No good deed goes unpunished

[norsegirl]

Why is it that whenever I try to do something nice I get totally bitten in the ass for it? And I don't mean the good intentions that don't turn out and leave everyone upset. I mean the kind of favour where from the other person's end it goes just fine but I get burned. Why is karma such a mean, backwards bitch?

I had someone over to talk landscaping. As we're wrapping up in the front door, a lost cocker spaniel runs up. I manage to juggle beagles, baby, cocker spaniel and telephone in the foyer trying to figure out who the dog belongs to. Several phone calls and an hour or two later someone finally shows up to take the dog.

It's a shitty day in Texas, so instead of leaving it in the yard like I normally would I have it crated. It stinks, like more than the average dog. So much that I'm skipping lunch today. When the woman comes to pick it up I tell the woman to stay in the foyer because I've just vacuumed. That's a reasonable and easily understood request right? I get the dog out of the cage and as I'm telling her, "no thanks, I don't need a leash", the dog struggles and knocks an expensive plate off the counter. The woman, despite my insistence comes rushing to my aid, in wet shoes, over my clean carpet.

So I have to redo the vacuuming, the house smells, and I'm out a $40 plate. But I saved a dog from getting run over - whooppee. Fuck.

Comments

[ethnowoman.livejournal.com]

Well, *I* appreciate it, who had my dog rescued recently by a complete stranger in Minnesota. It's too bad you lost a plate (the lady should have offered to replace it) but I really think you are well ahead on good karma. Don't let the little things discourage you. That dog is going to make someone happy for years to come.

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

Actually it was an odd situation. It was a rescue doggie being fostered. I wouldn't expect her to offer to replace the stuff. As far as I know she's just a volunteer, and she might not even be the one who lost the dog. I wouldn't want my stuff to come out of a rescue group's budget. Even if one of their volunteers was stupid enough to lose a dog. There's better things for donations to go towards. I just would have liked it if she'd kept her wet shoes off my carpet. That's not too much to ask really.

I can afford to replace the plate. Doesn't mean it doesn't annoy me though.

[utsi.livejournal.com]

hear you loud & clear. the being nice to an old sca friend & giving them a room to live in while they got their feet under them again? totally gone sour. my theory is the good karma points double on these occasions (i can hope)
*hugs*

[utsi.livejournal.com]

i haven't posted much on the issue btw. mutual friends in lj land means i need to filter to vent safely :P

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

Funny. I went back to read your archives (the baby means I've been missing a lot) and didn't find anything on it.

You're welcome to vent over on my lj if you like or to call me (or I can call you, I have free long distance). It's almost certain that I don't know the people involved.