Shulda Coulda

I should have wrote about yesterday when I had the chance. I mean, it’s not like I lack the time or anything, since it seems all I have on my hands is time today, but my memory is like swiss cheese sometimes. I hate it. I’ll forget a whole bunch of things that I wanted to write about, and I know it.

I started out yesterday a lot later than I would have liked. And you know what I did? I didn’t eat, I didn’t take care of the rabbits like I should have. No, I played Sims. I had it paused from the night before, and I just continued playing. Funny thing though. The relationship that my sim was pursuing in the game was totally thwarted when the dude just ended up nabbing another girl. I didn’t know what to think about it. He was “unflirty” so it wasn’t like I could even use that facet very often, but I dunno. Whatever. It’s just a game, right? Though sometimes, when you can relate things … we’re going to stop that right there.

I went out to work when my watch beeped at me. I didn’t even realize I was behind on time, compared to what I was expecting. I grabbed everything I needed, and then I went out to try and start the car. Except it wouldn’t turn over. I yelled at my dad beforehand, since he was outside, and I asked him if I was fine to drive the car today since the day before … I wasn’t. He said all was good. So then I had to call him over again when my car wouldn’t start up. He ended up bringing the truck over and jump starting it. And then, after he started it up, he proceeded to try and wipe off every single speck of snow off of it. I had already called in to work to tell them that I’d be late when Dad was fetching the truck, but I still needed to get to the show as soon as I possibly could.

Thankfully, the roads weren’t that bad at all. I was able to drive the speeds I normally drive until I got into work. I was surprised to only see two cars, which belonged to Ralph and Jazmin. When I walked in, things were already busy. I helped Wes up front for only a couple of minutes before Ralph decided that I really needed to go on the road. Jake was running more late than me, and Scott had gotten stuck off of Delhi. And, not only were they throwing me on the road, but they were giving me a double. So I packed up the two doubles, had to chase down Ralph in order to get directions to both of the side roads – which were off of Chamberlin – and then I was out the door. I passed by Jake when I walked out the door, but they didn’t say that he would take the delivery instead.

Getting out there was easy. When I got to Chamberlin, the roads became absolutely horrible. I was only able to go 15 miles per hour down the road and I was still kind of slipping and sliding. A couple of times I had to pull to the side of the road so that some other car could get by. I wasn’t going to try and keep moving. I feared slipping way too much.

I made it to the curve in the road, which was probably a little worse than 90 degrees, and another car was in the ditch. A big huge truck was setting up behind it to set it free, but I quickly slipped by without any problems. And, of course, I missed the road I was looking for. I didn’t realize that I was completely off base until I reached the stop sign at the end of Chamberlin. And then I had to turn around, which wasn’t that easy. For some reason, the place I turned around at was a little tight. I took care of that fine, though. Then, after passing a couple side roads, I just pulled over and called the customer. They usually come in for carry-out, but I can completely understand why they had us delivery. The guy was really nice about it and gave me instructions, and after that I was able to find the house without a problem.

When I made it to their driveway near the end of their road, they flicked the lights on and off like some sort of strobelight. They continued to do so until I was able halfway up their driveway, still driving extremely slow. I got their pizzas to them, they signed the slip with a pen of their own (I really want to use my sonic screwdriver now that I have it), and handed me a seven dollar tip. I was very, very late to their house and they still gave me an immense tip. I wasn’t going to complain.

I knew where the second delivery was, more or less. Ralph explained where that road was a little better than the first delivery. So, I carefully turned around in September’s driveway and made my way back to Chamberlin. That’s where things fell apart.

That curve, the one where the car slipped into the ditch, is more or less where I got caught. There was a big slip leading up to the curve and then the road was sloped to one side of the road at the curve. I started turning with the road, but I could feel the car sliding. But nothing I could do would stop it. So the car kind of just ended up sitting there with the tires spinning. The road was solid ice underneath, so they couldn’t get any purchase.

I called the shop again, and Abbi answered. I told her that I was stuck, but I was able to deliver the second delivery on foot while I waited for help. So that’s exactly what I did. I left the car running, especially since I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to start it up again, turned off the lights, and turned of the flashers. I grabbed the bag with the delivery and I started walking down that road.

See, there were two fatal errors in this choice. I grinned and bore it the entire time, and I managed to keep my spirits up by telling myself what a great adventure I was having. I had to step through huge mounds of snow a couple times and hold up my phone every time I wanted to read an address, since I didn’t have any other source of light, and since it was a private road, only some of the houses actually had addresses that were easy to find. They weren’t in their standard places; the mailboxes were at the end of the road. So I was just walking along the road, holding a bag and freezing my hands, looking for a house.

I don’t know how far I walked exactly, but I’ve been saying it’s about a mile. I reached a big huge curve in that road, stepped into the snow so that a car going by wouldn’t run into me by accident, and continued walking. Until I found the house I was looking for. I kind of had a conversation with an invisible, but very noisy, goat.

When I reached the house and walked down the driveway, the lady was letting out her dog. I called her attention to me, asked if I was at the right house, and she said she’d be right there. She fiddled around in her house for a minute or so and then let me in the front door. I told her I was sorry if her sub was cold – because she didn’t even get a pizza – but I had just walked about a mile to her house and our heat bags aren’t the best. I don’t even think she got out of it what I wanted her to. She gave me a twenty dollar bill for an order that came out to $10.06 and told me to keep the change, though.

I ran most of the way back to the car. I had to stop a couple times and just walk, since it was cold outside for one, and for two, I’m not in very good shape at all right now. It took me forever to get back, though. While I was on my way to the lady’s house, Jake called me and told me he’d come and help me out after his delivery, and just to wait in the car. So, when I reached my car and didn’t see him, I climbed right on in, warmed up, and listened to my music. And waited.

Thankfully, I didn’t wait long. I was still excited over the fact that I had to walk a delivery because my car got stuck. I thought it’d be a great story. I continue to find it funny even now.

A couple times, I saw car headlights in my rear view mirror, and I kept wondering if they belonged to Jake, but both times the car turned off the road, leaving me in darkness. I knew immediately which car was Jake when he showed up. I asked out loud, though, “Is that my Jake?” I have no idea why he’s my Jake. I was excited to see him.

He asked me to explain the situation my car was in on the phone, and I didn’t even know how to answer him. So when he pulled to a stop, got out of his car, and inspected the situation, he turned to me and said I wasn’t even stuck. Well, whatever dude. He then asked if he had permission to drive my car. So very formal-like, too. Of course he did. Sure. Get my car free. It took him a while to figure out how to turn off the warning flashers, and then he set to work on freeing my car. Oh, after he figured out that my car was still running – he was very impressed at how quiet it is.