Mestee Blogger

I was running late for my 4:00 meeting yesterday, so as I walked to my car, I figured I'd call ahead and let John, the guy I was meeting who writes for The Item, know I'd be there closer to 4:15 or 4:30. It was at that time that I realized that I'd left my cell phone on the charger at home. Strike one! While walking through the parking lot, I saw a co-worker whose car had been boxed into an impossibly tight corner by a pair of SUV's. If he didn't own the smallest car known to man, I don't think he could have gotten out. As it was, I had to direct him through the cars while the bumpers scraped his doors on either side. I suppose it's also a good thing for him that the bluebook value of his car is probably around $17. Maybe now it's down to $15. Anyway, before he drove away, I asked to borrow his cell phone and managed to contact John to tell him I'd be a little late.

I followed the directions and got through the highways and major roads in just the amount of time that I expected to take. However, once I got to town, I must have missed my turn or done something wrong because I could not find Church Street, which is where I needed to be. The more I drove around, the more lost I got, until finally I stumbled upon Church Street almost completely by accident. Now that I'd completely gotten disoriented, I couldn't tell if I was approching the street from the direction I was supposed to, so I didn't know whether to go left or right on Church Street. I asked a high school kid who was landscaping on Church Street whether he knew where Colter Press was, but he had no idea. As I was pulling away, he yelled "Ask those old people over there, they've lived here forever." I pulled up to the house next door that he was pointing toward, and sure enough, there were three senior citizens sitting on a bench in the yard. I threw the car in park and took a few steps toward them before shouting.

Me: Excuse me, do you know where the Coulter Press building is?
SC: We're old! You have to come closer if you want to talk to us!
Me: (after walking closer) Do you know where the Coulter Press building is?
SC: What's your name?
Me: Brian.
SC: And you want to know where the Coulter Press building is, Brian?
Me: Yes. I'm really late for a meeting.

He closed his eyes in concentration as his companions looked on. After a few moments, he recited the directions and I thanked him and went on my way. When I actually got to the building, I was AMAZED that I didn't see it earlier. I guess I thought it was further down the road. It was almost 5:00 by the time I met John, but he was very accepting of my apology, considering how late I was. We sat down at the bar across the street and had a good meeting, which made it worth my efforts to get there. Oh, and John, if you're reading this, thanks for the Black and Tan.

Here is a Q&A regarding the do's and don'ts of handshakes, meant for your reading pleasure. Irf, I thought you could benefit from this one:

Q: What do I do if my hands are sweaty?
A: Wet or clammy hands can be a real turn-off during a handshake. Here, an ounce of prevention goes a long way. If you are at a cocktail party, be sure to carry your drink in your left hand, leaving your right hand free to shake hands, according to Business Etiquette for Dummies. If you have no choice, quickly – and subtly – swipe your hands on your trousers or shirt to ensure your hand is dry before extending it.

Have a good one -- I'll be back tomorrow.
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