Coyote Loves Me. HARD.
Oct. 15th, 2009 12:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
athelindSo, the plan today was to hop in the car, head first to Campbell and then to Santa Cruz, and personally deliver resumes to some likely employers. The hand-carry trick is what landed me the Schaaf & Wheeler contract back in 2007, after all.
I had everything carefully mapped out, via Google. I had minimaps of all the twisty, curvy confusion of Santa Cruz streets. I was steeled and ready for Hwy 17 -- brand new tires! What better time for it?
Naturally, I rear-ended another car on the El Camino onramp to Lawrence Expressway. For those taking notes, this is the major intersection closest to my house.
What happened? I'm still not entirely sure. There was a line of six or seven cars; I think I was at the back. We were all accelerating smoothly; the two onramp lanes had merged together, I was deliberately taking it easy because I had a long drive ahead.
I checked my side mirror, looked up, and SHIT CAR STOPPED BRAKE BRAKE BRAKE skreeeeeee slam.
We both pulled off to the side, and were immediately apologizing to each other and making sure everyone was okay.
According to the folks in the other car, someone three or four cars ahead of them had stopped abruptly, and, well, dominoes. They were, themselves, right behind a motorcycle, so they really slammed on the brakes to avoid taking him out.
Nobody was hurt, though the passenger in the other vehicle hit her head against the headrest on her seat. She seemed okay, though I know better than to assume that in such cases, and told her that, if she was still having problems later, she needed to get checked out. The other car had no visible damage.
The Grape's snoot is visibly crumpled, and the hood is popped on one side. At least one headlight looks misaligned.
The CHP arrived on scene after, oh, maybe half an hour after we called, since there were no injuries reported. Since we had no problem exchanging insurance information, they said they didn't need to write up a report.
This is, for the record, my second vehicular accident in my driving career -- the last one was twenty years ago, or more. As I said to the officers, if this happens so seldom that I'm never quite sure what to do, I must be doing something right.
Because the Grape is kind of old and scroddy, however, we don't have collision coverage, so this is all gonna be out of pocket.
Note, however, that Coyote does, indeed, love me: "For all the bad luck we have, we have a lot of good luck." On a day that I'd planned a drive over Highway 17, a twisting, turning route over the Santa Cruz mountains, with long stretches that have no access or egress, and traffic reports regularly show extensive blockages because accidents and mishaps can jam up the whole route for miles... my accident happened a block and a half from home, and nobody was hurt.
Meanwhile... my stepfather's in the hospital today, getting tests run. He had some dizziness yesterday, and the doctor sent them to Urgent Care, who in turn started running tests. When I talked to mom this morning, they'd done an EKG and were scheduling an MRI. Hopefully, it was just a head rush, and neither heart nor stroke.
Poppa turns 80 on the 29th. My sister's been planning a surprise party for him on Halloween, since that's the closest Saturday.
I had everything carefully mapped out, via Google. I had minimaps of all the twisty, curvy confusion of Santa Cruz streets. I was steeled and ready for Hwy 17 -- brand new tires! What better time for it?
Naturally, I rear-ended another car on the El Camino onramp to Lawrence Expressway. For those taking notes, this is the major intersection closest to my house.
What happened? I'm still not entirely sure. There was a line of six or seven cars; I think I was at the back. We were all accelerating smoothly; the two onramp lanes had merged together, I was deliberately taking it easy because I had a long drive ahead.
I checked my side mirror, looked up, and SHIT CAR STOPPED BRAKE BRAKE BRAKE skreeeeeee slam.
We both pulled off to the side, and were immediately apologizing to each other and making sure everyone was okay.
According to the folks in the other car, someone three or four cars ahead of them had stopped abruptly, and, well, dominoes. They were, themselves, right behind a motorcycle, so they really slammed on the brakes to avoid taking him out.
Nobody was hurt, though the passenger in the other vehicle hit her head against the headrest on her seat. She seemed okay, though I know better than to assume that in such cases, and told her that, if she was still having problems later, she needed to get checked out. The other car had no visible damage.
The Grape's snoot is visibly crumpled, and the hood is popped on one side. At least one headlight looks misaligned.
The CHP arrived on scene after, oh, maybe half an hour after we called, since there were no injuries reported. Since we had no problem exchanging insurance information, they said they didn't need to write up a report.
This is, for the record, my second vehicular accident in my driving career -- the last one was twenty years ago, or more. As I said to the officers, if this happens so seldom that I'm never quite sure what to do, I must be doing something right.
Because the Grape is kind of old and scroddy, however, we don't have collision coverage, so this is all gonna be out of pocket.
Note, however, that Coyote does, indeed, love me: "For all the bad luck we have, we have a lot of good luck." On a day that I'd planned a drive over Highway 17, a twisting, turning route over the Santa Cruz mountains, with long stretches that have no access or egress, and traffic reports regularly show extensive blockages because accidents and mishaps can jam up the whole route for miles... my accident happened a block and a half from home, and nobody was hurt.
Meanwhile... my stepfather's in the hospital today, getting tests run. He had some dizziness yesterday, and the doctor sent them to Urgent Care, who in turn started running tests. When I talked to mom this morning, they'd done an EKG and were scheduling an MRI. Hopefully, it was just a head rush, and neither heart nor stroke.
Poppa turns 80 on the 29th. My sister's been planning a surprise party for him on Halloween, since that's the closest Saturday.
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-15 09:04 pm (UTC)At least nobody was hurt, or so it seems.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-15 09:27 pm (UTC)Next opening here at the District isn't until another 5 months unfortunately. Can ping you later on those if you'd still like to give it shot. Persistence hopefully counts for something down the line? :3
Here's something that hopefully can help on your search. One of our Resource Management Interns recently applied for a position at the San Francisco EPA branch. Maybe something for you to look into.
Best of luck!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-15 09:56 pm (UTC)I'll check out the EPA first thing tomorrow.
Danke!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-16 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-16 01:34 am (UTC)::B::
no subject
Date: 2009-10-16 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-16 04:39 am (UTC)Iowa road laws being what they are, the other driver was deemed "at fault". Their insurance paid for the resulting body work, half of my new tires and alignment (it didn't look or feel that bad when I drove it off the scene, but one of my front tires was showing steel by the time I got home. And naturally, I wanted to get a set rather than just replace the one that was bad.), and the rental of the shiny new PT Cruiser that I got to drive for the next two weeks. I was in the process of moving boxes over the weekends to what is now my house, and I was impressed by the amount of stuff it could hold. The Cruiser is a funny-looking car, and one of those that always looks smaller than it is, until you're right by it. I am now favorably disposed towards the model.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-16 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-16 04:28 pm (UTC)Thoughts and prayers for your stepfather...
no subject
Date: 2009-10-16 04:38 pm (UTC)Good wishes for your stepfather!
Whom does Coyote really love?
Date: 2009-10-17 04:52 pm (UTC)I think I'd rather Papa Coyote didn't play favorites.
*hugs* At least you are all right...
damn puppies....