Frostbite

So yesterday was a bummer. I had planned my first meeting in my new job and was pretty geared up about it. It required me driving 30 minutes north to meet with staff from a conservation district that we're trying to establish a relationship with. Anyway, I got to work 20 minutes early so that I'd have enough time to get the work vehicle, warm it up and do any of the necessary odd jobs before I took off. Well, nothing ever works out the way you want/expect them to. First, I couldn't figure out which key belonged to the vehicle I was using. Finally got a key, then went down to the parking lot, and wandered around for over 5 minutes looking for the right truck. Thought I found it, but the key wouldn't work. Had to go back upstairs and ask my coworker. Evidently it was the wrong key. Went back down to the parking lot, tried again, and it worked. But, there was a 2-inch sheet of ice on the windshield that needed scraping. Scraper? Yup, finally found it, but I didn't have gloves, and the temps were about 5 below zero. Well, no choice but scrape without gloves on. Only have 25 minutes left to get to my meeting...keep scraping. Finally I scrape enough to be satisfied, truck is all warmed up. I put it into reverse; I hear tires spinning but truck is not moving. I go outside and smell burning rubber. Truck is imbedded in sheet of ice. I try fruitlessly for several more minutes before realizing that I must either cancel my meeting or get another (4X4) vehicle. I go inside and speak to my immediate boss. She says that everyone was thinking that I was incredibly ambitious to try to go out on a day like that. Interesting. So I call the guy I was supposed to meet and cancel. He was not happy but agrees to reschedule. I realize that my fingers are hurting me beyond normal degrees. I can't even pick up a pen. I have frostbite. It lasted all day yesterday and this morning it is even difficult to type. Luckily I don't see any tissue damage, it just really stings whenever my fingers are in warm or cool water. Or typing. Or writing. Or doing anything else that requires grasping. So the moral of the story is, wear your gloves, children!