H*A*L*T

Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired? Don't make any snap judgments. No long term/important decisions. The HALT theory---remember it so you won't be met with regret. Because regret stinks!

This tip brought to you by the number 90. Yes 90....because that's that number of minutes I spent trying to get my car washed. I hope it doesn't take that long to tell my story.






I know if I was Mimi I would have had my camera with me. But since I'm NOT Mimi I have to grab pictures from google images. After all-we can have only one Mimi!



I have a special day planned with a very special lady friend to attend an event headlining this lady tomorrow. I won the tickets over the radio and held on to them for quite some time praying to see who I should invite. So I'm really excited.

The next step.....to make my car at least somewhat presentable. Not that I worry what my friend would think.....but my car had more salt on it then on the roads or all the french fries sold at the state fair!

So here we go...after I did the post office and bank run I went to the car wash. **Cue "Working at the Car Wash"music** Let the adventure begin. I sat in the line for 15-20 minutes for starters....and I know that because I heard 3-4 songs along with a weather report. I have NO idea how this picture got here.





Then I crept up to the "pay here" machine. I couldn't get close enough so I did the back and forth motion a time or two. Then I still had to open my car door a little without banging it on the "pay here" machine. So I'm halfway leaning out the open door...window down. It wouldn't take my twenty. NO way....NO how.

I got COMPLETELY out of the car and toyed around with the "pay here" machine. Nope. I walked to the super duper monster truck (as it looked to me) and ask the driver if she ever used the cash option on the "pay here' machine. "Nope" was the answer grunted in my direction.

I went back to the "pay here" machine and tried ONE LAST TIME. At that instant my face....my body.....in it's entirety was covered with car wash spray. Water-soap-salt-grime and who knows what else met with my freshly shower self and perfectly applied lipstick.

I ducked for cover. In the shelter of my car. The car in front of me was getting a doozy of a wash job! I was getting a doozy of a anger building! I called the gas station. I bitched. Yeah....I did. I'm not proud of it...but I was ticked off. She said, "C'mon around and I'll get ya taken' care of." **sigh**

I waited in the gas station line for several minutes and as I approached I said "I'm the one who called you from the car wash." "Now what car wash do you want?" I said that I want the "works". She said, "That will be ten sixty-five."

I said, "WHAT?" She said.........

I interrupted....."I think there will be some type of compensation."

She said....."Let me call my manager." Enter cute young boy manager......brief exchange of girl/boy talk and boy said, "Now, how can I help you?"

He knows....he sees the filth on my glasses and across my face, my black coat and my teeth! Well maybe not....but my lips tasted horrible. I told him my story. He told me I could go get a drink and HIS manager would be calling my cell phone. I looked for a bottle of wine....he said coffee or pop. Okay....I'm lying. ANYTHING to get this taste off my lips and out of my mouth is what I wanted.

I expected a call shortly....and since it didn't happen I asked him to ring me up for a car wash and I would be on my way. He assured me that I would probably have a free car wash coming.

So back around to the end of the line. Another 5-10 minute wait because only a couple songs played this time. But I had a nice talk with Sara and she told me to chill. That's my Sara Sunshine! She did the "I've been dealing with the public for long enough to .........." Her voice faded into the distance as I approached the "pay here" machine. My daughter teaching ME about life? Bwhahahhahha! Yeah she had a point....but until she felt sorry for me the point wasn't going to be made. Eventually I got the "Oh mom....I'm sorry [this happened to you]." Isn't she precious?


A man was working at the machine! I glanced left and saw a car wash company van. He had a phone on his ear.....I didn't like that....but he had a cute accent. Not sure about his ear though with that beetle/bluetooth whatever it was on it. He couldn't smile either. But he said, "Save your code for the next wash....just go on in." I profusely thanked him regardless of how silly he looked and cautiously entered the wash bay.



This is when I really started thinking about Mimi and how I wished so much that I had my camera. The swirling streams of soap and water and wax and all the flashing lights before me. The pressure from the water as it slapped against my car was the sound of power! My ten dollar option consisted of 10-12 phases...no I can't name them but each time the rinse came over my windshield I could see the lit up words so I knew what was happening.

Now Mimi would have taken a picture of each phase-I KNOW she would! I blinked....I looked down....I reached for something....and NOTHING! The machine stopped. Weak streams of water leaked from the machine like a 90 year old man with a bladder malfunction (sorry).

I thought...wait.....during my blink or whatever I did....did a sign flash telling me I was suppose to leave?

Wait...what about the 2-3 phases that I didn't get to read on the pretty flashing sign?

Wait....what do I hear? A horn honking at me? YIKES! The man behind me was honking his horn! WAIT! I didn't get all my thingys. I paid ten bucks. I went all the thingys I paid for!

I eased up to the dryer phase...at least THIS should work! Nope nothing....I was getting angry again. I pulled my car all the way out over to the "buy this and that to do your interior" section. I figured I could be a biggie girl and buy a chamois (shammy), dry it quickly and be on my way. I grabbed a dollar. Nope takes quarters....3 of them. I went back to the car and got some quarters. 1---2---3 quarters---pull....nothing. No towel. I pushed on the change back button. Nothing.

I walked through the now broken car wash and asked the beetle/bluetooth "I can't smile" man if he stocks the machine. A curt "no" was all I got from him. Obviously his level of patience was a tad shorter then mine.

I'm approaching exhaustion.

I called the station.

Cute young boy answered.

I said, "It's me....again."

He said, "Oh no....what now?"




I said, "Do you guys stock these machines....I need a shammy. It's empty.....well except for my money that it won't return. "




Cute young boy offered to get a stack of paper towels and a payout for seventy five cents. I was supposed to meet him in the station.

I changed my mind.

I left.

I had enough. I don't think he was going to help me dry my car anyway.

About 20 minutes later my phone rang. "Julie?" Is was cute young boy. I said, "Cute young boy?" [not really] "Where did you go, Julie? I came out with some paper towels and your seventy five cents."

I said, "I left. I was getting angry. You wouldn't have wanted to see that."

His manager hasn't called me yet. It's been over three hours. Should I just take up residence elsewhere?

Hugs, Happiness and Harmony,
Julie