Couldn't something go right today?

My cold, caught last week, has run its course. I can breathe again. It was the result of one of those days...you know the type when it wasn't worth getting out of bed...nothing seems to go quite the way it should and by the end of the day you wish you could start it all over again. Last Wednesday was one of those days for me.

6:30 a.m. My mind starts to begin processing only after two cups of coffee and a shower. While in the shower I begin to sort out that day's activities. However, on that particular day I was being a little ambitious and decided to throw a load of laundry in the washer, never considering the consequences of that action prior to hitting the shower. About the time I was rinsing out the shampoo the washing machine's rinse cycle kicked in and suddenly I was bailing out of the shower, trying to avoid the scalding water.

7:35 a.m. There was a light rain falling, not a big deal I figured, I'd just make a dash to the garage. Now, I can open the garage door from the house, but it only went up part way than stopped. Hmmm, I think to myself, something is amiss. I run out to the garage and pry open the door, discovering that one of the springs has broken. I pull the car out of the garage then jump out to close the door. By now the rain is heavier...my shirt and hair are really getting a soaking!

7:45 a.m. It was going to be a very busy day at the newspaper and I always begin it with another cup of coffee. I was being very careful not to spill any of it on the floor between the lunch room and my desk. So, of course, part of it ended up on my shirt.

8:45 a.m. Since I had an out-of-town project at one of our sister newspapers I first stopped at home to change the shirt. Pulling into the driveway I see the cleaning lady is there. I had forgotten she had changed the cleaning day from Thursdays.

Shirley does a really wonderful job...if I forget to make my bed she even does that for me.

8: 55 a.m. I make loud noises so she can hear me entering. Unfortunately Shirley didn't hear me; she was vacuuming on the second floor. She was busy with the sweeper, humming to herself. My sudden appearance at the top of the stairs almost sends her into cardiac arrest. The frightened look on her face almost sent me into arrest.

9 a.m. After reassuring each other that a call to 911 wasn't necessary I explained the reason for my appearance, quickly changed shirts and started to the car. Passing through the kitchen I decide to first pour the remains from the morning's coffee pot into the kitchen sink. Some of the coffee splashes onto the drain board and also on my shirt!

So, up the stairs I go, first stopping at the bottom of the staircase to warn Shirley. She is looking at me with some suspicion by this point, until she sees the coffee spots on my shirt.

I change shirts. Re-tie the tie. Head back to the car.

10 a.m. The appointment is to install new software into a computer, but upon arriving I learn the company had sent a PC version of the software, not the Mac version we need.

10:55 a.m. Now, the day hadn't started out all that well, but it was still not over. While driving back to my office the steering begins acting sluggish...a flat tire, of course.

11:08 a.m. I change the tire in record time, quite proud the third shirt of the day is still clean, although soaking wet from the rain. I think it was about this time I noticed a little sniffle developing.

The rest of the day is normal and I'm looking forward to a quiet evening at home.

5:05 p.m. The sneezing starts. Odd, I think, shouldn't be any pollen in the air with all of the rain that's been falling. My nose feels stuffy, too.

5:25 p.m. Arrive home, try pulling into the garage, than remember to garage door is going to have to be opened manually. But, the house looks wonderful and Shirley has even wiped the coffee spots off the kitchen counter.

5:30 p.m. I head upstairs to change, walk into the bathroom and notice a puddle of water around the stool. I recently remodeled the bathroom and am sensitive about anything on the nice new wood floor. This isn't good, I think. Hopefully Shirley had mopped the floor and missed a spot...I hoped. I dry the floor and flush the toilet. Water immediately appears. The wax gasket is leaking. The heck with it, that project can wait until tomorrow when I head to the hardware to buy a new garage door spring.

5:45 p.m. I start cooking supper...reheating a stir-fry from the night before. The door bell rings...it's a boy scout selling popcorn. He leaves with a smile on his face and I'm happy I could make his day with my order.

My nose is really becoming congested and I'm sneezing much more frequently. I feel the subtle nuances of a sinus headache beginning.

I pop a couple Tylenol, head into the living room, plop down on the couch and reach for the remote to watch the news.

6:15 p.m. There's a fast food commercial on, reminding me I'm getting hungry. Then it dawns on me that supper is on the stove, which also explains the burning odor I've just noticed. I dash into the kitchen to find the stir-fry a smoky, blackened pile of rice, vegetables and chicken.

7 p.m. The pizza I've ordered looks great and the delivery gal seems happy with the overly generous tip. I wanted to make someone happy.

8:05 p.m. I wake up to the phone ringing. I had fallen asleep while watching Jeopardy. We talk for a while, then head to bed. Maybe tomorrow will be better and that's my story about how I caught my cold.