Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Running on Empty

So I've hit a new low. Paige and I work out every morning at 5:30am and this morning we had yoga. After a few downward dogs and one really awkward hand stand, we went out to my car to drive home. Yesterday my "gas empty" light came on, but I wasn't too worried about it. The Jetta has always made it just fine for a few days on empty. I would have gotten gas this morning on the way to the gym but gas station aren't open until 6am. Anywho, we got in the car and started the drive home. Weirdly, the car refused to shift up and just kind of stopped working. Paige and I have never run out of gas before so we had no idea what it felt like or what to do.

We ended up coasting into the K Mart parking lot and getting out to push the car into an actual parking spot. After a few more unsuccessful tries to start the car, we both come to the realization that not only are we stranded in the K Mart parking lot wearing what amounts to pajamas, but neither of us have any money, cards or phones. Woooowwwww. It's 6:45 am, nothing is open and we're walking down Brooks like street vagrants looking for someone to give us money or a ride home. If I had photos of this glorious scene, I would definitely have posted one here.

So Missoula has a TON of casinos and, luckily, they're open 24 hours. I had never realized that there are people who really do gamble 24 hours a day, but as Paige and I mosied up to the Best Bet Casino, the parking lot was full and old women were flowing in the door. We got inside, looked around the dark, dingy, SMELLY casino (quickly noticing the ironic sign advertising a $300 gas card), and called Justin. Justin, unfortunately, starts work at 5am these days and couldn't pick us up but gave us the phone numbers for a few of our friends, one of whom mercifully agreed to come pick us up. We must have been quite the picture standing out on Brooks street (like the Burnside of Missoula), sharing my jacket and holding eachother for warmth...

We ended up getting a gas can, putting a gallon of gas in the car and getting me to a gas station. The whole thing reminded me how dependent we are on debit cards and cell phones. It also reminded me not to be so lazy and put gas in my car.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Lizzie,
You remember that AAA card you got for Christmas? You can get free road side service. Read the fine print. They even bring the gas to you. Love, MOM

Brittany said...

You only run out of gas once....Because after it happens it scars you for life and you have panic attacks when the light come son...at least i do.

John said...

I still see this as improvement in your life skills. Yes, people will say: "See the stupid girls. How could anyone run out of gas with flashing lights, bells, etc." However, they don't realize that you used to run into things with cars, not out of gas. Again, positive steps forward. Keep up the good work and stay out of casinos.

Beth said...

Hahaha. I ran out of gas once in my dad's hybrid car in the back roads of Idaho with my friend Amy's wedding flowers in the back seat.I had to flag down a little old man in a big old truck who sat on a cushion so he could see out the window. He drove me about 10 miles to a gas station to only have to drive me back to the hybrid that ran out of gas.