Spoke too soon

When did I write that post about the Probe running again? Not so much. Tonight I was driving it down the roads, slick from a day of rain, and the lights got dim. Suddenly it started sputtering and I gave it all the gas I could, willing it to just get me up a hill past some railroad tracks, hopefully to a place where I could park it, away from speeding traffic. Nope. I called the BF, who jumped in his car to come to my rescue. Then I called my dad, frantic and in tears. Nothing is as nerve-wracking as owning two broken-down cars and still making payments on both. Wait, that's not nerve-wracking. It's super sucktacular. My dad told me to try the ignition again, which I'd already done about 20 times, but not in the last 5 minutes. It started. I got up the hill and almost to a hotel parking lot and it started sputtering and died again. Fortunately I was able to roll it into the parking lot.

The amazing, patient BF got there and he tried the ignition to see what kind of noise it was making (clicking noises) but that time it started right up. He gave me his keys and told me to follow him. It died before he made it out of the lot. He pushed. I steered. I got out and promptly locked the keys in the car. ARG! But I had a spare key, right? So we drive to my house. Can't find spare key. I realize where it most likely is. We go back and I pay Pop-a-lock $47 to open the car. Get keys out of ignition. Find spare key in the ashtray, where I'd stuck it when I got the car, intending to put it in my house, but promptly forgetting to do so. Have I mentioned how incredibly patient and kind the BF is? He didn't give me any shit for this, was simply helpful.

And that's where I am. Two broken-down cars. Tomorrow I retrieve the bad Mini and will take it to CarMax to get an idea of what I might be able to get for it. Then I'm going to get the Probe running again and trade them both in for something more reliable. With a warranty.

I hate cars.