On My Way... welcome to Atlanta!

On My Way…

Car is packed/ loaded, however you want to say it. Snow came down yesterday, roads a bit slippery. Oh man…at least I will be driving south. Unfortunately not completely out of it though- the southern states have snow..Alabama is really icy, things are predicted to be closing in Atlanta, and somewhere I heard the news talk about a 50 car pile up. Mostly because when people who are not used to driving in snow and ice go out in it, it is 10 times more dangerous!!

Got to Chantilly ok to Mingle’s. Had a nice lil visit with her. Had some lasagna and champagne even! I mapped out directions, and then headed to Mike’s around 6. Got there about 7. 

Driving in DC when you haven’t before is pretty crazy..the lights are on the sides of the road and much lower than I am used to.  On constitution avenue, as well as other parts of town, there will be 3 lanes but at first I didn’t know which ones were to go straight and which ones were turn only until I got up there, but then I realized that there are these white signs that show each lane and has an arrow so you can be prepared as you come up on them. It can although be difficult to switch lanes if you are all the way over and you need to turn at the next road!  I made it though. When I got out front of the house, I remembered that there was a weird pull back to get around back of the house to the driveway, so I pulled over and M parked the car for me. When I was waiting there, a police came over and asked if I was ok. I told him about the parking deal, and then he told me to be careful and have a good night. Ok.

Get there, get ready to go out- we go to Ironhorse, a nice sports bar/restaurant.  They have booths with keg taps at the tables, 2 different kinds each…bud, Labatt, killians, shocktop…I think these were the ones. There were a few others too.  We watched most of the game, and then went back and hung out.

Next day I was surprised with a trip in the Washington monument..one of the few things we didn’t have time for last time I was there. The views were really good, and on the way down in the elevator you could see huge stone plaques (idk what else to call them right now) representing different states…really neat!

After that, we went to the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery and checked that out.

The night held an NBA game- Wizards vs I think it was LA.. Afterwards, we went to the Green Turtle. 

Went to the gym, felt good to do 5 miles J Probably one of if not the nicest gym I’ve been in…sauna, steam room, new workout equipment, bi level, salon, smoothie/ juice/ sandwich place, great locker rooms and shower area…Vida

After that, we got some lunch at where M works, then chilled until later when we went to the Kennedy Center and saw the play Shear Madness. Great play, very funny. The Kennedy Center is amazing- so big, beautiful, spacious, and elegant!

Thursday I drove to Raleigh, NC.

On the way, 440 my car did the same thing it did when I was moving back from Cape Vincent a few years ago… it glided to a halt from 65. Ahhh. Ok, so I tried to turn it on and it wouldn’t work. I waited like 10 minutes and then turned it on and it was ok..I made it the rest of the 30 miles or so to Raleigh.

That night we went to the Carolina Ale House, 2 of them actually. I got some dinner and had some drinks. Fun time!  

 Next day, hung out and got the car checked…they said it wasn’t the battery or the alternator. The oil was changed last week, and all the fluids were checked and filled before I left DC.

I got a driving tour of the city, and went to this 50s style diner. I tried blackened catfish and I do have to say it was quite delicious!

We went to the Goat for a drink.

That night...a few attempts from guys to get my number…all failed. Haha One kept calling me lil S because he couldn’t remember my name. Haha Crazy person.  Anyways, it was an interesting night- and it wasn’t as bad sitting partially by myself (partically because for a few parts of the night a few people I knew came in so I chilled with them for a few hours) as I originally had thought.

Another late night, but a good one at that.

Next morning, although I thought I was staying in Charlotte for the night, things changed…J had to go to work and wouldn’t be there to let me in and whatnot so I just decided to drive all the way to Atlanta, and hope my car wouldn’t act up.

Supposed to be 6 hours….supposed to be. Well, let me tell you.

I drove 2 hours then stopped at a subway, got a sub and stayed like 30 mins to let my car cool off or whatever it had to do, even though the gage said the engine temperature was fine.

Drove another hour and a half and stopped again, had the worst 2 sips of coffee in my life, out of a machine. I say 2 sips because after the first one I though, omg it really can’t be THAT bad, can it?  So I tried a second sip and then realized right away that yes, yes it certainly CAN be THAT BAD.  So, there goes my dollar…in the trash can.

I continue driving, listening to <3 Drake along the way, along with some country stuff I mixed in too.

When I am on I-20W, in SC towards ATL, my car feels like it did a little pull left right left with the wheel, subtly but I still felt it. Like 30 seconds later it does it again, so I get to the far right and then pull off the side because I realize that my car is dying again. What?! Really, ok. I didn’t panic at this point because last time I waited and turned it on again in a few minutes and it was fine. So, I called my dad to let him know, (I was planning on getting it serviced as soon as I arrived in GA). I try it, it wouldn’t start…I waited and tried and it would for a second then shut off. Hmmmm… maybe I was supposed to stay in Raleigh and live there for a bit…?

I called AAA to see if someone could come jump it, because the battery and oil light were lit up.  A mechanic called me and I explained what happened and he said he can almost guarantee it wasn’t the battery, and I should call for a tow- if you call AAA for a  jump or something and you need a two or something else done that you don’t specify on the phone before they arrive, then you need to call AAA again and do a new request and wait even longer for a new person to come out. Figures. Good thing this guy saved me that time of the battery jump which I pretty much didn’t need. So, I called and requested a tow truck.

I was told it would be there by 707pm. Ok.

I wait. 725, no truck. I call around 730 to ask…right before this, AAA calls to make sure I’m still safe and says then truck should be there any minute…I’m waiiiiitingggg…nope.

I call again, 745ish. Now am informed someone cancelled my request at 630. I need to wait for a new request to be sent out. (Lexington, SC)

((Really!?!?)) (Breathe).

Ok, how long will that be?

I’m not sure maam, I need to call someone but will let you know.

                Ok.

****Wait*****

Hello, Stephanie?

                Yes.

I am having a little trouble finding someone to come and tow you, because the company we called, their long distance driver is off today and for the next few days.

                Ok….Well, I have been sitting here since about 530 and now it’s almost 8:00…

Yes, I understand that and I am sorry this is happening to you.

                Me too.

I promise I will get someone out there as soon as I can, and if this company can’t I will make sure to find someone else to.

Thank you, I’m hoping not to have to sit on the side of the road overnight.

No, you won’t.

                I sure hope not.  ((Car headlights are dimming, along with much slower 4 way blinkers at this time)

**Wait***

I found someone for you, and they have been informed of your situation, they are in their way now and should be there by about 838.

                Ok, thank you. If they don’t show up I’m calling you back again.

**wait**

Hello, is this Miss Stephanie?

                Yes.

This is Justin from r & B Auto, I have someone on their way for you right now, they should be there in 35-40 minutes (8:07pm).

                Thanks, great.

**wait**

8:15 lights out on car, def drained the battery all the way. 

**Wait lalalal, start singing loudly and looking at Orion constellation, wondering if the woods next to me are shallow or if the go back, how far it is if I walked to the next exit…if I could open my doors and stand between them to pee because I have had to go a while now, or if I should ask the driver to stop once he gets there so I can go, but maybe that would add more mileage on so he would charge me pretty much for asking to use the restroom).

I put the flashlight my dad had me put in the car on, pointing out the back window to act as a “car light” so drivers and trucks will see me and so the tow driver can see me.

8:50, no truck.

8:55 no truck.

I call Justin and he says he will contact the driver and see where he is.

9:15 truck arrives.

                (Yey! Finally! J)

-Truck backs up…doesn’t stop and tow is now screeching on top of my hood.

My mouth drops open.  No words.

I get out of the car…”You have got to be shitting me.”

Car driver gets out, looks, gets back in car and pulls forwards..the noise again.

((Holy Shit, icing on the cake. Oh well, at least I don’t have energy to get mad so I just start laughing.))

                “That part supposed to go under the car?”

Yes, maam.

                Well, it didn’t. (Captain obvious)

I’m sorry maam, it’s my first time driving this truck, I should have checked it before I backed up.

                “Yes, you probably should have.”

He calls his manager, and I call aaa. They say to do a police report, so I call the SCPD…there are a lot of accidents so when the next available officer can we will send them there.

                “Do you know about how long it will be by chance?”

No, once they are done with the other calls.

                “..Ok, thank you.”

I take pictures, so does the driver. He hooks the car up while I am (I would say frantically, but even though I was making a lot of calls my attitude and demeanor was of disbelief and comic, luckily) calling a zillion people trying to figure this out. AAA, SC police, Aunt J, Dad, Neighbor Sue…  about an hour later we get the police report. We get on the road finally, 2 hour drive, GPS says we will arrive in Conyers at 1:34.

The driver was nice, he really didn’t mean to hit it, and I was going to be riding with him a few hours..don’t want to be on his bad side, plus I had to get a feel whether I felt safe riding with him. I did, so after like 15 mins on the road I fell asleep. Woke up when we were almost to Conyers. 

Arrival time said 1:36. We got there, he had to call in my credit card for the towing payment (not cheap by the way, even with the 1^st 100 miles in tow free).

Aunt J and Scott are there, we get out my electronics and drive to waffle house. Slow service, good food, bet cheesy eggs I’ve ever had in my life though, no joke. Chocolate milk cures everything. They forgot the cheese on my hash browns and I had to remind him of my oj and my raisin toast and grits because I think he put my order in wrong. Oh well, I don’t care what I get after my 3 ½ hours sitting by the side of the road without heat (yes, it was sc but there was snow there, it was night and it was at the warmest lower 40’s while I was sitting there). Food is food.  Kind of nice to get it in sections though, it kept everything warm by the time I got to it!

Also, on the upside of being towed…it saved my new snow tires all those miles of wear and tear on a dry road, I didn’t have to refill my gas tank (even though what I paid definitely would have got me like 5 months worth of gas), I got to sleep, and didn’t have to worry about being the one to get lost or have to drive at night.

R & B are paying for the damages to the hood, and I have to wait 3-4 days to hear if I will be compensated for the cancelled request, which if I didn’t call back no one would have come get me, the late arrivals, etc. Also, my phone thank goodness it was fully charged on the road because with all the calls I was making by the time I finally got to where I met my Aunt and Uncle, it had low battery- and think about it, with a dead car battery you can’t charge anything.

(**A few days later I saw this battery powered thing to charge your phone- small enough to put in your purse, which will be yet another anticipated future purchase)

WELCOME to the A-T-L, aka Hotlanta!  

 HERES TO NEW CHAPTERS, NEW PLACES, NEW PEOPLE AND NEW PHASES.