Got my 5th flat tire of car-ownership today. First one in over 2 years, which is the really impressive part. I'd thought that after 4 in the first 10 months of owning my car I was set for a while.

Evidently not.

I pulled over right outside Nation of Islam headquarters, called my boyfriend, and we changed the tire while NOI security cars circled around. I think they may have had some fun watching my ineptitude while waiting for the boy. Sigh. I know how to change the damn tires at this point, I'm just not strong enough to unscrew the bolts without help. At least I didn't have to get hauled away from the highway on a flat bed truck this time, that was humiliating.

the last flat tire--my 4th--was very soon after I started dating my boyfriend. I remember this because he talked someone he didn't know very well into driving him out to me where I was stranded on the side of the highway. They beat the tow truck by about half an hour. #s 3 and 4 were during the rehearsal process for the same show, which I think may have made the production manager suspicious. #2 was also in an unfriendly neighborhood, and I had to call my then boss to see if he could help. When he wasn't around I called a tow truck and vowed to learn to do it myself. The first one was when I was looking for apartments. I actually pulled into a gas station that I use all the time now to have them help me. Ah, yesterday.

So I'll have an exciting evening at CostCo, which is where I bought my current tires. The previous 4 were the car's original ones that were later recalled. This one is just a mystery.

Digging out my trunk to get to the spare I discovered a whole world of junk. Several books, someone else's watch, a couple mismatched gloves, a winter hat, several armoral wipe containers, 3 empty soda cans, a pink feather boa, and a bag full of god-knows-what.

You people who borrow my car...geesh. Clearly NONE of that junk was mine.

Days like today make me wish I didn't own a car. I'd have a nice 50 minute commute on the el every morning, and never have to think about parking. Then again, I also wouldn't have a car...so maybe that's not a good idea.
- posted by Heidi @ 9:38 AM