My friend Robert finished his thesis defense on Monday, so a group of us went out to celebrate. We started out at an empty Habanos for pool, and played for an hour. Next we hit Dairy Queen, and I cashed in my “free small Blizzard” card on an Oreo fudge earthquake sundae. It wasn’t too sweet which surprised me in a good way; Blizzards sometimes give me a sugar headache. Then we drove up to Galaxy cinema to see the new movie “Iron Man” [8/10]. As I turned into the cursed parking lot, my power steering started to groan. Oh oh. I pulled into the closest parking stall available, right beside a CIBC (which I was going to head to later that night anyway — more good fortune) and popped the hood. There was a fluid leak all over the passenger side. In the growing darkness I couldn’t tell the colour, but it looked like orange coolant had sprayed onto the accessory belt, and I reasoned that it was due to the coolant work done last week at RMP. So we walked across the parking lot to the theatre, and enjoyed the very good movie.
Returning to the car a couple hours later though, there was a bit of a puddle under the car, and the power steering was not working. Getting a better look at the fluid, I saw that it was more like oil, and realized it wasn’t coolant, and a power steering fluid leak had started (finishing my car off). So I phoned CAA and the tow truck arrived within half an hour as promised. It was now after midnight though, and we thought we’d call a cab from Brewsters but they were locking up, and so were all of the other places within sight.
We saw a city bus, one that would go right by my place as luck would have it! Except it was the last bus of the night, and wasn’t going the other direction! Darn, eh?
Walking across the street to a pay phone to get a number of a cab company turned out to be in vain as well. The Yellow Pages where “Taxi” was, had half of the page ripped out! The only number completely intact was for “Premiere” which sounded expensive, and besides they were the company with the driver that tried to intimidate friends of mine in the UofR strike in November. I then remembered I had a number for Capital Cabs in my wallet (from a job last year with the Gov’t that used them) and gave them a call. The cab took almost 30 minutes to arrive, and we killed time talking at a bus stop beside a different Dairy Queen. As model citizens, we didn’t pee in the bushes of the Dairy Queen. I just thought I’d mention that.
So to recap:
Bike front wheel: stolen
Car coolant: repaired at $1150 + damage to power steering???
Car steering: disabled + $untold cost EDIT: fixed for $147 power steering line with hole from belt rubbing + $16 cab ride
Vehicles suck.
UPDATE: RMP refunded me both the repair that Capital did, and my $16 cab ride. Thank goodness finally something went right.
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WesternGrit | 06-May-08 at 3:04 pm | Permalink
LOL… I remember Habanos well… Still dead on a Monday (like everything else, huh)? Where’s the “Galaxy”? I thought Cornwall Center was the only “1st run” theatre in town?
You probably would have found a lot of people at Earl’s, or Bonzinni’s (is that still there?) on a Monday night…
Ahhh… Memories…
Saskboy | 06-May-08 at 3:08 pm | Permalink
Cornwall’s been closed for close to a decade. Last thing I saw there was Star Trek: Insurrection, I think. It’s now a dollar store. The cheap theatre on Albert and Sask Drive is torn down. The Galaxy is at the Normanview Shopping Centre, it’s the $9.25 first run place. Southland also has a Cineplex that doesn’t get as much business I’m told. And Rainbow Cinemas is the best place to go, 2nd run, and just $4 evening shows, or $2 on Tuesdays.
Earls is still around, and I’ve heard of Bonzinni’s but have never been. If it’s Bart’s on Broad, that’s gone.
Zhu | 06-May-08 at 7:17 pm | Permalink
Oh, that sucks big time!
Put some ads on your blogs, I’ll click on them to help with the repair ;-)
We had the car (the car is 20 years old, 300 000 km and drove to LA twice… and survived about 15 yrs worth of Winterpeg winters but anyway…) STOLEN once going to the theatre. We were so pissed off… especially the guy who stole it was caught on the security camera but apparently there were nothing the security could have down.
The car was found a couple of days later. Ignition busted and we had to pay $500 towing fees. It sucked.
But we still have it!
Saskboy | 06-May-08 at 10:12 pm | Permalink
$500 towing! :-O
That’s why I have CAA I guess.
I do have ads, scroll to the bottom (where they are out of the way :-))
huffb1 | 06-May-08 at 11:08 pm | Permalink
wow, that sure sounds like a crazy night.
Nicole | 07-May-08 at 1:09 pm | Permalink
I think Bonzinnis is in the South End, right on the corner across from Southland Mall and East of the Bostons South. ( have never been there either).
Was the movie good? I have heard good reviews.
So…me and my hubby just purchased a very nice 7-8 man hottub. Should be here within 4-5 weeks..can’t wait! Just after Mosiac! Away Rider games will be viewed ( well perhaps listened to) via the hottub!
Sorry to read about your car…. and your bike…but glad to read you weren’t “watering” the bushes!…Roses are meant to smell like ROSES…and besides…you wouldn’t want to get a thorn DOWN THERE now would ya???!!! ;-)
You still not attending Rider games this year?
Nicole | 07-May-08 at 1:11 pm | Permalink
oh yeah…I prefer the Southland….floor isn’t so darn sticky, plus I once saw a guy vomit from the top and it really wasn’t pretty…now I have a phobia at the galaxy…I have to sit at the top otherwise for the whole movie, if I hear any coughing noises, I panic thinking someone is going to spew!