Do I look like a pumpkin when I am stressed out?

I was reading David Lebovitz’ blog today at lunch time:

“I wasn’t really planning on posting about this. But last weekend, when about four crisis were swirling around me, threatening to make my head implode, I did something rash: I took an unplanned trip out of town.”

“Yes, I know. What a concept. I didn’t freak out for weeks searching train or plane tickets, or researching hotels or restaurants. I just called up Romain, we got in the car, and split. We made it about an hour outside of town and then settled in for the weekend, warming up the house with a raging fire and stocking the refrigerator with my new love, Vinho Verde, a light Portuguese wine that invites leisurely weekend drinking.”

It’s almost creepy how much this syncs with my life right now. Let me count the Crises:

1) New Job. The new job is overwhelming. The stuff I inherited is all messed up. One of my key people just quit and there is a hiring freeze so I cannot replace her. My boss is very hands off and unhelpful except when he is a smothering control freak. And a Christian. And I Republican. And a karaoke performer. Other manager’s have told me that I will only last a year with this guy. I think this is right. Unless I get laid off. Another wave of layoffs is coming, soon. Crisis.

2) Water damage to my house. I just got a bid for the water damage on my house, $12,000+. I was hoping I could just put this on my Hawaiian Airlines credit card and then pay it off with my tax return. I won’t be getting $12,000 on my tax return. Crisis.

3) Health. I went in for my 3 month blood test this week. The doctor’s assistant gave me bad info over the phone and totally freaked me out. My blood pressure was so high when I went in to talk to him that the stupid assistant ran out and grabbed the doctor to see if they should call an ambulance. I am so not kidding. Turns out that I am fine on the cholesterol and blood sugar front. Blood pressure is still too high. I cannot imagine why. Crisis.

4) Sewer. I just learned that on top of installing a heating system that cost me $23,000 to replace, and incorrectly installing gutters and flashing that have now caused $7000 in water damage, the builders also did not hook up the sewer lines correctly. What is this going to cost me, $40,000? Crisis. 

So to sum this up, I have an unheard of 50 hours of vacation time that I cannot take time because work is too crazy and I cannot afford to go anywhere anyway. Crisis. 

Time for some leisurely drinking of Vinho Verde.  

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