Last week I worked 2 basketball games, the final home football game, and got everything done for 2 more basketball games that I wasn't working for earlier this week. And some stuff that needed to be done for 2 games AFTER the Thanksgiving holiday since I wasn't going to be around to do it this week. I hardly saw Tommy when he was awake last week, since I got home so late after the games I worked and then stayed at my parents' on Friday night. Of course, when I was home after he was asleep, I just stared at him for 10 minutes watching him sleep.
The cherry on the sundae for my crazy week, however was my car breaking down on the NJ Turnpike on my way to work the football game. I can now say that my worst fear that I've had over the past 10 years working games finally came to fruition. Yes, my car breaking down was my worst fear - at least until I arrived at the game - then it became the videoboard malfunctioning, or someone not showing up.
I have to say, I am proud of how I handled the situation. I.NEVER.CRIED. And believe me, I'm a crier, and I wanted to cry. But I couldn't. I just laughed. For any of you who travel the NJ Turnpike or Garden State Parkway, it's important to know that if you have AAA, they can't come and get you. They will transfer you to the Turnpike Authority, who will send some tow truck they have under contract to come and rescue you. And you might not be able to get out of his truck on your own because there is no handle on the passenger side door. And the tow truck driver might almost get you killed when he isn't paying attention and makes a left turn in front of a car in the parking lot he is dropping you and your car off in to wait for AAA to come and rescue you a second time. Oh, and AAA+, totally worth the investment we made in January, since we got the car towed to our mechanic for free (up to 100 miles free towing). We did not have the Plus when John's car died in a snowstorm on the Parkway back in January, and we learned our lesson.
One of the guys who works for us on the videoboard was coming down the Turnpike and arrived while the tow truck was hooking my car up, so he took all of my stuff in his car to the Stadium. I took everything out when I first pulled over because I thought the car was going to blow up. (It didn't). My boss told me Rutgers would pay for a taxi or car service to get me to the Stadium if necessary, but I was able to get a colleague to come and get me who doesn't have to be at the Stadium as early as I do. The guy who picked up all my stuff brought all the stuff we needed for the game in for me, and I arrived at the Stadium with 28 MINUTES TO SPARE before kickoff. So 7 minutes before the pregame "show" that I oversee started, I walked in the control room and said, "okay, now we can have a game!" Since we'd done this 6 times already this season, I wasn't too concerned about things running without me if that happened, but after all the time and effort I'd put in, especially this past week and knowing this was Senior Day, I was determined to be there and see everything through to the end.
As for getting home, some friends I'd given tickets to for this game were able to take me home, otherwise I was going to get that car service my boss said I could charge back! But let's top it off that my wallet apparently fell out in my colleague's car before we got to the Stadium in the morning, and I did not even know it until she called to say she found it! So we had to double back to her house to get that.
Did I mention I had a beer in the control room before the game was over? (I should have had one as soon as I got there, except that I had an empty stomach and then might have been buzzed trying to do my job!)
The nice thing was, I came home on Saturday to a hug from my little guy because he missed me so much, and then we got to spend all day Sunday together. Here are the blessings I got to enjoy after overcoming quite a few challenges:
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| Tommy was a little leery of the hood so I had to show him how I looked |
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| Modeling his Gap cap, the only hat I can get him to wear right now |
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| Tux in his new 'spot' that Tommy did not even notice for quite some time |
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| "Tux-ee-dee-doe" (as Tommy calls him) keeping a watchful eye on Tommy |
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| Tommy still clueless that Tux is right there! |
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| The oldest boy naps in his new spot |
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| We've had this perch for years and the cats hardly use it, but Tails found it worked for him for a Sunday afternoon nap |
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| And then there's my sweet prince, napping as well on Sunday afternoon |
As for the car, turns out it as a busted water pump and something else I don't remember since I am not a car afficiando. And a few other things that were on the verge of going that would need to be replaced within the next 5,000 miles or else I'd have some major problems again. We only have TWO payments left on my car, and the repairs total more than what the 2 payments combined are. Even though I have always been anal about servicing the car, these things happen. And yes, I realize at 129,000 miles, thins are going to possibly happen now. Sigh. But, it could have been worse, as I know from what happened to my Saturn back in 2000. And Tommy could have been with me in the car, which would have been quite the challenge keeping him corralled on the side of the road (I did eventually get back in my car when the smoke dissipated!) Since we'll be away for a few days, we didn't have to rent a car while they work on it.
And the hemming and hawing I was doing about taking Monday off or not? That decision was made for me, and I ended up having quite a productive day doing errands and getting us packed and organized for our trip to Chicago for Thanksgiving!
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