Coping Mechanisms: A Checklist

Today, I had the chance to use my time-honored method for dealing with undue stress. My debit cards and $60 in cash were stolen from my locker at the pool yesterday. Besides working on the police report and talking to customer support until midnight, I found out today that more transactions appeared after the banks had credited my accounts. So I had money, then I had no money, then I got my money back . . . then I lost it again. I've been preoccupied all day, even taking UTPD phone calls during class today. So how do I deal with it?

1. Avoid people. But if I have to interact with them, acting surly and/or sarcastic is highly encouraged. Skirt obligations by saying I have work to do, or that I don't feel well.
2. Do absolutely no work. The "I'm busy" thing is just smoke and mirrors. It's a fact that I will not get anything when I'm under mental duress.
3. Go for a run that gets increasingly faster until my stomach hurts and I have to walk. Yes, I skipped the spin class. It helped me avoid people and "do no work." I ran out my door for 26:37 today, eventually peaking at slightly less than 6:00/mile. And I was still a mile from my apartment.
4. Obsess over my body hair for at least 15 minutes. Will shaving my legs make this situation go away? No? Well, shit.
5. Make (and devour) a BBQ chicken pizza. I have $31 to my name right now. This pizza tastes like it would cost half of that at Mellow Mushroom. Somehow, I've come out ahead.

This weekend is our first triathlon at the Natchez Trace State Park. I predict a cold, cold swim . . . or a mandatory duathlon. 

And, Dr. Koella, you can take one thing away from this post. I may completely skip all my real work, but I will not neglect to blog about it.