keep rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' WHAT?

And the car saga is over (for now) (knock on wood).

Last Sunday (as in a week and a half ago), my car won't start. Luckily I'm in a lot and not on the road being ticketed every two hours, but still... it won't start. The lights and radio come on, the engine STARTS to turn over and then nothing - and then the battery and engine light pop on. AWESOME.

Monday, I get my hands on jumper cables and ask Garv to come over and help me jump it before giving up and calling a tow truck. He comes over, I try the engine one last time before attempting to jump it... and it turns on. Very reluctantly. I drive it to Firestone and tell them to figure out what the fuck was happening.

Tuesday morning, I get a call from Grant at Firestone that my alternator is shot. And my belt (engine belt?) is ripped halfway through which makes my car sound like a cricket. And my oil tank has a big leak. And that would all cost me $600. OW. Okay though, it needs to be done. I tell them to go for it and I brace myself for serious financial woes.

Tuesday afternoon, I get another call from Grant... they can't pass my inspection (which was up in August... oh shush). Apparently my emergency brake won't "pull" so I need all new back brakes and I have a leak in my power steering so they'd have to take it out and replace it, which is another $800. I tell my friend Grant to fuck off and forget about the inspection. He reminds me that they have 90-day interest-free payments and I once again tell him to fuck off and just make it so my car will turn on and stop sounding like a cricket.

Wednesday afternoon Grant calls and says my car is ready. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place - Joe left for Jersey and I have his car (and no one to drive it back to his place once I get mine). I tell my friend that I'll have to pick it up the following Monday and he says fine... but it's the end of the month and I need to pay so they can close their month out. Whatever. I go to Firestone, sign my savings away, and go home. Grant promises me that they'll pull my car into the garage at night so it doesn't get broken in to.

Thursday is Thanksgiving.

Friday I work with my dad. He gives me a check for $500 because he's a super awesome guy. I am le happy. I get drunk with Mike and go shopping at Joann Fabrics because WOOHOO $500!

Saturday I go back to Syracuse to see Vote For Pete play. In Baldwinsville. This is a whole additional story that I don't want to get into right now because it's still making me furious to think about, but involves my friend getting completely wasted, telling me to fuck off and that she can handle herself when she can't even stand and is about to make out with some random townie, but whatever.

Sunday I am sick... very sick.

Monday, I go to Firestone after work. YAY MY CAR TURNS ON! When I realize I don't have an inspection sticker (my friend Grant took off the expired one), I have Joe follow me to Carrier Circle Car Care and drop my baby off in the loving and capable hands of Rene (a nice French man). I tell him I need my inspection but say nothing of the problems that Firestone mentioned.

Tuesday, I call CCCC and Rene tells me he's working on getting the horn to work but someone called out sick and he's a little swamped. He says he'll call me tomorrow.

Wednesday morning, Rene calls me. There was a blown fuse in my dashboard causing my horn not to work and my lisence plate light was blown. I tell him to do his thang and call me when it's all set.

Wednesday afternoon, Rene calls again. My car passed inspection! I pick up the Cavi and go to pay for the damage... only $100 for the inspection and fixing the two problems! He says he had to pull the whole dashboard apart to get to the fuse but now my radio works properly, the lighter thingies work and, most importantly, the horn works. AND IT'S MOTHERFUCKING LOUD (he tested it out for me). When I ask how the rest of my car is, he says there is no problem with the power steering and that my back breaks are a little worn (and I should probably get them replaced in ~3 months) but it passed inspection just fine.

I saved $700 by getting a second opinion. Granted, I should have taken my car to CCCC in the first place because I've always brought it there and never had a problem (and they're cheaper and more honest than commercial places) but WHATEVER. I have my car and it works and it doesn't sound like a bug and now I won't get any tickets from an expired inspection =D