I had set out today with 3 tasks: drop my car off at the shop/pick up rental car, go to doctor's appt about my cough, and register & title my vehicle in Texas. I succeeded in none of them. None! And the reason for two out of the three was that I was NEW.
Heregoes.
As I'm driving to the auto shop, I called the rental car company to ask for them to pick me up. The associate asked me if I had a major credit card, which I don't, and if not, I needed to provide a pay stub and utility bill in order to establish credit (of which I only have a pay stub - at home). Whhhhaaaattt? Yeah, that was NOT on their website. My mind flashed back to when I flew into Austin in December for my interview and did not have the $300 deposit required to rent a car. Really? When were you going to tell me that?
So I'm now in the auto shop parking lot, frustrated and trying to figure out how I'm going to drop off my car & do all the errands I have that day. The owner of the shop offered to talk to them, and a minute later came out and said they would give me a car! I don't know what magic words he used, but I was glad! The day was starting to look up.
The rental car company picks me up and we begin the check-out process, when lo and behold, my debit card won't go through. The amount is for the $200 deposit they require, and I deposited a nice payroll check on Friday, so I'm confused. A long call to my bank later, I learn that since I deposited it after 4:00 (I get off work at 3:30!) it won't go through until TONIGHT. Does that make sense? No, but apparently to them it does.
So I cancel the reservation and have the rental car company take me back to the auto shop. Did I mention I'm about to break down at this point? I'm so frustrated and angry - I'm sure the guy driving me back was like, "Dude, what's wrong with her? It's just a rental car." But it wasn't. It was my means of transportation in a scary, large city where I knew a handful of people.
After picking my car up at the auto shop without it getting fixed, I proceeded to the doctor's appt. Because I'm new and don't have insurance, I'm limited in my health care choices, so I just went to a urgent care clinic set up by my employer. I learned that I would need to see a specialist, and once again, because I'm new, this will cost a lot.
I had one more thing on my list: register & title my car. I wait in line and finally when it's my turn, go sit down with my file of papers. I wanted to make sure I was prepared, so I brought everything! All to find out I need to buy insurance NOW because the kind I have is not covered in Texas and I think, I'm driving illegally. But referencing the embarrassing event at the rental car company, I don't have money to do so today, so I told her I would be back later. Sigh.
Sometimes these days are best remedied by reminding oneself of the stable things in life. However, being new, I have very little of those things. Oh, to be settled and established!
You've moved?! I need to catch up. :) I am sorry about your bumming day. Hopefully it'll get better for you. It just adds to the story that you'll be telling people years later about how you got to where you are. Keep fighting! :)
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