sunshine0221's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next Time I'll Bring a Toothbrush Next Time I'll Bring a Toothbrush You know how sometimes things just don't go exactly as planned? Yesterday morning a friend of ours called my mom. Ginny was on her way to New Mexico, and her car literally blew up in Kansas City. She had to rent a car, and the closest place she could drop the car off was the Cedar Rapids airport, and would we please come pick her up? No problem, mom and I headed up to Iowa City, did some shopping, had lunch, and then went to meet Ginny. We drove to her rental car so we could load the huge pile of stuff she had brought with her. We're talking a full vanload of stuff. We're talking the van looked like it belonged to the Beverly Hillbillies full of stuff. We all pile in the van, ran a few last errands, and went to the Co-op. The brakes were fine when we went in, and gone by the time we came out. At 6:30 p.m. When there are no service places open. &%$#@. Pulled into a Jiffy Lube that was just closing, the guy gave me the number of a mechanic who might be able to help. He couldn't do anything until the next morning. Double &%$@*. Considered driving home with virtually no brakes. Decided did not want to be a Darwin Award, so went to find a hotel where we could all stay. I called Tahmi because Buffy needed to be let out. She had food, water, and her litterbox, but she goes tweeky when she doesn't get to go outside. Tahmi is a good friend, and didn't mind climbing in through my bathroom window and letting the Buffster out. (Note to any prospective burglars: the bathroom window is kinda high and you bruise your arms climbing in. I also, according to Tahmi have a fleet of guard spiders).Tahmi also happened to be on the phone with Kelly, who was on her way to the Cedar Rapids to pick up her son. My two remaining awake brain cells fired and I realized that Kelly could take some of us home. We decided Ginny would go. Kelly stopped by the hotel, picked up Ginny, and took me on a quick Target run. I bought makeup because, I may be stranded in Iowa City with no brakes, but dammit I want to look good. After a truly horrible night's sleep, mom and I set off to get the Beverly Hillbillymobile fixed. In addition to the no brakes thingie, the van now started stalling whenever we stopped. Like at traffic lights. Like in rush hour traffic. Like taking ten tries before it started again. I was in tears by the third red light. We were halfway to the Van Doctor when I gave up and stopped at an Amoco station. The mechanic sent us to a repair place right around the corner. After opening the hood and wiggling hoses and adjusting things, the mechanic said he couldn't fix the stalling problem. He said that the brakeline has gone to the great auto parts place in the sky and would have to be replaced. I hopefully asked if maybe it would be okay to drive the 60 miles to get home and get it fixed there. He said, "What - you want to be a Darwin Award????" Just kidding. But he did say that would not be a good idea and that he could install a new brakeline for around $200. Three and a half hours later, we had brakes again. The Dodge Van Gods smiled on us and it didn't start stalling again until we were in F-Town. Moral of the story: Don't ever order green beans at Perkins. They're canned and taste like crap. 8:34 p.m. - August 08, 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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