sigh...

I just received the news that I will *not* be getting my car back today as originally planned. I was looking forward to getting back into my car, although it's far from torture to drive around in an '06 Nissan Pathfinder. :)

I'm currently on the phone with the insurance company to see if they're going to extend the rental to cover the additional days needed (tomorrow is 30 days I've had the rental.) I'm not having a good feeling about this at all. :( The appraiser assured the dealership the rental wasn't going to be a problem. The appraiser returned my call and assured me the rental wasn't going to be a problem. The person in the claims office quite snippily informed me that the appraiser doesn't have the authorization to approve a rental past 30 days and immediately put me on hold to call the appraiser, who didn't answer the phone.

Luckily, while talking to the dealership, the Service Mgr. said that if the insurance company does back out of extending the rental, he could commit to picking it up for the extended time. Not for nothing, but I really don't feel like shelling out a couple of hundred dollars on a rental - none of this was my fault.

I've vented enough, I'm going back to work.....

D

off balance

Now that things have somewhat gone back to normal for me, I find myself completely off balance.

Balance is key for me, and I'm not even sure I'll be able to explain it well. I would guess different people would have different definitions, but for me, it's an internal synergy between my physical state, my emotional state, and my psychological state (there is a difference between emotional state and psychological state - think spiritual and mental.)

Usually if I'm off kilter, it's by a tiny bit - something that a couple of hours reading a book on the deck or taking Millie for a walk in a park (with plenty of bug spray on her and I) will fix. This time though, I think I depleted myself far past the point where I normally abuse myself. :)

Usually I can feel any small changes to my balance and can correct them before they become to huge. I think the stress of the flood, the anxiety of not knowing what was happening at my house for almost a week, and the strength needed to hold it all together and rebuild was really just too much.

Things are back to normal as far as going to work, coming home and cleaning (Ha! like I do that ;) ), doing errands, etc. But there are still calls that need to be made about the house, still bills to pay that have way too many digits before the decimal point, still stuff to replace, still bags to drag out of the basement, still landscaping to correct...too many stills. :)

I think I can eventually get balanced again, it'll just take time. But, things are starting to head that way - I'm (fingers crossed) getting my car back today (exactly one month after the flood), I got my lawn mower and tractor back yesterday (the trimmer wasn't salvageable), and the repair place is swinging by today with a new trimmer for me. I was so happy to get the tractor back, I mowed the back yard as soon as I got it. :)

I'm heading down to Ellin's this weekend to spend some time and drop off her birthday gifts. Being with her, in her house, is a very zen place for me - a ton of natural wood inside, lots of trees and bushes outside, good conversation, and, of course, her and her family - who are very balanced and don't mind when I suck the balance off of them. :)

So, in the meantime, if my posts are very selfish and are all about me relaxing instead of working hard, it's because I'm on the search for my balance and I won't stop until I have it back again. :)

D

a quickie

I went to bed last night at 8pm. I couldn't keep my eyes open and I had a headache. So I read for a while and then passed out for a really solid night's sleep. :)

Yesterday a 23 yr old asked me if he could be my boy toy. I can honestly say that's a first for me! I also got this random IM message from some 28 year old. I guess I should be flattered but really I'm just annoyed since all they want to do is get into my pants. Not that that's a bad thing, it's good to be wanted, but I'm leaving the bad boys alone these days. They're just too much work!

I didn't get any of my errands done either...again. After the 1 1/2 hr commute home (lovin' the rain), I really wanted to just be with the kids. So I'll attempt it again tonight after work - hopefully. :)

The siblings and I have decided to give Dad a computer for Father's day. I have one here that I bought in January and just didn't have a chance to set up yet because I was always in the middle of a class. So we're going to give him that. I'll order another one for myself eventually. If he's not playing golf, the family will come up for a little BBQ on Sunday. If he is playing golf, I'm off the hook. :)

And now I'm off to work...sigh.

D

tails won

Yup, it was tails the last 2 days - I got to blow off the dishes and sit on the deck reading a book - twice! :)

I felt guilty so I did the dishes that were in 2 of the 3 sinks (I have a triple bowl.) One of them was the tiny middle one, but I feel like I got more accomplished saying 2 and there *were* a few bowls in there. ;)

Yesterday was a fairly good day at work. I had meetings in the afternoon back to back but otherwise it was good. I didn't even see my boss until 2pm so that was a nice little surprise as well. ;)

Today is Ellin's birthday - I have to make sure I remember when I call her for my morning commute chat. It makes the traffic easier to take and we get to catch up on all the little stuff we forget to mention when we don't speak as often.

I have a bunch of little errands to run after work - Glen's gift, Eek's wrapping paper, Ellin's gift, and cards for all. I also have to figure out what I'm doing for my Dad for Father's Day. What do you get for the man that just goes out and buys whatever the hell he wants whenever he wants it? I'll take suggestions if you have any to offer. :)

I'm hoping I'll get my car back this week sometime. I have to call the dealer today to see when it's ready. Then I have to work out how I'm getting back home from the rental place when I drop that off. Mary could probably help me if I do it during the day. I'll worry about that when it's ready.

Time to shower and head to work (running late as usual...sigh).

D

Team Building

I found out who cut my lawn, it was indeed my neighbor John. He said he was doing his own and figured he'd just keep on going since he knew I didn't have my lawn equipment back yet. I sent over a six pack as thanks. :)

Today we had our Team Building gathering. I'm not sure if any of you get to participate in such fun and exciting work gatherings or not. (Can you hear the sarcasm?) Anyway, it wasn't that bad, just hot and tiring since I was on the committee and had to help set everything up for it. And I got paid for drinking beer and eating ribs so now that I think of it that way, it wasn't bad at all!

Our division met at the VP's house. We hired a BBQ caterer, had tables and chairs delivered, and put up a few tents (let me tell you how good I am at that now!) We play silly games for silly prizes and everyone gets to walk around and mingle. I'm not sure I would say it was *fun* per se, but I could think of worse ways of spending my working time. :)

I still have so much cleaning to do and I have no desire at all to do it. I need a cleaning man I think. :)

My friend Ellin's birthday is Wednesday so I have to go shopping at some point for a gift for her. I've picked up a few things in my travels, but I want to get more. I also have to get some cool wrapping paper for Eek's huge gift. And pick up a gift for Glen, which will be easy - just hit the cigar store. :) I have birthday parties the next 2 weekends in a row - what fun! :)

For now, I'm going to go toss a coin and let that decide whether I do the dishes (heads) or relax on the deck with a beer and read a book (tails). I'm hoping for tails!!!

D