Thursday, June 10, 2010

Let Them Eat Cake


Today was one of those days, the kind you hope never happen again, the kind you can do nothing about but wish you could!

Last night when I went to bed, life was good, I had an early meeting scheduled, and I even got myself in bed early so that I could be bright eyed and bushy tailed by 7:45 am!  I'm not really a morning person, but when I know I "have" to be up and somewhere on time I rarely have a problem.

So when I woke up at 3:00 am with what I immediately recognized as kidney stone pain, well let's just say that I knew it wasn't going to be as smooth a day as I was hoping for!  I do think this could explain my sudden back pain from a few weeks ago, and having experienced kidney stones before (over 10 years ago), when you're finally in the throws of an attack it's something you never really forget.



So after not sleeping most of the night I furiously began the process of contacting those I was supposed to meet this morning via email, and by calling their office and cell numbers.  Eventually I reached the person I had been working with who up until that point had been helpful and cheerful.  But when I explained my situation and how I needed to reschedule due to circumstances beyond my control, well let's just say things didn't go so well.

Maybe he was tired, I know I was!  Maybe he was just flustered and trying to figure out where to go from here!  Whatever the reason, when I suggested that perhaps the person I was to interview and I could speak directly in order to reschedule...like in the good ole days, he snapped and said something that actually left me speechless for a moment.  I won't say what he said, it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't really very professional in my opinion either.

I finished the conversation, apologized once again and attempted to go back to sleep.  But you know it bugged me...I mean it REALLY bugged me.  Probably because I wasn't feeling well, maybe because I've been going great guns lately, but mostly because the clear message I received from our short conversation was that my time really wasn't as important as someone else's, and that rescheduling was not going to be easy, or pretty near impossible!




But you know what?!  I beg to differ!  You see my time is just as important as anyone elses!  And although I can appreciate people with jobs that have a far greater impact on the world than mine, I still never treat anyone as though their lives and their jobs are less valuable in this world than my own.  I work with important people every day, and they are all just as nice as can be...thank you Fifi and Barb for making me smile today!

I'm respectful, thoughtful, and I try to be a nice person.  And I guess I expect the same from others.  My husband saves lives for a living, my mailman delivers important mail to me, and the checkout person at any store I frequent deserves just as much respect as anyone else!  And my guess is that the important person I was to meet is just as nice and understanding as I imagined, unfortunately those who I had to go through in order to meet them put a higher priority on making that person happy then on everyone else on the planet!

So now that I have that off of my chest, I'll step off of my soapbox and maybe make a cake to fill up the lovely vintage cake saver that belonged to my grandmother.  If I had trouped into her small little house through the back porch and told her my tale of woe for the day, she would have grabbed a plate and cut me a big 'ole slice of yellow cake with homemade yummy chocolate icing and poured me a cold iced tea and said, "Honey, let them eat cake!"

30 comments:

  1. oh, I am sorry you are not well. I have been told that kidney stones are incredibly painful. Something I am learning in life is there are some people that just cannot bring them to have compassion or sympathize with others and I feel it's because it means the focus is off of them if they do. So understand how ya feel.. It feels good to vent though.. done it on my blog a time or two ... Hope you are feeling better soon!!

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  2. Kat, some people just thing they are more important than others. I guess your kidney stone passed? I had one probably twelve years ago and I hope I never do. That is some extreme pain.

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  3. Doesn't sound like the best day, Kat! I sure hope the pain passes soon! Some people think the world revolves around them...that guy sounds like one of them! Just wanted to thank you again for my beautiful necklace! I mentioned it on my post tonight! Feel better soon!! XO

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  4. Now I know what you meant earlier. Sorry about your not so great day and I totally agree with your take on treating others equally regardless of the job.

    Tomorrow will be better.

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  5. That's just not right - to be in pain and then treated like that. I certainly hope you are feeling better soon and that the scoundrel sees the error in his ways (not likely but it is my wish, so that is what I wish).

    I didn't even know they made cake savers like that in pre-tuperware/Rubbermaid days - lovey and it does need to be kept filled at all times.

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  6. Kat, this is so well put I could hug you. Everyone's time is important. Regardless of title and position.

    Maybe that was your back pain from last time. What happens now! Does it pass? I have never had one, but hear it is worse than childbirth.

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  7. Your grandmother definitely had the right attitude! I only wish we were neighbors and I would have loved to have baked a cake for us to devour together! Hope you are feeling much, much better Kat, I've heard it said that passing a kidney stone is much like getting run over by a Mack truck... ~Lili

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  8. I've never had kidney stones but I have heard many people describe it as VERY painful! I hope you get help soon!
    It never fails to amaze me the amount of people that put themselves on such a different level then others. It's sad how many never reach the level of compassion, no matter how high they climb!

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  9. I'm so sorry you've had a hard day and a painful one, too. I've had kidney stones and the pain can take your breath away. I hope you feel better soon. And I agree with you about how to treat others. I had someone say a rude remark to me a couple of weeks ago and it really hurt my feelings. I told myself it was 'their' problem...but you know...it still hurt 'my' feelings! Creative people are sensitive...and I'm thankful for that! HUGS to you! Take care of yourself! ♥

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  10. Kat, sorry about your day! Kidney stones are very painful and I hope you feel better real soon! I love the cake carrier!! Just gorgeous!

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  11. Sorry to hear that you had to deal with one of those self serving types who thinks their position and time is more important than anyone elses! I always like to think that their type eventually gets their due!

    Sorry about the kidney stone. I had one the size of a golf ball and the doctor decided to use lithotripsies to break it up. It took nine procedures to finally get rid of it! It was not a pleasant experience. That was about six years ago, but I'll never forget the misery and pain.
    So, I hope that all goes well for you.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  12. First your back, now kidney stones. You have had a bad couple of weeks. If I was near, I would bring you a big ole slice of cake. Some people are just so rude. It always amazes me. My grandmother used to say "kill them with kindness." I'm not so sure that was such a good idea either. I say "let them eat cake!" Hope you feel better Kat.

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  13. That's a pretty fabulous looking cake saver you have there. So nice it could be passed along in the family.

    Bake the guy a cake... that should make him feel guilty!

    Di

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  14. A sweet hello from Frog Hollow Farm.Men are like a deck of cards. You'll find the occasional king, but most are jacks. Sorry he made you feel so awful - totally unprofessional! Ciao, bella!

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  15. You are too kind and find so much of the postive in life. It feels good to get things off our chests. I should do that more often. Hope you feel better.

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  16. Beautiful blog, beautiful photos...hope you feel better. :-)

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  17. Sorry you had to have someone be so mean and unprofessional to you on a day that you weren't up to dealing with a jerk...hope you get that kidney stone taken care of, Kat.

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  18. As if you really needed to deal with this person on top of your health problems. You WERE the better person by not giving him a piece of your mind.

    I hope you feel better soon with the kidney stones.

    xoxo
    Jane

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  19. Oh Kat, you go girl!! You expressed yourself so beautifully my dear and shame on those rude people. I hope that you are feeling better regarding your kidney stone pain, I couldn't even imagine how awful that must be. Now as for the rude person you encountered this morning, my lovely Nanna would have said...don't give them the power to upset you, they are not worth spending another second of your precious time dignifying their behaviour...Shame on them! You enjoy your cake lovely lady and take care of yourself. ~ Tina xx

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  20. I love you!!
    - Your favourite daughter

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  21. I bet that cake tasted wonderful...a sweet ending to a horrible, no good, very bad day. Hope you are feeling better...

    Shame on those rude people you had to deal with today. There is NO excuse for rudeness.

    May you have a wonderfully happy weekend.
    Jane (artfully graced)

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  22. Your post is absolutely wonderful. I agree completely about how we should treat each other.
    When someone is so rude they are really displaying the kind of human being they truly are and shame on them! We shouldn't let it hurt our feelings, but of course it does. Shame on them. I'm glad you did not dignify his rude behavior. Just take care of yourself and feel better.

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  23. Hi Kat,
    I hope you are not still suffering with the stone,,,let them eat cake...good attitude. What goes around comes around....I hope he will have a change of heart and apologize. Communicaton in the the middle of the night probably ruined his rest. Turkey. I try to be nice to people, we all fail at times. your photos are steller!
    Blessings in your new day!
    Love
    Marcie

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  24. Kat I hope you feel better over the weekend....!! I think your 'in between person' must have been having a bad day....I'm sure he'll get his bum bit for having a hissy....Somewhere along the line....!!

    Take care lovey,
    Tamarah :o)

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  25. Bad manners are never acceptable...what ever happened to graciousness?
    It is a rare thing now days. I hope you are feeling better soon. Mr. B. occasionally has kidney stones and they are a nightmare. Ahhh, the joys of getting older. Enjoy the cake, it will make everything better!!

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  26. Oh, Kat, just seeing this today. Rudeness just seems to be more accepted these days and I, for one, find it completely UN-acceptable! So, you are not alone in this battle for manners and civility. And, I think the cake idea was absolutely the right thing to do!!! Hope you are feeling better, soon. Hugs ~ Suzanne

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  27. Well said Kat! Everyone's time is important. Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful woman. Love her attitude! Along the lines of what Suzanne said above, rudeness and a complete lack of common courtesy seem to be pretty prevalent lately. I am sure the gentleman was flustered at receiving the news on such short notice but that does not give him the right or excuse to be so unprofessional. Deal with the situation and move forward.

    I wish I could give you a fat slice of the cake or one of the cupcakes I baked last night. I am sorry you are having problems with your kidney stones and back. I will pray for a quick recovery. I hope that despite it all, you have a great weekend!

    Warm regards,
    Tracy

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  28. Yikes, Sweetheart! FORGET the rude person--I hope you will be seeing your doc. I have have had kidney stone surgery three times. The pain is no joke, but it could be a warning of something worse. Please take care of your wonderful self.

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  29. I'm so sorry about your kidney stones. I understand completely the pain. I have them in both kidneys and have even had ESWL to break some up a few years ago. They're back. Hope the flare up is resolved. I was told to drink 1/3 of a cup of lemon juice (diluted in water) each and every day as this deters the stones from forming. It seems to be helping me. Good luck and hope you don't run into that rude man again.

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