What does a bad day look like?
What does a bad day look like? This series takes a look at the mildly frustrating to the seriously unfortunate.
Tune in every Tuesday for a new edition, or scroll down to browse previous topics.
Invasive shellfish
March 31, 2026
The scenario is this in Shasta Lake, CA: Species of Invasive mussels are spreading across this area and statewide so fast that local and national agencies are working to find a solution to stop the spread. The current program, “Halt the Hitchhiker,” with three phases is touting quite the payoff for winning pitches, a hefty sum of $200,000. This is due to the high cost—more than $1 billion in yearly costs—of what agencies were spending to eradicate the threatening species, even prior to the golden mussels invasion in 2024. The winning proposal must fulfill a tier of defined results.
Read more about it here.
Interminable road closure
March 24, 2026
Not only is a road closed near me for what seems interminably but no one seems to know WHY the road has been closed for more than eight months. I suspect a real estate developer is behind the closure but, thus far, no one is certain. It’s a common thoroughfare for those of us — and there are a lot — who have moved out to a more rural setting. Every day the roadblocks and detour signs are set up to keep us away from our regular route. Ah, the aggravation of it all!
When you’ve lost your kid
March 17, 2026
Buttercup, a Nigerian Dwarf mama goat who gave birth to quadruplets in 2025, couldn’t’ find one of the kids ended up going to some humans on Two Goat Farm for their help. The missing kid, Sprout, was finally found by owner Katie in a tire.
On thin ice
March 10, 2026
A Wisconsin man who’d indulged in a few too many thought he could drive his ice fishing shack onto the ice. Turns out the ice was not near ready, even though a couple of recent nights had hit freezing. According to the Barron County Sheriff’s Office, the guy set his mind to bringing his ice shack onto the “ice.” However, all he ended up catching was an OWI.
Somebody was going ice fishing, come ice or just freezing cold water!
Here’s what Fish Anywhere says in its blog, “The start of ice fishing season varies from year to year and is completely dependant on the thickness of the ice. When the ice is 4 inches thick, humans can walk on the ice safely. Snowmobiles and ATVs can travel across the ice when it reaches 7-12 inches, and full-size trucks should wait until there’s over a foot of ice. It’s very important to check local weather and fishing reports for updates on how thick the ice is before setting out. Here’s a handy tool to understand more about this important factor of ice fishing. Of course the weather ultimately determines when the lakes freeze over. Typically in Wisconsin there’s a layer of ice around late December or early January. The season lasts as long as there’s safe ice, generally March or April, although there have been years when ice-out happens in May. Wisconsin’s DNR (Department of Natural Resources) defines “ice-out” as the first day that all ice is gone. Each season is different, so it’s important to check with local resources before heading to the lake.”
Fish Anywhere, “Ice Fishing in Wisconsin,” published October 16, 2019.
Not Worth the Wait
March 3, 2026
Not even a year after purchasing my first car, a truck’s tire exploded while I was on the interstate and shattered my headlight.
The insurance thankfully covered the costs, but the wait to get it fixed was frustrating to say the least. It took over six months for the repair shop to get the headlight I needed.
When my appointment finally rolled around, I eagerly took my car to the shop, got into my rental, and headed to work.
Then I got a phone call at noon: “We don’t have the headlight yet.”
Apparently, the repair person assigned to fix my car was no longer with the company. Whoever was handed this project didn’t realize the headlight hadn’t arrived until I had already dropped off the rental.
Taking a trip back to the repair shop to pick up my still-not-fixed car definitely made for a bad day.
This week’s edition was written by Jacob.
Meet Hercules, Ned, and Chris!
February 24, 2026
It’s a bad day if you are a part of the troublesome wildlife at a West Virginia airport when border collies Hercules and Ned and their trainer, Chris, are on the job.
Geese, birds, deer—the airport wildlife that can cause birdstrikes or worse don’t stand a chance when the Charleston, West Virginia, Pup Patrol and its trainer are laser-focused on the safety of the runway.
Watch the video.
Valve problems
February 17, 2026
You’re headed to a cozy cabin for a great wintry weekend in the mountains. It’s freezing cold and your SUV is loaded with treats and comfy, warm clothes for a long leisurely stretch. You arrive and enter with your arms full only to discover that the valve hadn’t been seen to and the place is flooded with icy water.
Road closed, toad crossing
February 10, 2026
Charlcombe Lane, near Bath, a thoroughfare in Somerset County, UK, is closed for six weeks due to newts, frogs, and toads needing to cross to their breeding grounds. Toad patrols are out at night helping the amphibians make it to the ancestral habitats.
Read the full story here.
Losing a load of concrete
February 03, 2026
Warning: Watch the video while resting. File this under lessons learned.
All credit goes to HIS turf. Share the video at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bGMLLhDYcc.
How could you have gotten it so wrong?
January 27, 2026
If you’ve ever misinterpreted or mishandled a work assignment, you may well wonder, Did I get it wrong or were the directions ambiguous?
Here are some helpful suggestions from the LinkedIn community for resolutions:
- Seek clarification
- Document requests
- Use feedback
- Set boundaries
- Collaborate closely
- Be proactive
- Other ways to resolve the situation
