Jeepers!

So I went to Santa Monica today to a preliminary interview at the Art Institute for an Admissions Recruiter position. I got there with plenty of time to spare. The session went fairly well. There was a whopping turnout of 4. Tough questions were asked:

1. Why do you think you would be a good candidate for this job?

2. Will the hours be a problem?

3. What do you think one of your professional strengths is?

And, give an example of how has helped you in the past.

4. What would you say is a weakness?

Blech.

I'll find out next week if I make it to the next round. I feel like I'm trying out for American Idol. My direct competition is Chentelle, Angel (who had to call her mother to ask who she should list as references), and Bernadette (who disappeared for an INORDINATE amount of time stating a bathroom break. Our presenter actually had to go look for her. YIKES!). Based solely on these other 3 people- I'm going to be astounded if I don't make the next round.

It went downhill from Ai....

My first attempt to leave Ai is thwarted by the Receptionist's failure to put enough validation stickers on my parking ticket- who knew validating could be so exacting. So back I go and the receptionist is really put out. As if I had lollygagged and therefore the validation wasn't enough. It wasn't enough by an hour so I think it might have been her math. But I'm no mathematician. So she finally adds about 565 more stickers and I can leave.

Originally, I was supposed to meet Shannon for the SoCalOrange (Syracuse) Alumni event this evening at the LA Farmers Market (which isn't really a Farmers Market but more an outdoor mall). She cancelled this AM. Since I was up there anyway for the Art Institute I figured I'd still go and check it out. Hey, I'm geeky. I like the rah-rah alumni stuff.

So I go.

Now it's starting to "rain". ("It NEVER rains in LA." Lies. All lies.) Which is laughable because it's like misting. New Yorkers wouldn't even get out umbrellas. Yet this is a meteorological crisis.

The SU event is at Marmalade Cafe which is a royal pain to find within the "Farmers Market not The Grove" complex. Mostly because the parking lot is divided up into a million little gated parking areas.

LA, please explain to me WHY if you have an inferior public transit system people must Pay to Park everywhere? Everywhere VALIDATES your parking ticket anyway so WHAT IS THE POINT???? Just to make people crazy? Just to add 565 steps to the process of going ANYWHERE. (And what is with VALET? You can practically valet at McDonald's. Not that anyone goes to McDonald's they all go to In-n-Out.)

So anyway, I finally FIND Marmalade Cafe. As soon as I walk in the Hostess pegs me for an SU Alum (Maybe it was the orange glasses?) and starts showing me to a table. I'm like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. How many people are here for this?" And shes like, "Well, we set up a table for 10 but everyone isn't here yet." Thanks, but no thanks. I'm not THAT rah-rah. So I bail. After she validates my parking.

Upon leaving the cafe I realize that while I walked completely around the perimeter of the complex (in the "rain") to get to there- there is actually a nifty little path and I'm only about 100 yards from my car. Super.

I decide to pop into Sur la Tabla- because who can resist a kitchen store???? And momentarily get sidetracked by some cupcake papers and cookie cutters. Regaining my focus (and because they seriously need to reorganize and restock their Cookie Cutter Carousel) I'm ready to head "home". Umbrella: check. iPhone: check. Car keys: ?, CAR KEYS:???. F! Back to Marmalade. No car keys. WHAT IS WITH THIS DAY!?!?!?!

I go back to the car, and there they are: dangling from the ignition. Locked in the car. Frick. (Or should I say, Fruit!)

I had a feeling this would be the case. I mean, it was only a matter of time before it happened. But of course it happened today. In the rain. When I was nicely dressed. Wearing my new Cole Haan HEELS. Now, I admit it could have been worse: I could have a nice car. Or a car with a real roof and doors. Or no knowledge of where the spare key is. (Making this far worse.) BUT none of those are the case.

I have a Jeep. A soft top Jeep. So I unzipped the rear "window", climbed onto the Cargo Carrier (Yes, it's still attached ratchet straps and all.) which I fell through due to the nice new Cole Haan heels, over the backseat, unlock the door and back myself out again. Only SLIGHTLY embarrassing....

...I kept practicing what I would tell the Police Officer or the Mall Cop. At least I knew I could prove it was my own car.

Seriously, WHO ELSE DO THESE THINGS HAPPEN TO????