A Lost Feather: That Just Happened.

8.01.2011

Today I sat on the highway with my car in park for 1 hour waiting to cross the Throgs Neck Bridge and watching my gas gauge get lower and lower. When my little "get gas now, seriously, NOW" light came on I panicked. I was either going to run out of gas in that absurd standstill or I was going to run out of gas on that bridge. There was no way around it.

Or was there?

In a completely panicked state I got out of my car on the highway and began knocking on other car windows. I politely (read: desperately) gave directions:

"Hi! Would you please move forward a few inches I need to get to the exit, I'm almost out of gas. Thanks!"
"Heyyy, I'm almost out of gas, would you back up a few inches so I can squeeze through to the exit?"
"Hey, um I need to get out of here.. I'm on empty- can you move into that other lane so I can get by?"

And so on.

I was in the left lane and needed to get across 5 lanes to the last exit in the Bronx before the bridge. The commuters I encountered clearly thought I was insane, but they cooperated- reluctantly.

Anyone from the Throgs Neck area of the Bronx? Do you guys use gas? Seriously? Once I got off the exit I had to search for gas. My GPS kept taking me to stations that had closed or moved. I was freaking out to say the least. Finally, I found a Mobile that was conveniently out of regular unleaded. They only had "Super" which is obnoxiously more expensive. I had just about had it, but I bought $10 worth of "Super" gas. More like super stupid gas. Infuriating.

Once I had some gas in my car and found a place to pull over and finish panicking, I collected myself and took a different bridge back to the island. There was a huge storm on long island today- hail the size of golf balls and larger! Almost all of the traffic lights I came to were out. It took 4.5 hours to get home instead of 1.5.

Worst. Commute. Ever. I guess it could have been worse- it could always be worse. I'm glad it wasn't.
I kind of wish I had a picture of this traffic jam, but it would give you anxiety- for real.

Happy August.
(No seriously- happy August.. I'll be more happy about it tomorrow- promise.)

23 comments:

Charlotte PahlineAugust 1, 2011 at 11:43 PM
LOL, stupid gas. I ran out of gas just across four lanes of traffic from a station, in heels-of course. I trotted across the street, picked up a small gas can, and promptly ordered up $20 of gas. "Where are you going to put it?" "....uh, in my car." "Ok, well, that can you're buying will only hold about $5 worth." "Oh..............right." *cue awkward one-sided laughter* Stupid gas.
Laura ElizabethAugust 1, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Just reading that stressed me out!!! You were so brave knocking on people's windows... although there wasn't much else you could do. I probably would have been crying whilst doing all that. Go you, super brave lady!!
SaffakateAugust 1, 2011 at 11:49 PM
Oh my gosh! How stressful. That would seriously freak me out.
The hail and storms were so crazy today, but we got a double rainbow because of it and the sky was absolutly beautiful at times.

www.saffakate.blogspot.com
NodToStyleAugust 1, 2011 at 11:54 PM
talk about a real life game of Frogger. that sounds terrible, but way to be crafty!
novaAugust 2, 2011 at 12:42 AM
Whoa buddy, that sounds crazy. You're brilliant for getting people to move out of your way though, I don't know if I would have even thought to do that.
MelanieAugust 2, 2011 at 12:43 AM
GPS's can be so annoying. Our takes us to places that don't exsist, and one time it tried to tell us to turn into a giant hay field where there was no road. I don't think it likes us never much.

*NodtoStyle* I freaking LOVED frogger! *goes to play it online now*
CindyAugust 2, 2011 at 1:00 AM
Oh my mother of pearl. That's a crazy traffic jam, Sarah! I'm happy things weren't worse. Things will be better tomorrow. :)

I'm very happy to hear that the ppl decided to move when you asked them too! Happy people are courteous enough nowadays. :D

P.S. - I would of been so frantic! I don't do well in traffic! lol xD
DanielleAugust 2, 2011 at 8:23 AM
Wow, I would have been panicking too! I hate traffic jams. I'm glad people were gracious enough to let you out thought. That would have been terrible if they hadn't! I hope today is better for you!
Dee PaulinoAugust 2, 2011 at 9:05 AM
this almost happened to me once but I had no traffic so it wasn't as bad. I am happy the people cooperated with you!
ValerieAugust 2, 2011 at 10:24 AM
running out of gas is just the worse feeling! way to be so resourceful and find your way to a gas station!
CJ OlsonAugust 2, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Oh no!! I'm sorry Sarah! I've had that happen to me but thankfully not for a long time! :-) Can't wait to hear more! :-)
Bailey SchneiderAugust 2, 2011 at 11:19 AM
That is seriously stressful! I had that experience a few weeks ago -except that our stations were all empty thanks to a stupid strike!
S.T.R.E.S.S.F.U.L!

Tomorrow is a new day, you're right :)
BIG HUGS
xxx
SarahAugust 2, 2011 at 11:25 AM
I almost experienced this before too! But I doubt the people in my city would even move an inch, really. Eeeep. Glad they were nice enough and that you got to the gas station in time! Reading through your post already got me anxious. Haha.

Happy August to you too lovely. :)

p/s: always leave home with at least half a gas tank full! traffic jams can be such a pain.
AnonymousAugust 2, 2011 at 1:03 PM
I would have panicked. I'm glad you didn't run out of gas and are now home safely!!
Laura NelsonAugust 2, 2011 at 2:55 PM
That's horrible! Im glad you found gas! That is crazy weather too! We were in traffic like that in SF this weekend and we are not used to it at all, haha. It's so funny how long it takes to get anywhere in those big cities. Here I can get anywhere in 10 minutes or less :) Im spoiled :)
anneliseAugust 2, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Eeek! That is the worst. I freak out when the light comes on, but when it starts flashing at me, all aggressive, that's when the panic really sets in. Playing chicken with the fuel tank is not my idea of fun. I am seriously impressed though that you got out of your car to ask the other drivers to move, I would never have been so brave. I probably just would have sat in the car and cried :)
AnonymousAugust 2, 2011 at 11:43 PM
:( oh my gosh lady that is the woorrrsttt. So glad you made it and didn't get stranded. Hope the rest of your week is nothing but rainbows and sparkles!!!
Erika Lee @ A Tiny RocketAugust 3, 2011 at 2:32 PM
LLLLAAAAMMMMEE. new day.. and treat yourself to something delicious.. like a chocolate icecream with sprinkles. maybe with whip cream and a cherry on top.. oh and how a fresh waffle cone. :)
Erika Lee @ A Tiny RocketAugust 3, 2011 at 2:32 PM
how about a fresh waffle cone.. lol
karen marieAugust 3, 2011 at 4:51 PM
ooooh snap, that is like, my least favorite thing ever... i totally start panicking when that light comes on, too... so glad you made it and averted disaster!
MichelleAugust 3, 2011 at 7:03 PM
oh man! The traffic all over queens was terrible that day... what is normally a 20 minute ride, turned into 40. I think everyone in NYC decided to drive at the same time, and all of the road construction was at full swing! At least I was in queens so we just got rain... no golf-ball sized hail!
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audreyAugust 10, 2011 at 3:51 PM
i'm sure it was a nightmare, but i have to say, it sounds like you took charge of the situation like a total badass. good for you for making a plan and fixing the problem - i don't drive anymore, thank goodness, but i honestly am not sure i wouldn't have just sat there in a panic as the gas ran dry. bravo!