when it rains, it pours

And I'm not really talking about "blessings" in the traditional sense of the word. Why does it seem like everything breaks down at this time of year, just when I want to buy my friends and family Christmas presents? Sigh...

So here's the story. Yesterday I woke up to a quite flat tire. I took it to the mechanic, where they (very slowly) removed a nail from it and patched it up. At the same time, the serviceman told me something I already knew--there's a problem with my battery. It's dead. So I got a new one last night (after shopping 3 different stores in an effort to get the best deal). It is currently chillin' out in my back seat, just waiting to be installed later today. Unfortunately my battery didn't make it that long. I'm afraid he's sputtered his last...

So I placed a call to the wonderful AAA. The kind lady assured me that East Side Towing would revive said dead battery within 37 minutes. If it happens to be more, they'll give me a call. Thank you Triple A! Now I'm just sitting here, waiting, wasting time, which is, btw, money.

And that brings me to a previous "rain storm." See, last Monday I was sick. I called in to work. Yeah, can you believe it? That's a big deal for me, considering that I haven't called in since March of '08. Then I was trapped in my apartment on Wednesday because of the blizzard. I had two dental appointments scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, so I arrived late to work those days. Then on top of that, there was yesterday and now today! The whole world seems to be against me ever arriving to work on time!

Sigh. This makes it difficult to earn money. Which, in turn, makes it difficult to buy presents. I know, I know, they are not the most important thing. We all just want to be together for Christmas, etc. etc. But I do want to buy presents... Oh well, I'll just have to make it up on birthdays.

At least I'm healthy, happy, and safe. I am loved, too! What more could a person ask for, right, with or without a battery.

welcome to minnesnowta

such lovely snow...

too bad this town doesn't believe in snow removal

the blizzard ended yesterday at 1:00, but this is straight down the middle of the street

lame-o!

orthodontowha???

This morning I stepped through the pristine gates doors of Meadow Valley Orthodontics, received my paperwork to fill out from one of 7 smiling, brown scrub-wearing employees, sat my booty into a leather couch facing a mounted, inset 32-inch widescreen LED tv, surrounded by a beautiful shelving unit filled with wicker baskets which were, in turn, filled with toys and books and I thought to myself, "Self, you cannot afford this orthodontist." (I realize--run-on sentence. Thank you Miss Tweed. Third grade wouldn't have been the same without you.)

As I filled out the paperwork I mused about an orthodontist that I could afford. He would surely operate out of the bottom level of his home. It'd be kind of like a mullet--you know, business in the front, party in the back. Except that by "front" I mean lower level and "back" I mean upper level apartment. Then an even more affordable orthodontics rig ran through my mind, quite literally. It'd be a "mobiledontics." Kind of like a bookmobile, you know... or even a trailer. I'm picturing something kind of like a horse trailer or a small refrigerated unit, only without the cold. It'd be one of those silver metal jobs with a roll-up sliding door at the back. They'd let down a ramp and you'd haul yourself right into the "consulting office" separated from the "reception area" and "business office" by only a divider meant for a cubicle. I could afford that kind of orthodontics.

You'd think Meadow Valley wanted me to promise them 5 years of indentured labor or the birthrights of my first son.

Well, I haven't lost hope yet. I'm getting a second opinion. Heck, I'll even get a third or fourth one if I have to! Things can't be all that bad. As a matter of fact, I've heard good things about this place called Odontologia Guadalupe de la Virgen de las Nieves. They say they only charge 140 pesos per visit, so I think I'm in luck!

sticky note tuesday

Well, these are super late, but I was sick yesterday. I actually called in sick for the first time since March of 08. It was bad. But here are my stickies anyway.

six word saturday

Here we go again. It's Saturday and I only have six words to describe my life as of right now.

Christmas shopping. Angel Baby. Happy Katie!

I'm going to be babysitting Angel Baby today! :D:D:D And also, while I'm in the city (so sad, I live in some tiny town {23,000. some ppl don't consider that small, but that's midwesterners for you} with almost no shopping options) I'm going to do some Christmas shopping.

It's actually really late at night, or early in the morning, whichever way you want to look at it. I don't feel very good and I know I should sleep, but I just don't want to for some reason. My body hurts and I feel like if I get in bed, I'll feel worse. Hopefully it's gone by tomorrow, because I really don't want to miss out on spending time with my amor!

Have a great Saturday bloggy friends! I'm sending a shoutout and a big hug to Raine from True Confessions of a Single Mother. I hope today is going better for you!

dreams of flying

Well, so far nothing has happened. I facebooked him last week and we had a short convo going on, but then it just dropped off and he never responded. That was last Wednesday. And like they say on He's Just Not That Into You, if he likes you, he will make it happen. The rest is up to you (the girl). And although, at first, he said he wanted to spend more time with me (seemed like he was interested) he hasn't really shown any interest lately, so I guess I'll just let it go.

My mom keeps saying that "at least this is encouraging for me." But I'm not really sure that I'm encouraged. In a way, I'm kind of relieved that he doesn't seem to be interested, because I'm so afraid to get into another relationship. On the other hand, I'm really sad about still being single. I want so much to have somebody who loves me, wants to be with me, thinks I'm beautiful, and wants to have a family with me. I can't even imagine that ever being true. It's almost like dreaming of flying.

So I don't really know what else to say. At least he looked my way for a moment, but I'm not sure I'm encouraged by that. I saw the Ex today and my eyes danced when they met his because, in my heart, I was laughing at him. I'm free. I'm the lucky one. And that is encouraging to me!

hiding right in front of me

It's clear now that you never loved me

That's why you treated me like a piece of property

And it's obvious why you felt so much jealousy

Like your favorite toy, you didn't want to lose me

Even though you had others, you still wanted to use me

But now I see that I'm the one who's lucky

It was a long time before I could see

That away from you, I've finally been set free

The truth was hiding all along right in front of me