What's with rain and issues with my car?

This isn't really to gripe, but I guess it's just a little ironic. Overall, I am fortunate when it comes to cars and their related problems. My 2001 Grand Am is the fourth car I've driven. (When my parents were my age, they might have been sharing their second or third.) I've dealt mostly with flat tires, which I can handle, and they usually have been in my driveway.

But the last couple of times something has gone wrong, I've been stuck waiting for a tow truck in the rain. (Or for Pop-A-Lock, like in a previous blog.) Today I was taking my grandmother grocery shopping, and we stopped by the bank first. After handling the financial business I came back and tried to crank the car. And it wouldn't. I'm no expert, but it seems like a fuel-related problem. (And I don't mean I just forgot to gas up, all you wise guys out there.)

We had been talking as we headed west on Highway 80 about how it would be nice if the rain could wet her yard out in Doyline. We hadn't seen too many drops... until I stepped out of the car to look under the hood.

Fortunately a mechanic shop I have used in the past was within walking distance, so I headed over. And now I will wait for my sick car's diagnosis... and the dreaded bill.

The whole deal just felt a little like a movie. The conversation that seemingly jinxed our morning shopping trip. The slow but steady precipitation that soaked me as I scampered across the ditch-of-a-median to the car place.

But, hey, it happens. And at least I have a car to borrow during repairs. And at least I deposited a little money... that I will likely be spending soon. But I was proud I didn't get frustrated or even cuss. (OK, that may have been because Granny was with me.)

Pop-A-Lock costs a pop

I got so mad at myself today for two reasons: I did something really stupid, plus I was reminded of what a creature of habit I truly am.

If Pop-A-Lock didn't tip you, I locked my keys in the car. I had borrowed another reporter's umbrella to walk across the street to get in my car. The rain was coming down pretty hard. I drove the Grand Am closer to an entrance, put my rain coat on and turned off the ignition.

Normally I clip my keys to a belt loop. But since I had the jacket on I slipped them into a side pocket -- or so I thought. I pushed the automatic lock button on the driver-side front door and got out. A minute later, the horn honked as usual. Then, out of habit, I touched a belt loop expecting to feel keys. Oops.

I knew immediately what I had done, but I walked back to look in the window anyway. There were the keys, just setting on my seat. And all the doors were locked.

This was the third time in nine years of driving that I've done this. I think I put about three years between each incidence. Before I made that dreaded call, I tried to use another reporter's keyless entry contraption to get into my car. (We drive the same model.) But I couldn't outsmart that little thing.

So I went ahead and called Pop-A-Lock. They said it would take 30 minutes for them to get here. The guy was right on time, and his visit may have topped 60 seconds by the time I had to sign a receipt.

And it cost $40. Yes, my idiocy cost that much. There are SO MANY other things I could've spent that money on.

Oh yeah. Besides checking to see that I had clipped my keys on the loop, the other habit part of the story is this: I'm not used to putting that dumb jacket on. I know that sounds silly, but I think not being able to clip my keys on kind of threw me off for a second. Is that pitiful or what?