Saturday I woke up around 9 am. I really needed two more hours of sleep but I had an appointment to get my oil changed. I sure do like having a mechanic on my block, easy access. Sal's an honest Joe too. While on the lift, he noticed that there was a little transmission fluid leak. Yuk, I thought to myself. It could just be car settling after such major surgery but I have to keep my eye on it. I'm not worried about it because it's under warranty but it's kind of a pain, I'll have to give the transmission guy a call today.
After my oil change I got a shower, dropped off my laundry and drove to the A & P. I had a good shopping experience. While I was loading up my car a man approached and asked, "Are you a good Samaritan?" "Yeah, I'm a good Samaritan", I responded. He tells me how his car broke down in front of the church in a bad neighborhood -- he got a flat tire. Some guy from a garage is fixing his tire but he doesn't have the money to pay him, he left his wallet on his dresser. He asked me, "Didn't you ever leave your wallet on your dresser?" My response was 'nope'. So, the guy doesn't want me to drive him to the garage or to his car, he just wants $20 because the guy's coming back with the tire and he can't pay him. I said why don't you just have your wife call the guy with your credit card number. He told me that wasn't an option because the guy from the garage is fixing it on his own. And he told me he's been dealing with this since 5am.
I feel bad for the guy and yet, something doesn't feel right. From 5am to 11am, you're dealing with a flat tire? And why doesn't he just make arrangements with the guy who's fixing the flat instead of begging strangers for cash? I tell him I need proof, where's the car. He points and says, "Check it out, come back or not, I'll understand" I drive over to the church, there's no 3-wheeled car to be found and there's a BP less than a block from the church. The dude was trying to scam me. What a bastard to play on someone's sympathies. I was talking to my friend Tiffany not too long afterwards, I was still thinking about this. Maybe I missed the car; did I just do a crappy thing by leaving this guy? I told Tiff and she said, "Was he a fat, dumpy, bald man?" I responded, "Holy crap, yes!" She said, "He took me for $20, except his story had something to do with the hospital." Isn't that incredible!? What a jerk! I hate to say it but my good deeds towards others may have just ended or maybe I'll just look upon this as a reminder that I'm not in Kansas anymore.
After clearing my head of that nonsense, I got the Jeep out where she belongs, that's right, the highway. I drove to Nutley to get some pizza. The Jeep is stronger on the highway now, I can really tell the difference. I really enjoyed getting out of Hoboken. I was only sans car for a week but it seemed like a year. I walked around Kohl's, doormats were 50% off so I picked one up because my other one was destroyed when my hallway had major water damage last month (longest sentence ever). The mat looks nice out there.
Bob's new doormat
I like doormats, they're just a simple to say, 'Welcome' -- without actually having to talk to anyone.
Saturday night Tiffany took me out to celebrate my birthday, I didn't have any time during the week. We had a great time. I had the lamb and she had the salmon. I almost forgot -- I took a photo outside the restaurant.
Birthday dinner
Thanks to Tiff for hooking me up with a nice meal. We went to a place in Summit, NJ because I wanted to drive the Jeep somewhere. It was a nice escape from the concrete jungle.
Sunday I woke up around 10:30. I had a few bowls of Crunch Berries, got a shower and hit the road. I was on my way to Ikea to grab a cinnamon roll but the troopers had the highway blocked off. I could have gone another way but it looked like there was traffic. So I drove to Best Buy but the parking lot was really crowded and I figured, crowded parking lot, crowded store. I drove a little further down the road and went into a mall. I didn't buy anything; I just wanted to walk around. After that excitement I drove to a movie theater and luckily, Kill Bill was about to start.
I really liked it. I wish they wouldn't have split them up, so stupid. Now I have a very strong urge to buy a samurai sword. Oh, here's an interesting bit of trivia that they flashed on the screen before the film. Turns out that Halle Berry lost 80% of the hearing in one ear due to an abusive boyfriend. Why do I have to read this before I watch a movie?! WHAT DOES IT MEAN?! I thought going to the movies was an escape from reality. And the popcorn sucked eggs.
I got back to Hoboken, picked up my laundry and came home to 'zero' messages on my machine. What the heck? It's like I don't exist! I could have fallen in a ditch and no one would know. I guess it'd be weird to have a ditch in my apartment. But I think my point was made.
That's it for Monday. Have a great day.
Always,
Bob
