My Grand [Lonely] Adventure

This morning, I had to create a big elaborate plan to help my lil sis with an event she helped plan (her most recent job).  I needed to get to my parents' house so that I could get our van keys to the next-door neighbor so that she could take the van downtown for the Dirty Car Artist (my entire family is out of the state).  Ask Emily for more details on what he does - it's really cool!  Anyway, my big elaborate plan wasn't actually big or elaborate...it was quite simple.

Unfortunately, what was supposed to be simple turned big and elaborate.  As I was about to exit the freeway, I had just passed a car so I clicked the button to decrease the speed of my cruise control.  Then it started decelerating on its own.  I clicked "cancel" on the cruise and pressed the gas - no change.  Decelerating like that on the freeway with cars going 70mph is really quite terrifying (at least for me it was).  I pressed the gas more and it finally reacted and started to accelerate.  Just as I was feeling better, it started decelerating with my foot still pressing the gas.  I put on the hazard lights and pulled over on the exit ramp.  I figured I might as well try to turn off the car and restart it (I mean, that usually works for computers...hahaha).  My car would not turn back on.  And then the stress set in.

This wouldn't have been so bad if I had been on a slower-moving road.  Or if I hadn't had a deadline.  And if that deadline only reflected on me.  Since I was doing this for Emily, all I could think of was "if this doesn't happen perfectly, if that van doesn't make it on time, it's going to reflect poorly on Emily" and that is the last thing I would want to do.  I knew I needed to call AAA but I decided to text Kyle first.  Of course, as soon as I started writing to him I realized I should just call him...even though it was 7am in California...but I needed to talk to him.  So as soon as I started calling, I started crying.  I was an emotional wreck.  My poor husband - he picked up and instantly woke up when he heard me crying.  I don't think he's ever been that instantly awake before. :)  He was so supportive and helpful and I just wanted him to come take care of me.  But of course, this was one of those moments where I had to be a big girl and take care of myself.  So I called AAA and got everything squared away.  As I was talking to Kyle on the phone again, the woman hosting the Dirty Car Artist called to tell me that they wouldn't need the car until after 12pm (I was originally supposed to drop it off at 11am and was so worried because I didn't think I'd make it in time).  Finally some great news!

My car getting loaded on the tow truck.

I called the next-door neighbor to tell her not to worry about anything because I didn't want her & her husband to have to keep changing their plans.  She offered to come get me but I needed to stay with the car until they came to tow it.  In the end, everything worked out absolutely perfectly.  But since the van was no longer going with the neighbors...I needed to devise a plan to get the van down there.  It's easy with two people: you take two cars and drive one back.  I figured I would drive the van down and stop in a coffee shop to study for a couple hours before having to volunteer for the event.  Super unfortunate for me (and the town): a huge storm hit last night and power was out downtown.  That meant all of the cute little shops were closed and the restaurants & coffee shops were closed.

Took this on my way back home.
This is why power is out in some parts of town.

I decided to stick my old mountain bike (that is at my parents' house since we bought new bikes) in the trunk of the van (I had brought my helmet just in case) and ride it home after dropping off the van.  It's only a 2.2 mile ride from downtown to my parents' house, but it's all slightly uphill (I climbed 154ft, woot woot!).  I took it really leisurely and made it home in around 15-20 minutes, but boy was I sweaty!  I had put sunscreen on before I left and hopped in the shower when I got home to help my body cool down faster since I hadn't brought a change of clothes (I get a new free t-shirt for volunteering this afternoon).


All in all it was a pretty eventful day.  I'm not really looking forward to volunteering for 5 hours in this heat (not as bad as the siblings' trip out west, but it's still a high of 88F and really humid after last night's storm), but I'm happy to be helping my sister.