Hey guys... I'm aching in my back, up my legs, my feet are burning bad. I'm really really tired and I'm exhausted. I have been sneezing all day, but it's an "allergy" sneeze. And for those of you who don't have allergies, the difference is, when you sneeze an allergy sneeze vs. a cold sneeze is, allergy sneezes are "clear" and cold sneezes are more opaque. (sorry for the graphic there)...

Anyway, not sure if it's "stress" related symptoms... my van broke down permanently and I have to buy a car somehow! Or flu related symptoms.... with a bit of allergy sneezing on the side. How do you NOT stress when your only vehicle breaks down and your mechanic tells you that it will cost more to fix it than it will to replace it.

MAJOR stressor for me. I have no savings, no backup plan, and no parents to help me out. I'm pretty screwed as far as transportation goes! For now, I'm riding the bus, but this walking 1/2 mile to the bus stop, changing two buses, then riding the train to work, then walking 1/4 mile across our campus at work is hard on my feet! I just hope I can keep up the pace. It takes me about an hour to get to work, and an hour to get home. Not bad. But the pain is getting pretty bad. I can't afford to go on disability. I am carrying insurance on four of us, our rent is $2,000.00 a month (welcome to Silicon Valley!) and utilities are about $400.00 for Gas and Electric and $300.00 for the cable and water and garbage... I KNOW disability won't cover that. Then there are groceries, tuition for the girls, books, bus passes for them, and day care for the granddaughter, which is currently only $12.00 a week because my daughter is on a state funded program for her day care. Basically, my entire income is spent on living expenses! We need everything I make just to survive month to month. No money leftover to make car payments or to save. Oh, I make $60,000.00 a year!
Yes, they have a dad, no, he doesn't help with college, he is re-married and has a 4 and 7 year old! Yes, the girls work, and they help with the rent and groceries, but their money barely makes a dent. What they give me pays for auto insurance, groceries, and miscellaneous stuff. (Taxes, cleaning products, auto repairs, all those things that you don't count on a monthly basis but eat away at your budget! clothes, gas in the car... )

So, I guess this posting falls into the "VENTING" category... but I'm pretty sure these are PN symptoms... I feel like **** and I just want to go home and cry today!