dude, although I was a bit distracted, when the power went out. The computer screen went black and my phone connection was broken. The storm kept going. I decided I would not turn my computer back on during the storm. Instead I'd go upstairs where I could see better and look outside to see how bad this storm really was.

I got into the elevator and pushed the button. The door closed and then NOTHING! The elevator just sat there. I pushed the button again. NOTHING. I pushed the door open button. NOTHING. The elevator had not moved. I stood there for a few minutes. I waited. NOTHING. I realized I was STUCK IN THE ELEVATOR! I pushed the alarm button.

NOTHING. I waited. Someone would come. NOTHING. I waited some more. I pushed the alarm button again. For a long time. I just kept pushing it. I yelled a little bit. I beat on the door some. NOTHING. I pushed the alarm button again. for a long time. No one came. So, I decided I'd call on the phone. I picked it up and it was immediately answered by one of our public safety officers. He said they'd get me out. I hung up the phone.

In about 30 seconds the door opened. Wow! Those public safety officers are great. I stepped out and there stood John, a basement co-worker, grinning from ear to ear. "Was that you pushing the alarm button?"

"Why yes, I was stuck. Did you open the door for me?"

"No, I was just coming to see why the alarm kept sounding!"

Well, thank you very much John. I walked into my office and my assistant said "Were you stuck in the elevator? Was that you?"

"Yes!" yes, it was me!"

The lesson I've learned from this and am passing on to you... 1. don't ride elevators during storms. 2. if you get stuck in an elevator, don't push the alarm button, everyone will ignore you. 3. use the phone and call for help. Yes, call.
4. Yelling and beating on the door doesn't do any good. None at all.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Now, I'm going home and I hope this evening will be better.

I'm going on vacation next week. So there, everything wrong. You can just stay wrong for a while.

Good Night.