Oh crap, did I just do that?

February 9, 2010 - Who reading this blog hasn't experienced that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach when you've had that 'oh crap' moment when you realize what you just did, is not at all what you meant to do.

You know what I mean, like when you hit enter on your computer and realized that the memo you just sent to your best friend, complaining about your boss, or your co-worker, etc, was addressed to the very person you were complaining about. You really want to just crawl in a hole and stay there. Or how about when you make a phone call to someone and begin talking about something, perhaps a little personal, that you really don't want to share with anyone except the person on the phone, and then the person on the phone tells you, oh umm, just wanted you to know you are on speaker. Thanks for jumping right in to let me know, good that I can be everyone's comic relief. Oh, and this is one of my favorites, I have done this several times. Been in a hurry while out running errands, pull up to where I am going, jump out of the car, and head to the door...then it hits you, 'oh crap' I just locked the keys in my running car. Always a fun time. Funny the first thing you do is look around to see if anyone saw what you just did, like if no one saw what you did it makes it better. And then of course, there is my personal favorite. Have done this several times, which infuriates me as I KNOW BETTER. I am working on an important document and have spent several hours composing, updating, and editing until I am sure I have written the masterpiece of the century and have completed just in the nick of time to meet a deadline. I lean back in my chair and take a deep breath and sigh and hit escape. Then craft a memo so I can attach my coveted document, and then it hits me..'oh crap', I forgot to save. NOOOOOOO, I can be heard through out the office, and everyone does that little smile. They know, Marion forgot to save,.. again.

So what do you do? You go the person you wrote the email to, and limply offer your apology, hoping the person understands your frustration. You tell the people on the phone, "oh, I was just kidding, just wanted to make everyone laugh" (yeah right). You call the lock smithe or in my case, my husband or daughter, who have extra keys cause they know I do this often, and beg them and promise great retribution if they come and rescue you. And in the case of the 'lost document' you call the help desk, your best friend, anyone you have ever know and say HELP. In my case, yesterday, I was lucky, we found the document, I did not have to start over..but the lesson was learned. When I finish something important, STEP AWAY FROM THE DESK. Don't touch anything, recollect your thoughts and hit SAVE...That simple step will save you from prematurely turning gray, as I have done...