I wake up at 6 something AM as daughter 1 stomps down the stairs. When I open my eyes I find my dog nose to nose with me, tail wagging and full of energy. Before I can roll out of bed, my phone goes nuts. Dings, calls, texts, push notifications and what not. All at once.
The HCPSS (Howard County Public School System for all who are not in Maryland) alert system asks me to "please be aware of possible disruptions to bus services this morning. Check your emails for full details. Schools will notify impacted families."
I check my email. Nothing. I pity all the other families for a brief moment, shout "bye honey, I love you" as D1 heads out the door, and "good morning love" to D2 who proceeds to the kitchen to turn on the coffee maker for me (I love her.) and then takes out the dog for his morning potty break (I love her very much).
D2 and dog return without D1 in tow, so her bus must have arrived. Good. I can resume regular morning routine, feed the dog, sip my coffee, check my emails, and read a bit of news. Just as I am settling in a new alert comes in from HCPSS:
"Update: Due to unusually high number of bus driver call-outs, schools may not be able to notify families. Plan for alternate transportation today."
Huh? I am not understanding. What day is today? What did I miss? Why are bus drivers not going to work? Did something happen? How does one plan when events are already unfolding? I am pondering all the questions as the dog starts barking because there's unusual activity at my front door. Moments later, D1 walks in announcing that the bus didn't come. School's to begin in 5 minutes.
Oh %&$*. I run upstairs while checking my phone, jump into clothes, brush teeth as I am shouting instructions to both D1 and D2. And the dog.
I drive D1 to High School on the back roads because traffic is as insane as the school alerts. On my way back, I receive a text from D2 that there was only 1 other kid at the bus stop and what do I do? Wait. Right there. I'll come get you.
I miss D2 amidst all the folks migrating to the Elementary School that is right by my subdivision, circle around, slightly panicky as I call her phone and she doesn't pick up.
Finally, I spot her - school's starting in 15 - and begin making my way to another school, in the opposite direction, forgetting to take the back roads. I manage to drop her at 8:08 with two minutes to spare *phew* and get stuck on the parkway going home. Of course.
I look forward to retreating to my home office just after taking the dog for his morning walk who - by the way - is acting like he hasn't seen me in weeks as soon as I open the front door. We walk while I keep getting alerts and texts on my phone. All of Howard County is in a combined state of confusion and wondering how the afternoon will pan out? Will there be another alert? Are some buses still operating or did the entire transportation crew call it quits? What exactly is happening?
I am mentally rearranging my Monday schedule, pushing half of it towards Tuesday and hoping I won't forget about something (which I probably will, if that involves you, I'm sorry), or someone like D1 or D2 whom I'll have to pick up again before I had the chance to check the other half off today's to-do list.
It's 8:55 and I take a deep breath before opening my front door. Daughters are at school. Dog has been walked. Trash is out for collection. Investor client said, not to worry, the exposé on the rehab property in Historic Relay can wait until tomorrow (that's awfully nice but he'll still get it today because that's just how I roll). I shall now proceed to my home office, sit at my desk, sip my 3rd cup of coffee while checking on new listing activity and catching up with my peeps on ActiveRain...
.. but then I remember, that I started renovating said home office over the weekend. My desk is buried under stuff that had to temporarily be moved off shelves. My chair is covered in drywall dust and there's wallpaper waiting to be cut and hung to match up precisely.
Alright.
I got this.
😏
Happy Monday Everyone. More coffee please?!
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