Stranded in Somerset

Through the tunnels and the trees, I drove 5 hours west to the hilly city of Pittsburgh, in negative degree weather, during a snow storm, on a very important playoff weekend. Since it was my first time there, I insisted on playing the "I'm-a-tourist" game before my scheduled interview (and so I could find the location of said interview stress-free).

The perfectly round snowflakes swirled from the sky as though a bean bag chair exploded overhead. We drove through the maze of streets and bridges anyway, trying to sneak onto the incline for free, gazing at the barrel vaulted ceilings inside the Cathedral of Learning where two floors of classrooms are converted to resemble the classrooms of other countries, and of course Primanti Brothers...

The bar was packed and every one was decked out in Steelers decor. It was good I was already dressed in my usual black hue so I didn't stand out too much. The Pens game was being broadcast on all the TVs so I guess you can say I fit in anyway. Their "almost famous" meal stuffed in between 2 pieces of bread was certainly an experience. It's impossible to eat it without getting it all over your face.

My interview at the American Business Center went well, and it gave me some good leads, moving me another baby step closer to that paycheck. I left shortly after, headed back east on the turnpike. After driving for a while, somewhere outside of Somerset I come around a turn and suddenly lost my power steering. I drifted off to the narrow shoulder, turned on my blinkers, carefully squeezed out of my partially opened door and held my nose as I watched a green puddle of anti-freeze gushing out of the front of my truck.

It's snowing again, the temperature is quickly dropping, and I'm wrapped in my Mexican blanket reading as I wait for the tow truck man I called to rescue me. $150 to tow my truck off the turnpike, I still had to pay my share of the fee when I exited, and realized I'll have to pay even more to get my truck (that is "in good shape for a '93" Rob the tow truck man ironically told me) fixed.

After a total of five hours, I finally got the hell out of Somerset, but my poor truck with the busted water pump is stranded at the local mechanic's until the weekend. I am very sad and pissed off.