See, I *can* stick up for myself

This week has been a week of lots of little headaches that, when compounded, make for a week that...well, I'm glad is almost over. One of the highlights was having my car hit again, though it was parked, we weren't in it, and it's just the rear bumper. Not a big deal, but I just hate dealing with car things. My car was parked in front of my friends house, a guy in the house across the nice wide street backed his car out of the driveway and into my car. He fully admitted that he just didn't see my car, which is silly because my car was not wearing an invisibility cloak nor is it a matchbox car. So he failed to use his rearview mirror or look over his shoulder; it's not like the street is really narrow and hitting my car was inevitable.

He seemed really irritated, since he was going to be late to work ("trust me! we'll deal with this later!"), but I insisted that we exchange info. He called later and asked that I use a certain body shop that would repair, instead of replace, the bumper. I didn't want to drive the 70+ minute round trip there, so I emailed the shop pictures and asked if that could even be repaired there. They said yes, but they'd recommend replacing, since it would be cheaper. I called back Mr. Can't-look-backwards with the $500 estimate, and told him I'd get another one closer to me. He responded with "Well, why don't you come to my house, I'll order your bumper and paint and put it on?"

Uhhhhh...seriously? He's got a thick accent, so I'm thinking I must have misheard. "I'm sorry, you want to go to the body shop and order the bumper yourself? I think they can do it all there."

"No, no...I'll order it, order matching paint, and put it on your car myself."

"No, I---"

"I'm really good at that kind of thing. I painted my car myself. You can come see. I did a good job."

"Really. Do you own a body shop? Are you a mechanic?"

"No, but I know people. And body shops charge a lot for overhead, so I'll just do it myself."

"No, you won't. Are you ASE certified? Do you have any sort of guarantee? Because most places will stand behind their work, so if something happens, I can go back and have it fixed. If I let you fix my bumper and it falls off in a week, I have no recourse."

"You just have to trust me," he said indignantly.

"No, I have to do what's best for---"

"You have to trust me!" he interrupts, obviously irritated with me at this point, but I was ticked.

"No, sir, I don't HAVE to trust you. You hit my car, and it needs to be fixed. By a professional. Granted, it's in your best interest that I trust you and let you fix it on the cheap, but I have no reason to trust you. I would be happy to go through your insurance if this is too much for you, but my car will be fixed in a body shop, not by you." I wish I had thrown in you can't be trusted to use your rearview mirror and yet you want me to trust you to fix my car?

He suddenly switched back to Mr. Polite, "Okay, okay, so you'll get the car fixed and I'll write you a check."

"No, I'll get a quote, then we'll discuss the next step as far as payment goes," I corrected him.

I was hopping mad by the time I got off the phone, but also laughing at myself for how worked up I got. The day before, Dave was worried about me letting him bully me into using a certain body shop, doing things this guy's way, etc. I assured him I would stick up for myself. See, when I know I'm right or really care about something, I'll fight for it. Getting my car fixed right, I care about. Where we eat for dinner--not so much.

And since I don't want to end on that rant, here's what you really came for:

On my birthday, with flowers from Dave & Mabes and my Young Women

Dave and Mabes proudly displaying the Chocolate Delight they made--it was fantastic!

Mabes and Dave show their jumping skills

Walking on the greenway--it seems like you're in the middle of nowhere. There are so many trees, you can't see much of the houses that are really close.