Revenge of the Car
Tuesday, July 31, 2007I must start this post with an apology. To anyone who may have been traveling on I-494 West around the intersection with I-35W, especially the hot blonde who was directly behind me, I am sorry for being the temporary bane of your commute this morning.
Yes, that was me in the Driftwood colored Nissan that apprently decided just keel over and die in the right lane just barely before the on ramp from 35W. Yes, that was me who blocked the right lane for a good 5 minutes forcing people to find away around me. Yes, that was me who gracefully sweated my ass of while pushing my poor, dead car off on to the shoulder.
I apologize on behalf of myself and also Ally (my poor car) for making your trip on 494 just that little bit worse than it already usually is.
So, that said, SCREW YOU ALL WHO WATCHED ME PUSH AND DIDN'T HELP! I'M GLAD YOUR COMMUTE SUCKED ASS!
Anyway yeah, obviously it was an eventuful morning for The Chief. I don't know what it is about my car, but Ally sure loves to act up when I'm starting a new job.
As was well documented (Here, Here and Here) a little over a year ago, I was pretty sure my car was cursed. I really hope the curse has not returned.
I'm three weeks into a new job and poor Ally dies on the way to work. I'm driving along and the battery light on the dash comes on. This is no good. Soon after the radio starts to cut out whenever the engine RPMs drop below about 1000. So here I am in the ugly traffic that is 494/35W, popping it in neutral every time traffic slows to a crawl so I can rev the engine and hope it keeps the power coming. Sure enough the traffic moves, then comes to a dead stop. Shortly there after my engine and car were at a dead stop as well.
Of course traffic piles up behind me along with the nasty looks of the pissed motorists behind me. (Quick aside: To the Beautiful Blonde who was the first in line behind me, that nasty look was actually a little hot, call me!) So, I go to call AAA and realize I have no idea where my card is. Joy joy. I decide I can't let my car just sit there blocking the right lane so I climb out and start pushing. Luckily there was room on the shoulder so I could get out of the way.
The next half hour was kind of a freak out. One I just started this job, the last thing I want is to do is seem unreliable. Yeah, I might be a slacker, but you gotta maintain some standards in order to keep a job to slack off at. So I call my contract agency and have my wonderful agent Tracy call in for me and give me the number to work so I could leave a message as well. I then call AAA and track down my info and arrange for a tow. Which, by the way, ended up being a hassle for various reasons. After taht was sorted out I had to figure out who to get to work...
Luckily for me, the wonderful Conservative Girl is always the helpful friend. Even luckier for me is that she was on her way to work and actually headed in my direction. At least the morning wasn't all bad luck. She met me and the tow truck on 494 and followed us to the station, and got me off to work. Luckily I made it in only about an hour and a half late.
Like I figured, the alternator took a dive and now I have a $350 repair bill I really don't have the money for (This poor credit card of mine has to be in pain) waiting for me back at the station. At least Ally will be running again.
Fortunately for me, I get to have a meeting in the iRoom before I head out. Also, in another fortunate note, I found a person I work with (whom I had never met previously) that is graciously going to take a detour on his way home so I can get Ally back.
posted by Chief Slacker @ 2:25 PM,
