I'm stranded 250 miles from home - ask me anything!

[NMDemDist2]

thank heavens I packed my laptop and the hotel has wifi

:hide:

[suninvited]

1. Where are you stranded?

what kind of fun things are there to do there?

[NMDemDist2]

2. I'm in Albuerquerque and the hotel is right in a mall

but I'm not much of a shopper especially when I don't know what it's gonna take to get the car fixed :scared:

I came up for the State Democratic Party convention and the car's tranny started acting up on the way home

:cry:

[crispini]

3. Oh no! Well at least you're stranded in a hotel room.

How did your state convention go? Any floor fights? :D

[NMDemDist2]

4. nope, but 'my' guy did very well and gave the best speech of the day

and that's not just my prejudice either, check out what a local blogger said!

http://mrycllns.blogspot.com/2008/03/results-from-democratic-state.html

"I was sitting in my chair listen to the CD2 candidates speak not really hearing anything that impressed me. Thinking OK, another year of no hope from the South, but knock me over with a feather. The South has risen in a big way. He took the stage as a young, energetic candidate, but he was by no means alone. He had lots of supporters with him. When he opened his mouth, I felt like Simon Cowell on American Idol. This young man will be a star of our party in the very near future. I don't even think he begins to know just how talented he is when it comes to politics. Bill McCamley is a natural and a find that we can not let get away. He took the highest vote count from CD2 with over 40% of the vote. Even if he is young this man gets it in a way that no other candidate from CD2 has gotten it in years. The democratic voters in CD2 need to listen to this man speak."

[NMDemDist2]

5. and now the bad news $1300-$1800 to rebuild the transmission

the good news? they hope to get it done today so I can get home tonight

:cry:

[Inchworm]

6. That stinks AZ

I'm glad they'll finish today, but that doesnt make now stink less. hehe

:hug:

[NMDemDist2]

7. no guarantees on today

I may be another night (and another $50) in the hotel

I'll know more in a couple hours

[Inchworm]

8. Car fixin vibes are on the way

Luckily, I'm stranded at home with mine. I gave up on it and have been calling junkyards to see how much I'll get out of it. I got tired of the money pit it became.

Good luck.

:hug:

[NMDemDist2]

9. thanks Inchie!

:pals:

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Oh dear! *hugs and good karma*

[NMDemDist2]

11. thanks GPV

*sigh*

[tigereye]

12. I thought at first you were upset about the NCAA tournament seedings...

never mind. (Arizona/Arizona State)


I have too much basketball on my mind. :silly:



hope your car woes work out...

[NMDemDist2]

13. LOL, roundball is the last thing on my mind right now

and the car is handled, it's the wallet woes that will take a while LOL

[tigereye]

14. it's the nature of cars, unfortunately

I always try to remember what the car talk guys say, sometimes the cost of maintenance and repair of an older car is still less than the cost of a new one.

[NMDemDist2]

16. yuppers, this car is definately worth fixing

but still.....

:yoiks:

[supernova]

15. Man, sorry 'bout your car troubles AZ!

:hug:

At least you are in a comfortable spot, even if it is costing you an arm and a leg.

Hope you get home tonight.

That's always my worst nightmare with a car, be stuck somewhere unfamiliar with a breakdown.

You have my sympathy.

[NMDemDist2]

17. thanks! everyone has been so great. I broke down about 60 miles out of town

in a windstorm with gusts to 70mph, sand and grit blowing everywhere

luckily the car still ran, but only in 1st and 2nd gear so I was able to nurse it back to a mechanic who told me where to take it back here

and thank heaven I had towing on my insurance so that was covered :whew:

and the tow truck dude took me to a good area with lots of shopping, restaurants and hotels to choose from and the room is only $50 a night

I just called the front desk and they're giving me an extra hour and a half to stick around before I have to make the decision (IOW get the call) if I need another night

:hi:

[XemaSab]

18. That happened to me two weeks ago

Nothing like the suprise cancellation of the ATM card. :banghead:

[NMDemDist2]

19. yikes!!

at least I have money LOL

[NMDemDist2]

20. update redeux

it was a catastrophic failure, they can only re-use the shafts and the case.

seems when I had the tranny serviced 20K miles ago, the wrong filter was installed. it starved the unit for fluid and the combo of 75mph fighting 50 mph headwinds was just too much load for it to continue. it only lasted as long as it did because we only drove it 10 miles at any one time.

the shop guys say the angels were watching out for me that it left me 2nd gear enough to get back to civilization

:banghead:

[NMDemDist2]

21. shameless kick for sympathy and out of boredom LOL n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

22. Is there any good food nearby?

Taco Bell, Olive Garden, good stuff like that?

Transmission problems suck. They're never cheap.

[NMDemDist2]

23. I did spot a J&B's

almost as bad as OG :rofl:


but the cute cafe around the corner delivers :bounce:

[abq e streeter]

24. I'll PM you with my phone # if you're still stuck and need a ride to a restaurant etc.

P.S. I'll give cybergata a hard time about not showing up when I see her Wednesday. Glad you're OK at least; that wind really was unbelievable.

[NMDemDist2]

25. hi!!

no, I'm hunkered in but thanks. Tyger offered to come rescue me too

turns out when we had the service done 20K miles ago, they used the wrong filter !! :banghead:

it overheated and blew under the stress

the only reason it didn't blow months ago is we never took it more than 10 miles in any one trip. it's a wonder it even made it up there in the first place.....

and give the gata hell for sure LOL

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

26. Wow, keep all the old parts

sounds like you may have a case to get the previous service place to pay at least part of the tranny cost.

If so,
:bounce:

[NMDemDist2]

28. yes, that's what the shop guy said and he's going to document it too for me

it's a local guy at home with a rep as the best mechanic in town, I expect he'll give us some relief...

[KitchenWitch]

27. Are there any of our type of social gatherings you can get to?

:hug:

Sorry about your car.

Did you enjoy the convention?

[NMDemDist2]

31. ahhh that would have been nice huh? I hadn't even thought about that!!

that's a great idea!!

I'm calling Central Office as we speak!! thanks!!

my guy did good at the convention, see my post above and a DUer hosted me and they were wonderful so it's all good

:hi:

[KitchenWitch]

32. Kind of makes a strangish place feel more like home.

:grouphug:

:hi:

[NMDemDist2]

37. thanks KW

great idea an folks only came from a mile away to give me a ride

how sweet is that??

:hi:

[texas1928]

29. So impromptu vacation, have fun...

Got to make the best of it.

[NMDemDist2]

35. that's exactly what hubby said

so I did

:hi:

[Redstone]

30. At least you're not stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again. Be thankful.

Redstone

[NMDemDist2]

36. well, Mobile's not so bad

in my experience anyway

:rofl:

[SPKrazy]

33. Oh man, what a drag!

Albuquerque is a cool place, but breaking down anywhere sucks eggs.

Tranny problems especially.

Well I'm 160 miles closer than usual to ya, but not anywhere near Albuquerque :)

:hi:

:hug:

take care

[NMDemDist2]

34. thanks d00d, I took KW's suggestion and got out of the room for a couple hours

met some nice people, drank some crappy coffee and am feeling fine

:hi:

[KitchenWitch]

38. Ah yes, crappy coffee

:9

[NMDemDist2]

39. right

:9


:rofl: