Bonehead

So, I have to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get to work on time at the airport on Saturdays and Sundays. I noticed on Friday that I needed gas. I didn't really have time to go and get gas that night and thought I had enough to at least get me to the airport the next morning, so I didn't get any. It turns out I was wrong.

The car died for the first time on the freeway off-ramp to the airport. I was able to get it started again. It died again a short while later. Now I was trying to figure out where I could park since I was NOT going to make it to the employee lot. I decided to try for the pay lot attached to the terminal. It was going to be expensive, but at least I would make it to work. What I didn't think about was the incline. You have to go up a ramp to get to the 2nd floor of the terminal before you can enter the parking lot. I made it about 85% up the ramp before the car stalled again. I hit the brakes, turned on my hazards and began staring into my rearview mirror so that I could see if someone wasn't paying attention and was going to hit me. I figured at least I could take my foot of the break to lessen the blow. It was SCARY to see how many people weren't paying attention. I really thought I was going to get hit at one point by a guy trying to go around a bus. It is a good thing the bus saw me and stopped so the guy could get in front of him.

Once the coast was clear I tried to push the car up the hill (yes I am that desperate and stupid at 5 am). When that didn't work AT ALL, I rolled backwards down the incline, until I misjudged the angle of the slight turn, and hit a curb. I waited a minute for the gas to settle in my tank again and tried the engine again. I got it to come on long enough to back up off the curb and past it. I could not take the exit to get to the cell phone lot. The car died and I restarted it a few more times but I FINALLY pulled into a parking spot in the cell phone lot.

I had 4 minutes to clock in before I was going to be late, so I ran. It isn't far to the terminal from the cell phone lot, but it is far enough. I ran to the elevator, and was SO happy to find one sitting there open. I got in and pushed the button. I then ran all the way from the elevator to the time clock. About half way there I realized that my badge was somewhere in the bottom of my purse. I decided that I would dig for it when I got to the clock. I dropped my stuff at the time clock, it was EXACTLY 5:30. I would be considered late if the clock turned to 5:31. I found my badge and swipped it. No beep. I looked and it was my airport badge, not my airline badge. NO! I traded badges, looked at the clock, it was now 5:31. I clocked in. All that and I was still late.

When I was out of gas and sitting at the top of the ramp to the 2nd floor I called the staffing office to let them know what was going on. I left a message in the hopes that it would cover my ass if I was late. Shortly after I clocked in my phone rang. It was the girl in staffing calling to see if I was okay. I told her where I had parked my car and that I had clocked in 10 seconds late, and that now my main concern was that my car didn't get towed. She told me to talk to someone with the city, but wait until my shift was over to deal with actually moving the car. Duh.

I called the city operator and she told me it would be fine and to call them back when I was ready to leave so she could send the tow truck with some gas to meet me. Cool. I didn't have to bother anyone to bring me gas. :)

At the end of my shift I did call then headed to my car. As I walked up I realized that in my hurry to not be late, I left my hazards on. Wouldn't you know it. The tow truck arrived shortly after I did and gave me gas and a jump. I went straight to the gas station.

Now I can only hope that they don't write me up for being late. I REALLY hope they give me credit for trying, but I COMPLETELY understand if they don't.