“Driving Home for Christmas,” Chris Rea, 1986
I nearly always spend Christmas in my hometown, which is just over two hours away by car. It’s in South Texas, so I’ve never driven for days or through snow, but I can certainly relate to spending a little time on the interstate on the way to loved ones.
Enjoy the full list of Christmas favorites on YouTube!
A few months ago, I started a field technician job which requires me to drive around the great state of Texas. Of course, while on the highways, byways, and backways of the Lone Star State, I noticed a few things:
#7 My road! (sort of)
You are listening to ‘300 Seconds with Eduardo Soliz,’ and this is episode number 94, “Highways and By-ways,” so let the 300 Seconds begin!
Owning a car is a requirement when you live in Texas, and when you’re raised in a small town like I was, it was a necessity, because just about everything significant was either in the larger town ten miles away or in the big city that was twenty miles away. An interesting side effect of that experience is that driving around doesn’t bother me as much as it does my friends that grew up in the city.
When I was in my small town and I wanted to go to HEB, it was a ten-mile drive. Blockbuster Video? Fifteen miles. The mall? Twenty miles. Heck, if you wanted something to eat that wasn’t Dairy Queen or the local Mexican place it was at least a ten mile drive. My city friends are used to having everything close by and I’m used to having everything far away, so where the thought of driving to the other side of town horrifies them; for me, it’s a big deal.
I make a trip to see my parents about every month or so, and thus, I know Interstate 37 between San Antonio and Corpus Christi like the back of my hand. It’s interesting to see it slowly change over the years: Quirky mom and pop gas stations that had animatronic cowboys and sold ostrich eggs have been replaced by big shiny corporate twenty-pump monstrosities that can probably be seen from space at night.
I find it interesting how most of the newer gas stations are trying really hard to be Buc-ees. One even tried a little too hard and ended up being sued over it. (Buc-ees won, by the way) Try as they might, though, nobody has ever been able to completely pull it off, because they all forget the one thing that makes Buc-ees, Buc-ees: It isn’t the massive store, or the kitschy souvenirs that they sell, or the friendly workers, or even the mascot. It’s the guy cleaning the bathrooms. When you walk into the bathroom at Buc-ees, not only is it huge, but it’s always super-clean, day or night. The other guys try: They’ll put locks on the stall doors and solid walls in between them, but all it takes is one clogged toilet or not-working sink or funky smell to remind you that they ain’t Buc-ees.
A rival gas station, QuikTrip, recently took the title of favorite gas station in Texas from Buc-ees in a 2017 GasBuddy survey. That which had some folks, including myself, up in arms: “There is just no way some other lousy gas station could be better than Buc-ees!” Everybody said. Quik Trip recently began opening stations in the San Antonio area, and one opened up on my way to work, so I decided to check it out. In doing so, I figured out why they won the title. Much like Buc-ees, Quik Trip is a really nice gas station with a good selection of hot food, snacks, drinks, and friendly employees.
You see, Buc-ees is where you stop when you are on a road trip. In Texas, it’s to the point where a stop at Buc-ees is almost a part of the vacation itself, but it’s where you stop when you are on your way to somewhere far away. It’s where you make a pit stop to use the bathroom and get beef jerky, kolaches, tacos, BBQ sandwiches, sweets, sodas, beaver nuggets, and maybe even a T-shirt or maybe even an ice chest or even a grill. And that’s great. Quik Trip, on the other hand, is where you go to gas up from week in and week out for work. Their gas is fairly cheap, and the station is always clean and has a pretty good selection of food and snacks. Now, is Quik Trip as big as Buc-ees? No. Does it have fresh kolaches and beef jerky like Buc-ees? No. Souvenirs? No. But it is nicer than most other gas stations and probably closer to home for most than Buc-ees. So yeah, I can see why it is more popular, especially if the gas is just as cheap, and isn’t cheap gas what we’re all looking for?
This has been 300 Seconds, the next episode will be posted after I top-up my SUV. I am Eduardo Soliz, if you’d like to hear or read more of my words visit Eduardo Soliz dot com, and I thank you for listening!
Over the last week, my Honda CR-V (aka The Excelsior) had been starting up just a little more sluggishly with each trip. Eventually, it got to the point where it just barely started, but as is human nature, I figured that it would last just long enough to get to get the battery looked at.
Of course, I waited one trip too many and eventually it didn’t start at all one night. Click-click-click-click-click was all I heard.
After getting a jump-start from a neighbor (always have cables in your vehicle, folks) I went to the auto parts store where I had replaced the original battery a few years prior. I had a strong suspicion that the battery was dead, but when the gentleman asked if I would like to have it tested, it placed just enough doubt in my mind to make me think that might not be the case. I didn’t want it to be something else, because as far as car repairs go, replacing a battery is on the fairly inexpensive scale, and it can be done by one’s self, assuming the vehicle can be taken to a good battery or vice-versa.
The gentleman grabbed a tester and followed me out to my noble (if not currently unreliable) steed. I popped the hood and proceeded to let the gentleman do his job. He attached the clips to the battery terminals and proceeded to push some buttons on the device. After a few moments he told me the battery was good and asked if I wanted him to test other ‘start the car’ parts. I said yes, and he asked me to start the vehicle. I made a crack about ‘I hope it starts,’ but much to my surprise, it started with no hesitation. A few moments and button presses later, the man told me that the alternator and starter were probably okay, too. I thanked him for his time and went on my merry (if slightly worried) way to the grocery store, where the car started again without issue. What the heck was wrong with my car?
As folks are oft to do these days, I went onto social media to share my ambivalence over the situation. Friends offered advice and their own tales of automotive experiences, both good and bad. One friend mentioned that a similar problem had been caused by loose terminal connectors. This idea sounded intriguing to me, as I had recalled my interior lights flashing during the process of having it jumped, and so I resolved to investigate them come the morning. I didn’t park the Excelsior in the garage because I had a feeling I was going to need another jump-start.
The next morning, I hopped into my trusty steed to go have some breakfast and was greeted by the clicking noise again. No big deal, it’s the terminals, right? Wrong. Nothing was loose and there was no corrosion to be found. It has to be the battery, I thought, but what the guy last night told me it was good. I frumped for a while as I searched for nearby mechanics and groused over the pile of money I anticipated I was going to have to spend.
Finally, I decided to get a second opinion.
I got a jump-start from a different neighbor, and observed that both times we had to let my vehicle sit for a while and charge up. The thought of it has to be the battery kept bouncing in my head as I drove to a different auto parts store. I walked inside and asked to have my battery checked. This time around, the tech got a frumpy look on her face when she saw my terminals. The connectors to the Excelsior’s battery have these plastic covers that were getting in the way of the clips, meaning she could only reliably attach the clips to the screws that kept the connectors attached. “I don’t like taking a reading from the screws, the reading is sometimes wrong,” She said. The tech did her best to adjust the tester clip, but was not completely satisfied with the result: “I’m not getting a good reading, can you take the battery out?” She asked.
I said sure, and proceeded to do so, with the tools I keep inside the vehicle. I also had to borrow a pair of pliers, but eventually dislodged the battery and took it inside the store. The tech did her thing, and sure enough, the battery was bad. Fortunately, I had purchased the ‘three-year replacement’ battery the last time and I received a new one free of charge. I installed it myself, which was only fair since I had taken the old one out, and now my trusty steed is trusty once again.
I figured that it would be a good idea to let the tech know about my experience the night before. We both agreed that the other guy just didn’t know about the screws providing unreliable readings.
And thus we have the difference between somebody who only knows how to follow instructions, and somebody that actually knows what they are doing because they have learned how things really work.
Whether they are fixing cars or computers, a good tech will have more in-depth knowledge about the things that they repair than someone who is only taught how to fix things or is working off a script. When the ‘usual steps’ don’t work, a good tech can think things though and improvise to find a solution. A bad tech only knows how to follow instructions, and when those instructions don’t do the job, they’re stuck, and so are you.
My trusty CR-V (the “Excelsior,” because I name my cars after spaceships) recently got dinged in the back. The damage isn’t too terrible but it’s in a lousy spot. Thus, I had to deal with my insurance company (Progressive) and rent a car. Along the way, I noticed a few things:
#5. *Angry Bear Noises*
The lady that hit me seemed to be pretty impatient while I got Progressive on the phone. MAYBE YOU SHOULDN’T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF YOU’RE IN A HURRY, LADY.
15. Me in the rental
This is a newer vehicle, yet the backup camera looks terrible compared to my 2012 CR-V.
35. Looking good!
Upgrade!
My 2005 Dodge Neon, lovingly referred to as the “Reliant,” has been a pretty dependable vehicle since I bought it back in 2006. Recently, the only issue I’ve had with it is that well, its a Neon. As I’ve been taking more trips to Dallas and Houston going to conventions and events, I’m finding that a Neon isn’t a very comfortable place to be for an extended period of time.
Thus, I began looking for a new vehicle in earnest. I didn’t need a “urban assault vehicle” as I like to call them, instead I wanted something just a bit bigger and more comfortable than a compact car. I ended up buying a new 2012 Honda CR-V (pictured at right next to the Reliant and dubbed the “Excelsior”) and noticed just a few things during the process:
Ouch!
Well, there goes that bragging right. Up until Monday, I was one the few people in my circle of friends to have never been involved in a car accident. That proud status changed after I was involved in a fender-bender this past Monday. I hit another car that was pulling out of a parking lot just down the road from my apartment. I then spent the next three hours in the misty afternoon directing traffic, and talking with the lady I hit, the police, the people at my insurance company, the folks at the rental car company, the tow truck guy and most of my immediate family.
It was my day off too
The good thing is that nobody got hurt, but both of our vehicles are a bit worse for wear. I hit the other vechicle square in the driver’s side wheel (as you can see in the pic), which is going to cost a few beans to fix, and while the body damage on the Reliant is limited to the front bumper, it wouldn’t start at all, so there’s that. The lady I hit was actually pretty cool about it, as was I, so I at least didn’t have to deal with some mad-as-hell person jumping and screaming at me. Before the fire department and police showed up to direct traffic, I was directing people to get out of my lane with my Flashlight of Smiting. Even though we didn’t hit hard enough for either of our airbags to deploy, I was a bit discombobulated after the fact.
Dealing with my insurance company (Progressive) wasn’t too bad, not too long after everything was hauled away, I was picked up by the rental car company and am now riding about in a Hyundai Santa Fe. I was considering a small SUV before this and now that I have had a chance to drive one, I am sold on the vehicle type. I may not get a Santa Fe for my next vehicle, but will definitely consider something like it once all this hash is settled.
If there is one thing that does bother me about the whole thing, its that there were NO witnesses. The accident happened just in front of a bus stop, and of course, those folks hopped onto the next bus that stopped by. I don’t blame them, I’m sure they had work or other places to be, but the fact that no one that driving around stopped AT ALL kinda sucked. I’ve witnessed an accident myself, and I made sure I stuck around to see if they needed assistance or witnesses.
Now I get to wait for the insurance guys and repair guys to get everything figured out. I’ll probably be out some cash when its all said and done, but in the bigger scheme of things, everything turned out as well as could be.
Well, the Reliant now has over 36,000 miles on it. It went over the hump while I was driving down to my parents’ on Saturday. I guess this is where it starts to fall apart. Granted, I wouldn’t have gotten there so quickly (27 months) if it hadn’t been for my crappy job in New Braunfels, but that’s neither here nor there. Time to start thinking about that next vehicle. 🙂
Its been an interesting week, and its barely Tuesday!
I dropped my car off at the dealership this morning to get some work done; new brake pads for the front wheels, an oil change, and this year’s inspection sticker. The dealer’s shuttle then dropped me off at work. The original plan was to hitch a ride in the afternoon to pick it up, and be on my merry way knowing the Reliant would stop when I wanted it to.
Needless to say, The Plan got thrown out the window at about 4:45…
I get a call at about that time from the guy from the service department. I figured it was good news, my car was ready to go…BUT as it turns out, while changing the oil, they found a transmission fluid leak. Well, nuts. The good news was that since the car is still under warranty, the fix will not cost me anything. The bad news? No car until tomorrow. Crap.
I leave the dealer with my apartment keys instead of my car (note to self, give them the spare key next time) and I decided that I would walk to work tomorrow morning. I probably could call in a favor and get a lift, but I’ve actually thought about doing this before, especially since its not too too far away. According to Google Maps, its about .83 miles, so I’ll be getting up bright and early tomorrow. If all goes well, I’ll get there before it gets too warm out, and I’ll hit up a coworker for a lift to pick up the Reliant hopefully during lunch or after work.
Should be fun!
Identifying people by something they do (or don’t do) is just one of those things that people tend to do, and I’m no different. Instead of their names, I could identify close friends as Wrestling Fan, Mini Driver, World of Warcraft Player, Quiet Guy, and Dude That Enjoys Killing People In Videogames Just A Little Too Much. You know who you are.
One unfortunate habit that I have acquired is that I do not wash my car on a regular basis. When your friends constantly see the layers of dust covering your vehicle, you soon become known as “Guy Who Never Washes His Car.” This has been my moniker for years back home, however I didn’t realize that it had followed me up to my new home until last Saturday.
A friend of mine was coming over to visit for the first time, and I provided directions. The last instruction being: “Look for my red Dodge Neon.” I figured this was simple enough, at least in the first month of living there, I had never seen another red Dodge Neon. The apartment was stuffy, so I decided to open the balcony door to let some air in while I did some vacuuming.
As I am doing this, I look outside and see my friend parking his truck just outside of the building. Great, I think, he’ll be knocking on the door pretty soon. I continue cleaning but hear no knock on the door. “Why hasn’t he knocked yet?” I wonder. I check outside and see the truck is no longer there. As I am pondering this turn of events, my cell phone rings, its my friend: “Hey, did you wash your car?” he asks, to which I reply yes.
I then asked if he had parked a few minutes earlier. He said yes, but he had decided that apparently the Neon was SO clean he assumed it was not mine and kept on looking for a red “covered in dirt” Neon which he did not find. Jerk.
It is now official, I am now “Guy Who Never Washes His Car.” Again.
Eduardo Soliz 