I got TWO flat tires yesterday. Well, at least I THOUGHT I had two but really I only had one flat tire. It was a terrible ordeal! First, I got a call from my senior on Friday night at 6:30pm (yah! Who does that?!) and of course I didn't pick up in case she wanted me to come into work at that hour! No way! Anyways, she basically called to let me know that she had pulled me off my job for next week - the non-profit audit that I was REALLY looking forward to - and put me on Cott. First, I don't really like Cott that much because the senior is TOO HARD WORKING! She's really very serious, and although I get along with her....she really works me!

Anyways, I really didn't appreciate being called on a Friday night but whatever...so I called her on Saturday morning, but she basically told me she was sorry, but she couldn't do anything about it. So that made me late for my aerobics class - so run out the door, and whaddaya know - WHOOP! I slip right on the side walk onto my rear end cuz there's ice everywhere. So then I rush out, into my car, and drive to the gym. Except halfway there I hear a pop - and I realize something's funny with my car. But I don't know what it is...so I keep going. And besides, I'm late for my class - so I find parking, go to the gym, sweat like a pig partially because I'm mad at my senior, and then when I get back to my car, I get halfway down the street until I realize okay, something REALLY bad is going on. So I check my tires - and the passenger front tire is SO flat it's down to the rim. THEN, I check the other front tire - and it's about halfway flat too!! CRAPS!

The thing is, because I was late for my gym class and I don't really trust the lockers (even though locked) to bring anything valuable - I didn't bring my wallet. Which means I didn't have my CAA card. Which means I was stuck. And it was freezing cold outside, and I didn't wear my winter jacket or mitts or anything. So then I drive a couple blocks - ON MY FLAT TIRE - (which apparently you're not supposed to do cuz it could permanently damage your car) to the nearest gas station, where I try to pump air into the tire enough to get myself home. But of course, this isn't made easy for me because a) I have to wait in line, then b) while I'm waiting, some mini-cooper comes butting in the car line, and then c) once I get to the air pump - the tire doesn't take any air!!

So then finally God gives mercy because this lady who was waiting for the air behind me, honks to tell me that my current efforts are futile and that she'll give me a ride home so I can call CAA. THANK GOODNESS she looked trustworthy! Cuz I could've been kidnapped or worse! Anyways, so I make it home, call CAA, but of course it's not until two hours later that they come to pick me up. Then they take me to my car, help me replace my tire with the spare, but then I have to try to get my car to the nearest Canadian tire. But remember, I thought I had TWO flat tires - but only ONE spare. So I was SOOO worried that the other tire wouldn't make it to Canadian tire...was praying SOOO hard....cuz if it did, then I'd have to call for a tow truck which would take another two hours!!

Anyways, so I finally get to the Canadian tire, and when I get to the front counter - the man tell me they are not accepting any more work orders for the day!! It's at this point that I just LOSE IT...cuz also, I haven't bought my turkey yet and I'm supposed to start cooking it at 9am Sunday morning for my Christmas dinner Sunday night!! And how am I supposed to get a 10 pound turkey by myself??! Bring it with me on the bus??! PLUS - I don't have anymore bus tickets and NO CHANGE IN MY WALLET!!

NOTHING WAS WORKING OUT FOR ME.

So I just lost it in front of Gilles, the Canadian Tire man. He was so nice, he gave me some kleenex. And the only thing I could do was leave my car at the Canadian tire overnight, take the bus to the nearest grocery store, get my food for tomorrow night's dinner, and then cab home. So that's what I did.

So then I spent the rest of the night mashing potatoes, baking apple pie, cutting up veggies, etc. It was pretty exhausting...

But the thing is, I've decided that God was looking out for me despite all the hardships of this weekend.

A) Friday night had a huge snowstorm, and I was driving around in it - I could've easily gotten my flat tire in the middle of the night, by myself, driving home from fellowship in the snow and then would've REALLY been stranded!!

B) When I got my flat tire, thank goodness it wasn't too far away from home. And I was close to the gas station. And the Canadian Tire is only 10 minutes away from my home. And I knew how to take the bus there.

C) The CAA guy, Ali, was really nice. So was the Canadian Tire staff - I got to know a few of them over the past couple of days cuz they've been giving me advice on my car and what kind of tires to replace them with, etc. Thank God they're not mean or uncaring!

D) The dinner turned out really well. I had Ni, my study buddy, come meet me at the grocery store, and she was just SUCH a blessing. She helped me calm down, figure out a solution, and execute. And she helped me mash the potatoes when my arm got tired!

So yah, even though this has been THE most trying weekend OF MY LIFE....i was just singing praises to God while the CAA man was on his way because I wanted to keep focus on the positive aspects of the situation...just in case Satan was using the situation to his advantage a la Job. It just made me feel SO alone and helpless....when I didn't know how to change my tire, and I didn't know who to call, and I didn't what a donut tire was (a temporary spare tire), and I just wanted someone to magically make everything better....i know this isn't a realistic thing to wish for, but it made me realize just how little I know how to take care of myself. And how lucky I am that all along I've had my family do the little things to take care of me, like take my car to regularly pump air into the tires. (I didn't know you had to do that!!!)