So close, so close...

I was this close (take your thumb and pointer finger and place less than a centimeter of air between them, that's how close) to meeting Carole King. Yes, this Carole King:



I've known that Carole (even though I haven't met her, I know we'd be best friends if we did and she'd want me to call her Carole) was coming to our office to meet with the boss since last Friday. Apparently, she's been to the office the last couple of years to meet with him on an issue that is near and dear to her heart. I'll have to get back to you on what it is later. So famous Carole, the singer-songwriter, meets with my congressman, and I have an opportunity to meet with her and get a picture taken, but that’s in a perfect world and I have learned that I don’t live in a perfect world.

This is how the story goes:
Today shaped up to be a Cah-RAZY day. I was almost an hour late to work (no big deal) because I was the last in line for the shower and one of the roomies decided to take her sweet little ol time. I get to work and have just enough time to switch out of my commuter shoes into my red high heels (Kellie Pickler anyone?) before I have to meet with my 10:15 – a super nice dentist from Prescott. If I lived in Prescott, he’d be my dentist. And it was so cute because he wanted to get a picture with me. With me!

So after the first meeting, I was thinking, “you know, it’s not going to be so bad today after all.” My 11:30 meeting was a half hour early, so as soon as the back room cleared, I met with him, and we wrapped up at 11:30, giving the gentleman time to grab lunch before his next meeting. Then I had a 12:15 with two Radiologic Techs who were nice, and also wanted a picture, but they weren’t as awesome about it as my dentist dude. This was a quick meeting and I was able to scarf down my lunch before a last minute scheduled meeting at 1:30 with a doctor from the Casa Grande area came in to talk about his situation.

With that last meeting, I thought I was in the clear. I sat down to the computer to try and get caught up on the dear colleague letters I had been neglecting. Suddenly, at 2:20 (ten minutes before Carole was set to arrive) a group of ladies affiliated with Lupus awareness came in unannounced hoping for a quick meeting. I told our scheduler I’d take it. So I brought the ladies to the back room and listened to the info and personal stories. Carole was running late so I continued to listen to the shocking effects Lupus takes on the body. FYI, 9/10 people affected are women. If diagnosed with Lupus in your 20’s, you have a 1/6 chance of dying by your mid-30’s. Lupus is hard to detect.

I heard someone walk through the front office, and by the excited introductions, I assumed (correctly) that it was Carole. She went into the Congressman’s office for her meeting. Five minutes later, my meeting wrapped up. I went back to my desk. Ten minutes later, I heard the door to the Congressman’s office open and heartfelt goodbyes filled the air. Out the main door went the petite woman with curly hair. As quickly as she fluttered in, the songstress had left my life without even the chance of waving an awkward goodbye.

And that, my friends, is the story about the time I almost became best friends with Carole King. Carole, if you’re out there, you’ve got a friend.

The day didn’t end there. Oh, no. At this point, it's only 3:00. Plenty of time for the Congressman to request a meeting at 4:00 with the acting Director of the Indian Health Service regarding a hospital in San Carlos. I checked to see if I needed to write a memo. I was told I didn't. So boss comes back at 3:50 and says, "Chels, who's sitting in on this 4:00?" "Jim and me." "Okay, well write something up from your notes and brief me in five minutes." "Yes sir." What? From my notes? What notes? I've only been here a month and I don't have any notes about San Carlos, let alone the hospital. Panic ensues. Thankfully, Jim had already written something up. Meeting commences.

At 7:00, I take off. A good day, minus the whole not getting to meet Carole King part.

Quick funny story before I close up. A group of firefighters were coming to DC to meet with the Congressman today. They were going to present him an axe mounted on a plaque in recognition of all the grants he's secured for them. So the axe came to our PO Box and when the staff member tried to bring the box through security (he didn't know at the time what was in there) he was denied entrance. So we had to get the Sergeant-of-Arms to escort him in. The axe was massive.

So that's it. Meetings are consuming my life right now as are dear colleague letters asking for support on legislation. One meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, but that could change. Recess starts next Monday, and we get Good Friday and the Monday after Easter off. Sadly, I will not be making it to Vegas for the family Easter get-together. But gladly, I will be attending the White House Easter Egg Roll.