I am completely exhausted. It was another busy week at work and my evenings have been consumed with basement issues. The washer works but the dryer appears to have bitten the dust. This makes me rather upset, because my renter's insurance doesn't cover flooding caused by water "that has hit the ground and come in the house that way" - yes, seriously, that is what I was told. I am going to try to get a repairman out here to look at it but my thought is the motor is burned out. I don't really have the funds to buy a new appliance right now and am not sure what my landlord will do, if anything. I guess I'll wait to see what the repairman's verdict is before fretting over this.

This week has really shown me that people do truly care about me and even crazy things like this. And that means so much to me! Three of my girlfriends from church came over Tuesday to help take stuff out and rangle the sopping carpet up off the ground. I can't even begin to say how much I appreciated that. I was totally at a loss as to what to do or where to begin. To a degree, I still am - there is still much to do down there - but I am so much further than I was then.

Then came last night's adventure. I knew I needed gas but I had to take the car to be inspected and was late for work. I rushed to the dealer, got a loaner and headed out to work. Afterwards, I needed to pick the car up, run home and then meet my girlfriend and her kids at Chuck E. Cheese for her daughter's birthday. I was very very low on gas, so I drove out of my way to gas station I knew to be the least expensive in the area. There were lines everywhere. I pulled in to the pump...and the fuel door would not open. I pulled the latch about 40 times. I tried wedging my credit card in the door and pulling the latch. A nice guy tried pulling on it while I pulled the lever.

Nada.

I was embarassed and frustrated and knew the others in line were frustrated with me, so I got back in the car and took off, praying I could make it to Chuck E. Cheese and my friend could help.

I made it. We partied with Chuck E. for a bit and then we loaded the kids up and searched the minivan for tools. Luckily, we found some needle-nose pliers. I wedged them in the door and she held it and pulled while I pulled the lever.

Success at last!!!!!!!!!! I drove quickly to the gas station with the fuel door flapping in the wind and filled up.

I did close it, however...so we'll see if it works next time!

Always an adventure, my life is.