Not easy but not impossible
Sep. 25th, 2004 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
susandennisBefore I went to get my hair cut, I decided to take a few things down to the car so I could just go when I got done with hair. I got down to the car only to discover that I had, once again, left the goddamn trunk ajar and so the battery was deader than a doornail. Why do I do this???
So I got my haircut and then called Sherry, my neighbor, who, fortunately parks just across from me in the garage. She came and jumped me and I drove to Costco. Factoid: The distance from my house to Costco is NOT enough to charge up a dead battery.
I got all my Costco goods and loaded them into the car. Sidestep: Did you know that my Costco is Store #1, the original Costco?! Yep. And they are getting ready to abandon it. They are building a much bigger Costco right next door. Good times and much spending is in my future.
I got into the car and the batter was not totally dead but not live enough to start the engine. So I haul out the jumper cables, open the hood and start hooking up my end. Before I was even finished this very nice guy says "do you have the other end of that operation locked in?" And I said no, that I was just getting ready to start my Pitiful Rescue Me, Please routine. He got back into his car, moved on over to mine and gave me a jump. Very nice. Very Northwest.
I had one more stop to make before home so I figured I'd drive around for 30 minutes and try the stop/start again and if that didn't work, jump it one more time and go to Sears for serious repair.
I drove down south of Seattle all around the Boeing plant and actually saw the Concord they have at the Museum of Flight. It's sitting right there by the road. Kind of strange to see an airplane parked right there, but cool.
After 30 minutes, I pulled into Cash&Carry and backed into a nice parking spot. And went in to get my stuff. Came out and the car started right up so I'm home free - at least until it dies again. If this car starts giving me trouble, I'm going to give FlexCar some serious thought.
On the up side, I scored a FINE cache of mayo packets.
You see... Remember my talking about the café in the building I used to work in? The nice guy who made me Mickey Mouse pancakes and the cashier who's grandchildren came to visit? Well, in addition to having great people in that café they also had mayo packets.
In my new café - the one with the sandwich lady who hates everyone and is meaner than a snake and the lines are always long unless you get there before 11:15, they do not have mayo packets. They have a machine where you push M for mayo and this gross stuff comes out (the same machine dispenses mustard and catsup and something else I can't remember). Karen, my office mate and I bitch about the mayo every day. We vowed that the next time one of us had a meeting in Building 25, we'd pop down to the café and swipe mayo. Thursday she had a meeting there. She forgot the assignment!!
We have a funky little bulk market chain in Seattle - Cash & Carry. They cater to small restaurants and delis - kind of a food only, no dilettantes or membership allowed Costco. It's a funny place but if you need mayo packets, it's the perfect place. Just wait until Karen comes into work on Monday. Is she ever going to be happy to have me as an officemate. (Factoid for those of you on the East Coast: Out here Helman's is called Best Foods.)
I got your mayo packets right here
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GIF89aC
Re: I got your mayo packets right here
Date: 2004-09-25 01:36 pm (UTC)Packets
Date: 2004-09-25 06:28 pm (UTC)And I thought I was the condiment queen!
Re: Packets
Date: 2004-09-25 06:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-09-25 06:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-09-26 08:53 am (UTC).
You may or may not have read some of my posts containing information about my experiences with Flexcar. I simply cannot rave enough about it.
And now that you mention it, in your particular situation, Flexcar is likely a perfect match for you, not to mention far cheaper than owning a car you rarely drive. And the financial aspect is the best part: I pay $8.50 per hour with 10 miles free per hour, and only 34 cents per mile above that. I joined when they still had a one-time join fee but I know they have an annual fee now, which I think is $50 (and would still totally be worth it). I get a discount on that hourly rate because my employer, PCC, is partnered with Flexcar, but I think for you it would only be about a dollar more. In any case, that's all you pay -- for only that much, they still cover all insurance, all maintenance, and even all gas! (They have little credit cards stuck on their visors for you to use when the tank needs to be filled.)
When I joined, and it was a dollar cheaper, I had to use their phone system, which is a pain in the ass. But they increased the price once they got their website going, which is fantastic and makes me perfectly happy to pay the extra dollar per hour. You can look up any vehicle, any location, and see what hours are already reserved for other people. You can easily use the website for all your reservation needs.
I also adore the fact that they are all about sustainability and environmental welfare (many of their cars are hybrids), but honestly the financial aspect is by far the most significant thing to me. I rarely need a car (because contrary to popular belief, I think the bus system is great, at least if you live in the city), but when I do, Flexcar is perfect, and I've rarely had to pay more than $40 in a given month that I used it. It's a great deal in addition to being great for both the city and the environment.
As I said, I can't rave enough about it. So yes, if your car starts to escape your affections, do please give it some serious thought.
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-09-26 09:10 am (UTC)You are right, it is nearly perfect for me. My car is paid for and I have free parking. But, you know, when you stack up insurance with license fees, you get really close to what FlexCars would cost me.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences in such detail. And I love your phrasing about my car possibly slipping from my affections... That's a keeper!
(no subject)
Date: 2004-09-26 09:16 am (UTC).
Free parking? In Seattle?
You live a charmed life.
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