Unfortunate incident...

So I had one of my worst days here recently. It started with me deciding to go for a run, even though it was a "rest" day. Near Justin's barracks, there was a long stretch of straight road, that was bordered by a field. It is perfect for any kind of speed work. I ran there to do some fartleking and then was going to go to the gym.

I got there and was pumped for my workout. I took off my water belt and set it near a fence that bordered the barracks' grounds and off I went. It was .4 miles down and .4 miles back - with surges in the middle. I was in plain sight the entire time since it's a straight road. When I returned to the starting point, I was going to grab a sip of water and start again. When I got there though, the water belt was missing. Only the water bottle was left. It shouldn't be that big of a deal since it was just a water belt right? Wrong. In the belt was my gym membership card, my running watch (I was wearing my Garmin watch while working out), the key to my apartment and 5,000 Forint ($25.00). I don't run EVER without my water belt - in fact, it was odd that I took it off for the fartleking workout, but it was hot out and I wanted the freedom of not having it on. They don't sell water belts like that here in Hungary. In fact, I've never seen anyone in this country with a pack like it. There are plenty of fanny packs, but none that hold water bottles. Addditionally, I never leave the house without my Ironman watch. As a testament to this, you should see the tan line I have on my wrist! I've worn it to prom and weddings, it's my watch. I feel lost without it. Not to mention the key to my apartment. Who has an additional key? Do the downstairs neighbors? Does the school? Well, I know the school does because the maintenance man got in without me- but is the school open. UGH! I didn't even know where to begin. So I started crying.

I walked to the gym to see if anyone had turned it in - as the card was the only form of identification I had in the water belt. Luckily, the sole Jamaican in town Ken was there. He is fluent in Hungarian - and obviously English. I am glad he was there, because I was already upset, and I couldn't imagine being totally helpless trying to explain to someone who didn't speak English what had happened. I told him my dilemma and he said that no one had turned anything in - but that he'd keep an eye out for it. Great. Now what.

I decided to return to the "scene" and look to see if it had been discarded anywhere nearby. I really had no idea what else to do - and all I was equipped with was my sole bottle of water. I suppose it was thoughtful that they left the water, but I thought it was kind of a dick move. I trudged back to the corner of the barracks fence - looking along the ground the whole walk back. I was shocked that this had happened since the area is basically free of traffic - I couldn't see how something had happened in the 7 minutes it took me to do the first part of my workout. At any rate, as I came back upon the fence, I stopped in my tracks. The water belt was there - with everything in it, except the 5,000 Forint.

I was so relieved I started crying again. Oh man... what a morning. Following that, I had a two and a half hour session on line trying to secure a Northwest "World Perks" airline ticket. It turned into level after level of fees and charges we didn't expect, and trust me - there are NO perks in the World Perks program. It's the biggest load of shit EVER and now a ticket that was supposed to be "cheap" because of accrued miles is going to cost $813.00 and 44,000 miles. UUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH.

It was just a bad day. And I'm glad it's over.