When it Rains, it Pours, but I don't know WHY.

It seems like something ALWAYS comes up.  Always.  I'm sure without tithing it would be worse, AND we have our bills and rent paid and food for groceries, so the basic necessities are covered for another month, as they always are.  But still.  Careful budgeting and living like college students still aren't enough to prepare you for some things...I can't wait until we actually have savings to dip into when things "come up!"

So, this morning as I was driving home after dropping Paul off at work (so I could finish running errands...and half BLIND because my eyedrops and everything make my vision blurry in that one eye), when I was only about half a mile away from home, I heard a strange whistling sound coming from a belt in the hood.  I thought, "Huh, that's weird."  Then it stopped, but only for a moment, and then I heard a rattling sound that was quickly followed by a sound and a feeling like I had lost the whole front of my car and run over it.  But looking out my rearview mirror, nothing had actually fallen off.  I pulled  over onto the generous shoulder, anyway, just to make sure, and sure enough, nothing was hanging off the car.  I thought, "Maybe these eyedrops are messing with me!" and got back in.  Turned on the car, started up the hill again, only about a quarter-mile from home.  But then this thick white smoke came BILLOWING out of the hood and I had to pull over immediately.  I thought, "Huh, I'm going to blow up.  Of course I'm going to blow up now.  I haven't gotten groceries for Emilie and Paul yet."  (Isn't it weird what goes through our minds in emergencies?) 

Turns out, a kind stranger and then later my mom helped me figure out that it was actually the serpentine belt that came off.  Not snapped or broke off, just fell off.  And the kind stranger said with all the smoke I might have blown a gasket.  Thankfully, it being Mom's car and Mom having Triple AAA, we were able to get it towed free of charge.  But the repairs are expensive and none of us can afford it right now, and if the gasket is blown, Mom's going to just junk the car (it's really not worth all that work and money, it's old and has lived a long, full life, at least as cars go).  I guess we'll find out the true prognosis on Monday, but it doesn't look good.  There goes the primary leadership training this morning.  Mom's taking me to run errands later (thank you, Mommy!), but MAN ALIVE.  We don't exactly live in a pedestrian-friendly place. 

The worst part?  I JUST filled up the tank yesterday.  Why do these things always happen after you put a full tank of gas or do some crazy expensive repair?  WHY?  :)