Journal of a Sabbatical

December 12, 2000

e-commerce is still overrated

Today's Reading: Tall Trees and Far Horizons by Virginia Eifert, Autumn from the Journal of Henry David Thoreau edited by H.G.O. Blake

Once again I discover that e-commerce is overrated.

Since the print shop I've been trying to get the newsletter printed at is near Perfecto's, I figured I'd stop in there to pick up the newsletter before I grabbed a coffee to go and went to therapy. Oh such efficient planning! Then the idea was I'd stuff the envelopes at home after lunch and drop them at the Newburyport post office on my way to the Purrfect Companions meeting tonight at the cat shelter. Hah!

The print shop employee looked at me strangely when I said I was here to pick up my job and gave my name. They didn't have any jobs with that name. Then the one who rescued me yesterday by admitting that they actually do have a web site spotted me and apologized because the computer was out last night. Out? Computers go out? Where does a lonely computer go on a Monday night in Andover? Oh, it broke and they sent it out for repairs and just got it back. They did not print my job. Grrr. They promise they'll do it today and call me when it's ready. I give them my phone number and go off to my appointment.

No call comes by 3:30 and I want to do some errands in Newburyport before the Purrfect Companions meeting, which is at 5:00, as well as grab a bite to eat. So I decide to swing by the print shop on my way to Nbpt. I remind them that they said they'd call when it was done. They look confused - all of them - and tell me it's done. Then the guy who believes in the web site searches around for it until he finds it. It looks fine. It just took 3 days to do a 1 hour job, but at least it's done.

I did my errands, grabbed a couple of slices of cold pizza at Angelina's, and got to the cat shelter at exactly 5:00.

Miss Newburyport is apparently still in love with me. She ran up to me the instant I came in the door. She twined herself around my legs, head butted me, and even tried to sit on my lap. She attended the meeting, sitting in the chair next to me the whole time. No, she didn't bring up any agenda items. :-)

It was quick meeting because the main agenda item was to send Christmas cards to the folks who have adopted cats through the Purrfect Companions program. I bought cute cards of an orange kitten asleep in Santa's lap. I remembered to bring stamps and the list of addresses so we got it done quickly and efficiently. The print shop could learn from us.

Scooter escaped into the stairwell. I encountered him when I was leaving after the meeting, so scooped him up and brought him back. He was not happy.

I spent the evening at home stuffing envelopes, sticking labels on them, and sticking stamps on them. By 9:30 PM I had the entire newsletter mailing ready to go but was way too tired to drive to a post office and drop it in a mailbox. Tomorrow will be soon enough.

The supremes have spoken. The Red Sox have signed Manny Ramirez. The newsletter is ready to go. Time for early to bed and early to rise for another day among the feline body fluids.