Well, I know what I'M doing tomorrow

(AKA Return of the GLwFTK)

After mass, the girls and I got some lunch and had big plans for the day thereafter. Well, medium plans anyway. But none of that is meaningful anymore. Because of this.

Yes, that is indeed a foreign object sticking out of my tire. And not just any run-of-the-mill foreign object, like a nail or screw or shard of glass. It's a drill bit. A freaking drill bit of all things. And a sizeable one at that. Here are a couple better views. By the way, it's still there, as I type, but more on that in a bit.

And it was no ordinary tire into which the bit had intruded, mind you. It was my brand newest tire. Of previous post fame. Since that previous post, and others before it, I am quite the victim of "tired paranoia". Now, almost every time I get out of the car I check the tires. For foreign objects. For inflation level. For tread-wear. Periodically, I even turn off the A/C and stereo, roll down the windows, and listen. You know what for... That signature, fast, tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-etc sound of something metallic stuck in a tire as it rolls along the road. I've gotten so bad about my paranoia in this regard that I've actually chased people down (in one case I even called the person, who had their business number on their window) to let them know they had something in their tire.

Well, over the last several days, I've heard the tick-tick. But not consistently. It would strike and fade, leading me to believe it was another passing car, or some other strange noise. I would stop, check the tires, roll forward, check the tires, and nothing. I didn't think it was me. Were it not for the paranoia, I'd have let it go entirely, waiting unknowingly for some future misfortune.

Today I was certain. I just knew it had to be me. There were no other cars around. And darn it, I know that sound. It's distinctive. There had to be something in my tire. I checked more than once and nothing. But I didn't give up.

And finally I found it. After getting down on my hands and knees, embracing the blazing hot asphalt, I found the culprit that would put an end to the day's festivities. It was on the inside (or, non-outward-facing side) of my tire. Somewhere you don't generally look. And my jaw dropped when I saw just how bad it was. I mean, that had to be the craziest thing to have seen on a tire. At least while still inflated. On a flat tire, sure, not so amazing. But to see that photo and fathom that my tire would be anything but flat, would seem by most to be a non-sane thing to think, or even imagine.

It just so happened that our lunch choice was mere minutes from a tire repair vendor. So we got back in the car and headed that way. Unfortunately, they were unable to help, though not for lack of trying. Even the last time I had a tire problem this vendor had to acquire a tire from "the warehouse" since my vehicle uses such a "stupid size", according to the clerk, meaning they had none on-hand.

So, I am left to cross my fingers until tomorrow, when I will have to go and sit and wait for them to find me a tire yet again. Fortunately, as nasty as the wound looks, the tire is holding up surprisingly well (I say with virtual wood-knocking). Also fortunately, I am told the hazard coverage I previously (though unknowingly) purchased would cover the cost so I won't be out more than a hundred bucks as with the last time.

This whole incident will certainly not help my predicament of paranoia with regard to tires.