Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse .....

It is a known fact that the last 10 days of my life have COMPLETELY sucked!

I ended a relationship, found out that another ex is getting married, and lost my job. Thinking that it couldn't get any worse (which clearly is a dangerous thing for me to do) life exacted yet more karmic revenge on me. Last night while driving to dinner at a friends my car started to make a knocking noise, then sputtered and died on the side of the highway. I couldn't pull all the way over because the shoulder is still heavily drifted with snow, so there I was barely out of the lane with cars whizzing past me. Using my cell phone I called information thinking that *surely* they could help me as I asked for roadside assistance in Westminster, CO. The operator said "what listing" and I explained my situation, "umm, I'm stuck on the side of the highway in my car in Westminster, CO and I'm needing some help." His reponse, "so what do you need??" Apparently, it's impossible to actually get assistance these days!! He said, "I'll look up towing and give you a listing" which seemed reasonable. So I called that number and was told that they don't tow, they just jump cars or change tires - I asked if she could recommend another local service and she said "look in the yellow pages!" As I tried to explain I was stuck on the side of the road, she hung up on me!!!!!

By this point, the 10 degree temperatures outside were starting to make me shiver. Luckily I had two blankets in my car which I wrapped around me for warmth. At this point I called my friend, who kindly offered to bundle her infant and young child up and come get me. I suppose the moral of this part of the story is that

1) AAA might be a good idea.
2) Having blankets is a necessity for winter travel because in that approx. 40 minute period I would have froze without them.
3) Some businesses truly have no soul.

My friend picked me up and I have to admit it was quite scary because cars really weren't pulling over and I had to run through drifts to make it to her car. After getting back to her place I used the recommended yellow pages to find a towing service. The gentleman was very kind (a Nebraska native who had spent time in Ft Leonard Wood as we bonded over shared Missouri experiences) and referred me to his personal service establishment that just happened to be within a few blocks of my friend's house. So it appeared that my horrible experience was going to be redeemed ..... or maybe not.

It turns out that my car's sputters and knocks were actually the indication of the Escort's impending death. The diagnosis was a blown head gasket from a massive overheating. I was confused because I just had my oil changed, my coolant levels were good and there was no indication of impending death - what had I done wrong??? The mechanic assured me that this sometimes happens to these engines ... especially 10 year old engines with 140,000 miles on them. It could be fixed, but the cost would be high and at this point would it really be worth it???

So I guess tomorrow will be the day to shop for a new car which is EXACTLY what I want to do when I'm unexpectedly out of work.

reporting from hell,
jenn