Just Relaxed Blog

Tag: daily life

The Unexpected Joy of Missing My Train (And What I Learned Instead)

The Unexpected Joy of Missing My Train (And What I Learned Instead)

We’ve all been there. Standing on the platform, watching our train pull away as we frantically pat our pockets for a nonexistent time-turner. Just last week, I joined the ranks of the tragically-late commuters. But what started as a travel nightmare turned into a surprisingly delightful day. Here’s the story of how missing my train opened my eyes (and my stomach) to unexpected joys.

The Great Coffee Caper of Platform 4

Picture this: me, sprinting through the station like a caffeinated cheetah, only to arrive at the platform just as the doors slide shut with a mocking hiss. My stomach, already grumbling from a missed breakfast, chose that moment to unleash a growl that could rival a T-Rex. Defeated, I slumped onto a bench, the weight of my missed meeting settling on my shoulders like a soggy backpack.

coffee shop tucked away in the corner of the station.

Unexpected Encounters: The Kindness of Strangers

Now, I’m usually a “grab-and-go” kind of coffee drinker, but the cozy atmosphere of this place drew me in. I ordered a latte and a blueberry scone the size of my head (hey, I was emotionally compromised!), and found myself chatting with the barista, a friendly woman with a contagious laugh. She told me about her dreams of opening a bakery, and I shared my own aspirations as a writer. It was a small, everyday conversation, but it filled me with a warmth I hadn’t realized I was missing.

And the kindness didn’t stop there. As I was leaving the coffee shop, a kind gentleman noticed me struggling with my suitcase and offered to help me carry it down the stairs. We got to talking, and it turned out he was a retired history professor with the most fascinating stories about the city. He pointed out hidden architectural details I’d never noticed before, and by the time I reached my destination (a charming bookstore I’d never have discovered otherwise), I felt like I’d been on a mini-adventure.

Finding Joy in the Journey: The Beauty of Slowing Down

Missing my train forced me to slow down, to be present in the moment, and to appreciate the small joys I usually rush past. It reminded me that sometimes, the unexpected detours in life can lead to the most rewarding destinations.

March 13, 2025
The Great Phone Number Mix-Up: Why I Keep Getting Calls for “Gary the Plumber”
The Day My Phone Became a Hotline for Leaky Faucets

It all started innocently enough. I was at my desk, diligently trying to meet a deadline (okay, maybe scrolling through social media), when my phone rang. “Hello?” I answered, expecting it to be my best friend gossiping about the latest episode of our favorite reality show.

Instead, a gruff voice boomed, “Gary? You got those pipe fittings I ordered?”
Gary.”

The voice on the other end scoffed. “Don’t mess with me, Gary. You said you’d be here an hour ago!” And with that, he hung up. I sat there for a moment, bewildered. Was this some elaborate prank call?

The Never-Ending Saga: Calls for Clogged Toilets and Busted Pipes

Oh, how I wish it had been a prank call. Over the next few weeks, my phone became a hotline for all things plumbing. I received calls about:
- A burst pipe in a bakery (apparently, Gary was supposed to save the day…and the croissants).
- A clogged toilet at a yoga studio (I shuddered to imagine the details).
- A leaky faucet at a pet grooming salon (the mental image of soapy, wet dogs running amok almost made me answer “Gary’s Plumbing Services” just to redirect the chaos).
At first, I tried patiently explaining that I wasn’t Gary the Plumber. But after the tenth call about a malfunctioning garbage disposal, even my patience had sprung a leak.

Becoming “Gary”: My Foray into Fictional Plumbing

That’s when I decided to have a little fun with it. When someone called asking for Gary, I’d launch into a detailed description of the latest plumbing tools, using made-up technical jargon I’d gleaned from watching too many home improvement shows.

“Ah, yes, you must be calling about the Hydromatic Pressure Regulator 3000! A fine piece of equipment, if I do say so myself. Now, have you tried recalibrating the flux capacitor?”

March 13, 2025
The Day I Tried to Live Like My Toddler (Spoiler: It Was Chaos)

The Day I Tried to Live Like My Toddler (Spoiler: It Was Chaos)

The Great Toddler Experiment: A Day in the Life

My three-year-old daughter, Lily, is a force of nature. She attacks each day with boundless energy, an insatiable curiosity, and, let’s be honest, the attention span of a goldfish. One particularly chaotic morning, as I was cleaning up spilled milk (again) while simultaneously trying to convince Lily that pants were a non-negotiable part of our morning routine, a thought struck me: what if I lived a day in her shoes?

Now, I pride myself on being a relatively patient and understanding parent, but I had a sneaking suspicion that I only saw the tip of the toddler iceberg. So, fueled by equal parts curiosity and a morbid sense of humor, I decided to embark on an experiment: for 24 hours, I would live by Lily’s rules. No logic, no reasoning, just pure, unadulterated toddlerhood.

Breakfast of Champions (Or, How to Fail at Eating Cereal Like a Toddler)

My transformation began with breakfast. Gone were my usual yogurt and granola; instead, I was presented with a plate of dry cereal scattered across the table. Lily, of course, had her own bowl, but she was far more interested in meticulously picking out and consuming only the orange cereal bits. I attempted to follow suit, but apparently, I wasn’t being nearly messy enough. Cue the first meltdown (mine, not hers).

March 12, 2025
The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2023 (and Why I Still Answer to ‘Brenda’)
We’ve all been there. You’re going about your day, innocently sipping your coffee, when suddenly your phone erupts with the shrill cry of a wrong number. Maybe it’s a confused grandma looking for “Timmy,” or a teenager desperately trying to reach “Chad.” Usually, a quick “You’ve got the wrong number” suffices, and you move on with your life. But friends, my story? Oh, it’s a saga.

The Day My Phone Became a Portal to Brenda‘s World

It all started innocently enough. A call from an unknown number. I answered with my usual, “Hello?” A chipper voice on the other end chirped, “Hi Brenda! It’s Cindy from [Insurance Company I Will Not Name]. Are you still interested in that life insurance quote?”

Now, I’m about as far from a “Brenda” as you can get. My name is decidedly not Brenda. It’s not even close to Brenda. So, I politely informed Cindy that she had the wrong number. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” she chirped, and that, I thought, was that.

The Calls That Launched a Thousand Wrong Numbers

Reader, I was wrong. So, so wrong. Over the next few weeks, my phone became a hotline to Brenda’s life. I received calls from:
- The pharmacy reminding “Brenda” to pick up her prescription.
- A frantic woman claiming to be Brenda’s sister, demanding to know why Brenda hadn’t picked up her kids from soccer practice.
- And yes, dear reader, even more calls from Cindy from [Insurance Company I Will Not Name], each time more insistent than the last that Brenda needed to secure her future.
March 9, 2025