Real Life Grinch Story

The Grinch that stole Christmas has always been one of my favorites. When it comes to holidays, I can have somewhat a "Grinch" attitude myself. Never cared too much for all the fuss of it. This holiday I've already watched the cartoon with the kids a few times and the movie once. Times in the past can't even be counted. Jim Carey must be given a standing ovation for his part, it's absolutely miraculous the way he pulls off the character.

This year the best thing about Christmas was spending some much needed time with my kids. They seemed very happy with their gifts, and other than spending days going behind them cleaning them up, or telling them to clean them up, it was a good time.

There have been some down sides to this Christmas though. First my clutch on my car decided to give way and was put in the shop. My husband and I separated last June and other than him, I don't friends or family in the area that I can count on to lend a ride here or there. Rental cars are great, but usually if you can afford one, you would have a brand new dependable car in the first place.

So of course of all weeks for my car to go out, there would be a Christmas holiday and my husband is out of town. That means I've been with the kids for going on seven days now without transportation. No way to work or get to the store if I needed to. Fortunately I did go to the store the day before the breakdown and my husband had an extra gallon of milk he threw my way, but nevertheless counting meals and feeling stuck is no fun.

So day after Christmas, just as I'm cringing from hearing the mechanic say that the cost is going to be more than expected and I have no idea where the extra money will come from, I get a phone call from my old neighbor. He says that he thinks someone broke into the house that my husband still lives in. The front door was left wide open and the back window looked to be out. He says he's called the police and they should be there shortly.