Strike that, reverse it....

Okay, I do remember a time where I was as stressed as I was today. The only other thing that brings much such stress is ... money.
Last December, I decided to give my car some new parts. The breaks were squealing so bad, so I got them replaced. Just Brakes offered a deal for less than $100. I'm no car aficionado, so I thought this was a pretty good deal. When they examined my car, my breaks were riding on it's last breath. All four of them. Plus they had to replace a few other things, I don't remember the whole diagnosis, I've tried to block it from my memory. But I do remember the bill adding up to over $700. I HATE spending that much money. I whined about it over happy hour with Lars at Ruby Tuesdays and he dropped me back off at Just Brakes to get my car. But the mechanics couldn't put my hood down all the way, and said something about how I needed to get the striker on my car repaired (a striker is the thing on the bottom of your car's front hood that clasps shut when you slam the hood down). So I had to drive home real slow and prevent the hood from flying up and me getting into a car accident.
It was dark by then and I was nearly in tears when I explained my day to my roommate. I'd heard how people use alcohol to inhibit their stress, so that's just what I did - I took a shot of vodka. And I took it back hard. It didn't help but it was a psychosomatic effect and helped take my mind off of my car temporarily. Then I messed around with the hood on my car and got it to clasp shut with the striker in place. Thank God.
Later that month I had to get new shocks and struts and two new tires.
But now, I think I'm going to have a drink. A Rum and Coke, if you will. Except I have white rum and Diet Pepsi. So that'll have to do. Maybe it'll continue to numb the pain for the night.