The "Woe Is Me" Post

There have been many wonderful moments for me this past year (most referred to in my last blog entry), but with the great there always seems to be some-not-so-great moments. While I'm grateful for every single positive thing that has happened and I'm greatly blessed, I'm hoping my run of bad luck is over soon.

Some of the not-so-good items of 2009 and now carrying over into 2010:

I bought my first home, a two-bedroom condo. While this is good and exciting news, the process I went through to become a first time home buyer was not good. My Realtors were great, but the hoops I had to jump through to get approval were tedious and RIDICULOUS. On the day of my closing, I sat in the office for nearly three hours waiting for final approval to come. Every one involved in the process said they had ever had a closing like this...lucky me.

The day after I signed on my condo, I hydroplaned on the highway on the way to school. I was very lucky to walk away with a few bumps and bruises, and some stiff and aching muscles and joints. The possibility of much more serious injuries was great as I went into the median in the inner most lane and then did a 360 degree spin across all three lanes of traffic. It was rush hour, traffic was heavy and I didn't get hit by or hit another vehicle. Had I looked over to the passenger seat, I think I might have seen someone sitting there...I definitely had a guardian angel there with me that morning. So, surviving and not being seriously hurt...Great. Totaling my truck the day after buying my first home....BAD.

The search for a new vehicle started...it's amazing how difficult it is to decide on a vehicle when your mind wasn't in the frame of buying any time soon. Walking onto a lot was overwhelming...so many cars, colors, models, etc....and I with not a clue as to what I even wanted to look at. Let's not forget to mention the stalking that took place on the few lots I visited, either...CAR SALESMEN ARE LIKE VULTURES. And why is it that despite me being the one who was looking to buy the car, the salesmen always directed their questions towards Scott? Some habits are hard to break and I found myself retreating to Columbia...where I am familiar with the dealerships and where my family resides. I found a great car, one that I fell in love with instantly, and I was treated with respect. The salesman dealt with me, answered all my questions without making me feeling stupid and I did all the negotiating...despite my brother sitting in the office with me.

The hunt for the car finally paid off, but, still, I was waiting on insurance. For a week I sat idle...no contact from the adjuster, no returned phone calls. There is no feeling worse than sitting in limbo...were they going to total my truck?...how much were they going to give me for it?...etc. It finally took a call from my uncle (who has a pretty high position in the insurance company) to get things moving...the day after his call, I received a call and a sizeable check for my totalled vehicle. Bad. Good. Mostly Annoying.

So, I now have a car I love to drive and that I am completely happy with. Life, my life at the moment anyway, can't be that easy though. The week before Christmas I walked to my car to go to work. I start to open the rear door to put my stuff in the car and see that my driver's side window has been busted out. WTF?!! I call school to tell them I would be late arriving because I had to spend my morning with the police. :(

My neighborhood got hit by thieves and vandals...9 cars were broken in to and had things stolen out (I had nothing in my car to steal) and they did actually steal one vehicle. According to the police, the thieves spent a lot of time at my car as it was their intent to steal it. They first tried going through the lock, which was destroyed and pushed into the door (their work obviously messed up the paint). Secondly, they tried to go through the window in three different areas, damaging the window frame and ultimately breaking the glass, which probably resulted in the alarm going off and them running. Good news...my car was still sitting in the lot and nothing was actually stolen. Bad news...$500 deductible that I am responsible for, at Christmas.

I was able to get my car to a dealership to be housed and have the glass replaced, all in a timely manner. I was fortunate to have my car over the holidays...it was driveable, but still needing body work. Last Monday I took my car back to the dealership to have all the work completed (all new parts, painting, etc.) and was told it would be a two-day process. As of today, I still don't have my car. A part was delayed in Chicago because of the winter storms last week and now I'm told the part has been delivered, but it is the wrong part. I'm told they hope to have it finished tomorrow, but I'm past the point of holding out hope. The dealership has provided me with a rental car (at their expense)...I appreciate it; however, I don't want to drive a rental...I WANT MY CAR!

Much of my frustration comes from feeling like I've had my independence stripped from me. While no one has batted an eye at my asking for a ride or me not being able to meet up with them this week, there is something about not having the option to go somewhere if you want, when you want, and not having to plan every errand through another person.

I'm hoping this post, this purging, allows me to focus once again on the positives in my life. I've always heard that bad things come in 3's...surely this counts for three! PLEASE. LET. THIS. BE. THREE!