"A Little Imperfection Gives It Character"

Today marks the first day of recruitment practice. (I was going to go to bed early but now it is 11:30PM and I will get to that in just a minute!) Today's positive/good thing wasn't so much about what I did do but what I didn't do. Recruitment practice started at 9AM, I would have been on time- but I got a little carried away with packing gym clothes *which I never made it too* and trying to straighten my hair so I didn't look like a crazy woman on the first day back. I walked in- they must have just started. That's what I hate about being President- you have to be on time to everything and if you aren't you feel like everyone is JUDGING you...

I got over that really fast- I sat in the back of the room and was just taking in the presentation- which was well put together and thought out. Our recruitment director is really knowledgeable about what is going on and should be going on so she was efficient and informative. Today flew by- When we went back to campus- my shoes had been giving me a blister on the back of my heal so I took them off while I walked to the building we were in. The second my feet hit the pavement the bottom of my feet burned. Wow, blond much?

Here's where the day gets interesting- well to me anyways-

**Back ground** Our chapter's national headquarters has a fund for our housing. We are redecorating our suite, so we decide we want to buy a couch. Our National is slower than molasses when doing anything involving *helping.* We got word that our form had been accepted but that we would receive the check too late to get the couches in time for recruitment.

So, what do I do- (save the day, of course!) I volunteer my credit card- and just say "well, you guys can reimburse me tomorrow." First- my credit card wouldn't go through on the computer- it kept having an error- then it finally posted- no confirmation email of my order- no order number- nothing.

Then we get a response from the women we are dealing with at HQ's and she informs us that we cannot pay for the item and get reimbursed *even though we have sent in a form, pictures, prices, and two alternates for all of the items we asked for comparing all items*

The check would be cut out for the chapter (so we would just deposit the check and purchase the items anyways)...problem is this place for the couch is ONLINE (crazy how you can shop online these days?!) I decided to tell the truth the HQ, not lie, not fudge- just tell the truth- that I had placed an order and would it be okay to just front the money and get reimbursed.

This is sort of how the conversation went:
Me: "Hello, my name is Heidi ****, I am the president of ****, *** has been emailing you and I thought we could figure something out by talking instead of emailing. I am not understanding why I can't pay for the item and get reimbursed"
Angry HQ Lady: "Well, no other chapter has problems. This is strictly not a reimbursement fund! There are strict rules."
Me: "Okay, I understand, but then how do I pay for this item online that doesn't accept checks, just credit"
Angry HQ Lady: "Um, I don't know. Why don't you just cash the check and go shopping?"
...Silence from me....
"Okay, thanks!"

Okay- no receipt for the $868.00 purple couch, posted on my account, have to re-submit a new form for different items that equal up to about that much (my ingenious idea! < - that is what really saved the day)

I then had a recruitment meeting with panhellenic after recruitment practice with the chapter. While in the student union I decide I have to go to the bathroom. I walk in the bathroom- each stall is clogged for at least the first 6. Finally I find one that is usable- behind the toilets are seat covers- made out of extremely thin (I think flushable) paper. You pull the part in the middle that holds it together down and lay it on the seat- so I tried that baby out. It was pretty nifty- I thought about taking a few for proof but decided I didn't need them at my apartment.

Recruitment meeting was fine. I stay after and talked with the recruitment director and Greek advisor for a little while.

Later, I go to Old Navy with the room mates and I am calmly walking around being very positive and I stubbed my toe, took a minute and instead of yelling the obscenity I wanted to yell- I just whispered "ow."

Dinner with the room mates- I had mashed potatoes and apparently I was the last person in the restaurant to get these because they had ran out (my room mate also ordered a side) so I offered her mine and told her I could get something else- she didn't take them- but it was the thought that counts right? And the fact that I was completely serious and content with it.

We come back to the apartment and I encourage hanging these four canvas' that my mom painted for our dining area. *No one else wants to do it* I start to hang the canvas' and then both my room mates jump in and want to help...or direct at least. :-)

What should have taken 10 minutes took 30...- there are at least 45 new holes in the wall but the picture looks great, (a little crooked but imperfection is beauty) ...the apartment is now completely decorated- EVEN MY ROOM! which if you saw my room last year- NOT decorated.
There's just a little something in me that feels that much more complete.

Tomorrow- I have to clean my room, also run some errands, and recruitment practice from 9-5...I also have to start back up at the gym tomorrow.

It's gonna be a long week- and although I'll be exhausted because it's just the beginning- at least I am being a productive part of society- and keeping positive.

:-) Day two was awesome!