Life lesson learned today.  Do not under any circumstances go over your pay stubs while watching the morning news.  I was musing over the fact that the federal government gets a bigger cut of my husband's paycheck than I do.  I have to actually pay MY bills with what they leave for us.  I realized he was paying almost 20% just  on federal with-holding.  Mean while,  a story comes on the TV about congress wanting to pass legislation capping the GSA conference spending.  Capping their spending!  Hell, how about dismantling the whole operation.  Any way that set the tone for my day.
                       I finally get out of my sweat pants into street clothes to go the the garage.  My truck needed a front wheel alignment.  My 3 month old tires were wearing horribly on the inside tread.  What the heck.  I might have enough for groceries after today.  I sat and waited and waited and waited. I actually had time to finish a novel I have spent 2 months reading ( in 10 minutes daily intervals).  Finally they bring my truck up front.
                       The mechanic hands the keys to the front desk person who hands the paper work to the manager.  He runs into the garage.  This was starting to feel like when the nurse checks your blood pressure, doesn't tell you what it is, and leaves quickly.   After 20 minutes he returns with my keys in hand.  The truck cannot be aligned.  Instead, it needs about $1200 work done.   My husband has a job that takes him away for two week periods.  He was not going to be home for 10 more days.
                        Normally I can do minor repairs on my own.  I have replaced various electrical parts, replaced a head gasket once, and even helped pull a transmission in our own driveway.  But this was beyond me.  Two bad ball joints and one bad hub assembly.  How I got the truck there was a true miracle.  For the typical city dweller, this is not a crises.  But I live about 35 miles from the nearest village.  11 miles are dirt road with no cell service.  My mailman will not even come to my house.  I have a mailbox 2.5 miles away.
                        Groceries!    The first thought in my head was I need groceries.  Screw it, I call the finance company and tell them they will get their payment as soon as I can drive my truck again.  I tell the garage I am taking it home (slowly) and will wait until my husband is home to look at it.   I buy groceries with my payment to last at least 2 weeks.   I always carry coupons so that wasn't so bad.   At least the grocery store had good sales going on.
                        I called my husband at work to share the joy.   He said I made the right decision, yea, that made my day all better.   I drove home and announced to my teenage kids we are stuck for the next 10 days.  Yup, this was welcome news.  Trapped in the mountains with two teenagers and no vehicle.
                        Monday I had an argument with my husband.  He has a list of things he wanted to to get done in a specific time frame.  I apparently wasn't getting things done quickly enough.   The good news is I get a break from running all those silly errands for 10 days.  I WIN!
                         Now I am in the right frame of mind to write a letter to my congressman expressing how once again my government has ruined my life.  I HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO!