My Brain Hurts

There's just too much going on for me to remain sane today. First I need to comment on the state of driving...I'm no angel but I do tend to follow 99% of the rules. This guy was riding a little too close to my bumper this morning when I was venturing out into the blasted negative degree cold to bring my little guy to a playgroup. I thought to myself I need to keep an eye out for him. Then the woman in front of me distracted me by playing a game of tap and go on her brakes. I was so worried about her I forgot about the dufus behind me. So when she suddenly braked for a man and a dog waiting to cross the road MILES away from a crosswalk in the middle of Main St, I was quick to respond. Unfortunately for my NEW car, the guy behind me didn't and smashed into my rear bumper. I did mention it was below zero, right? 'Cause as soon as he banged into my rear end my bumper e-x-p-l-o-d-e-d. Had it been in the middle of summer, my poor car would have only suffered some scratches and maybe a crack. BUT NO! It has to be in the middle of the coldest day of the year! I collected his information and his apologies (BTW, the wild man was fine, just curious why Mummy was yanking her frizzy hair out of her head and saying nasty words she would later come to regret when he would repeat them back to her). However, I did pull the dumb ass move of the day - or I should say the ignorant move - when both of us decided to continue on and I called the police after the fact. I was read the riot act by the rude woman on the phone who probably thought I was the dumbest individual for not knowing to stay at the scene. I was informed that it was now my responsibility to contact this schmuck and have him meet me at the police station with his truck (NOT a scratch on it) so the cops can write out a police report and inspect both vehicles. Well, sorry, but I'm not the type of person who deals much with the police since I tend to be LAW ABIDING and NOT a criminal so I didn't realize I was doing anything stupid. Fortunately my insurance company is not so judgmental. Of course nothing is ever easy, is it? This guy most likely does not have valid insurance so I'll be stuck with a $500 deductible I can't afford because we don't have two plug nickels to rub together! End result? Inspection is due this month, my bumper is practically non-existent and we have no $$ to pay for a new one. Dad says to duck tape the pieces back onto my poor car and it'll pass inspection just fine...I have no more words.

I've had a hell of a morning, how about you???

On top of that, I don't know what we're going to do about dinner tonight, we're supposed to go into Portland to pick up my oldest SIL, we're supposed to go visit some friends in Westbrook for an hour or so, my niece wants to visit with us a while, the gas gauge is on empty and I have $40 in my wallet for gas and groceries for the next TWO WEEKS. Tell me how that's going to happen!

VENT VENT VENT VENT VENT ... better.

My brain still hurts.