MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin - How was your Friday?

Took the car in for an oil change this morning, ended up spending $400 in various and sundry repairs. The car was in the shop the whole day, while they tracked down the special tool needed to install the AC belt. You know, because a belt tensioner you can release with a breaker bar isn't cool enough for modern cars.

Then the babies decided to skip the late nap today, so they were fit to be tied by the time I finished work, and it was pretty much just wailing right up to bedtime.

Then after the babies are finally asleep, I have to run to IKEA for a baby gate (and meatballs). On the way back, I'm on the highway and the tire pressure sensor goes off. I never believe that fucking thing, but I decide to pull off and check anyway. I'm just heading into a major interchange, so I have no choice but to go through it. I'm also not a fan of mucking around by the side of the highway while yahoos whiz past at 85 mph, so I get off at the next exit. It's not one I'm familiar with, but it's a major highway, so most exits have gas stations, stores, and/or lighted parking lots.

By the time I start slowing for the exit, I can hear a weird noise and the car is pulling to the left, so it's clearly not a false alarm. I get off the exit, and... I'm literally in the woods. No gas station, no stores, not even a street light for a quarter mile or so. I *really* want to avoid shredding a tire that is practically new, though, so I pull over anyway. I get the car jacked up, pretty much by feel, and the lug nuts will not budge. The basic problem is that the lug wrench Mazda gives you is about the size of a salad fork. You have zero leverage, so it's basically useless if the lugs are anything much more than hand tight.

Oh, and I have no cellphone.

So I'm starting to realize how screwed I am. I have no choice but to lock the car up, hoof it toward the street lights, and hope something's there. Fortunately, it turned out to be a residential neighborhood. After passing 4-5 completely dark houses, I finally find one with lights and people watching TV. I knock and explain my situation, and suggest that they call the police to help me out, since I assume no one in 2013 would invite a scruffy stranger in to use the phone in the middle of the night. But they did just that, let me in, handed me a phone, and were very nice about it. I called AAA, and they actually got me back on the road in about 15 minutes. So it was a crap night, but I guess it restored my faith in people a little bit.

I just hope my outlook remains as sunny tomorrow morning, when I lube up and head on over to the tire shop.

Wheee...