the mellow tigger's musings

I used the bus micro-route app this morning for the first time. I last checked their service map when my car died on January 26th. At the time, the service map was still in its original first test region which is officially "north Minneapolis", but it remained south of me. When I checked again yesterday, the map extended northward and now included my house! I asked the driver after I paid for my fare today, and he said my area was included about 2 months ago, so that timeline matches my experience.

I used the shuttle today for door-to-door transportation from my house to Cub Foods grocery. I brought my 2 reusable bags and packed them to overflowing with all of the wonderful foods that I haven't been able to get from the local asian grocery or Target's shipping service (not the same as more expensive local delivery service). I stocked up on bulk spices, frozen vegetables, sauerkraut in a jar, and I even got 2 super-cheap frozen pizzas that will fit in my small toaster oven. I don't even care about the consequences of this gluten-filled buying spree. After I finish this post, I'll eat some pepperoni pizza, and tomorrow I'm going to eat my delicious breakfast sandwich. This menu is gloriously decadent compared to my recent super-healthy eating. And the round trip cost me a total of US$2. Yeah, that's not a typo.

This micro-route map from Minneapolis bus transit currently includes my large grocery store, my pharmacy, my dentist office, two (maybe three?) medical clinics, my local hospital, and my local library (and voting center). Technically, it also includes my veterinarian, but I doubt the bus service allows a loud cat in a carry-on cage. I'll check later, but I expect I still need to find a non-car solution to getting my cat to see her doctor for medical care.

This is exactly the cheap and convenient metropolitan experience that I've imagined possible all of my life, and I'm finally living it now in Minneapolis at age 55! I want SO VERY MUCH to find a job that lets me stay in my house without a car.

It's nearly time for my annual "by the numbers" post. I needed my car mileage for the year so I can add gasoline to my carbon footprint, and that's when I realized I didn't post my car pictures when I gave it up.

Here are photos from where it sat at the mechanic shop, after the tow there, after the gummed up engine refused to run. The side view includes only one of the two bullet holes. I replaced the driver's door after police ruined it collecting the bullet from the frame. It was a good lesson, though, that a car door can stop a typical bullet. I used that knowledge when I ducked down from the gas station shooting a few years later... which was just a block or two from the homicide a few days ago. Yeah, there's a reason I call my home the #WarzoneInMinneapolis. My car bore the damage from its adventures here. It's very different from what it looked like in 2013, when I bought it used. For the record, the mileage at time of death was: 131,384.

So stay tuned for the annual review. I finished my taxes yesterday, so now I just need to compile all of the data into a blog post.

My car died about 10 blocks from home. I need to go back to it now, so I can call for a tow truck. I needed to come home to transfer a few thousand dollars from savings to checking, to be certain I can cover tow and minor expenses for repairs. If it ends up being lots of money for repairs, then today might finally be the day that I give up my old rust bucket. I was hoping it would be a more "intentional" moment than this. :(

The car worked fine on Monday, when I filled up the tank and got groceries. But I had to move it today, because Minneapolis is banning parking on even-numbered sides of city streets tonight... indefinitely. There's just too much snow for emergency vehicles to navigate residential areas. My car seemed to stabilize quickly after it finally started, so I decided to dash to my usual repair shop. I didn't make it very far.

And... I'm off again.

edit 2:45pm: Tow called. 90-120 minutes to wait in my car with a dead engine. At least it's only below freezing but not bitterly cold like last time.

edit 3:45pm: My fingers and toes are cold. I'm glad I used the restroom at home before I walked back to the car.

edit 4:00pm: It's getting a lot colder as the sun sets. Is there a cold front moving through? Weather app says it's currently -10C/14F. It was warmer for most of this week.

edit 4:18pm: Text message. On their way. 15 minutes estimate. Yay, cuz I'm cold!

edit 5:10pm: Car and I are both at the repair shop. I'm out $250 already (about $110 for the tow), and the problem isn't even identified yet.

edit 6:45pm: Still waiting. Yes, it's a cold front coming thru. No idea how I'm getting back home tonight. I downloaded the Lyft app for a taxi ride, as a last resort.

edit 7:45pm: Back home. It is very cold outside, and large snowflakes are starting to fall. I installed the Lyft app at the repair shop and used it for a ride home. Even with a very generous tip, it was still less than US$20 for the trip. The car is dead. May it rust in peace.

Ever since I got it a decade ago, it was a thirsty oil consumer. I long ago stopped buying quarts of oil for lubrication, and I bought gallon jugs instead. That past finally caught up with it. They said the engine was badly "carbonized", and it would not run again. The cheapest replacement cost of $4k (better quality would cost twice that) was not going to happen. Interestingly, they said the computer had "no codes", meaning the dummy "Check Engine" light was being its usual stupid self and not recognizing any ongoing problem. The little engine ran just fine until it suddenly couldn't. Tonight, I need to find the title, so I can sign the car over to them for scrap metal.