Because I just wasn't QUITE stressed and upset enough...

Last evening as I'm driving home down I-20 in the slow (right) lane, I suddenly find myself propelled via marauding pickup truck into the emergency lane. An older dude was in the middle lane (actual quote) "watchin' stuff in mah rearview meer" [Don't you hate it when people say 'meer' instead of 'mirror'? I do.] and not paying attention to the cars ahead, who were slowing, so he slammed on brakes, careened out of his lane into me, overcorrected and rear-ended a lady in a Tercel.

Of course, the lady's 1994 Toyota only has a scuffed-up bumper, no dentage. Dude's 1993 GMC pickup has a twisted front right bumper and some headlight damage but my gorgeous 2004 sporty convertible has no brake lights or turn signals, a huge dent spreading up the side and across the rear from the drivers' side rear corner, the gas cap and gas cap cover are sheared off - completely, as in no longer attached to the car, twisted metal is hanging in a couple of places, the trunk is dented up...it's ruined. My beautiful convertible is accordioned. *sobs*

I'm basically okay. It was a very hard hit - I mean, it knocked me out of my lane. I'm not bruised and bloodied or anything but I'm having some pain in my shoulder where the seat belt yanked and a little lower back pain. I don't think I'll have to retire early on disability on this guy's tab, but I'm not unscathed either.

Incidentally, Cheryl? Nancy? I blame you for this. You started it.

Dude didn't want to wait for the police. He kept insisting that all we needed to do was exchange information and that cops weren't required. He was one of those older men with that attitude of 'patronising in the guise of being chivalrous' and I was having none of it. I wanted a police report because he was 100% at fault and there was no way I was paying for this or having my insurance cover it. So I told him, "You can leave if you want to but I'm waiting on the cops. I have your tag number and if you want to get cited for leaving the scene of an accident on top of crumpling my car all to be-damned, go right ahead."

He waited.

He got the citation. The police lady told him that he could pay his fine or go to court to contest it but her advice would be to pay it because he was going to be found guilty anyway.

My car isn't legally driveable, having no brake lights, turn signals and the gas tank being, well, open. But I didn't want to stand by the highway alone half the night waiting on a tow truck, so since none of the hanging metal pieces were rubbing tyres and I was only 3 - 4 miles from home, the police lady said I could drive it home.

So I'm at home instead of at work, but no nice relaxing day off for me, oh HELL no. I've been on the phone all morning with insurance companies - of course Dude hadn't called his insurance company yet; the first they'd heard of it was from me. Now I'm waiting on someone to call me back about the tow truck, rental car, etc. Yay. They'd better call soon or I'm siccing Cheryl on them. Trust me, they don't want her - and her law firm - riding herd on this. It could be painful. Fun, but painful.

Oh, and last night my glasses that I got last Wednesday and have worn for all of 6 - 8 hours broke. I'd go to the mall to get them repaired, but...well, you know.

MONTOYA DELENDA EST!