Rubber Essence

With laptop on my lap, I am logged into work while at the tire shop; however, I am slowly being poisoned by the noxious fumes of rubber thanks to the tires displayed in the lobby. I am getting a headache and feeling queasy. Haven't had breakfast yet either.

The motor club took their sweet time getting there (over an hour!), but the gentleman who changed the flat to the spare was nice. I think he was a retired military man. It is easy to spot them anywhere just by watching their behavior. You can't train the younger mechanics out of the box in that kind of behavior of being thorough, courteous, and respectful of you and your things.

Okay...if I post an update later, you know I have sufficiently survived my tire shop visit. What is up with my theme lately of air and not being able to breathe? Someone clue me in or give me a zen-type of answer preferably before I experience death by rubber essence.

Updated: I survived! Wood screw no longer harming my tire. Breakfast satisfying from drive-thru McDonald's. I am no longer breathing rubber fumes..until tomorrow morning when I go back for them to replace a connector on one of my headlights. My nose is more sensitive than most so this rubber smell just nauseates me. I have that gas mask somewhere...

Rubber Essence

Flattened Before Five

I can't believe it. One of my brand new tires has a flat. Walked Cabal about an hour ago and noticed my car leaning on one side. Just bloody lovely.

Have already logged into work and sent e-mail to several people letting them know. I'll be calling the motor club (AAA) to come and change out the tire for the spare so I can drive to get the tire fixed. I abhor these kinds of things.

Better get a move on if I want to get it all sorted in a timely manner. Is it too early to have a shot of tequila? Yes? Oh, okay. Happy Hour is at 5pm not 5am. How silly of me.

Flattened Before Five

Deflated with New Wheels

Today was my day to myself. My goal is to always try and keep Sundays sacred to me. Got started late on purpose and was on my way to get my nails done when I noticed that my back left tire was low again. I had just put more air in it two weeks ago.

Upon further inspection, I noticed a tear in the tire wall. I knew I had to replace all four soon, but I wasn’t expecting to do that today. This is one of those “no choice” choices if I wanted to avoid a blowout (or worse) on the way to work tomorrow.

Tire Kingdom was close by and the last time I went there ironically enough was the day the London bombings occurred. I had the opportunity that day to speak to an English guy in the waiting room. He was a plethora of info on security there, etc. Let’s just say he has retired friends in their version of the CIA.

My lunch money was in deep jeopardy after the guy at Tire Kingdom gave me a quote of nearly $600 which included four nicer tires, warranties I don’t really understand, an alignment and an oil change. I felt more deflated than my tire. It was 1PM on a Sunday and I didn’t exactly have anyone to ask for some advice at the time so I agreed. It is rare that I resent myself being a super girly-girl and this is one of those times.

About an hour and a half later, I drove off with safer tires. I have to keep that in mind when I think about writing the check for almost $600. The bank will be happily sucking that out midweek from my checking account. Oh, well. Safer tires.

I picked up a few things at my friend Terry’s embroidery business that I had ordered the day before and were ready this afternoon. That made me happier and I also stopped at Target to get some sundry items, but totally skipped getting my nails done. It was near closing time on Sunday for the nail salon.

Talked to Yummy for an hour who has been busy working on his projects and doing a bit of shopping. I’ve been staying out of his way while he is in super creative mode. Can’t mess with the Yummy mojo when it is on fire, you know. Ha!

My sleeping patterns have changed for some reason. I've reset my alarms to different times to fool my body. Let's see how that works. It's weird, I know. Deal with it while I catch up on sleep.

Deflated with New Wheels

Inflation

My back left tire was so low that I could only drive it safely to the next station about one minute from my home. It had been getting low, but I chose to ignore and deny it's emptying state. I couldn't ignore it this morning if I was going to make it to work safely while driving on the interstate. Gasoline level was low, too. Sigh.

I managed to located the air machine that cost $0.75 per three minutes of usage. I hoped that it would be enough time for me to figure out how to work the darned thing. Was valiantly trying to avoid a scene that was a cross between The Keystone Cops and Benny Hill. I am embarrassed to say I am so inept at these things.

Dressed in full diva regalia, I took a deep breath, inserted the coins and uncoiled the hose with a metal contraption on the end that is supposed to help me inflate my tire. Oh good God, I thought. This thing looks complicated. Worse yet, it looks like a sex toy with a trigger. No time to think on that for I had to hurry and get the tire inflated in under three minutes.

I squatted down by the tire and managed to connect the air gun to the tire. I wasn't sure if air was getting in or out. Soon the tire began to rise which tickled me so much I would've danced a jig. An internal warning within me soon sobered the jig into disconnecting the air gun. Didn't want the tire to be overinflated or worse, explode from too much air. That would be just lovely.

If I could avoid the whole car thing, I would. I don't mind driving it, but taking care of it just makes my head spin. I do it anyway. Before I left the station, I filled up with gasoline and then noticed dark grease marks on my manicured fingers, a souvenir from my inflating the tire expedition. Grrr...

The day matched the morning which consisted of inflating my boss' e-mail box with dozens of my approval requests. He was pleased since it meant I was actually working my job instead of the invoice research from Accounts Payable. Still did the research and answered their questions though. How did I become their go-to girl?

IM'ed with Yummy who has the whole week off for vacation. Lucky duck. I still have to wait just under three weeks to have mine with him in England. I am filled with much anticipation, but hopefully not too deflated from work's pressure cooker to enjoy it.

Inflation