Up & Down – a personal blog

CJ asks “What did you do?”

Well, CJ… I didn’t manage to change the tire myself although I did look at the tire and the jack, trying to determine how I might fix it.  Then again.. LOL.. I knew that should I change that tire myself, given the state of my shoulder, I probably would have gotten myself into a whole lot of trouble.  SIlly woman!  Running the car on your hand!

I really did try to figure out if I could fix the tire myself, despite the fact that my shoulder was already hurting like a bugger.  But it was probably to my benefit, at least health wise, when I realized I just couldn’t do it.

I waited for a few hours before I finally knocked on the bedroom door and asked my hubby when he might be joining the land of the living as I had a flat tire I needed to change.  That was a very bad move and I regret my choice of words as he cranked back some rather unpleasant remarks.  He had worked a 14 hour day the day before, and had then stayed awake till 2am puttering away on his computer.  I wouldn’t have felt quite so irritated by his wanting to sleep longer except that his typing and mouse clicking combined with the TV being on in addition to the night table light had also kept me awake through much of the night.  I could understand his being tired, but felt very annoyed at his “I couldn’t sleep” comment knowing full well that if I were to stay up till the wee hours of the morning on my computer, I certainly could state that I couldn’t sleep too.  One must close one’s eyes to be able to sleep.

I left the conversation alone even though I had a whole lot I wanted to say and closed his bedroom door to allow him to sleep more.  I really was quite sympathetic to how he felt – going back to work has been tough for him.  After talking with a few friends, I finally decided that what I would do it call the tow truck company to come help me change the tire.  I definitely couldn’t do it, hubby was doubtful as to his ability to do so and he seemed down for the count. I had considered asking family to come help, but my father is in worse physical shape than I.  My two available brothers were also a no-go as one has recently separated from his wife and has all the kids (who have their own behavioral challenges) and would not be able to easily up and leave and the other brother has a bad back.  The tow truck guy was the easiest solution, but I knew even this solution would create a furor in my house once hubby knew I was going to “pay” someone to help change my tire.  I did, however, think I was okay until morning and with a good rest, I would be able to tackle this discussion with hubby.  Think again!

At 2 in the morning, I’m trying to sleep but again having a hell of a go of it.  Surprise surprise – hubby is awake and on his laptop again – tap tap tap, click click click.  Sensing my awakening, he asks me the question “Did you fix your tire?”  I looked at the time which was being displayed on the ceiling by the stupid freaking clock that hubby insisted we get so we could see the time without having to look over and I felt my irritation quickly bubble to the surface – 2am!  What the hell was he doing asking me that at 2am and even more so, what the hell was he doing on his laptop at 2am.  Oh right.. he slept for 18 hours, so now he is awake.  I muttered a “I’m calling the tow company in the morning.” and tried to roll over to go back to sleep.  Sleep was not to be had as hubby said to me “Are you <bleep bleep> lazy?”  Well, that did it.  I was now wide awake and hopping mad.  How dare he say something like that!  I grabbed my pillow and a blanket and as I headed out to sleep on the couch, I explained to him why I was calling the tow company… “shoulder is buggered, you’re not in much better shape, family can’t come and help… “  I also made it a point to illustrate to him how I could understand his being tired, but that I was very grumpy about being kept awake till the wee hours yesterday and how this really bugged me, him being tired but not even trying to sleep by a decent time yesterday.  With that, I marched out of the room, plugged my ipod into my ears and covered up with my blanket and fell into a fitful sleep.

I awoke at 8am this morning, hurting and tired.  Hurting not just physically as sleeping on the couch was definitely not conducive to my sore shoulder, but hurting emotionally from the stinging and insensitive remarks of hubby.  I phoned the tow truck company and waited patiently for them to arrive.  Hubby, feeling obviously far more well rested than I, started talking to me from the bedroom.  “Is your tire fixed?”  Nooooooo…. I’ve called the tow company.  “Well you should call them and cancel.  I have the air compressor in the shop and we can get your tire off quickly.”  Nooooooo… I’m not canceling. Neither him nor I are able to easily deal with the tire trouble and after all the crap from yesterday and last night, I’d rather pay someone to help me change the tire than put up with any more drama.  “You should cancel it.  We really shouldn’t be paying for someone to come change a tire.”  Tough!  We are because I’ve had enough.

Eventually the tow truck guy arrived and set to work changing my spare tire.  It only took him about ten minutes and upon putting the flat tire in my trunk, he checked to make sure I wasn’t going to be doing any major running around and that getting the tire repaired was tops on my list of things to do today.  LOL!  Ya think?  Of course it was… it’s been a thorn in my side for two days; been the cause of a few unhappy, heated discussions with hubby; has affected me being able to go out and do the things I need to… the list goes on and on.

So what has this little fiasco cost me so far?  Fifty dollars for the tow truck guy, one day of extreme irritability, several not so happy discussions with hubby, one good night’s rest, several inconvenient trips to the tire place (one to drop off the tire, another later when I go to get it put back on the car.)  *Sigh* It’s been absolutely and totally awful.  All over a stupid flippin’ tire.

Well I have to stop my moaning and whining now.  I have a doctor’s appointment where the doc is probably going to tell me there is nothing he can do about my shoulder.  If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to get my flu shot at the same time, otherwise, I then get to return to my state of irritability and try to figure out if and when I’m gonna step foot back in his office again.

Bye for now.