I was so stressed out I needed a pedicure...

Thursday afternoon, after four weeks of bouncing between the mechanic and insurance companies, two rental cars, delayed car parts and THE REST OF MY LIFE, I thought I was going to loose my mind.

Actually I'm pretty sure I'd already lost my mind and was finally noticing this. All over $2500 worth of exhaust system damage (start at the catalytic converter and keep adding parts and labor)

On top of it all, I've gotten new responsibilities at work which I inherently love because they involve photography -- but are totally overwhelming at the moment because I've got to learn yet another Tool and skillset. For about two weeks I was literally passing out at 8:30, getting up at 5 and starting the day all over again.

Wednesday I broke down with BBGB (over IM, of course). I'm tired, I'm stressed, I have no time, I am overwhelmed. How much is this going to cost me and when is this going to be over had become the constant litany replacing a usually very fun and interesting daydreaming life. I haven't blogged in WEEKS. Boo hoo me.

There's a reason she's my bestest girl buddy ever. Her solution: get some perspective and a massage.

See, we are Californians, and in California we know there's no mental upheaval that can't be solved with a lil pampering. In fact, I bet this applies to all women, but Cali girls are the first ones that I have ever heard admit it. Out loud. In mixed company. We are not afraid to admit: when the going gets tough, the tough get a rub down. Fellas, take note.

It was my idea to throw in the pedicure. By the time I was sitting under the lamp watching my cute pink toes dry I had a whole new mental frame.

Thank god I have insurance - the repair is covered. I get to cruise around in a sweet rental car (drive it like you stole it, baybee) for two weeks. When all of this is over, I'll have no problem getting my car to pass Washington emissions because I will have an almost entirely brand new exhaust system. And i have cute little flowers painted on my big toes.

So while I'm not going to thank any part stealing junk heads anytime soon, I really have nothing to complain about. Just need to grow some patience, and start blogging again.

You know it was a good day because

...you get to go to the mountain, even though your car is out of commission (long story, see the one about the exhaust pipe thief)
...you run into FLOML snowboarding, and your heart doesn't even flutter.
...you find yourself enjoying an unexpected companion: great conversation, laughs, and good runs. At the end of the day you can say you have a new friend. (Code name: 2Plank)
...you finish the day with a quite house, a hot bath, and Joseph Campbell.
...bedtime looks like heaven. You're convinced your pillows have gotten even softer than they were when you left them this morning.

Pretty damn delightful.

Turkey Burgers to Monogomy

D says:
another day, another turkey burger
Rosie says:
LOL
Rosie says:
mmm, i might go have seconds of Indian food in a minute. i did a bad thing today
D says:
what was your sin of choice
Rosie says:
i stole a bottle of Tobasco from the cafeteria to keep in the kitchen on my floor
D says:
HA
Rosie says:
cause i go thru about a bottle a week
Rosie says:
and i'm tired of running downstairs to get it
D says:
me too
D says:
buy your own silly
D says:
dont get fired over some hot sauce
Rosie says:
lmao, it's still in the building, just upstairs I'm jsut restocking
D says:
uh huh
Rosie says:
as long as it doesn't leave the building, I haven't stolen anything
Rosie says:
just misplaced it
D says:
it all depends on who defines stolen in the hierarchy
Rosie says:
hehehe
Rosie says:
thanks sweetie, I suppose I'll take the heat when it hits me
Rosie says:
oye...even funny man robin williams can't keep a marriage going...I'm not even going to TRY...lol
D says:
im really past the point of being surprised
Rosie says:
ya - i just wonder what is the problem? i mean, ultimately what's going on - is marriage just outdated, do we have more options? are people just not willint to work things out? is it just that more people get divorced cause it's an option now than back in the old days? Wtf? I guess they don't publicize the marriages that work
Rosie says:
but still, it just puzzles me
D says:
im not convinced that humans are monogamous by nature most animals aren't
Rosie says:
true
D says:
i think that yeah we raise youngins with a single partner but then most animals go off with someone else
Rosie says:
interesting
D says:
almost half of marriages end up in divorce, but factor in marriages with infidelity, and "open marriages"....there not a whole lot of till death do us part in there
Rosie says:
yeah i'm just wondering if there needs to be some differentiating between sexual intimacy and lifelong relationships - i mean don't get me wrong, I'm not headed for the open relationship, but sometimes i wonder if this whole storybook bullshit about "happily ever after" and "soulmates" (there's one person for everyone) doesn't create this unrealistic expectation that the one person you marry will be able to be "all things" rather than just acknowledging our biology (attraction may vary)
Rosie says:
and valuing emotional loyalty and intimacy at a higher level (something i don't think we do at all) i mean, if sexual intimacy is the biggest value in a relationship it seems inevitable that things are going to fall apart. its a biological drive essentially but when two people 'get' each other in an emotionally intimate way that is the kind of thing that keeps people friends for life - so why can't that work for marriage too
Rosie says:
we live in a culture where men are denied permission to access and express emotions for risk of being weak or less manly which leaves lots of men's emotional sides immature (undeveloped rather than 'childish') then all we have to bond with is the sexual/attraction level of intimacy which is bound to fail, change or switch to another partner
D says:
we gotta get you a book deal
Rosie says:
sheeesh...quit ya teasin me
D says:
and i didn't even have to rub your feet
Rosie says:
oh don't worry, i'm keeping a tab of all the feet rubbing I have coming
D says:
from who
Rosie says:
IF i ever do see you again you better be ready
D says:
oh boy
Rosie says:
After you get done, there won't be any feet left for anyone else
D says:
well damn, did i promise to rub any thing else
Rosie says:
uh...not that i recall - at least not while either one of us was sober
D says:
thats prolly a good thing
Rosie says:
what the not remembering or the not being sober
D says:
what may have been promised in a drunken state
Rosie says:
oh yeah, course
D says:
shit i might end up pregnant
Rosie says:
lmao keep it in yer pants, buster
D says:
i always have....with you
Rosie says:
well that makes ONE person

D is a boy -er- man, that I've known since we were both 19. He's the best friend I've ever had. We talk about everything. Usually while I'm waiting for some program to load, or files to copy or other such goofiness. He is my twin - and I love him more than life. This is why.

I will not freak out...I will stay calm...I will not kill anyone...

Today I returned from the bus after a blissful sunny afternoon wandering around downtown and climbed into my car. I started the engine and immediately knew something was wrong. It sounded like no one had bothered to install a muffler on my car. Parked on a busy street and against a high wall I couldn't safely take a look, so I let it run for a minute, made sure there were no fluids dripping and drove the mile and a half home.

Safe from traffic in the driveway I got on my hands and knees and looked under the car.

Muffler - still attached. No visible holes.

Exhaust Pipe.

Missing.

Yeah, someone had cut the exhaust pipe from the muffler to the header. About two feet of pipe was missing, cleanly sliced off. In fact, the first cut on the header side was too high so they pulled out and moved further down.

Just so you know - I wasn't parked in a lot all day, or even on a side street. I'm parked on a major street, busy all day and yet some asshole had the unmitigated gall to break out the saw and pull a usless peice of pipe from my car. I mean, the muffler I could understand, the header even...if your desperate and you really need a stock muffler or header...please take mine.

But the pipe. The stupid pipe you could get at ace hardware for a few bucks. INSTEAD YOU STOLE MINE? REALLY?

D is convinced it's revenge. He's wondering who's man I stole. Maybe I should have a convo with HF about that one, eh?

Honestly, I must have pissed somebody off. The funny part is, well it's just funny. So bizarre, and unbelievable. It's just random. D's second guess is that it's "mistaken identity," whoever it was thought the car belonged to someone else.

Has anyone else heard of this? Is this a common car prank? Is there something special about stock exhaust pipes that I don't know about?

WTF?