So,
I was VERY frustrated with my day thus far (until my wonderful friend Theresa helped me out- Thanks so much
Tweesa!)
Why was I frustrated? Well, let's start from the beginning. . .
An old co-worker of mine asked me to give her a ride this morning, in exchange- she was going to buy my kids breakfast. As much as I KNOW I don't have the gas money- I had some dumb urge to be 'liked' and couldn't say no. But this would mean having to leave my house at 6:45am. I surely didn't think this 'favor' through- my kids don't even wake up til 7:30 or 8!
But I can't leave them alone at home, and without me- she would stranded and a friendship would've been lost... so, reluctantly- I scooped each kid outta bed, pj's and all- and plopped them into the car.
We drove to pick her up, I didn't say a word. They were both out of it- trying so hard not to fall back asleep.
I arrive at her house at 7am and we proceed to her appointment. However, she didn't know WHERE it was at. She'd never been there before and all she had was an address. I'm now kickin myself for not bringing my GPS.
We continue to drive around looking for this address for about 8 minutes. Finally, she remembered that she was gonna look up the address on her phone using Google Maps.
What?!?! We could've been doing that the whole time rather than WASTING more gas?!?! I look down at my gas level and it's getting closer and closer to the red.
My tolerance level was already increasing. And where were my kids breakfast? I couldn't be mad, right? If I had only had my GPS, we would've had TIME for breakfast and we would've had Gas to get home.
My BIGGEST problem is- I don't use a visa debit card, I don't have any cash on me- all I have is a stupid ATM card. This helps PREVENT me from spending money so easily- but it sure doesn't help me in a GAS emergency.
Ok, (I thought to myself) if I can get to a bank, I can check the account and see if there is at least $20 to pull out of the account. We can go get some gas and then get something to eat while we wait for my friend to get out of her appointment.
I drop her off and tell her to text me when she's done. I head to the bank, (1/2 mile down the street.) This 'joint' account of ours has GOT to have something, right? Especially for emergencies (you would think) but nope, I have $3.23.
I can't withdrawal $3! And if could- it wouldn't even get me a full gallon!
I sit in my car and start texting my husband. Perhaps, if I can convince him to transfer some money, I'll be able to get $5 worth of gas...
but no, I know better. He would be furious if he knew I was in Glendale- giving a friend a ride with zero gallons of gas and zero dollars in the bank account. I've gotta have a better reason to 'need' money- he simply can't know that I've already wasted my gas just to 'be-liked'.
I remember that we still owe the sitter for daycare services from this last week. Over $200. Ahha! I'll ask my hubby to transfer THAT and with the little change left over, I'll get some gas and MAYBE get the kids something to eat. ? ? ? (They won't stop whining, "We hungee mom! We willy hungee!")
After several minutes of texting, he says he'll do it. I go back to the ATM machine and it still only has $3.
Meanwhile, my phone starts to die and my friend gets out of her appointment and texts me to come get her. I pick her up and tell her about my phone, my gas and my kids' bellies.
I'm thinkin that if she were 1. kind and 2. paying attention- she would put my kids and I (you know, her free taxi ride) as TOP priority. My thinkin was wrong. I head to HomeLovers to drop her off at work.
She seemed to have this 'ah-ha' moment where she just realized that I had no reason to come all the way out to Glendale. She either felt bad or caught my hint and she offered that I take her debit card to go get some gas.
At this point, I'm done- I'm done with her, I'm grateful she offered but I don't feel right takin her card. If she had a 5, or if she wouldn't mind being late- we could go get some gas and I'd drop her back off. But I wasn't gonna take her card. I wasn't gonna try to figure out a way to get it back to her. I just wanted to go home and forget about the whole thing. I told her 'thanks but not thank you.: She said ok, and went to work.
Kickin myself as I looked at my gas gage I drove slowly towards Theresa's house. I knew I owed her money and the whole idea of getting $200+ to pay her would be my only 'ticket' to getting home. My 2nd option (was not an option) I did not, would not, I refuse to go to Jim's work and ask for gas money.
I go back to the bank, by now- surely, Jim has had the chance to transfer funds. Sure enough- I'm home free. (At least I thought) I hear the ATM makin it's money noise as it's collecting the 20's and then all of a sudden it's telling me I have 40 seconds to retrieve my cash.
Like a bomber, trying to disable the red and blue wires- I'm freakin out. KNOWING that if this ATM THINKS there's money here- there will NOT be money in my account if I try this again. 22, 21, 20... the clock still ticks on the ATM machine. I'm trying to pry the slot open, hoping that it's just stuck and all I have to do is wiggle the door a little bit. 11, 10, 9, - I start waiving my hands at the drive up window but there's nobody there. I can see the don't open until 9.
4, 3, 2, 1. there goes my money.
If I had a video camera on me to capture the look on my face at that moment- you would've thought that I just found out someone died. I was in pure shock, disbelief, disappointment and anger.
WTF do I do now!?!?! I said to myself. I proceeded west- knowing that the best thing to do is just try to get home.
I kept driving down Bell rd and eventually I saw another bank. I pull in and see that they're already open. I drive to the teller window and let the gentleman know about my ATM problem at the other bank. Surprised, but sympathetic- he helped me out. Agreeing that I really couldn't come into the bank as I filled out a claim for my money because of the two small cranky kids he could see in the back of my car.
As I waited for him to call the claim in, I was texting Theresa's husband letting him know that I can't bring the money all they back to them. I was soooo very low on gas and I just need to head home.
He begged me to get the money to them by today- even offering to bring me some gas. I started texting back my exact location (99th and Bell) 'cause at this point, I was SOOO very willing to receive help.
But then, my phone DIES in the middle of my text. AHHHHH!
No Gas, no money, no cell phone, no food- stuck in sun city (now) and I don't know what the heck to do!
After 20 minutes of sitting in the hot car with the windows down, the nice teller agrees to get me my money as a 'credit'. Once the claim goes through- the money I take right now will be automatically paid back to the bank.
Thank goodness... I can do this. AND, I think if I put in enough gas, I can drive Theresa's money to her. She'll be happy, I'll be happy and we can all go home and take a nap!
The kids and I stop and get $6.15 cents in gas. I also picked up a small package of powered donuts for $1.69 (3 for each of them). This made them sooo much less cranky.
I get all the way back to 55th and cactus and take her some money. I frown as I tell her that I had to borrow $5 and she wanted to know what happened.
After telling her the full story (above) she smiles and hands me some cash. She wanted us to get something to EAT. It was 10am already and the kids would be so much better for me if we did have something better to eat.
The kids and I stopped at Burger King for drinks. Matthew got french toast sticks, Brooklyn got chicken nuggets and I got a sandwich. We are very much happier as we drove all the way home. (130th and Cactus.)
Here it is almost 11 and I'm soooo tired of my day already. Let's hope it gets better as we go. :o)
