Went for a ride, and my car died.

Well not really. I went for a solo ride further north of Austin (less traffic, big shoulders, pretty scenery). I was feeling good, but not really up for riding, so I kept it really short. I did see a few deer on the side of the road that I would have totally missed had they run right in front of me--I didn't see them until I suddenly looked off to my right, and there they were, grazing on the grass on the side of the road. I've got to learn to pay more attention as far as that goes. When it comes to traffic, I'm always listening and watching, but wildlife is probably more of a danger than the cars, to an extent. I went up a big hill--not steep, but long--and it seemed easier than all the other times, even with a headwind. I was a bit fresher, so that could have had something to do with it, but I also had to change out my chain. For the last few months, it seems like pedaling up really steep hills has become a bigger chore than usual, and I'm wondering if it's because of the chain... I don't know. I'll have to go up Bluegrass or Yaupon to see, but it definitely feels like the pedaling is smoother.

A girl waved at me from the back of a car as I went by... that was kind of refreshing in a way.

So, the car. I got all my gear back into my car, turned the ignition, the radio started to come on (the volume slowly comes up after the radio turns on), and then silence. I figured it was a problem with the station, so I turned it to another station. Silence. Now, what are the chances that two stations would be having issues? If they're affiliated, maybe. Tried the CD player. Silence.

:(

I'm hoping it's just a fuse, but my friend Eric said if it's a fuse, there could be something shorting out. I'm thinking he's right, because after turning the radio off and turning it on again, the stereo kind of popped, and I think I saw the dashboard dim. GAH.

Note to self: NEVER BUY A WHITE CAR AGAIN. Will I ever learn my lesson? Arrrgh... White cars hate me. I totaled my first car ever, a Ford Probe, white car. My second car was a white Grand Am. The guy that sold it to us seemed nice enough. The car was spotless, so we believed him when, after telling us that the odometer didn't work, he told us it had 77,000 miles on it. One day, I hit a big bump, the odometer flashed on: 134,000 miles. It flashed on and off after that, and I had all kinds of issues with it. A friend that worked at a body shop told us to SELL IT because it was completely rusted out underneath. Third car was a Dodge Neon. Also white. It was a decent car, but I did have a few issues with it. The transmission went out, but thankfully I had an extended warranty on it. I also hit a deer with it. I become a rolling magnet when I'm driving white cars. In my current car, a WHITE Honda Accord, I nearly got into two accidents before I even got the damn thing plated, mostly due to bad roads and idiots that can't drive. And now I have to get the front bumper fixed, AND the stereo. :( My trip to Omaha is going to be so not fun if I don't have a stereo.