Monday, March 8, 2010

Embarrassing Confession #1

I run out of gas, all the time. 

Seriously, like 4-8 times a year.  Who does that?  A few weeks ago, I did it twice in one week.  I know.  I’m a 35 year old, who can read a gas gauge and figure out mileage and everything.   This is why I think it happens:

1.  Ryan and I have this new strict budget and I’m always trying to stretch it to the end of the budget period.  So I put, like, $10 dollars in, thinking it will get me 4 more days and then try to live in denial that it won’t.

2.  I am complete optimist.  I always think things are going to work out the way I want:  “I know I only have 20 miles left in the tank, but I think I can make it 24 to piano and back.”

3.  I have discounts at gas stations 10-15 miles away and so I try to fill up at those and sometimes don’t make it.  I was so happy Ryan was with me the last time and telling me how to put it in neutral so I could coast down the hill to one of those faraway gas stations.  (I kept thinking, “Oh good, he can either push the van or run and get some while I hang out with the kids”).

Here’s a picture of when it happened last:

outofgas

It was Sunday and church had just gotten out and we were .5 miles from home and I ran out at the stop sign.  With at least 5 ward members behind me.  I kept waving them by, because I saw Ryan’s car at the back of the line.  One nice friend, who told me his wife does this, too (sorry, Amy!), got his gas can and filled us up.  And I puttered home, a little sheepish (but slightly relieved to hear another adult does it too, sometimes).

You don’t even know how many Dear Heavenly Father PLEASE Bless Me To Make It To The Town, I Won’t Ever Do This Again Prayers I’ve said on our long road trips.  It’s bad.

So when I say I’m running out of gas…I’m being more literal than figurative.

22 comments:

Lindsey said...

The first step is admitting it... But let me just say, I am glad I am not in the car on those road trips!

Anonymous said...

I'm coming out of semi-lurker status to tell you that you are not alone (insert Michael Mcclean soundtrack). I run out of gas sometimes. Maybe on the way to taking the kids to school last week. Maybe i didn't have a bra (or a shirt on, but maybe my 8 year old's hoodie), it is possible that i wasn't wearing shoes or socks and 2 of my children may have been naked except for their underwear. Maybe. Also, maybe my husband runs out of gas like 8 times a year. (soundtrack softly fading...and you realize you're not alone)

Adrianne said...

Natalie's comment was so funny I just had to go lurk on her blog for 10 minutes before I could comment.

I only ran out of gas once, with
Paige, in her car, and she made me push. I have never run out of gas again.

Laurie said...

I am the complete opposite. I start getting nervous when it dips below half. 'Cause you never know when you're going to have outrun the bad guys, or make an emergency shopping trip.

Does that make me a pessimist, or prepared?

Elizabeth said...

You are not alone. I now belong to the automobile association who save my bacon at least twice a year.

Melissa said...

I'm de-lurking also to let you know you are not alone. We have almost ran out on the way to the hospital before-- that is definitely prayer time. ;)

Our ward preparedness person never lets it dip below 1/2. HALF!!!!!!!! Imagine!

Taralyn said...

Many Many moons ago (because I am old) My Dad taught me to never let my car get below 1/2 tank because you never know when you are going to have to make an emergency run.... I'm glad I learned that leason because I live in a tiny town 8 miles from any other tiny and 60 miles from a hospital... I have never ran out of gas and I have been driving for 26 years.... Good Luck staying fueled to your low cost gas stations!! :)

Cami said...

Well, I haven't done this since I was 17.
Once was enough.
Main street in Spanish Fork. Every high school student driving by...
Once was enough

Tristan said...

I have never run out of gas. It kind of scares me to do so. Mostly cuz I would be super embarrassed and I think my Ryan would have a fit about it.

And is it wrong of me to think you are so silly? ha ha! Love ya girl but just put 5$-10$ in here and there if you are trying to stretch your budget.

And yeah, totally adore and love you. But again... you are so silly! ;)

Margaret said...

LOL that last line slayed me. So funny.

I ran out of gas a week ago. Thankfully I wasn't too far from home and we had some gas in the lawnmower can.

the wrath of khandrea said...

I AM STUNNED! i never would've guessed this about you. never. i feel confused.

my favorite comment was adrianne's, only because i can totally see paige making her push. why does that make me love paige even more, when it should only fill me with disdain???

Annemarie said...

You are so funny. I'm super impressed with the budget. I suck at budgets.

Anisa said...

I seriously don't think I have ever run out of gas... interesting. I didn't know people did that. Sorry, Jessica.

mandy* said...

One day in high school I was super freaked out about a low gas tank that was at about -1 gallons full. I MADE my brother drive over from work, take my car to get gas and bring it back - all during one of his breaks at work. I still don't know why he did it...he was a nice older brother! He did, however, park it on the sidewalk at the entrance of the school instead of in a parking spot. That was slightly embarrassing.

Lauren in GA said...

Lindsey made me laugh with her, "the first step is admitting it."

I am in no positon to criticize you because Mike said to me on Saturday, "You were below empty...I mean, below, below." So, I thanked him for filling up the mini-van. Again.

I love that you are a complete optimist. That really is a great thing, for the most part...but perhaps you should carry a gas can. Just sayin' ;)

You make me laugh. You really are adorable.

Brown Sugar said...

I ran out of gas once with Adrianne in the car, to put it nicely she was not pleased with me and totally embarrassed me in front of this boy I liked. Point being, I have never run out of gas again.

Brooke said...

Jessica,
That's what makes you so fun!! Seriously I think it's pretty funny. :)

Christie said...

My husband runs out all the time. His car has this thing that tells him how many more miles worth of gas he has left in the tank. He is somehow convinced that when it hits zero, he can go a few more. He's insane. I refuse now to bail him out.

I, on the other hand, cannot stand to be without a full tank. I fill that puppy up when it hits the 1/4 mark. Always. Cause I'm crazy like that.

J'net said...

I'd say IT'S NOT UR fault...
HUSBANDS r supposed to fill up the family car ONCE a week I thought!!? It's in the family proclamation... under spouse duties?
U r responsible to raise the kids by taking them to THOSE piano lessons in a gas-ed up van...
Getting gas is a GREAT outing on DATE night too!
WHO washes and empties out the "kid-stuff" in the van? That's the rest of that compound sentence on the HONEY-DEW list, u r supposed to keep up w/ the laundry... DUH!!
Aloha

brooke romney said...

So funny! I'm opposite. In my ideal world, I'd have so much money in my account, I'd fill up when it was still 3/4 full.

Rochelleht said...

Wow. I haven't done this since high school. Once. It was so traumatic, I knew I could never go through it again. That's pretty funny.

heidiram said...

I let it run well below empty all the time. Thank goodness I only live a few blocks away from a gas station. I have a friend that always runs out of gas. And her car is so stinkin' heavy to push. I've even thought about investing in a gas can just for her . . . so I can actually help her when she runs out of gas.