Another week, another crisis…

This week has been one of ups and downs.  Monday night my beloved Jayhawks won the National Basketball Championship.  Little sleep before work on Tuesday, but it was okay.  On Tuesday night I was getting ready to pay bills prior to the 15th (my usual midmonth bill paying day).  I found that I had a $934 cell phone bill.  I called AT&T once I figured out that my son’s new phone which is supposed to have internet for an extra $30 bucks a month didn’t and he had a $600 bill.  They were in the process of fixing it (I was on the phone) when my son called.  I ignored the call and my daughter answered it instead.  My son had been rearended.

I handed the phone with the AT&T lady and talked to my son.  He was on a highway on ramp.  The person ahead of him had his/her left turn indicator on and suddenly switched it to the right and slowed down (just as the lanes began to merge).  My son couldn’t pull into traffic because it was busy so he slowed to a stop.  The lady behind him plowed into him (without ever even beginning to break) at 50 miles an hour.  It pushed the entre back trunk area of my 2005 Chrysler Sebring up past the wheel base.  At first I though well how bad was it until he told me her Jeep Liberty had huge damage to the front. 

The tow truck driver brought him and his friends girlfriend home. She was still in the backseat after they had dropped her boyfriend off.  Both kids were okay so what could I do.  When I saw the car I was shocked.  It was dark and on the tow truck.  I was astounded when I saw it on Friday night as we got the last of my emergency equipment out of the trunk and pulled my plates.  It was surprising that neither of the kids was hurt.  I filed my claim on Wednesday morning and got my rental.  That afternoon her insurance company had called and began the settlement process.  They actually settled on Thursday with a very decent settlement.   The car was totaled (obviously).  I now just have to contact them with the lienholder information so they can cut a check. 

The kids and I are going car hunting tomorrow.  It is either a new sebring or maybe a Hyndai Sonata.  It depends on which I like the best.  My rental is a 2007 Sebring.  It is nice, the car changed in 2007 so it feels different.  I have to admit that my old one did exactly what it was supposed to do.  Crumple to the passenger compartment. 

My family was surprised that I stayed so calm.  I think that this year has taught me to calm down.  I cannot change the outcome so I have to be as positive as I can.  My daughters year has really taught me more than I thought.  I have become far more spiritual again.  My ex was astounded that I wasn’t freaking out.  Two years ago, I would have, but what can I do?  To stay healthy, I just have to relax and say thank god the kids are okay.  I do believe that had my son been at fault, I might have eventually reactted differently, but even then, I couldn’t have changed anything so…

I thnk that we have had our fair share of crap come our way this year.  I hope that the rest of the year goes much better!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!!!!!!

After 20 years, we are finally NCAA Division 1 champions again.  The game was awesome, up and down, an overtime.  Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU.   Mario’s 3 point at the end of regulation was a huge turning point – that and Tiger missed free throws.  It was so exciting.  My dad passed away 3 years ago, and I actually heard him chanting at the end of regulation.  He would have loved the game, he would have been pacing back and forth, yelling at the TV.  He would have been taking his KU hat off, rubbing his head making his hair stand on end, and then put it back on – over and over. 

I left my Toastmasters demo meeting just in time to get home for the game.  I was just so ready and so positive all season that this was our year.  It was awesome.  The game was great.  The Memphis team made hisotry even though they didn’t win the game.  I am just so happy.  Being a KU baby (my dad was in college when I was born, my first home was married housing on the KU campus.  I went to school there for 3 summer school sessions (I went to University of Arizona in the winter).  My dad ran the biology labs for years.  He was a graduate and my part of my family still lives in Lawrence.  I am just so excited.

The Final Four – A Jayhawk

Okay, I admit that I was sick on the semi-final game night with KU in the BIg 12 tournament.  It just goes to show how sick I really was.  I got up only for the final game on Sunday.  I then missed another two days of work.  It was awful.  Whatever it was took me down and out!  The following week was NFL qualifiers.  It was great, we actually qualified someone to Nationals in Humorous Interpretation.  We also had to alternates.  We shall see.  June in Vegas with a thousand high school students.  How exciting.

After a week of madness at work, and watching every avialable game in the NCAA tournament, I was thrilled that KU got into the final four last weekend.  Barely I admit, but it was a great game that Davidson played.  Had I had the time, I would have made a road trip to San Antonio to sit on the Riverwalk and watch the game in a bar, but no time!  Darn it all.  I am saving time for Nationals and to the International Toastmasters Convention in Canada this year.  Either way, I cannot wait for the game tomorrow.  It is the first time in 20 years that KU is in the final game.  I hope that the result is the same.  Maybe Danny Manning is our good luck charm since he is an assistant coach and was on that Championship team.  Last nights game was awesome.  I was actually a bit stunned, but wow.  Fireworks every where.  It was awesome!

I am always sad when the big dance is over because it is December before college basketball comes around again.  I love college basketball.  And again this year I lost to Brent in our private pool, however, I had my pre-season final 4 as the real final four (for the first time in history all 4 teams are #1 seeds) and more surprising I chose them preseason.  This means for the 3 year in a row, Brent and I are even.  I won preseason picks and he won the pool.  We only have a dollar on each, but it is the competition that counts.   I aways do better in rounds 2 and 3 and he does better rounds 1 (barely) and round 4.  GRRRRR!