RIP, MGM

Totalling the Car
So yesterday was quite possibly one of the worst days of my life. Not only did I plan on working 12 hours (7-7), nor did I have to get up at 5:45 in the morning. Let me play the scenario for you. I was on my way to work, heading down 63 S on my way to Eddyville. I get to the top of the off ramp, within site of work, when I hit a big patch of slush. This is the most devil of off ramps. Not only is it on the inside of a curve of a road, but it is downhill the whole way. And there are no guardrails on the sides. Just a really, really steep hill. So anyway, I started to slide so I turned the wheel to compensate. I thought, "Oh no, this is not going to be good". Sure 'nough, it wasn't. I remember running down a bunch of those little reflectors, then I remember pointing UP the off ramp with the car still running. Alright, turn the car off so there is no chance of explosion. So I get out to survey the damage. I look at the driver's side, to find no damage. I'm thinking, "Alright, so maybe I can drive away from this". I look at the front, expecting the bumper to be destroyed, but there was just a little scratch from where I hit the reflectors. "Alright, I can handle this...". Then I looked at the passenger side. And those are the pictures you see below. It wasn't pretty. I first saw the shredded tire...that can be fixed. Moved on down and saw the small dent in the passenger side door. Alright, that's not bad either. Then I saw the busted window, 6" dent in the car, busted sliding door track, and missing hubcaps. Then I realized, this is going to suck. So, for about 3 hours, I was talking with the Iowa State Trooper (nice guy, only $200 damage for the roadsigns :( ), AAA, the towing guy, the dealer, and the insurance company. Meanwhile, I had about 4 people stop to see if I'm alright. 4 hours later, I was back at work.

Ended up working till 7:30, in pain the entire time. I don't know if it was from the accident, or from racquetball the night before. Racquetball never hurt this bad. What a way to start Ash Wednesday and Lent. Certainly feel much humbler than ever.

So today, the appraiser came and said to total it. Rest in peace, mean green machine (RIP, MGM). So long, and thanks for all the fish.