I wasn’t planning on posting a Monday peeve today, but then this happened.
In advance of my upcoming surgery at the end of the month, I have to have a series of blood tests. My doctor wants me to have a “fasting blood test,” meaning no food or liquid after midnight on the night before having my blood drawn.
I contacted my a local blood lab last week and set up an appointment for 7:00 this morning so that I could have my blood drawn first thing and then have my first cup of coffee shortly thereafter. I arrived at the lab just before 7 and had to wait a few minutes until they opened the doors.
Once inside, I went over to an automated registration machine, scanned my appointment bar code, and sat down in the waiting room waiting to be called. I was the only one there.
After a few minutes, someone else walked in, went to the desk, and was taken immediately for her blood to be drawn. About five minutes later, someone else walked in, went up to the desk, and was also taken back immediately. WTF?
I stood up, went to the desk, and said to the woman sitting there, “I had a 7:00 appointment. I was supposed to be first, but two people have gone before me. What’s the deal?”
“Did you sign in?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered, “I used the machine right over there,” pointing to the automated registration device.
“Oh, that machine is out-of-order,” she said. “You should have come to the desk and signed in with me.”
“Seriously? It’s not working? There’s no out-of-order sign. Besides, you saw me scan my registration. It seemed to work. And then you saw me sit down. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because,” she said, “you didn’t register with me, so I didn’t know who you were and why you were here.”
I used every ounce of self control to refrain from strangling her. “Well, can you take me now? My appointment was for 7:00. It’s now twenty past.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, “but you missed your appointment time and we’re booked solid this morning. I’ll try to fit you in as soon as I can.”
I looked around and there were only two other people in the waiting room. I sat back down and waited, my empty stomach growling at me and my head starting to ache due to caffeine depravation.
Finally, at 8:15, my blood was drawn. I’m still pissed, and that is why I am submitting this post as my response to Paula Light’s The Monday Peeve.
Oh wait. I’m sorry. I was just describing the cover of a holiday catalogue that came in the mail yesterday. Never mind.
Dr. Tanya, at Salted Caramel, published another one of her 
Welcome to “Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.” Each week I will be posting a photo I grab off the internet and challenge bloggers to write a relatively short flash fiction piece inspired by the photo. While there are no definitive style or word limits, I suggest trying to keep your posts to under 300 words.
For the visually challenged, the image shows two blurry silhouettes in the distance standing on top of what appears to be a sand dune, with the camera positioned below them near the sand’s surface.
This, That, and the Other 