I've already blogged about my seemingly ludicrous licensing / titling woes - but just when you think it can't get any worse it does!

This weekend was my visitation with the kids. Unfortunately, at this point, I have no choice but to drive my illegal truck with my expired license 90 miles north to the meeting spot their mother and I have agreed upon. This act alone is foolish enough to make me nervous, although it was done out of necessity.

So, we're humming along on 71 and I'm being very mindful of my speed, cops, etc. Everything is going smoothly until I hit mile marker 133, just south of Mt. Gilead. All of a sudden the truck starts to shake and BOOM. The truck starts making a terrible noise - I'm positive my axle or something equally as horrifying has just happened. I get to the shoulder and get out to see what exactly is the problem.

A ha! Seemingly I've gotten a "lucky" break. The tire just blew. Well, not just blown, but shredded. Anyway, there didn't seem to be any structural damage so I figured I'd go ahead and take advantage of my AAA Premier membership and get this taken care of ASAP.

I call them up, answer a few questions and figure this will get done quickly - until his last question - "Does the vehicle have current tags?". I honestly answer that no, they are not current and he informs me that I am not covered since the vehicle is being driven illegally. At this point, I have no choice but to laugh out of frustration... I'm screwed. Sitting on the side of the road with a blown tire in a truck that has expired tags and me with an expired license. All I need right now is a cop to drive by and see this - tickets aplenty...

Luckily, the guy offers to set me up with a tow truck - at my expense of course. The AAA guy was actually pretty helpful... Luckily, the tow truck got there before a cop did. The kids, at this point, are just looking forward to the ride in the tow truck again (yes, a similar incident happened before - uggh) - they're fine. Not nearly as upset as I am.

One last problem, of course, that needs solved. It's a Sunday and there are no tire or auto service stations open to put a new tire on until Monday. Why not, right? I just have him drop me off at a random garage in Marengo, OH and figure I'll leave the truck until the next day to have it fixed.

Surprisingly, all of that actually worked out. Senen came to pick up me and the kids. We met their mother halfway and headed back to Columbus. Monday we go to Steve's Used Tires to pick up a tire, head back to Marengo, and have the folks at the station put it on for me - luckily the drive back was uneventful...

All in all I suppose it could have been worse. But had it not been me I'm positive none of this would be happening...

$130 for the tow truck
$32 for a used tire
$10 for installation
Not being thrown in jail for the week - priceless

By the way - if you ever need to get work done on your car stop in at: