Stress strikes again.

I've been having a lot of stomach trouble lately, and have lost 15 pounds in 5 weeks. This in itself doesn't trouble me--I need to lose another 25 to reach a healthy BMI--but the stomach problems aren't much fun.


This morning I did some research online, and decided I have IBS--Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I'll spare you the list of symptoms, but it's often associated with stress, depression, and anxiety, which, as you know, are my middle names. The bout last night was probably triggered by worry over taking the van in Monday morning (maybe starter prob--which is actually pretty easy, but still, something I don't need--last pay day it was $400 on Annie; this payday it's the van).


It's a beautiful day here, so this afternoon I took the Old School Tie sock out and finished down to the toe, and cast on for the 2nd one (you don't suppose I might actually gasp finish a PAIR of socks, do you???). So I'm sitting there in the shade, swinging and knitting and watching the Ts, and because my brain is permanently sent on Worry, I noticed this:

That is a dead tree, leaning at a precarious angle over the puppy pen fence. You can just make out the power pole behind it.

As you can see here, the power and phone wires go right through the branches. The first winter storm that comes along is going to tip that tree right over, and it's going to bring the wires down with it. I checked the Forgottonia Light & Power website and learned that trimming and removing trees near and around lines on private property is the reseponsibility of the property owner. The last time I had a tree taken down it cost me $2k. I don't have $2k. I have no prospects of having $2k all in one lump sum any time in my lifetime unless I sell the house, in which case I won't have to worry about the stupid tree. I could possibly max out a credit card with a cash advance, a thought that doesn't thrill me. But I'm going to have to do something about that tree before I wind up freezing in the dark some day this coming February.

People keep saying you don't need money to be happy. I tend to agree with David Lee Roth: "Money may not be able to buy you happiness, but it sure lets you sail right up alongside it." Or at least clear some of the deadwood away.