redcolours
06-27-2004, 10:27 PM
so my car dies this afternoon - im heading home, all things electrical in it just shuts off in the middle of the highway 5 miles from my apt. im thinking, oh no, wtf? the funny thing is that im still going fast, and the engine is still running, and i can still accelerate (though i dont know how fast im going). the CD player shut off, the speedometer dropped like a fly, and everything else electrical just wont work. very odd.
so i kept going and there was this one light i stopped at. the car was stil running but it started to really slowly move as i try to accelerate. i got it running quick again, but i was in my mantra mode (please dont die yet, please dont die yet, please dont die yet), and luckily this other light just turned green as i approached it. but it wasnt meant to be - the third light was green, but a car was in front of me and had to stop (to turn right as i would), and from there the engine completely failed. the car stalled, and i coasted to the parking lot of a swimming pool store here. it had enough inertia moving forward that i got to park it neatly.
2 BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT! :disa:
ha ha! me and my rotten luck! :P
good thing for AAA Plus, i got it towed to my apartment. took them over an hour though, cuz as it turns out, the note from dispatch described only the color of my car and the make(red saturn), and no definite location, just the general vicinity of the street (though i specifically mentioned BUDDS POOLS 3 times). didnt surprise me much cuz the woman who took my call was a bit slow and bitchy, hurried up my call.
anyways, good thing i got paid this weekend, and have enough money (i hope) to have this car fixed. thing is, its also gonna be the first of the month, meaning RENT time. but no fear, cuz i remembered i did have some money stashed, in the form of stock purchase. he he!
im probably gonna pay some extra tax on it next year, but this is one reason why had it taken off my paycheck each time, so i can have some extra cash when i need it. i spend my money wisely, but yeah, i SPEND it. i do have my 401(k) building up nicely, but what i have in my bank acct, its there for bills and spending stuff. if i dont pinch something else aside i wont have anything for a rainy day. The stock purchase plan with my company with the automatic deduction was my way of saving up for cases like these. i can choose to have it all on my check and not have anything deducted, but its easy to spend the money if the money is right there. having it taken out before i get it is good for me - i dont get to spend it til i really REALLY need it. its my little savings plan.
funny thing about the car too is that it happened with NO warning signs. it didnt start out small, and it was fine the 18 months that ive had it and cared for it. though im not a mechanic, it seems like the alternator's gone bad. oh well, i shall see tomorrow (taking it to a recommended mechanic).
so i miss one day of work, spend money for the fix (probably a lot), and generally waste a good day. well, cant have it all good all the time. ive been in similar situations, so i know ill be alright. its just the situation AT THE MOMENT that youre in that is pretty stressful and bothersome (extra stuff to think about on top of other stuff).
so i kept going and there was this one light i stopped at. the car was stil running but it started to really slowly move as i try to accelerate. i got it running quick again, but i was in my mantra mode (please dont die yet, please dont die yet, please dont die yet), and luckily this other light just turned green as i approached it. but it wasnt meant to be - the third light was green, but a car was in front of me and had to stop (to turn right as i would), and from there the engine completely failed. the car stalled, and i coasted to the parking lot of a swimming pool store here. it had enough inertia moving forward that i got to park it neatly.
2 BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT! :disa:
ha ha! me and my rotten luck! :P
good thing for AAA Plus, i got it towed to my apartment. took them over an hour though, cuz as it turns out, the note from dispatch described only the color of my car and the make(red saturn), and no definite location, just the general vicinity of the street (though i specifically mentioned BUDDS POOLS 3 times). didnt surprise me much cuz the woman who took my call was a bit slow and bitchy, hurried up my call.
anyways, good thing i got paid this weekend, and have enough money (i hope) to have this car fixed. thing is, its also gonna be the first of the month, meaning RENT time. but no fear, cuz i remembered i did have some money stashed, in the form of stock purchase. he he!
im probably gonna pay some extra tax on it next year, but this is one reason why had it taken off my paycheck each time, so i can have some extra cash when i need it. i spend my money wisely, but yeah, i SPEND it. i do have my 401(k) building up nicely, but what i have in my bank acct, its there for bills and spending stuff. if i dont pinch something else aside i wont have anything for a rainy day. The stock purchase plan with my company with the automatic deduction was my way of saving up for cases like these. i can choose to have it all on my check and not have anything deducted, but its easy to spend the money if the money is right there. having it taken out before i get it is good for me - i dont get to spend it til i really REALLY need it. its my little savings plan.
funny thing about the car too is that it happened with NO warning signs. it didnt start out small, and it was fine the 18 months that ive had it and cared for it. though im not a mechanic, it seems like the alternator's gone bad. oh well, i shall see tomorrow (taking it to a recommended mechanic).
so i miss one day of work, spend money for the fix (probably a lot), and generally waste a good day. well, cant have it all good all the time. ive been in similar situations, so i know ill be alright. its just the situation AT THE MOMENT that youre in that is pretty stressful and bothersome (extra stuff to think about on top of other stuff).