I think it's often necessary to do completely stupid things in order to learn important things about oneself and life. Or maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better!

Would you like to know what happened?

Well, last night, a salesman came to my door. It was 6:30. It was dark. I couldn't hear what he said through the door and assumed he was a neighbor at the wrong door. And then I opened the door. Just a crack, of course. But still -- what was I thinking?? They tell you not to do that!

Wrong Thing #2: My cat poked his head out the door, so I stepped outside to talk to this guy. As he's talking, I realize how tall he is and I realized in that moment that I put myself in a really, really terrible situation. I'll tell you now that nothing bad happened. But my god, very big lesson on how easy it is to get sucked in to other peoples' agendas and why that is a very, very bad thing.

Wrong Thing #3: His shpiel actually sounded like something I could use (six oil changes for the low, low price of $69.95!). So, yes, that's right -- I wrote him a check. I post-dated it for Saturday, and he said that's when it would be deposited.

His parting words were, "Hope you don't cancel! I work on commission!"

I went inside and wondered about what I'd just done.

And then? I freaked out about what I'd just done!! Holy shit! I opened the door to a stranger! I wrote him a check for a service I could have found elsewhere! I encouraged soliciting in my "no soliciting" apartment complex! What if he'd tried to hurt me?!?! What if he'd forced his way into my apartment and robbed me?!?!

I sat down and rested my eyes against the palm of my hands, trying to still all the thoughts racing through my head.

The phone rang. It was Joe, calling me on his way home from work, as he does every day. I told him what happened. At first, he said that it sounded okay. Then he began to worry. "What if it's a scam? Now some stranger has your account number. What if he takes all your money??"

I hadn't even thought of that. My stomach sank with worry.

I got off the phone to verify some things. I found out that the location and number of the place itself matched the information on the card he'd given me. The other number on the card was to the actual promotions place, the number I could call if I decided to cancel the services.

I called the number of the oil change place, but no one picked up. It was after hours. I called the number of the promotions place and a man answered and said, "Auto Promotions."

"Hi," I said. "I was just calling to find out if this number was really a promotions place, because someone just came to my door selling me something."

"Yeah," the guy said.

"Well, uh, okay," I said, unable to think of anything else to add. "Thanks!"

He hung up. Then it occurred to me that that could have just been the sales guy himself on his freaking cell phone or something. Fuck!

This morning, I decided to call Auto Promotions and cancel my subscription to the service. And this is what I hear: Ring, Ring. "The number you are calling is out of service."

I called a few more times throughout the morning. Same thing.

My whole body tensed up.

I called my bank instead. I put a Stop Payment order on the check. There was a fee for that, but it wasn't too high, and I figured it was worth it. Of course, though, now I'm worried I'll be charged for a bounced check to this "business" I can't get a hold of. Maybe they won't declare it a bounced check if the business isn't legit? A girl can hope, can't she?

I'm wondering if I shouldn't abandon this account all together. Move all my money to a new account. Start over. Is that too rash? I'm not even sure anymore.

I still kind of feel like a frickin' idiot. I can't believe I did this. I suppose there are worse, more stupid things I could have done, but this is pretty bad, I think.

New Rules for my Life:

- Never, ever buy anything from a door to door salesperson for the rest of my entire existence.
- Never, ever open the door to strange men. Especially after dark.
- Always, always, always trust my instincts, no matter how subtle they are.
- Do NOT rationalize away intuitive feelings! (Example: "Maybe I shouldn't write him this check. Yeah, but I do need oil changes, and this does seem like a good deal..." Wtf?!)

I think I just need to make Sheila's website domain my new life motto: Don't Be a Dumbass. Good advice for all!