So far, 2009 has been pretty friggin’ awesome, but I think that has more to do with the fact that I’ve only worked one day since New Year’s (Friday) and even then, I only worked about four hours.

I finally got my car back with its new steering column and ignition. If there’s one thing to complain about it’s that the mechanics left my car a disaster. There’s screws all over on the driver’s side floor, the steering wheel is grimey, and it smells like a mechanic. But then again, the passenger’s side is filled to the brim with old receipts, empty Newport packs, Dunkin Donuts napkins, and 50 or so candy wrappers (boyfriend’s, not mine) and the smell of mechanic isn’t as bad as its normal smell of stale cigarette. Overall, I’m just happy to have my piece of shit car back. It may be a piece of shit, but it’s MY piece of shit.

Special thanks to the Miami Dolphins for squandering away their playoff spot. Nice job. What was that, FIVE turnovers? After a game like that, I’m wondering if Chad Pennington will once again be eligible for Comeback Player of the Year in 2009? Not that he’ll win it. Me thinks another QB will reel it in. Here’s a hint, his name starts with a “B” and rhymes with “grady.”

My car has been jinxed thanks to my abnormally lucky sister who has never had to deal with things such as bad luck. Last week when discussing my car (which was once her car), she just had to continuously stress how great my car is. “180,000 miles and no problems! I mean, wow! Nothing at all! If a Honda as old as yours can still be in such excellent condition, they must make great cars!”

“KRISTINA! YOU’RE JINXING ME! I DON’T HAVE GOOD LUCK LIKE YOU!”

Damage done. The jinx has been set.

It all began with my brakes last week. Out of the blue, they began pulsating and the brake light remains on. If you’re not familiar with car stuff, brakes are kinda important. Then, a rusty crater opened up in my exhaust pipe last night further ghetto-ifying my car. And for the icing on the cake, a truck took off my side mirror yesterday.

But, given my history with automobiles, this is only the beginning. Next will come the alternators, radiators, belts of a timing and fan nature… ultimately leading to a busted transmission and/or seized engine….

So, after a quick trip to a nearby Midas (great place, honest owner, highly recommended), the damage comes to over $800 *dying* (and that’s with free brake pads!) but we’re skimping on the brakes and only doing the more damaged back brakes. BUT, knowing that this kind of stuff is mostly wear and tear, i.e., driving on inadequate, pothole-ridden Massachusetts roads ruins your car, I can’t complain much. Honda is still the best car maker in the world. It’s not Honda’s fault Massachusetts would rather spend money on symphonies than potholes.

Fortunately, everything (minus the front brakes) is getting fixed today because, I’ll be God damned if I don’t get to Patriots Training Camp tomorrow! Take that, Gods that find amusement in making my life as miserable as possible!

Things that are annoying me today:

1. The fact that I spent over an hour completely rewriting a story one of our writers submitted (a story I believe was stolen from another newspaper), yet he still got paid for it and I got no additional money in my check.

2. That Jonathan is still on Survivor. God, I can’t stand him!

3. The fact that I still have two more weeks until my vacation.

4. My car’s muffler disconnected itself from the exhaust. My car is now extremely loud, and not in the cool race-car kind of way.

5. The fact that my favorite TV shows are all on hiatus until February.

6. The fact that I am only guaranteed four more Patriots games.

7. The fact that it is going to rain today.