No Coffee, No Contract

Can anyone out there tell me why oh why it takes two and half hours to get two completely healthy adolescents, with no issues or questions, through an annual physical?  That was the pressing inquiry of a high-stress day that included the following: a thirty-two dollar ticket for inadvertently parking in a “passenger loading zone” outside the doctor’s office; giving my daughter the breakfast I’d been carrying around for myself for four hours to replace the school lunch she missed while waiting for her pediatrician to finish with her brother and two other patients; hydroplaning my way down Interstate 95 in a rain storm to get into the control room in time for a two o’clock taping of our weekly program; and a complete and total absence of coffee through all of it – perhaps the most ill-advised component of the whole morning.

The first third of the day did hold a few smiles, though.  I watched small children in a surprisingly overcrowded waiting room become entranced by a mural that it turns out was painted by some of the doctors attending them.  I thought that was a nice touch.

I also received an email from the slow-moving members of gym management asking if I have any objection to becoming an employee (rather than a contract worker).  I’m so beyond-anxious to get started teaching the kids’ kung fu class that I answered without asking what drawbacks there might be for me.  I’m fairly certain that if there are any, they’re financial.  In most industries, contract employees tend to be paid a higher hourly wage.

Of course, I couldn’t care less about the money – which is exactly why I told them I didn’t mind employee status.  It’s also why I know it’s what I should be doing with my time.

This sign was already on the door of the Kids Club the first time I set foot in the gym back in March.  It’s like they knew I was coming. 🙂