Monday, September 15, 2008

The Drama Files...gas station lock-down.

I am submitting a new label to my blog posts which will track all the "drama" that I seem to attract in my life. Let's start with a rushed morning, me leaving the house without proper payment methods. The night before Craig and I took the girls to McDonald's for dinner and then straight home. I remember Craig mentioning that I really needed to get gas in the morning. I agreed because I remember the gas signal beeping at me earlier in the day. I drop the girls off at school in the morning and circle around to head back home and prepare a few things for going to the gym and getting gas. I then look down at the gas level and it said 3 miles. What! Hello! I take the block and head in the direction of the gas station.

At mile one, I arrive safely and start to pay for the gas. I mentioned before that I didn't leave the house with proper payment: a card that needed to be paid but was waiting for online password verification to pay online and our vacation debit card with little money left on it. I take the first card and swipe it crossing my fingers it would go through. If not, I figured I could probably park walk home in 30 minutes, get the right card, and come back and pump and pay. I was relieved when the pump accepted my card for $130 dollars! Yes, that much! I put the cap back on and wait for the receipt. Instead of the receipt the screen says in french Payez...Interuir? Something like this. I was thrown off at this request because I already paid. I get in my car and start to drive away, out of the corner of my eye I see the attendant inside looking at my car. I leave the gas station parking lot and it suddenly hit me that - my card must not have gone through and I didn't pay.

I couldn't turn in, I had to retake the entire block. I go to the front door of the gas station and it's locked! Yes, locked! A busy gas station. I ring the door a couple of times and finally she comes to the door. I ask, "Did my card go through?" "No, she said." What a moment! I had driven off the station without paying and most likely the station was on lock down pending procedure for pump , not pay, and go patrons. Heaven sakes... Remember my payment problem? The 2nd card wouldn't go through either. Embarrassed, I say little - what else can you say in this situation. I ask her, "is there anyway you would trust me to go get money?" She quickly answered yes - she had my license plate - I couldn't go far. Anyway, I went home, got the right payment forms and settled my "debt" with the gas station.

Rattled, I figured I would continue on with my plans to swim at the gym. I arrive 15 minutes later and realize that I had packed my items in the wrong bag and my pass was in another bag. I decided at this point to give-up and headed home to hide a few! Whew! That's my drama from Friday and I have since made steps to not be in this situation again. I got myself together and decided that the best medicine for a day like this was to organize my office, talk to Jennifer, make pizza, and cupcakes -oh, and conquer the treadmill and pray that this never happens again!
Have you had a similar situation at a gas station?
Have you ever found yourself in an awkard situation because of language barriers?

14 comments:

Marie said...

Now that is a good story! As long as it didn't happen to me. I know that it was probably very stressful and embarrassing for you, but reading it gave me a kick.

I hope you never have to use this new category about yourself again!

Natasha said...

Oh Michelle, what a terrible day! Sounds more like a Monday than a Friday.

Amanda said...

That sounds awful! I hate days like that where nothing seems to go right.

I have been in a grocery line...carriage FULL of groceries and realized I had no wallet. Horrid.

Mark Salinas said...

Those are the days to just forget! I like your site ...good reading! :)

Lauralee said...

oh my goodness... what a day!
here is a similar story...

I was in Ann Taylor once.. had picked up some items to try on.. put them over my arm, and realized that on my stroller I had some items from the GAP! that I had put on there to buy and forgotten about.. so I go to leave Ann Taylor, with their clothes over my arm still, trying to return to the GAP.. a sales gal from Ann Taylor meets me at the door into the mall, and is like "were you going to pay for those? " and I was like no.. I mean, yes.. I mean I have to run to the gap and I will be back.. I was to embarrased to go back.. and never have walked back into that store!

Natalie said...

Two of my most embarassing moments were at the gas station. My little 'incident' with Barb in August was at the Ultra Mar near you. The second was when I had to phone 911 after I locked my kids in the car on the hottest day of the year and AMA wouldn't respond. Such shining moments!

Laura said...

Oh that is too funny. I probably would have been clueless and not gone back. You're lucky you did. That is definitely one of the reasons that it's fun to keep a blog!

donna said...

so funny! I wish i have a good story like that. But i don't.
I hope you don't have any more drama for a while.....
Have a super day:)

dani said...

oh, sweet michelle, i can SOOOOOOOOOOOOO empathize with you on this post!!! you know i'm not organized.... but, i'm definitely an unorganized procrastinator. i learned along time ago that it is just who i am and to not let it bother me, HA!!!
bless your heart:)
love,
dani

Mandy said...

What a day! The whole gas thing would have been too much for me, although the pizza and cupcakes ending sounds nice. :)

SuzanSayz said...

Michelle you have my complete sympathy. The language difference is a killer I'm sure. At least here in the states when you run into someone at a restaurant or store that only speaks spanish, you at least have the consolation of being self righteous and steaming that in THIS country we SPEAK ENGLISH! You can't do that obviously in french canadian territories. I can't think of many things more uncomfortable than not having the means to pay for something. Yeah you have the money you just don't have the right card or the checkbook. I hate anything that makes me feel vulnerable and that is a big one!!!

lelly said...

ah! this is one of my biggest fears!!i am so glad she trusted you to let you go and get the right card. i would hate to read about you in the news (wink, wink.)

Laurie said...

I feel for you, really I do! I had a similarly disconnected day on Monday - when I thought I'd had planned and was prepared and so organized only to find out that I was completely off and all sorts of mishaps ensued.

Cupcakes are a great idea though, to feel better about things! So is the treadmill for that matter. A great combination.

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Yikes!