A Surprising Turn of Events...

It is now June 10, and I am now almost a full week overdue of my intended return back to Cerritos. Fanime this year went well, as I expected, my major stressors coming from sources actually not related to the running of the convention. Also, most problems stemmed from people having personality conflicts rather than major logistical or financial disasters. The fans seemed to enjoy it, but I am definitely looking forward to the time that I am not longer in the turn thick of things. Barring life changes I plan to co-chair one more year, and then go off to pursue different types of staffing for the con. Something much more fun to me, and something I can do more of from 400 miles away.

This year also had a slight change in plans in my personal life. Due to the restraints of the convention I was not able to host my dinner and ice cream night before memorial day weekend. Meaning I had to wait till well after the convention and the post-con meeting to get my Ghirardelli ice cream. Which in and of itself was fine, but this is around where the real trouble began. And also the reason for this blog.

After logging almost 2000 miles on the van this trip alone, I once more sat in the drivers seat to pick up Will and head down to Santa Cruz for the post-con retreat. A weekend long meeting in which we discuss what happened at the con that just passed, and work out a skeleton schedule and such for the next years convention. On my way to pick Will up from San Francisco, Antonio and I noticed the van was emitting white smoke from the hood. The gauges and the van were all fine, just smoke was coming out. I drove the van as to the closest gas station I could get to, and we found that the coolant was way down and seemed to have spilled. Assuming the white smoke was steam from the coolant evaporating, we refilled the coolant, and began to head away. Then I noticed that it was running much hotter than before. It spiked all the way to the top , and we pulled over. We filled the system with whatever water we had and evenually got it back to the gas station, which luckily was an auto center as well, and had the mechanic check it out.

We were told that for sure the radiator was blown and probably more. Will picked us up from the chevron, and we went to the flat to wait for more news. We were then told a chip that runs the fans for the radiator had died and thus the radiator overheated. It would cost around $1000 to fix, and would probably be done the next day. Leaving me with no other option, we left the van to be fixed, my credit card with Ashley so that she could pick it up when it was done, and headed down to Santa Cruz in the hybrid. The repairs were actually complete by the time I got to Santa Cruz, and Ashley picked it up with no problems and brought it down to me in Santa Cruz on saturday.

Saturday night we decide to go to the beach. We pile in the van, and the first thing I notice is that the "Service Engine Light Soon" light is on. WTF? It was just fixed. I figured they knocked something loose and didn't worry too much about it. I drive around looking for the beach and everything was fine, I then drive it back to Davis sunday and everything seemed to be ok. (I wanted to go back to the Chevron mechanic on the way, but they were closed). I drive it to and back from San Francisco on Monday for dinner with Rosina, and then back once more on Weds for my movie, dinner, and ice cream night. I headed down a little early to go to the gas station once more for them to turn off the light, and they tell me... "Its the same problem as before".

WHAT?!? I mean, COME ON!. What the hell is going on? As fas as I can tell the car was fine, and driving fine for the past few days. After talking with my dad, he convinces me to leave the car there and have Ashley pick me and Bethany up. The myriad of emotions running though me at this point is indescribable. But I will admit this, and it is rather difficult for me to do so.

I was scared

Yep, I was terrified. Not so much that I would end up being stranded in the middle of a city that so obviously hates me, but it was the complete lack of control I had over anything. All I wanted to do was curl into a little ball and cry, just to get the frustration out, but I didn't feel like I could. I wasn't in a place I was comfortable in. Though surrounded by people who loved me, and didn't blame me for anything, I couldn't help but feel like a bother to them. And there was nothing I could do to help. I was stranded, helpless, and vulnerable in a place that wasn't home. A place that was no where even close to home. And I couldn't bring myself to cry, simply because it wouldn't come.

Thursday came with no news about the car. Antonio picked me and Bethany up from SF, so that Bethany could be home to work on projects, and that I could feel safer in a place I once called home. Friday, and no concrete news, but finally tears. After calling my parents once more, and my dad telling me to make a decision as soon as I got more information in. My mother called, and the tears just started flowing. There was no really reason to cry, just to release everything that has been held inside me since the friday we headed down to Santa Cruz. I was able to get it out, and clear my head. I came to the decision that if the Chevron didn't find anything out by Saturday, I would have it towed to the dealer in Davis on Sunday. At least in Davis I would have more piece of mind since it would be much closer to me, and they had worked on the van before when I was in school here.

Saturday, I wake up, and after much debate on who to call first I call my dad. He has news, he had spoked with the Chevron and they finally figured out the problem, but they would need a part that would not come in till Tuesday. And they wanted to keep it overnight tuesday , which means I would get it back weds. Meaning a full week to get the car back. But at least I had news and a date to go home.

I feel much better now. Plans and decisions have been made, and now its just time to implement them. I'm sad that its taking me this long to get home, but I least I know now when I can get home.

and the original intention for this post... that comes next (or above)... since this is long enough already.