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Four Leaf Clover - By guest blogger Mary Paige in Chicago

Hi Ashley & Paige-

I am still residing on my current planet which is not pink or sparkly…AT ALL. As a matter of fact, it might not even be rotating on its axis any more (Sparkly Pink Planet).

By nature, I am not a negative person, so I have to find humor in my current situation or I will most likely end up as Breaking News on all major networks after tracking down and annihilating the “customer service” person who has called me for the 40^th time this week to find out when I’m going to pay the past due balance on my credit card, pay the water bill, the gas bill, etc. UGH!

Where was I?  Oh yes… my gloriously wonderful, innate positive nature! So I found a four-leaf clover the other day in my yard while getting the mail. Seriously! I looked down and there it was!  Honestly, I thought I was in for some major good luck. And I was! No notices from the mortgage company or death threat from the IRS (S as in s****heads) were in the mailbox.  Oh, but wait.  There was a notice that our health insurance had been terminated due to non payment.  Delightful!  Thank you four-leaf clover.

Thankfully, it was only a matter of the insurance company’s failure to process the payment through our new bank.  Of course, the next day I had a doctor’s appointment and when they called to verify my insurance – guess what?  The insurance company is in NORTH DAKOTA – you know where they had 3 rivers converging together threatening to demolish the entire state. For the first time EVER - THEY HAD TO CLOSE THE FREAKING OFFICES that were supposed to let the doctor’s office know that we were A-OK! Covered! In good standing! 

So I came out of pocket $190.

Then came the major roof leak during our own deluge last week, a continued barrage of calls from creditors and my daughter’s birthday (that we couldn’t afford to celebrate). But by goodness, it’s her 4^th birthday and she wanted a BIG GIRL BIKE!!  We got her one – only to have our brilliant but sometimes clueless 9-year old decide to give the bike a spin – and – she broke the seat!  Brand new 2 hour old bike!!!

So, I got up this morning (when the first collection call came at 8:00 a.m.) ready to tackle both the insurance debacle and the bicycle seat issue.  While I’m on hold with the insurance company instead of music I get this annoyingly calm soothing voice saying “to reduce stress in your life, it is important to exercise, find quiet time to yourself and eat the right foods.”  ARE YOU NUTS LADY? I can’t afford the wrong foods, much less Seared Ahi Tuna and grilled artichokes over somen noodles!! 

So…I’m still on hold…Googling “huffy princess bike replacement parts” when it occurs to me…

What if THIS huffy princess needs a replacement life???? Can someone get me a replacement life??? 

I Googled…no such luck. Speaking of luck…. I guess it’s time to go look for more 4 leaf clovers….