A Morning to Remember

Friday morning I knew I would need to get up early and thus set my alarm so that I would be able to get to work in time to open the doors, unload the dishwashers and turn on the phone system and all this by the early hour of 6:00. When my alarm went off the first time I subconsciously hit the snooze button, still too tired to face the morning. Ten minutes later it goes off again and I jump up afraid that I will be late. Hurriedly I wash my face, get dressed, make sure I have my code for the security system, throw my hair up, and toss some makeup on my face (so that I would at least look a little bit awake.) Then I run out to the car and drive into town in a somewhat balmy (for December) but very dark environment. About a quarter mile from the office I look at the clock. Hmmm that's funny, the clock says that it is 4:35. I wonder why it says that. It takes me five minutes, but I park my car, turn off the alarm, and get to the break room to unload the first dishwasher of the day. Much to my amazement the clock says 4:40. Interesting how can both clocks say that it is that early. Before even opening the dishwasher I rush to the computer at the front desk and log in so that I can consult the clock. It says 4:41. What am I doing here at such an ungodly hour? My mind is racing What should I do? Is it safe here even with the doors still locked? Should I go home? Can I go back to sleep? The last option sounds the best, so I go into one of the offices and lay down on the floor with my coat beneath my head. Immediately I become aware that the the floor has very little padding and I'm not likely to sleep.

Not long after that I hear the phone beeping. That is odd I haven't turned the phone on yet. It isn't supposed to be ringing. I get up and go to investigate who is calling. I pick up the phone thinking that it may be someone from the company, my boss maybe? But no, it is a customer who wants help with his software. I tell him that someone will call him back as soon as possible. His voice sounds creepy and he is none too happy that he will not be immediately helped. His reaction did not make me feel any more secure and the milling homeless people outside aren't helping me feel any safer. I decide to hop in the car and go to the nearest Starbucks. As I approach I see nothing but darkness inside the building. Oh, they must not have crazy people who open before 5:00 in the morning. Still somewhat frightened I head down the street toward home. About a mile down the street I realize that as soon as I get home I will have to start back to work again. So I do a u-turn and head back. Dashing back into the building I grab my Bible and head to one of the back offices to read. Now the time passes quickly and the next thing I know it is time to unload the dishwashers. By the time I turn on the phone I can see other people coming into work (the time I should be at work). So I merrily begin taking phone calls and passing them onto various departments. Then, a problem arises, multiple people, from multiple departments tell me that they cannot log into their phone. Oh bother, Now I will have to send each call to individual people rather than an entire department. In between these calls I make a phone call of my own to one of two people who can fix the phone system (he happened to be on vacation) after a few rings. I hear a groggy “This is J______ “ on the other end. I relay the message that no one is able to log into their phone and he promises to take a look. I take call after call until every one who is at work is on the phone. Then I start taking call back numbers. Pretty soon the net worker calls back and informs me that the phones are fixed. Ah finally, but my chore isn't done. Several people need to talk with someone in accounting and usually this would be no problem as one of our sweet accounting ladies is usually in early in the morning. However this morning is an exception. So I take more call back numbers to be passed along.

Around 8:00 two of the guys from the Customer Support department drop by the front desk and offer to get me a drink from Starbucks. I thank them, but politely inform them that another friend and I will go in a little bit. By 8:30 all the callbacks have been passed on and another receptionist is there to take my place so I can go about my other duties for Customer Support. However, first, a Starbucks run is in order for the day. So my friend E_______ and I brave our way through the rain down the street to Starbuks (lesson learned, when someone offerers to get you something and it is raining-take them up on the offer.) After grabbing a grande latte (and apple cider for E______) we head off to grab some breakfast from the French bakery.

Back safe and sound at my desk I am informed by an accountant that my phone picks up all on its own whether I'm there or not. Apparently it doesn't need me. Why I go into work at all I really don't know. The afternoon is not nearly as exciting but I keep myself on a caffeine high for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening while company is over. Then at 11:00 I crash in bed and stay there until 9:00 the next morning.