Damnit Pearl

No not the landlord Pearl, but my mode of transportation, Pearl. She's a real beauty I tell ya, except for when her momma (i.e. me) has to pay for such "beauty treatments" or "doctors' visits."

Speaking of which, she went to the doctor on Saturday to have her quarterly exam, with tire rotation included, and was released within 40 minutes in what I thought to be perfect condition. And by perfect, I mean they didn't try to sell me anything else in addition to her oil change and rotation. That to me says, "Pearl, you are looking good!"

Unfortunately, that only lasted till Sunday night before Pearl got too big for her britches and decided to show off in the Taco Bell parking lot. Yeah in all flipping places, Taco Bell, where her momma really wanted a burrito and went inside rather than going through the drive-thru. It was when I came back out that she refused to start. Instant panic...from me, not Pearl.

Not knowing what to do, and many failed attempts of reaching anyone to help me, Pearl suggested that I walk home (after eating the burrito). I waited for returned phone calls, but FINALLY, it was Olivia to the rescue. She said she had jumper cables, but didn't know how to use them, but no fear, she was willing to convince Pearl that she REALLY needed to start for her momma...

(Pearl is a bit embarrassed for me displaying her with her hood up, but that is what she gets.)

Needless to say, two girls, two cars, some jumper cables, some sparks, a Taco Bell employee, and Jim, could not get Pearl to budge, which meant she had to spend the night at the Taco Bell. And knowing her, that is what she wanted...perhaps a wild night on the town was what the doctor had ordered.

The next day, Pearl was still where she was supposed to be...perhaps a little hungover from the jumper cable action the night before. I told her that AAA was coming, but that it would be another hour before they arrived. I had first called AAA and asked for her to be towed as everyone that saw her in the parking lot the night before assured me that it was more than a battery problem. But when I was walking to go wait with her, out of instinct, I had called AAA back and asked for the battery man, as he had taken care of Pearl before. About 2 hours later, after sitting there an hour as the operator lady had told me, the tow truck man showed up instead. He suggested we try jumping her again, and low and behold, she started. I think it was because he had big muscles.

But the fun was not over then...as I had yet to spend money on her, of course. We then ventured back to my house, where I had to leave her running, so that I could locate the nearest Advanced Auto Parts. She was hooked up to the little battery machine that determined her battery was completely dead. The nice Advanced Auto Parts man then had to replace his 7th battery of the day as well as put in a new air filter, so that Pearl would be able to strut the streets of Raleigh again...even if it is at the expense of her momma.