So many reasons for homicide, so little time...

One of my funny quirks is that big things don't make me homicidal. It's the little things. Like when the whole house is a disaster and That Man can't put his dish in the dishwasher. Or the ear-piercing shriek the littlest one lets out after she's completely destroyed everything else. I don't get mad at all the big stuff. However, when the straw that breaks homicidal me's back hits... watch out.

The other day, I got a letter from the utility company that we were behind on our bill and that our power would be shut off if I didn't pay by today. Because I haven't felt well, I didn't deal with it until yesterday. I was a bit confused, because I thought we were paid up. However, we also got a past due notice on the cable and phone. Again, a bit confusing. I had my monthly cry fest over how much our bills are and how little we have to pay them. I was sure I paid them.

But yesterday, I called the utility company. And spoke with a very condescending young man who gladly took my check over the phone and then offered to put me in touch with their payment plan people so that people like me aren't so strained by their bills. Oddly enough, over the summer, I signed up for an energy conservation program that was supposed to LOWER my bills over the winter. In case your utility company offers the same, I'd like to point out that my bills are the highest they've ever been. I think I've been had. After I got off the phone, I had a good cry because I don't understand where our money is going. And I really didn't need some condescending jerk telling me the value of paying my bills.

Well, today, I sat down to balance our account so I can figure out where the money to pay the cable is coming from, plus making sure I have enough to cover the mortgage check, plus cover a couple other bills due now. Imagine my surprise to see that my payment to the utility company cleared my account DAYS ago. AKA Before they sent their "we're shutting off your power" letter. AKA Before Jerkface so condescendingly made sure I knew I was a deadbeat. IT'S BEEN PAID. So I thought, maybe someone stole my bills out of the mailbox, erased the name and cashed them. Fortunately, my bank lets me view cleared checks online. Guess who endorsed the check? The utility company.

I suppose the good news is that I'm now AHEAD on those bills. The bad news is that I used money intended for other bills that are actually due now to pay for what I thought was a past due bill. You know, so they wouldn't shut my power off.

As for the cable company, I'm ignoring their nasty letter. I have that cleared check as well. I tried to go online and do an account online thing, but they don't recognize my password or password hint. Apparently, I don't know my mother's maiden name. Color me stupid, deadbeat that I am.

And to think, I was going to blog about the idiot lady at the haircut place who gave my daughter a horrifically bad hair cut (the day before picture day) and now I've got to figure out a way to make her crooked and too-short bangs look somewhat presentable.

I think it's really good that God didn't give me any smiting powers. I'd do an awful lot of damage.