10 37 pm pdt   [ out of gas ]

Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 22:37:12 -0700
From: Rachel
To: My mailing list
Subject: I ran out of gas tonight.

I ran out of gas tonight. Isn't that just the silliest? My gas gauge doesn't work but I knew I was super low because I reset the odometer every time I fill up. I was only a mile or so from the station and headed straight there but I puttered out on PCH and managed to pull over into a no stopping zone. I put on my hazard lights but was then tremendously worried that I would either kill my battery or that the cops would come and have my car towed. I was quite the little stress monster while I hiked along the beach to the nearest gas station (I did manage to appreciate that the weather is lovely tonight and I was walking to the beat of the crashing waves). At the gas station I bought my little plastic gas container and one gallon of the precious liquid. I then realized that I have no clue how far I can go on a gallon. As I was walking back to my car, some guy pulled over on the other side of PCH and asked me if I needed help. I said no thank you, even though I was still concerned at that pint that my car had been towed. Then I could see that it was still pitifully flashing its lights on the side of the road. I felt goofy but I just had to take a picture. I unlocked the passanger door and set down my camera and sweater and whatnot and then went to open the little door to my gas repository and it was completely stuck. I tried to pry it with the key with no luck. It took me quite a while to figure out that I had to unlock all the doors to be able to put gas in the car. I put my one gallon in and just then another guy pulled over and asked if I needed help. Quite the evening for good semaritans with poor timing. I said, "I think I've got it, thank you." Just as he drove off I decided that perhaps I should have asked him to wait until I got my car started. I went and tried to turn it on and the engine turned over but didn't catch. I was mighty frustrated at that point, and was trying hard not to think about the fact that I have no cell phone and no AAA card. I got in again and gave it another try and finally the engine caught and my car puttered to life again. I drove straight to the gas station and put another five gallons in (it was really expensive and I'm broke now or I would have filled the tank). I have vowed to fill 'er up tomorrow after work. I think I have learned my lesson...

Thanks for listening. I had to get that out and I'm in no mood to format it right now. I am still shaking, though I can't tell if it is from the adrehnaline or exhaustion. I'm off to a hot shower and my flannel sheets.

In other news, someone has posted two unkind messages to my tip jar (http://tipjar.reinyday.com) and I'm wondering if I should just pull the pages. I'm really in no mood for an anonymous stranger to tell me I'm elitist. Why do people have to put others down to feel better about themselves?