driving, training , and the pursuit of a new passport

This morning around 6am, I set off for a day in SF, filled with Bloomberg training, passport renewals, and meeting up with old friends. Frustration meter level: 0%

I pulled into the chevron station with 16 open pumps…and of course I pull up to the one that is out of order. Frustration meter level: 5%

Stuck in traffic for 45 minutes due to what ended up being a guy on the side of the freeway holding up a sign saying “free Juanita Harris”. Who? By the time I got there, so did the CHP. Hope someone will hold up a sign begging to free you pal. Best of luck. Frustration meter level: 20%

Tailgated by an old lady in a Carrera 4S for 15 miles. I guess grandma’s got a lead foot. Frustration meter level: 35%

Stumbled on a new Christian radio station (the candle?)…might have been around for a while but I’ve never heard of it. The host told an awesome story about a developmentally challenged child and her interactions with others in her class. Frustration meter level: 25%

Why are the FASTRAK lanes 5 times longer than the cash lanes?? Traffic was bumper-to-bumper after the toll plaza too…loving life. Frustration meter level: 45%

Zoinks! Parking at the Moscone Center is $36 a day??!! Frustration meter level: 65%

Walked in a giant circle from 4th St. to Minna to 5th St. to Howard to 4th St. again. Finally arrived at a location that turned out to be right next to the garage. Frustration meter level: 75%

Registration for Bloomberg training is on 3rd floor but all the seminars are on 5th…not sure why. Why do all the Bloomberg reps look the same (25-28 yr. old women)? As it turns out most of the people in the finance/trading scene are middle aged guys. It’s a wonder they haven’t been slapped with a hiring discrimination suit yet. Hmm…maybe I should apply… Frustration meter level: 80%

Registration lady for T-Z folks looked like a taller version of Jessica Alba with dimples. :D Frustration meter level: 70%

Sat next to a buy-side trader from JP Morgan that looks like Jesse Jackson. I can virtually feel my blood-pressure rising. Frustration meter level: 80%

He had a Mickey Mouse voice. Frustration meter level: 75%

Breakfast served with fresh fruit, pastries, juice, and coffee…mmm cantaloupe… Frustration meter level: 65%

Wifi is $15/day??!! Frustration meter level: 70%

Had lunch with Brenda at a split pea soup place. Good conversation, split pea soup, and a lamb sandwich. Frustration meter level: 40%

Parking by the Chinese Consulate is harder to find than a vegan at Cattlemen’s. Frustration meter level: 45%

The line inside the consulate is organized marginally better than the line at the DMV. No wonder it takes a month to process a new passport. To make matters worse, they made me take a new passport picture ($10) because my head was too big. Great. Thanks for waiting with me Brenda. Oh yeah…passports are $55 too…boy it looks like my expenses aren’t gonna be getting a break today huh? Frustration meter level: 55%

Lady at the passport counter gave me crap about not knowing how to read and write Chinese. Yeah join the club pal. My mom’s been a member since 1989. They’re thinking of getting jackets made. Frustration meter level: 60%

Met up with Francesca for coffee to catch up and shoot the breeze. It’s been so long!! Frustration meter level: 30%

Relatively low traffic on the way home…and made a costco stop to pick up some groceries and a hotdog. Frustration meter level: 15%

Hangzhou interview tonight went pretty smoothly (meaning I didn't say anything offensive or stupid). Frustration meter level: 0%

Well that was certainly a productive day, and I have to say, it all nets down to a pretty relaxing, zero frustration adventure.