My day was a microcosm of the year.
I broke down all the cardboard boxes the Christmas presents came in and loaded them into our old van to take to the recycling center along with some other stuff. I'll also stop at the bank to deposit a check. Just as I pull out of the driveway onto our street and suddenly something doesn't feel right and the van pulls hard to the right. A flat.
I get out and it's bad, pulled right off the rim. ***?
I walk back to the house and grab everything I need to change the tire; breaker bar, impact wrench, socket, floor jack, etc. Just as the van starts to rise up on the jack, it starts to rain. It's 50° out. When I open the hatch to get the mini-spare I realize I still have three 4'x8' sheets of 3/4 plywood in there on top of the well for the spare. Crap.
Plan B. I'll leave the van on our little side street with the flashers on and take the tire to the local tire shop. When I open the trunk of my Nissan it's filled to the very brim with all my tennis coaching junk: rackets, balls, shoes, folding chairs, a pop-up, god knows what else. I put it all in the garage.
In goes the tire and I'm off. The tire store wasn't too busy and a half hour later I'm on my way home with my fixed tire. At least the rain had stopped.
I get back to the van and take the tire out of the trunk. Just then it starts to rain again as if on cue. After some wrestling with a filthy, slippery tire, it finally goes on. Not sure why it was so hard. Done.
I hop in the van and turn the key. Er-er-er. Nothing. The van hadn't been driven in damn near forever plus I'd left the flashers on because I was still partially in the street. I walk back to the house, get the Nissan, and jumpstart the van.
I put the Nissan away and drove the van to the bank to charge it up. At least that errand got done. When I got home I cracked a beer. I earned it.