This day came right out of a sitcom.

The day of an interview is a day you want to go smoothly.  You (or at least I) plan, schedule, prepare - just so the big day will be stress-free.   I did that.  I printed my resume, writing sample, transcripts and the like the night before.  I organized my super professional purse and ensured I had proper directions to the interview location.  I was very proud of myself as I nervously went to bed on Monday night. 

This is when things started to go awry. 

Nikolai - who sleeps very well at night these days - got up just before 1:00 a.m. absolutely screaming.  The kid is getting four teeth, that's right, I said four, this very moment.  I would cry too.  Although against our typical practices, Anwar and I decided this poor kid needed some mommy time.  We gave him a little milk and let him come to bed with us.  Where he tossed and turned all night long. 

I did not really sleep.  I felt like a zombie when it was time to get up. 

Just wait, it gets better.

Of course, Anwar was running late because of the poor night's sleep and ran out the door asap.  I still needed to feed two kids, shower and dress for my interview.  I somehow managed to feed Nikolai some yogurt and gave him some formula.  I then jumped in the shower for seriously a minute while Nikolai cried on the bathroom floor because he wanted to be held.  It was honestly non-stop.

Nikolai is crying.

Nikolai dumped out the cat food (really this is a daily event).

Nikolai wants a pacifier. 

I have no idea how - but I managed to get out of the house with my hair blow-dried and my suit on.  I was not stress-free.  I was frazzled.

I approached my interview location and it started POURING rain.  I had no umbrella. 

I went to park in the lot where I was instructed to park and the stupid auto-pay machine would not take my dollars because they were too wrinkled up!  Tired of trying to force my dollar bills into the machine while getting the left side of my body soaked because of the open window got really old, really fast.  So I drove around the back of the building and found an open meter spot.  I snagged it only to realize I did not have single quarter with me.  I said fuck it and got out of my car.  Yes, I literally said out loud "fuck it".

Mind you it was still pouring rain when I hopped out of my car sans umbrella.  I began to wonder why I had bothered to dry my hair.  And why I chose to wear a white shirt under my suit.  Somehow I managed to make it to the building with little to no water damage -- I was shocked my how dry I still was. 

My interview went well - so please cross your fingers for me.

The rain had stopped by the time my interview was over and the sun was shining.  I thought my bad luck earlier in the day had come to an end.  That was until I saw the meter man parked right in front of my car.  I walked up to him and said how sorry I was, that I was in an interview that ran longer than expected.  I totally expected a ticket.  BUT, the nice man said, no worries, let me move my car so you can get out. 

::blank stare::

I thanked him profusely and went along my way.  I almost felt bad that he had fallen for such malarkey...but that didn't last too long. 

So, the moral of the store is: there no point in preparing for an interview the night before to avoid stress because your kids will eff all that up anyway.  Oh yeah, and meter guys totally fall for malarkey.  Totally.