Deployment Demons Rather Like Temptations

I dared to ask “What else?”  

I wasn’t really taunting them.  More like, I was asking in desperation for the shenanigans to stop.  For the evil eye of chaos and challenge to look elsewhere. Basically for the demons to stop snickering and messing with me and to find somebody new.  (Not that I really want to pass the “fun” onto the next milspouse, but seriously, I have already taken several for the team.)  My brain hurts from the mental exercises of finding solutions to all these challenges.  

You know how they say you see a person’s true colors when the chips are down?  How a person handles adversity shows their character? Let’s just say, I yell and curse a lot.  I probably should have my blood pressure checked.  I’m probably an excellent candidate for meditation classes.

I asked “What else?”,  and the Deployment Demons responded.  Not once, but twice. In rapid succession.  (1) Debit Card Locked.  (2)  Bent Car Key, now Inoperable.  Oh yes, I am serious.  VERY serious.

My brain short-circuited earlier in the week, and I couldn’t remember my PIN to my debit card.  I think I entered my PIN from years ago but apparently after 3 attempts, the system temporarily locks you out from re-entering your PIN.  After 7 failed transactions, it locks your card entirely.  This memory malfunction started last Wednesday, a day after the dashboard light appeared, and the day I spent most of my child-free time at the auto service department.  I gratefully had a much-needed Gals Night Out at Coco Sala for DC Restaurant Week.  However, after dinner I couldn’t withdraw money from the ATM for the babysitter.  Gah! Thankfully my girlfriend (not awesome neighbor Sylvia but another awesome friend, a fellow milspouse) bailed me out.  I didn’t use my debit card again until Saturday at the supermarket. The transaction was denied.  Here I am with a cartload of groceries, 2 hungry kids, no cash, and a debit card transaction denied.  Um, can we say Embarrassing!  Thank you, handy dandy credit card to the rescue!  And thank you, my awesome bank who has customer service representatives working hard on Saturday nights.  Card unlocked; PIN reset.  

My Faith restored.  My World intact.  And I was on my merry little way UNTIL the next morning.

Does something look not quite right in this picture?

Hmm.  How in the world did that happen?  Car key is bent.  We are sitting in the car getting ready for our Sunday church adventure and I’m wondering why my key won’t work. I can’t insert it into the ignition.  I can’t bend it back straight.  I now have an inoperable car.  Perfect, just perfect.  Deep breath.  Ok, cursing actually.  Yes, I know it’s a Sunday.  Yes, I believe that God will understand.  I think He even may have personally heard me loud and clear a few times while I sat in the driveway.  And then more deep breaths.

This time it’s a quick fix.  I *think* I know where the spare car key is.  After a very quick search, I find the spare key.  I am woman, hear me roar!  ROAR!

My Faith restored.  My World intact.  And I was on my merry little way.

I haven’t asked “What else?”.  It’s thankfully been a quiet week.