Beach or Bust?

I love my horoscope for today-sometimes it's good to let go of control, if only for a little while. 

This wisdom is exactly what I need right now. It coincides with the whole idea of living in a state of oblivion from my last post.  This is not the only "sign" that I've had recently.  I've never noticed before how anal a collegue of mine at work is until recently.  Witnessing such perfectionism has made me vow to never be like that! For example, this person took exception to how I taped a sign to a wall the other day.  According to him, it was too low.  Maybe for him, but at my height, it was perfect. : )  This is one of my pet peeves.  I don't mind being delegated a task, but if you don't give me specifics then don't complain if it doesn't live up to your standards. 

I am making a second attempt at the beach this Saturday since last Saturday was a bust.  I'm driving to Horseneck beach and suddenly my check battery light switches on.  "Oh what the fuck! Not today!"  I call my friend and he recommends that I find a gas station that can test my battery.  I'm in the middle of Providence and don't have a clue where I am.  I pull over and ask some stranger if he knows where there is a full service gas station.  It just so happens, there's one around the rotary.  Sweet!   I cruise over and find the mechanic.   He walzes over with this device that has this thing that looks like a wand.  (I think it was a sensor)   He sticks the wand in my battery and waits about 5 minutes.  The results come back good.  I shriek with delight and hightail it for the highway.

 I call my friend back and we concur that there must be something wrong with the car's computer coz the light is still on.  I make it as far as I195 in Swansea when my dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree.  I know things have taken a turn for the worse when the warning alarm sounds. I careen into the break down lane and skid to a halt.  UGH! Thank god for AAA.  If you are a female, single or not, I highly recommend investing in road side assistance.  I dont' know what I would do without it.  In a panic, I dial the number and the representative takes all my information.  She also takes a turn at playing therapist, as I vent about how my day at the beach has been ruined.  She sympathizes with my plight and promises to dispatch a tow truck there ASAP.  I call my friend back and explain my situation.  I am truley grateful that my friend was there for me that day.  While I was on the phone with AAA, he was on the computer searching for Volkswagen dealerships in the area.  What a gem he is.  Now I have a decision to make.  I either bring my bug to one of the local dealerships in hopes that they can look at my car today or have it towed all the way home.  I don't have the premium AAA membership so only the first three miles are free.  Neither of the dealerships can guarentee that they can look at my car today so I decide to have it towed home.  As I'm sitting there contemplating the fate of my car, a state trooper pulls up.  I wave him over to the passenger side because  I can't get my driver's side window down.  I say "dude, my car broke down!".  (Yes, I called him dude)  He asks me what tow company is coming and he tells me he'll expedite the call.  Nice! I was glad to see he was serious about helping a damsel in distress.  I was also impressed that he waited there until the tow truck was finished loading my car. 

While I'm riding in the two truck I make the decision to have my car brought to Lapierre's Auto Repair.  At this point I have to pee really bad and I know I have atleast a 20 min walk ahead of me after we drop off the car.  As we are driving down County St., I ask the driver if he wouldn't mind stopping at my apartment so I can go to the bathroom.  I figured he would say no, but to my surprise he obliges.  (Do you think it had anything to do with the fact that I was wearing a bikini top?)  A little while later, as we are turning onto North Main St., I see that New England Tire is open.  I turn to the driver, "Hey would it be ok if we stop there real quick to see if they have time to look at my car?" "No problem, if they can't I'll still take her over to the other mechanic".  It turns out, they had the time.  I'm sitting in the waiting area reading "Eclipse", when the service coordinator interrupts me.  "It's the alternator." He hands me the service proposal.  Wait for it..................
$643.70.  I nearly swoon.  It turns out that the alternator for my vehicle is a real nuisance to install.  Typical.  "It's going to take two hours to install." he says.  "Fine, just do it., I'm going home."

At least I was able to have it repaired that day.  I was supposed to go out the previous evening and decided not to.  The situation would've been alot worse if it happened on the way home at 1 a.m..  Thank god for the tiniest of miracles.