I once read about a game of positive/negative (in Beautiful Boy by David Sheff). It goes something like this (I made this example up on the spot):

M got a great night’s sleep.

But he slept so deeply that he didn’t notice a spider crawl into his mouth.

Fortunately he woke up.

Unfortunately, the spider was already in his throat.

Fortunately, he gagged.

Unfortunately, he swallowed the spider anyways.

Fortunately, it didn’t taste bad.

Unfortunately, the spider didn’t die, and it made a spider’s web in his stomach.

Fortunately, M learned how to catch flies and became the world’s greatest circus act.

My day was kind of like that – one thing invalidating the next in such a way I couldn’t help but laugh at it all.

The temp job I’m at has been frustrating on two levels. Firstly, because they honestly have no work for me to do. I cover the phones – which maybe ring five times in an eight hour period. Yesterday I didn’t have a working phone at all but they kept me anyways.

Today I had a working phone, but it didn’t ring once the entire day!

BUT they had work for me! I was so excited to have work that I didn’t even take a lunch break. I was on this weird energy high fueled by free bagels and tea with honey. And I didn’t run out of work til 3 or 3:30. One of the guys tried to convince me to go to a late lunch with him and I replied that I was so energized I couldn’t leave the building for fear of bouncing up into the stratosphere. He thought that would be a fun adventure, but I was pretty sure there’s limited oxygen up there.

A little background, I was being considered for permanent hire at this job… all the staff actually assumed I’d get the job. But the day the CEO came back, last week, he declared me out of the running. When I found out, I took it well – I asked if there was anything I could have done better , for future improvement. I was told no. Now, I’m not one to make excuses for myself…. I believe you step up to the plate and swing with everything you have. But I was told there was nothing I could have done, and I accepted it. Today one of the staff came up and assumed again – asked me “you’re taking over for [S], right?” I explained no, that I’m just covering until they hire someone. He said to me – “if you really want the job, take initiative.” He even gave suggestions of little things I could do.

On the one hand, I felt frustrated: was it my fault after all, had I failed by not being hired? And how could I really make a good impression at work when they gave me nothing to be productive on? But on the other hand, I felt motivated: okay, I could step up to the plate again! So I followed his suggestions and planned to do so tomorrow as well.

I popped my head into my supervisor’s office shortly after to ask about next week – to remind her I have an appointment on Monday – and learned that tomorrow is my last day. So much for a second step up to the plate!

But I figured, hey, at least now my appointment on Monday won’t interfere, and I can even make an appointment for Wednesday with a colleague I’ve had no luck scheduling with.

Then I got an email that my Monday appointment was canceled!

But I also got an email from the colleague that Wednesday wouldn’t work, could we do Monday instead – so there you go.

I happened to check my horoscope and it says “You’re experiencing some strange after-effects from long-ago mistakes or good deeds — karma can take a long time to manifest! Don’t read too much into it, but do remember that what goes around comes around.” I can’t imagine what I did!

I just got my paycheck, so there’s another positive!

My sister is going out tonight, and my nephews are going to be around the house til 8:30; it’s my job to keep the house standing. With my luck today, I half expect a fire to break out.

Oh, in other news, my Marine became a Sergeant today!! I’m very amused because we have bonded over soup and photography. I’m planning a celebratory package for him that contains a bit of both