i am tire(d)
Someone wanted Ali and I dead last week, as evidenced by the fact that between our two cars we literally blew through three tires in two days.
Having to replace tires is annoying for a variety of reasons, but mainly because:
- Aside from picking up Ali’s socks, I hate nothing more than to be inconvenienced, and
- Paying for such frivolous things as tires dips in to my Bloomingdale’s fund.
So the first thing I did when I found the nail on Monday was to call Ali at work and say, “There’s a nail the size of my head in my rear tire. Can you come deal with it?” (Note – I don’t play the damsel in distress card often but I think it’s fair that since I do everything else I consider all car-related activities Ali’s territory.)
Anyway, on Tuesday night I got a call from Ali that he’d hit a pothole and not just one but two of his tires popped. Knowing that Ali loves his car even more than me I was terrified at what was going to happen next.
But instead of flipping out and swearing up a storm (as I would have) or leaving the car for someone else to deal with (as I would have) Ali calmly called AAA, turned on his Mi-Fi and laptop, and started working as though he wasn’t sitting in a teetering car at 9:30 pm at night, in a less than savory area of Los Angeles.
And that my friends is why I continue to put up with Ali’s shenanigans. Because I figure it’s in my best interest to live with someone who manages to maintain calm when faced with chaos.
After all, he does have to deal with me everyday.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
Sorry about your tire, but seriously- how big was this pot hole that he popped two tires at once? Did he literally drive down into it and then back out of it? Geez…
I try to convince my husband to deal with all car troubles since like you I deal with all other household issues, but alas it doesn’t always work. Take today my husband said he would deal with fixing my cracked windshield on Thursday, but it’s Monday and still not fixed so I am dealing with it.
The calmness admist chaos well I have to say they have to have some redeeming qualities that made us marry them, we can’t be that foolish!
Ali rocks – anyone who can remain calm in any car situation is my hero. My car has been in and out of the garage 10 times in the last month alone. It’s robbing me dry (and we won’t go there) – I’ve cried, screamed…screamed more than anything. Now I’m at wits’ end. I’ll think of Ali calmly typing away on his computer the next time something happens 🙂
That’s a Porsche. It shouldn’t have a flat tire. I can hear it sobbing from the other side of the country. My Hubby wouldn’t be very good at the tire changing thing (or anything else mechanical related, bless his heart), but I figure he puts up with my lapses without frustration or going off the deep end (like that fish tank that needs cleaning out so badly), that I’ll forgive his occasional blips with haste.
I don’t do well with situations like that either. I would probably lose it and then some. Also why I keep my husband around. He could probably actually change the tire for me.
I hope all your tire and car issues are it for the next couple of years. I wonder if Ali would remain calm if he had no Internet.
Usually I’m pretty hotheaded but I try to be calm when Matt is flipping out. I feel like we can’t both be on edge so I’ll take the role of the calm person.
That is so not cool – sorry about all the tires. I play the Damsel in Distress card very frequently, especially when it comes to cars. In fact, I have the Husband almost begging me on days that its snowing to let him drive me to work. Of course I don’t let him, but it’s nice to know he would do it! 🙂
three flat tires in one week?? that’s almost eery.
you are fortunate that ali keeps so calm.. he’s a good complement for you. my fiancé is also able to maintain composure in situations where i am flipping the heck out, which makes me imagine that he’ll be a good complement for me in life. that’s what i’m banking on, anyway.
by the way i’m a new reader! i’m really enjoying your blog – the dry humor, musings about life, and even the occasional recipe, it’s all great. i also have some bizarre food allergies and preferences so i empathize with many of your food woes. thanks for writing ameena 🙂
Thank you for the compliments and for reading Carly!
THREE popped tires in one week?! Yikes!
Yeah, staying calm in the face of disaster is not my strong suit 🙂
I’m with you – can’t deal with car repairs.
Having someone who remains calm throughout stuff like this is such a gift. You’re right, it most assuredly cancels out any other “shenanagins”.
Three is pretty ridiculous though. Is Ari on sedatives? Kidding!
Haha, men and their cars. I’ve never had to deal with a flat tire but I’m sure when the time comes I will be less than calm. I tend to get spastic with car related mishaps.
Well they say bad luck comes in threes so I guess 3 blown tires means you are done and ready for some good luck 😉
Yeah, being calm isn’t exactly my strong point either. You have obviously discovered my one step method of fixing a flat/popped tire: make a man do it ;), simple and effective daaaaaahling.
Sorry about the bad luck :(. I know porche tires are expensive.
*kisses* HH
I think this is the true mark of a wonderful marriage. Balancing each other in times of stress is such a must for life and sanity!
Wow, he has great coping skills! I panic when things go wrong with my car. And if there is a man in my life, I totally make him take care of it. I should really take one of those Basic Car Mechanics for women courses I found through continuing ed – but seriously, car stuff makes me yawn. Actually, that reminds me, I have a slow leak in one of my tires and need to take my car to the mechanic. There goes that pesky car again, dipping into the lululemon fund.
No effin way? There must be something in the air because my tire blew out too!!! I dont freak out or call AAA. Like the horrible, irresponsible, lazy person I am, I still drive on it with people constantly honking at me to tell me I have a flat tire until I feel like going to get i fixed.
Doesn’t your rim get bent? Ali would flip his lid if I drove my car around with a flat tire.
ugh….car issues.
I too hate to pay one red cent on car repair…cars should not break. ever!
breaks into my YARN cash.
hehe
I hate dealing with cars as well and sorry for your flat tires dramas. Speaking of which I need to fix my car as well..*sigh*
I like your stance on dealing with car related things. Now if only you could pawn off my things in such a manner. Think of the glorious, glorious free time you’d have! 🙂
Car troubles are just as annoying/frustrating as computer troubles, aren’t they? Sounds like you and Ali both handled it well though!
My biggest car fear is that I will have to buy new tires. Theyre expensive, and its not like you can just drive without them.
3 tires in 2 days thats crazy!!!! I hate car troubles, i’m so bad at keeping it clean, oil changed, tires full…ugh i’m such a girl in that aspect!
That’s quite a bit of calm in the face of chaos… I wish I had that skill! In fact, I NEED that skill! Woah!
I’m glad you both are alright!!!! ❤ Nails LOVE my tires… also… mean girls in college who love my boyfriend also love to SLASH my tires. oh boo. Good thing I'm far away from FSU! lol
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons
ugh we both had a bad experience last week! my shoe fund is dwindling because of my stupid tires…
I hate car issues – and it always happens when you have something else in mind to spend that money on! Stupid pot holes!
I have to say that I try to stay calm if the other goes ape-sh1t but usually I jump on the bandwagon as I get really frustrated with car problems!
When it rains it pours. My husbands car has been down and out for two weeks and it’s such a pain. He’s spent countless hours trying to find the problem because heaven forbid he pay someone to do something.
fisrtly, i’m glad both you and Ali are both ok. flat tires can be disastrous but you both walked away fine, so someone up there must love you guys. secondly, i hate dealing with car stuff too. i just recently took my car in to get stuff fixed and they didn’t do ANYTHING. funny thing is, i only had my car for about 5 months. plus i bought a wear and tear package that they told me would cover all services from replacing my tires and windshield to this and that, but when i complained about squeaky brakes, they said the package doesn’t cover that and if i wanted to get my brakes checked out i’d have to pay $80 plus whatever it costs to get the problem fixed. so then why the hell did i spend a couple grand more on that package you stupid greedy carsales pepople? damned if you do, damned if you don’t…sigh. thirdly, kudos to Ali for being able to stay so calm and getting the job done. funny how men can stay so calm in those kinds of situations eh? and lastly, saweet car! sorry about your tires though. those must’ve been super costly to replace. that’s my biggest beef about higher end cars, everything costs so much to replace. you pay for luxury, but when something goes wrong, you’re the one to really pay. hope all your tires were replaced with no hassle, not like the brutal BS service i got. here’s to getting off on a better week.
PS
i’m loving your new header! (i usually check blogs on my phone so i’m sorry if this is really late)
Wow, 3 tires? That’s just impressive!
3 tires in a week?! Dang!!! Glad you guys are ok and the cars are fixed 🙂
Jen
Yikes, I’m sorry to hear about your triple tire trouble! I can’t believe Ali was so cool – I’d be flipping out left and right! I guess he’s a lot like Peter – and I guess that’s why I keep Peter around 🙂 I remember one time, Peter and I were driving in VT when suddenly I heard this GRIIIIND and the car listed the the left. I, of course, starting freaking, while Peter calmly helps me pull the car over, then calmly changed the tire. Gosh, it’s a good thing I keep him around 😉
I absolutely hate car troubles..it’s hubby’s job to take care of all vehicle issues. We had 2 tires punctured and an accident with a deer,{yup very common here in PA} in one week!
Why don’t men get freaked out in sketchy parts of town?
What a terrible week! Car troubles are the worst because they just screw up everything in your life!
i can’t handle car troubles graciously. good for those who can. two thumbs up to ali.
i guess every spouse knows why they stick to the other. inspite of their amazing capability to annoy each other 🙂
Three flats in two days could have been quite irritating. I really like Ali’s reaction-calm and taking charge of the situation.P also does the same but I do act like a “damsel in distress” quite unlike you 🙂
wow! at least you’re okay. although i’m sorry to say that because i know that when that sh!t happens to me it’s not much consolation hahah.
You gotta love the practicality of whipping out the laptop & resuming business while he waits for assistance though – 10/10 for that 🙂
So sorry Ameena! Car troubles are the worst – so tedious and frustrating and, more often than not, horribly expensive! Thank heavens Ali kept a calm head 🙂
Guys and their cars… 🙂
I basically pray every time I get in my car (not that I drive some sort of clunker, it’s a CRV for crying out loud) that I don’t end up being That Person on the side of the freeway in the winter.
Mortifying, really.
That being said, I’m more than happy to play the damsel in distress card when it comes to cars. The ironic part is that even though I force Marcus to do all the talking when I’m at the shop, he’s as clueless as I am.
Is it sad that the thing I was most bummed out about when I was reading this post was your Bloomingdale’s fund?
I never left a comment before. My first time. I love the way your write.. the little stories of every home (i know what you write is yours:-) )…and as I read I can so relate..
like in the post when u got back from vacation and worked your a** off, while hubby gets to rest his with the laptop.. keep it up . it helps me relax coming and reading..
Thank you Soma! I appreciate your very kind words!
You are a great wife 🙂 But i dont believe this should cut into your Bloomingdales fund – Tell him happy wife happy life!
I am sorta pretending I didnt read this, because I am accident/tire prone with the car, and believe even reading about it will make my tires now pop. May this be the last.
My friend blew out two tires when she hit a median. A week later her sister blew out the same two tires doing the same thing in the same car.
Yikes.
But cars and trash and dishes have always been my dad’s thing. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of the pets has always been my mom and my thing.
Your dad does the dishes? I don’t think my dad has ever touched a dish after a meal concluded!! Ever!
Ugh! What a week for you! I hope the tires are all fixed up and that you’ve had your fair share of blown tires for quite some time.
Stay safe out there 🙂
There was a time when I’d change the car tires myself…but now I’m tire{d} too! In any case, IMHO, it’s Mr Man’s job as part of the ‘package deal’ that marriage is, LOL, even if the nail is the size of my head! But you gotta love a man as calm as Ali!! WTG!!
Can you please read that as TYRES!!! Man, I seem to have serious finger trouble…but can I safely say it’s your fault. I’m completely enamoured by the way you write! xo
Buying tires makes me want to kill myself. But then so do oil changes. Which is why we only have one car: fewer suicide attempts
Ouch three tires in two days! I also had a pothole induced car mishap this week- drove over a stupid puddle filled pothole in the rain and somehow the bottom skirt (i think thats what its called fell off) of one side of my car (its the long thing that is under the doors…luckily it’s only costing $100 to fix but still!
PS…my parents also have the porsche cayenne 🙂
Sorry about your car mishap…vicious potholes seem to be the norm these days!
Oh man–when it rains, it pours. This kind of thing always happens to me when my husband is on the other side of the world fighting wars and whatnot. Having to deal with it myself, AND knowing a new tire equals about half a new cashmere sweater is so inconvenient and annoying.
Gotta love when 1 tire goes flat on you, but 3? I’d have to say either something is after you or there is a typo in the Matrix code because thats just not normal! Those low profile tires are a *&^%, so I can feel your pain. They are super $$ too. But they sure do look damn good don’t they? 🙂
Awesome. Three tires…when it rains it pours, huh? Yes, I think I put up with my husband for good reasons, such as how he balances out my “stuff”. I guess it’s good we can at least see the positive : )
issues like this are times when I don’t mind not having a car! hey, bravo to Ali for remaining calm in times of trouble.
I’m terrified of being stuck somewhere in my car! Thank goodness nothing happened!
Now I’m glad that I don’t own a car.
Ugh. I have to replace my tires and I’m dreading the cost. I can’t believe Ali popped 2 tires in a pothole! Seattle is so pothole ridden (money for bike lanes but not to fix the roads) that I’m going to be dodging them even more than usual now.
This is one of the reasons I do not own a car. That, and I can’t afford one right now, but that’s besides the point.
I have such an anxious personality- I definitely need calm people to balance me out! I don’t have an Ali though, I live alone. That’s why I manage to drive myself crazy every day.
There are just certain things that go straight to the man-file. Tires are at the top of the list, followed closely by anything having to do with the remote.
What horrible luck Ameena! Hope things are looking up. You should still go to Bloomingdales. It will make you feel better after all that stress:)
Awwww!! What a pain in the butt! We just had to get new tires as well, and I thought the same thing “I would much rather spend this money on a Handbag!” Eeeekkk.
Ryan and I are HUGE Porsche fans and feel really sad for poor Ali’s car….sniff.
xxoo
Car issues are the most annoying. My Dad has a Porsche and he is at the mechanic frequently! We had a running joke that the mechanic was my dad’s gf. hehehe
Hope you guys steer clear of any more car issues, excuse the lame joke. 😉
I’m so sorry about your car issues. Yuck. I get so whiny when things go wrong with my car. Ryan stays cool (for the most part) which is one of the many reasons I married him. He knows how to get me to breathe and calm down. Thanks for sharing, sweet woman. I hope your tires stay safe and sound.
So sorry about the car issues. Anything related to the car is not my territory.Considering I take care of everything around the house, even the oil change chore is alloted to the husband 🙂
Oh tire bursts are more than annoying. Extremely annoying. I have been a victim of such chaoses very often especially when I first came into professional life my job hours were ungodly and I used to go home at 4 in the morning. Twice I had to drag the bike for a km to home from the place at that time. I totally sympathize with you for that and lucky for having Ali there to stay calm 😀 …. (Y)
Oh Lord….this is why “misery loves company” because boy, sometimes dealing with it together is just plain old better to confirm…yep, THIS BLOWS….can you deal with it this time?
I hope Wednesday is better for you!
My car is use to being battered around so if it popped some tires I would probably just call BCAA and chill until I could be rescued. Unfortunately I don’t carry my laptop around with me so I would probably just have to make do with a book or something.
Since you’ve had this much bad car luck in such a short period of time it must mean that it’ll be awhile before the next bad thing happens. Right? Right.
It has been WAY too long since I read your blog! You seriously make me laugh so hard. A nail the size of your head? LOL you sound like me! Flat tires are the worst and I agree, they are all for the Man to deal with. It makes you despise the darn things even more when it sneaks into your money for clothes or shoes! Grrr
We need more calm souls like Ali in our lives.
I blew two tires once in a rented Ford Aspire. I thought it was the funniest thing at the time and when I called the rental company I couldn’t stop laughing.
You are such a good writer Ameena.
Hi Ameena,
Will you be close to email during the day? I’m in a bind cause I just want to start a blog already…but feel I shouldn’t rush into it if a title still doesn’t jump out at me…like I could wait until february to give me more time…but, then again, maybe no title will ever “click”. I have a few more ideas I would love to run by you. Send me an email if you can!