Stress becomes me

My friend Val told me I looked fabulous yesterday. "Your hair's gotten longer, you look so relaxed."

"I'm a mess."

First of all, I'm working full-time at a high stress job - which I do still love most days.

But I'm trying to put together this health care rally (2-4 p.m. Oct 19 in Pritchard Park, downtown Asheville -- be there if you can.), and that's as lot of work on top of my job.

Then I had a fender-bender yesterday. I came around a curve and there was a car stopped to make a left-hand turn. The road was wet and I skidded right into her. A college kid named Amber. I was so scared I had hurt her.

I stepped out of my car into ankle-deep mud. But Amber was OK, as was her passenger. But I kept worrying that she had some hidden injury that would kill her in the middle of the night, and what would I say to her mother? I was a mess.

Once she assured me she was fine and we exchanged information, I watched her drive away. Was she driving erratically because of that hidden injury? No, her driving was fine.

I met Val for lunch and she insisted I look great. After lunch, we ran into another friend who also commented in how rested and wonderful I look.

We're transferring to a new computer system at work and I'm a bit befuddled by it all, although I have too much to do to worry about it.

Oh, and did I mention I have to deal with the insurance company?

The adjustor called this morning, all friendly and nice.

"We'll take care of you," he said. "Let's see, you have a $1,000 deductable."

"No, I have a $500 deductable."

"That's what I said. Now, you don't have car rental on your policy."

"Yes I do."

"Oh, yes. Of course. $30 a day."

"Up to $100 a day."

The permit for the park we're rallying at (2-4 p.m. Oct. 19 in Pritchard Park) hasn't arrived yet, but the city assures me it's in the mail.

And, oh, the bathroom sink is leaking like mad. If we use it, there's a lake in the house and it rains in the garage. That already ruined some of my handmade Christmas ornaments.

So we had the guy in to look at it today. It's got a leak and we have to replace the whole thing. Rob was pleased because it gives us an excuse to replace the whole vanity. which was falling apart anyway because it was so cheap to begin with.

So I went shopping and bought a new one. $650 with the sink and countertop. So he's all crabby.

"Well, did you want another cheesy plastic one?"

"No, I'll get over it."

Then I looked at my retirement fund statement and I've lost half of what I had saved in the last 25 years. Gone, just like that into the pockets of Bush/Chene
y friends. Leave me alone. I just lost tens of thousands of dollars bailing out the big boys and I'll never be able to retire. I can be pissy if I want. I've earned it.

At least Danny's burns are healing well. That's really the most important thing. He's well enough to call me to argue politics,

I'm just too tired right now.

"Look, your brother died because of bad public policy, and I'll die at my desk because the policy sucks so bad"

But I look fabulous. Good to know.