Flat Tire!

I am driving to school and I notice my car needs gas. I figure it still has about 40 miles in it, so I could get to Berkeley from the East bay and worry about refueling later. Procrastination at its best! Comfortable and in control over the situation, I keep going without stopping by the conveniently located gas station 1 mile from my house and on the way to school. I arrive at Berkely by 10am, take my microeconomics exam and decide to head back home. I decide to take the strategy exam from home which is due by 6pm the same day. On the way back I hear the beeping: Low Fuel. This time I know I have less than 10 miles on it, so I don't risk it but since the closest gas station is 12 miles out, I decide to go the other way and into Oakland. The nearest one is on Broadway.

Sometimes, a trip to the gas station can turn into an emergency. It is 1pm and I have finished refueling the car at one of those gas stations in Oakland more frequented by trucks than cars, when I notice my rear left tire sensor reading 17, 14, 9, 4, 0... Panic sets in. Stranded with a flat tire in Oakland with 3 hours of daylight left! Ok, calm down. Hit the roadside assistance panic button. Done. Answer the tele prompt like a robot. Done. Hear a human voice offering to help.. breathe a huge sigh of relief!

Another hour passes by before roadside assistance is at my door, an hour that I have spent gorging on potato chips and lemonades from the food court at the station. This is my lunch!  With the tire repaired and paperwork completed, I choose to drive over to a local Starbucks to write the exam. It turns out to be a good place to park myself for the next 4 hours! My bottom hurts by the time I am done, but it is time well spent. Moral of the story: do not procrastinate!