8.08.2007
p.s.
p.s. the highlight of my day was a reece's with banana cream flavor in honor of Elvis or something (one of his favorite snacks was a peanut butter and banana sandwich). If you see one in your local convenience store or checkout counter, you should definately grab one, b/c they are awesome!
New Orleans or bust?
...bust 
As some of you know, I was suppossed to be on my way to New Orleans as of yesterday. The plan was to drive my car to San Marcos and meet some people there who I would then ride with to The Big Easy. Well the biggest possible hitch to that plan happened yesterday around 4:30m/5:30c. First, the oil light came on and started fading in and out, so I thought "When I hit the next town I'll stop somewhere and put some oil in or something". Next thing I know the car dies and slowly stops. Luckily tho, it stopped within less than a mile of a Border Patrol checkpoint close to Sierra Blanca. I check a few things and then decide to walk up to the station and see if they can help, still not knowing for sure what happened to my car.
As I'm walking up I call my family to let them know what's up, and then one of the officers comes out and asks what's up. I tell him and they bring me inside, give me some water (maybe I should have left in the morning?) and call Tony who owns a mechanic shop/tow service in Sierra Blanca. While I'm waiting, I update the people I was supposed to meet with and my family.
So, Tony comes and takes me and my car down to SB to see what the problem is. After a few minutes of checking the oil, the battery, and anything else surface level that could have caused the problem, he tell's me it's either the engine itself or something that carries the oil to the engine, but nothing for sure. He asks where I come from and says that if I can't find a friend or someone to come down and get my car and me he can tow me to El Paso...for about 250 bucks!
I don't have that much but I call my mom again and tell her, and she gives me a few suggestions on who to call. So I start calling around, even to Amanda who is currently up in Glorietta, NM for "Student Week" with the BSU to see if anyone up there knows of someone still in LC that can come get me and my car....no luck. And no luck with everyone else I had a number for. Of course, this all takes a few hours partly b/c cell phone service in SB is spotty and there were only like two or three spots with-in a 15-foot radius that had good enough service to call or text. By this time, I'm pretty frustrated and starting to worry that my options are either stay in SB overnight trying to figure something out or calling Tony back (he closed the shop for a few hours and also had to take care of his sick wife for a bit) and asking him to take me to El Paso. I chose the latter after consulting with my mom. They transferred the money and I called Tony and then a few friends in EP to see if 1) I could have the car towed to their house and/or 2)get a ride back to LC.
The only friend I could get a hold of was Lina (thanks, BTW if you're reading this!) but after a few back and forth games of call/text tag (bad service among other things) and a couple of changes of plan it's determined that I'll tow the car to the Casa Nissan service center and then she'll pick me up and take me back to LC (actually, Shaun...again, thanks!...was the one that came to get me, and then dropped me off at UTEP's Miner Village). Keep in mind tho that Tony doesn't get back til sometime after 9 or 10 because he's helping other motorists and such. Finally, about 10:30 we get the car hitched up to his truck and make the trek back to EP and everything works out fine. I leave a brief note in the car window to let the dealership know why this car is sitting in their parking lot and tell them to call me in the morning so I can get the keys to them and they can take a look at it.
So I get home sometime after midnight feeling pretty down that my trip was ruined, but thankfull for the Border Patrol, Tony, Lina, Shaun, my mom and sister. I send off a quick email to the head honchos of the Phi Sigma Pi (which is why I was going to NO in the first place) explaining what happend and asking what should be done since I was supposed to be the delegate for our chapter at the business part of the meeting, and then finally head off to bed. Thankfully I have until Monday off from work so I can get stuff done with the car and other things that I need to get done.
Fast forward to today. I take my sister's car (she got a ride with someone else to Student Week) down to the dealership to give them the keys. I notice tho, that the coolant temp is getting closer to the dangerous level so I take it easy on the gas and turn off the AC which helps a little. I don't worry to much and figure I'll just put some coolant in when I get to the dealership. After waiting for Mike (the guy I talked to there) to stop flirting with his girlfiriend, I finally get my keys to him and he says he'll call tomorrow to let me know if they found what was wrong. As I walk back to Amanda's car to try and put the coolant in. The cap was on tight and plus it felt a little hot, and since the sticker on the cap says not to remove when hot I decided to try again later when I get back or something after it's had time to cool down. I then notice that one of the tires looks pretty low, so I find a nearby gas station and put some air in. When I take the hose out I hear a hisssssss coming from from the tire and feel air coming out. At this point I'm feeling like I'm somehow bad luck with cars or something. I decide to take the car to Wal-Mart's tire center and see if there's something they can do, but by the time I get there I don't feel or hear the air coming out and the tire center looks pretty busy anyway. I still need to let the car cool down so I can get the cap off where the coolant goes so I wander around Wal-Mart for about an hour. I try the cap again and fianlly get it off and add the coolant. The tire still looks fine so I drive back to LC.
And that brings the story to now...Amanda's car is ok...for now, and my car...well, I'm still waiting hear about that. Either way there is no chance of me getting to New Orleans by tomorrow unless they can pay for me to fly out there or something. Bummer, I guess, but at least I'm safe and not stranded in the middle of nowhere...
As some of you know, I was suppossed to be on my way to New Orleans as of yesterday. The plan was to drive my car to San Marcos and meet some people there who I would then ride with to The Big Easy. Well the biggest possible hitch to that plan happened yesterday around 4:30m/5:30c. First, the oil light came on and started fading in and out, so I thought "When I hit the next town I'll stop somewhere and put some oil in or something". Next thing I know the car dies and slowly stops. Luckily tho, it stopped within less than a mile of a Border Patrol checkpoint close to Sierra Blanca. I check a few things and then decide to walk up to the station and see if they can help, still not knowing for sure what happened to my car.
As I'm walking up I call my family to let them know what's up, and then one of the officers comes out and asks what's up. I tell him and they bring me inside, give me some water (maybe I should have left in the morning?) and call Tony who owns a mechanic shop/tow service in Sierra Blanca. While I'm waiting, I update the people I was supposed to meet with and my family.
So, Tony comes and takes me and my car down to SB to see what the problem is. After a few minutes of checking the oil, the battery, and anything else surface level that could have caused the problem, he tell's me it's either the engine itself or something that carries the oil to the engine, but nothing for sure. He asks where I come from and says that if I can't find a friend or someone to come down and get my car and me he can tow me to El Paso...for about 250 bucks!
I don't have that much but I call my mom again and tell her, and she gives me a few suggestions on who to call. So I start calling around, even to Amanda who is currently up in Glorietta, NM for "Student Week" with the BSU to see if anyone up there knows of someone still in LC that can come get me and my car....no luck. And no luck with everyone else I had a number for. Of course, this all takes a few hours partly b/c cell phone service in SB is spotty and there were only like two or three spots with-in a 15-foot radius that had good enough service to call or text. By this time, I'm pretty frustrated and starting to worry that my options are either stay in SB overnight trying to figure something out or calling Tony back (he closed the shop for a few hours and also had to take care of his sick wife for a bit) and asking him to take me to El Paso. I chose the latter after consulting with my mom. They transferred the money and I called Tony and then a few friends in EP to see if 1) I could have the car towed to their house and/or 2)get a ride back to LC.
The only friend I could get a hold of was Lina (thanks, BTW if you're reading this!) but after a few back and forth games of call/text tag (bad service among other things) and a couple of changes of plan it's determined that I'll tow the car to the Casa Nissan service center and then she'll pick me up and take me back to LC (actually, Shaun...again, thanks!...was the one that came to get me, and then dropped me off at UTEP's Miner Village). Keep in mind tho that Tony doesn't get back til sometime after 9 or 10 because he's helping other motorists and such. Finally, about 10:30 we get the car hitched up to his truck and make the trek back to EP and everything works out fine. I leave a brief note in the car window to let the dealership know why this car is sitting in their parking lot and tell them to call me in the morning so I can get the keys to them and they can take a look at it.
So I get home sometime after midnight feeling pretty down that my trip was ruined, but thankfull for the Border Patrol, Tony, Lina, Shaun, my mom and sister. I send off a quick email to the head honchos of the Phi Sigma Pi (which is why I was going to NO in the first place) explaining what happend and asking what should be done since I was supposed to be the delegate for our chapter at the business part of the meeting, and then finally head off to bed. Thankfully I have until Monday off from work so I can get stuff done with the car and other things that I need to get done.
Fast forward to today. I take my sister's car (she got a ride with someone else to Student Week) down to the dealership to give them the keys. I notice tho, that the coolant temp is getting closer to the dangerous level so I take it easy on the gas and turn off the AC which helps a little. I don't worry to much and figure I'll just put some coolant in when I get to the dealership. After waiting for Mike (the guy I talked to there) to stop flirting with his girlfiriend, I finally get my keys to him and he says he'll call tomorrow to let me know if they found what was wrong. As I walk back to Amanda's car to try and put the coolant in. The cap was on tight and plus it felt a little hot, and since the sticker on the cap says not to remove when hot I decided to try again later when I get back or something after it's had time to cool down. I then notice that one of the tires looks pretty low, so I find a nearby gas station and put some air in. When I take the hose out I hear a hisssssss coming from from the tire and feel air coming out. At this point I'm feeling like I'm somehow bad luck with cars or something. I decide to take the car to Wal-Mart's tire center and see if there's something they can do, but by the time I get there I don't feel or hear the air coming out and the tire center looks pretty busy anyway. I still need to let the car cool down so I can get the cap off where the coolant goes so I wander around Wal-Mart for about an hour. I try the cap again and fianlly get it off and add the coolant. The tire still looks fine so I drive back to LC.
And that brings the story to now...Amanda's car is ok...for now, and my car...well, I'm still waiting hear about that. Either way there is no chance of me getting to New Orleans by tomorrow unless they can pay for me to fly out there or something. Bummer, I guess, but at least I'm safe and not stranded in the middle of nowhere...
8.02.2007
Vacation and a holiday from school?
To start off, for those of you who haven't heard yet, by this time next week I should be in New Orleans. This'll be my first trip to N'Awlins...never got to experience it pre-Katrina =( It'll still be pretty cool I'm sure and I'll get to see somewhat how they've bounced back and rebuilt. In case you're wondering, I'm going as a delegate to the National Convention for the honor fraternity I'm in (Phi Sigma Pi). This is the 2nd year I've been the delegate, but the first time that the convention part is combined with the "Grand Chapter" part (basically like a much bigger, much longer regular chapter meeting), and the first time that I'll be the only one from my chapter there. Luckily, I know how it works and know a lot of people that will be there so I'm not so worried. I might need to brush up on my Robert's Rules/parliamentary procedure a little before I go, but otherwise I'll be fine. The only thing I'm working out right now is transportation. I think what I'll be doing is meeting up with one of the TX chapters that's halfway from here to there and then car pooling with them, b/c they have enough space in their car(s). So, that's a big blessing cuz being a delegate was a last minute thing for me so I didn't have time to save up for a flight and I don't think my car would make it that far (it's not in horrible condition but it's probably better not to push it) plus driving that far alone es no bueno.
Now, to explain the 2nd part of this entry's title. Right now, I'm still short quite a bit on last semester's tuition. That means I can't register for this coming semester until I pay that off. Let's just say it's not something I can get past with just one paycheck...so chances are unless I get a loan or win the lottery out of nowhere this could be a real problem. I'd already be going into my 3rd year of being a senior, and now it looks like it'll take even longer. So, what would I be doing if not going to school? Well, first I'd have to find a new job b/c my current job is a "student job" (not work study) kinda like when I worked at the Pan Am, so if I'm not a full time student then I can't have that job. Stinks a little that it's like that but I understand, so whatever. What I'll probably be looking for is either being a sub or a teacher's assistant. I need to get apps/resumes in ASAP tho b/c the public schools are starting in like a week or so. Granted I'll have to say I can't start right away cuz I'll be out of town when most of them start, but if it's meant to be then it'll work out, I'm sure.
The only other thing that not going to school next semester would majorly affect is my membership with PSP. I would have to go inactive which is not something our chapter needs right now, but I can't be active unless i'm in school at the time. I can still come back next semester or next fall -- if it comes to that -- but after that I can't officially be in it. I just don't like the idea of leaving them one person shorter right now cuz right now our size is where everyone is an officer and I just took on the newly combined role of secretary (used to be 2 positions). So, if you're going to NMSU, have a 3.0 and this isn't your 1st or last semester, check it out. If you wanna know more about it, ask me. Hey, if I can't be an active member I can at least recruit for them right? ;-)
That's about it for now. I'll give an update when I get back from NOLA, N'Awlins, New Orleans, w/e you wanna call it :-p
Now, to explain the 2nd part of this entry's title. Right now, I'm still short quite a bit on last semester's tuition. That means I can't register for this coming semester until I pay that off. Let's just say it's not something I can get past with just one paycheck...so chances are unless I get a loan or win the lottery out of nowhere this could be a real problem. I'd already be going into my 3rd year of being a senior, and now it looks like it'll take even longer. So, what would I be doing if not going to school? Well, first I'd have to find a new job b/c my current job is a "student job" (not work study) kinda like when I worked at the Pan Am, so if I'm not a full time student then I can't have that job. Stinks a little that it's like that but I understand, so whatever. What I'll probably be looking for is either being a sub or a teacher's assistant. I need to get apps/resumes in ASAP tho b/c the public schools are starting in like a week or so. Granted I'll have to say I can't start right away cuz I'll be out of town when most of them start, but if it's meant to be then it'll work out, I'm sure.
The only other thing that not going to school next semester would majorly affect is my membership with PSP. I would have to go inactive which is not something our chapter needs right now, but I can't be active unless i'm in school at the time. I can still come back next semester or next fall -- if it comes to that -- but after that I can't officially be in it. I just don't like the idea of leaving them one person shorter right now cuz right now our size is where everyone is an officer and I just took on the newly combined role of secretary (used to be 2 positions). So, if you're going to NMSU, have a 3.0 and this isn't your 1st or last semester, check it out. If you wanna know more about it, ask me. Hey, if I can't be an active member I can at least recruit for them right? ;-)
That's about it for now. I'll give an update when I get back from NOLA, N'Awlins, New Orleans, w/e you wanna call it :-p
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