"E" Really Means Empty

[mrdreamjeans]

Sometimes, "E" really does mean empty! I left Houston after work with just under a quarter of a tank of gas. About 50 miles out, I missed the exit for a station where the price is usually reasonable. I decided I could make it another 23 miles before filling up. I passed through Chappel Hill and didn't stop because the gas was $4.03/gallon. That is very high for our area and it pisses me off that the price has climbed beyond 4 bucks!!

I was only 10 miles from home, so I kept going. You guessed it. Five miles from home, I ran out of gas and had to pull over to the side of the road. It was 96 degrees and humid and there I am in a dress shirt, slacks and tie. Sometimes, I just have to learn a lesson the hard way ... *sigh* .... I called AAA and the operator in California told me they had a person in Brenham (remember, I'm already in the outskirts of my town) and they can have someone to me with gas in just 45 minutes! 45 minutes?!?!?!?

I called my folks and Dad found me on the West side of Hwy 290. I was only 3 miles from their house. He pulled up behind me to tell me that Mom thought he'd gotten gas for the mower today, but he hadn't done it yet. He had the can in the back, but it was empty. "Don't worry, Neil. I'll be right back!" Thirty minutes later he returns. Total time waiting for Dad in the heat - 45 minutes! 45 minutes?!?!?!

I put a gallon of gas in my car from Dad's portable container, got safely to a gas station where I knew the price was $3.91/gallon and filled up. I left work in Houston at 5:30pm. I got home at 8pm. By the way, the lady with AAA told me she had received several calls today from Texas from folks who ran out of gas trying to find a better price.

The bright side to all of this ... I did have a lovely young Hispanic woman with two little girls and a Chihuahua in her SUV stop to ask if I needed help. Very sweet and unexpected! I could tell my Dad was really pleased that he was needed, was able to help out his son. Also, when I got home, my neighbor's grandsons had mowed and edged my yard. YAY!

I'm still pissed about the price of gas, but I've learned a lesson. When my Caliber hits E, it means business.

Comments

[althrman.livejournal.com]

Look at it this way...you cleaned out all the gunk in the tank. .....Gas here has been over $4.25 to $4.30 for weeks..and yes it is a pain in the wallet, even with what little driving I do....

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's thoroughly clean now:) I have no one to blame but myself for this one. At least, I'm down to driving under 300 miles a week from 700-800 like I was doing! Hope you're doing well!

HUGS!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

The nice thing about sharing that sort of experience is that it's a good lesson in humility, and not just for you ... I realize that could just as easily have been me [except instead of the swelter, I'd likely get stuck in a major downpour here - you picks your poison - LOL).
But you've got good karma ... proved by the fact you could count off at least three positive things surrounding the event.
Watch that "E", but always know you've got blessings to count on.
HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Joe! I didn't mention that a group of four cowboys stopped their SUV about half a mile in front of me only minutes after my car died. They had the same issue. This gas increase ... over $1/50 a gallon since December is really hurting people ... I can't imagine being someone working minimum wage.

Since "E" was the theme on Friday, I think I'll continue it by seeing WALL-E today:) I'm also going to go see "Mama Mia"!

Have a great weekend and I'll speak with you on Sunday. I know you're headed out of town soon for work.

Big HUGS!

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

THAT'll teach ya, huh! ;-)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Uh ... yeah! *grin*

[texwriterbear.livejournal.com]

Well it's good to see that people were actually willing to stop and help. It's amazing some times how people just drive on by and never stop to see if everything is okay.
Hope you have a good weekend.
Hugs

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I was surprised and pleased that the woman took a chance on me. I'm not sure in this heat and humidity that I'd do the same. If you play softball this weekend, be careful. The heat index today puts the temp at 105 degrees!

Hope to see you soon!

HUGS!

[gryphons-hole.livejournal.com]

Yay! for dad.

Great story.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

That's called telling a story at your own expense:) Yay for Dad indeed! He felt useful and needed. That's worth the price of running out of gas.

[cimarrondfw.livejournal.com]

If it weren't so inconvenient and irritating, I could laugh at the humor of this saga. I bet your dad did enjoy rescuing his foolish boy. Gas in the Metroplex is predicted to go over $4.00 soon. It's $3.96 right now. Ugh.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Go ahead and laugh! I was foolish and reaped the consequences. The day before I was visiting hospitals with the clinical liaison for our building. Stacey's gas gauge was below empty and we joked about running out of gas. She didn't. I did just 24 hours later. Color me sheepish.

HUGS!

[jimmyadventure.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience, Neil. It must have been particularly frustrating at the end of a long work week.

You know, I sold my car a year or so ago. In my old job, I used to drive 80+ miles a day to/fro work, but when I started working in the City I found I really didn't need the car. (I was just moving it back and forth across the street because of parking restrictions.) Now I am really glad I got rid of it. At least I don't have to worry about spending more and more on gas.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

That would be the really nice thing to do .. get rid of a vehicle altogether. You also get rid of maintenance and insurance costs. Unfortunately, Houston ... and Texas in general .. doesn't offer a lot of options. When we should have spent money on public transportation such as light rail, our politicians (such as Tom DeLay) blocked funding for anything other than expansion of roads. Such poor judgment!

I had the same drive, as you had previously, for 6 months. Gas jumped $1.50/gallon in that time period. It's one of the primary reasons I took the new job in Houston. I now drive 200 miles a week versus 700-800 miles a week. Casey made it possible for me to be in Houston by asking me to stay during the week.

There will be many more changes in my life before the end of the year. I will be selling the house and paying off debt! I'm making 2 1/2 times the money I made last year and yet getting further behind. Time to divest of extras.

HUGS!

Dang

[txcwby.livejournal.com]

Dang, that whole experience sucks - i've never run outta gas (yet), and always refill when the reserve light goes on and the car computer starts saying "Low Fuel Warning....".

Re: Dang

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I checked all of those off in my head. The car said "low fuel warning", but I convinced myself .. just five more miles ... I have no one else to blame for my predicament.

[icejohn2.livejournal.com]

$4.03 is not bad. It is $4.20 here in SE Wisconsin for the cheapest gas!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It's $3.91/gallon in Brenham .. I ran out five miles from it. I feel your pain, but I am really offended by $4/gallon gas and will continue to be. We have to find a political solution!

Take care!

[weekilter.livejournal.com]

I know I'm a little late to this, but here in Seattle the "normal" price of regular is about $4.659 and the price of diesel is just shy of $5.00!

I must be reaaaaaally old since I remember that growing up diesel was always cheaper than the cheapest grade of gasoline.

As far as price differences when I left Houston over labor day in '93 you could get regular unleaded for $.999 at Conoco. When I arrived in Seattle the "standard" price for unleaded regular was $1.369.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Deisel was cheaper here until about March of this year. As to prices of the past ... I remember paying 58 cents a gallon in Houston for gas in 1977!

Thanks for commenting!