Thank you guys for all your hugs last night. They really helped me smile. *hugs*

And now that I'm not so pissed off and upset and totally off the wall, here's what happened yesterday.

Short version: incredibly rough day, ending in spending roughly $525 on my car. Everything seemed to go wrong, things were a total mess, and I felt crushed. Life was so suffocating and overwhelming, and I was ready to check out on vacation. Things are looking better now (Ticky and I are still able to go to Furbowl tomorrow, our only budgeted "fun" thing this paycheck, yay!) but in case you wanted the long version, here it is.

WARNING LONG STORY AHEAD!!

Two weeks ago, I blew out a tire on a major (see 65+ mph) highway while taking my mother to the hospital. I've been trying to get four new tires and an alignment since then, but money and time didn't ever line up. Finally I found an AWESOME deal: $250 for all four tires, then $195 for the labor/installation/alignment. That was close to my minimal budget and I was stoked. Plus, the shop was a place that my mom has worked with for YEARS with her company, and I was very comfortable going to them.

Thursday comes 'round, and I take my car into the shop. The mechanic comes out about a half hour later and tells me that the company I ordered my tires from sent me the incorrect size, 14in instead of 15in. Luckily, he tells me, they have the correct size in stock at the shop.

To the tune of about $400 plus the aforementioned labor charge. On top of the $250 I already dropped for the apparently wrong sized tires. Tried looking up the return policy for the company, and they did accept returns, but were going to charge me a 40% restocking fee.

Bull. Shit.

I was looking at almost $700. Money I most definitely did not have. The $400 was pushing it, but I knew I couldn't afford a second whole set of tires.

I'm not going to lie, I started crying in the shop. I was so distraught. I didn't know what to do; they had already started working on my car, and I couldn't leave without them finishing the work.

The GM of the shop came out and talked to me after a few minutes. They ended up cutting me a deal where they bought the wrong tires from me (so I didn't have to go back through with that 40% bullshit restocking fee from the other company), discounting my alignment, and picking up the correct tires for me from another shop about 20 minutes away. They were fantastic. Kind, patient, and helpful.

I eventually did get my car mostly fixed. However, it's now missing a rim, and the steering wheel feels improperly aligned.... This car is my baby. My first and only car I've owned. It makes me so sad to have bad things happen to it. :(

Here's hoping things will continue looking up.