Schlepping in Seattle-The Haul

 Yep, you heard me right, schlepping. I was schlepping in Seattle yesterday with nothing but good intentions of making a positive turn with my life. I had connected with an online resource bragging of a Career Fair in Seattle. I armed myself with hard copies of my resume, general cover letters, five different reference letters, plus, I put them all on a thumb drive should that need arise of someone wanting to email my credentials to someone of importance...like Bill Gates. I had registered in advance for the fair, copied directions, imagined what I would wear and even practiced interview techniques. I felt solid and confident. The event was slated from 11am-2pm. I left my house at 10:30am, which ETA in Seattle would be around 11:30 or 11:45 am. Me and my little Honda propelled down a familiar path towards Seattle, via the I-5 freeway.
 To play into this day, it is important to note, that a couple of months ago, I decided to upload a navigator system onto my cell phone, for a mere $1.99 per month. It's been beneficial in locating unfamiliar areas for my job search strategies and new housing locales. For the most part, it has worked just fine, at least locally. It is a bit slow on the rebound of giving you ample notice for turns, should "recalculating route" situations happen. With me, it happens a lot. (laugh here.) My new found friend, in the technological world, "Gia," and I had our first argument when trying to exact the landing spot of my destination, at this Career Fair in Seattle.
 I had the address pegged, my directions printed and before me as I approached my exit to the big city, to my destination of the Seattle Center. If you've never been to Seattle, you wouldn't know that the Seattle Center encircles several city square blocks. You wouldn't know that the Center embraces more than one main building and the Space Needle. You wouldn't know that Key Arena, (old home and possible future home, again, of the Seattle Supersonics) is situated here. The EMP music museum and a Children's Hands on Museum are situated here as well. Did I mention there are a lot of buildings named by people of importance in this mega complex, known as the Seattle Center? Oh, I my not have, but there are. I just needed to find the "northwest rooms", as dictated on the registration.
 Of course, when following my printed directions, when I was to take the Mercer Island Bridge exit, then turn right onto Broad St., coming off the bridge, they don't tell you that Broad St. is blocked off due to construction. That's OK, you can pretty much see the Space Needle anywhere, so my Honda kept driving and turning towards that landmark. When frustration was starting to overwhelm my good mood, I pulled off to the side of a street and enlisted the help of my new friend, Gia, the navigator. Address punched into her system, off I went. Now, when you are trying to drive in big city traffic with no console to hold her hand, you can't always pay attention to her visual map. I have become somewhat reliant on her soothing voice telling me where to turn. Remember, Seattle traffic is not easy to maneuver through, and one way streets suddenly appear before you, with little or no warning. DOT thinks everyone is familiar with the city streets, and finds the expense of signs, unnecessary.
 I turned off my music and paid full attention to Gia, and what she was directing me to do. When the Broad St. turn was impassible, of course, I could only forge ahead and take a street that seemed logical to me. There were cars on my ass, you do understand. Gia's little computer brain made those ticking and bleeping noises..."recalculating route." I learned quite quickly that Gia is slow during her recalculation moments. When she blared, "turn right onto Phinney St. in 450 ft," of course I yelled..."YOU MEAN THE STREET I JUST PASSED?"  No matter, Gia was "recalculating route," already. Apparently, she doesn't like being my passenger because I just kept turning towards the "Needle," and she kept..."recalculating route."