Oh! What a night....

Well, its the end of a crazy day. Actually, less of a crazy day than a crazy night.

On Thursdays I normally get up at the normal time, work on homework until about 10, watch the first 20 minutes of Regis and Kelly with my roommate Sarah, shower and go back to homwork until Celina comes for lunch. She's one the chaplains that I meet with regularly - a really neat, jesus-loving gal.

Today started out like most of the others, except that I'm so far behind on regular reading because of this crazy midterm I'm working on, that I was feeling the squeeze. Class tomorrow has one book in its entirety (its great: Millenials Go to College) due to discuss, plus 6 chapters from our text - 3 from last week, 3 from this week.... plus the midterm.

So I was just working like a trojan when Sarah mentioned she wanted to go to Target get some rainboots... Even though I know that Target probably wouldn't have any size 10's left (sorry, Rana, but you know its true) I said, "OK, I'll go with you at 2pm and go into work late." Celina came at 12:45, we had a great meeting and then Sarah and I headed to Target.

We got there and traveled to the shoe area, but I was on a phone call and so I wasn't being very thorough. I saw that there were boots on the top shelf, where the little size marker said "10" and so I slipped off my flip flop and put on the boot. It was kind of narrow so I shouldered the phone and pulled it on..... realizing too late... it was NOT a 10. No, I think it was a 9. So now picture me on the phone trying to get this boot off with one hand - its a full size too small... Sarah tries to help me, but that boot is on and we're both laughing but I'm on the phone and trying not to let on that I'm in a very awkward position. Thankfully the boot came off.

I did finally make it back home (no boots.. boo, hiss) and got my stuff all together (right now, I travel with my midterm textbooks everywhere so I can work on the essays wherever I go) and drove to work. I got a GREAT spot, on the street about 20 yards from the house where I work. Life is good. Work was fine, I got the things done I needed to and I worked on editing my paper - all good so far.

I was staying at work past closing time so that I could just walk over to Waco Hall to meet my friends... we were planning to attend PIGSKIN. Pigskin is a musical revue, thats actually a reprisal of the top 8 teams from SING. Sing is "the largest amateur talent show in the country" and is an annual event where greek organizations (primarily) put together 7 minute musical numbers. but that description doesn't even begin to do it justice. Imagine 90 men (or women) singing, dancing, elaborate costumes and sets. Its even better than you can imagine, or at least it was better than I could imagine.

Ok, anyway, I put my backpack in my trunk, grabbed a wrap because it was cold today and walked over to the show. Thank goodness I decided to put away homework for a night and just enjoy this homecoming tradition!!!!! It was AMAZING! It was so amazing that afterward on the way back to my car I called my parents and said, "Book you tickets to visit February 22-24 because your coming and we're going to Sing!!!!!"

I got to my car and for a moment thought my backpack had been stolen. But, phew, I had left it in the trunk. I left it there, decided to get it out when I got home in 5 minutes. I got into the car, turned the key..... nothing. well, weird clicking and electric lights, but nothing else. tried again a few times. no. So I called Sarah, who came to my rescue. It was about 9:45 now, and dark and cold. Sarah came and after restarting her car, got out and went around to the other side..... only to discover she had locked herself out of the car... with it running. My car was still dead and the jumper cables were inside her car. Her car was blocking mine in, and it was locked with the engine running. Picture it. Actually, in hindsight... well not hysterical, but funny. I had called my friends Collin and Candice to tell them about my evening and the car earlier. When this happened, Sarah ran toward home to get her extra key, with my housekey in her hand. I called back the Bullards and they came to rescue us. Collin dropped Candice off with me and went to pick up Sarah so she didn't have to run the streets of Waco alone. In the meantime, a police officer had come by and was going to help me start my car. He had a jump pack, but before he used it he had to get my driver's license and the car's plate. Then I had to try to explain why the car I have (which has a pennsylvania license) isn't really mine yet, it belongs to some friends who are giving it to me, and was given to them by the people from Pennsylvania who live in Texas now, but the title hasn't changed... Oh, and my driver's license is still Illinois. Luckily, he was OK with all of that and we had a shared bonding moment over BAMC in San Antonio.

Now get this... his jump pack didn't work... it was dead. So he had to call for backup. Sarah had come back at this point and moved her car, Collin was there, too. The other officer comes, they put on the new jump pack, I try the car - nothing. But they move the clamps and BAM! the car starts. Phew.

We decide we all (except the officers who have to go back to work) need ice cream and my car needs to run a little so I headed toward the HEB, and Candice came with me. Collin and Sarah went back to the apt. to await creamy frozen goodness. We parked and got our ice cream (thanks again, Bullards) and got back in the car.... which didn't start. Now Candice is a pretty small woman, but she's feisty and strong. And her and Collin are some of the most loyal people I've ever met. So I say, "can you drive a stick?"
"Yes."
"Ok," I say, "we're going to have to push it and pop the clutch"
so she gets in the driver's seat and I push the car out of the space and up the aisle... creating a runway.
I then push it forward, but we didn't have enough speed, so when she pops the clutch it doesn't start.
We decide to switch and at that moment a women asks us if we need help and then a man does. The man ends up helping Candice push, we get going a good clip and then
BAM! again.
the car starts - we feel like heroes at this point and we're super grateful to God - and we get home.

I have no idea if the car is going to start now, or ever again without jumper cables and my next trip to San Antonio (to John the mechanic) is at Thanksgiving. Oh, and this is the car I'm supposed to drive to Dallas in 3 weeks to fly to Greenville. But nevermind all that.

I lost 2 more hours of homework than planned. Bummer, because now its 11:40 and I'm still up with some reading left and questions to type.

But here's the bottom line:
* Pigskin was awesome and I forgot about my midterm for 2 1/2 hours.
* My car breaking down was a great memory experience - how often does your car stop running, your roommate's keys get locked in her running car, AND you have to push start your own car in the SAME NIGHT???
* I got to spend a few short minutes eating ice cream with three people I really like at a crazy late hour when normally none of us would be hanging out "on a school night" eating ice cream.

Life is good, people. God is amazing. He knows what we need to get back into perspective.

Oh, and I love mint chocolate chip ice cream, too.

Blessings.