Series of unfortunate events (day 2)

So after getting stuck in a blizzard the night before, the next day I decided I'd better just get a hotel in Loveland. I drove up (only 1 hour this time!) And went back to work setting up my booth. I got there around noon and had to be fully set up by 4pm. The show, Rebel Junk Market, would begin at 5:30. So I managed to get everything unpacked and thrown onto shelves and table tops, and all my empty boxes and bubble wrap back in my car. I knew I needed to run get change for my money box, and grab some supplies at the store, and get checked into my hotel, so I was moving at turbo speed. Plus one of my friends was a little stumped on her booth so I scheduled in a little time to go help her rearrange a little. I finally got it all done and rushed out the door at 3:30. 

When I got to my hotel I had about 15 minutes to check in, dump my gear, change, and do my hair and makeup. And of COURSE they gave me the wrong key. AND the wrong room. And it took the whole 15 minutes to get it sorted out. FINALLY I got in, and managed to do everything in 5 minutes and was back out the door! (I've had plenty of practice since I usually hit my alarm until 5 min before I have to leave in the morning). 

Then it was time for the show! I'm a huge introvert, so spending several hours surrounded by and chatting with people really drains me. But the night went well, everyone was nice, I met some awesome people and we had a pretty good crowd for a friday night despite the raging snowstorm outside! These lovelandians are tough! 

The show was done for the night so it was time to get out as they locked up the building. So as I walked through the bitter temperature, I was super glad I had booked a hotel which I would soon be getting warm in.  But when I got to my car I realized I had left a door slightly ajar. And it had drained the battery. And it wouldn't start. Not one bit! So I started freaking out and reaching for my phone to call AAA, and just then my phone died. OF COURSE IT DID! So I run back toward the building to see if I can get inside long enough to charge my phone, to call AAA, to come start my dead car out in the snow. 

LUCKILY my vendor friend Erin, The Farmhouse Merchant, (pictures above) was coming by as I was rushing back and she said, just come charge your phone in my car! (She is such a sweetheart). So she sat with me while I called AAA and even stayed when they said it would be an HOUR wait! She is my guardian angel. I would have been frozen sitting in my car without heat. We ran and got a bite while we waited. And waited.  And waited. Finally after an hour and a half, I called AAA again to make sure they were coming. Oh what? Nope. Our driver had been re-routed to a priority call.  So we waited some more. Finally after TWO HOURS of waiting with this extremely patient friend, a policeman drove up and I waved him down. 

I explained the situation and he asked if I had jumper cables, yes, but I don't know how to use them I said embarrassed. I asked if he had time to help us (I'm sure he had more important things to do, but this nice man said sure. Showed me how to hook things up and in what order (red, red, black, ground), and my car purred to life! I literally raised my arms in victory and shouted. Then this amazingly nice person went to his car, got a scraper and cleaned the snow off all my windows! I was ready to cry! I wanted to hug him but I figured it was against protocol since he was wearing a gun and a million other gadgets. He even gave me his card and said if I had anymore trouble to give him a call. 

So I want to publicly thank my heroes, Erin, and mystery cop! 

And wouldn't you know 3 minutes later… AAA shows up. Derrr. AND the guy says AAA didn't even CALL him until 15 minutes earlier! AAAUUGHHHH!!!!! I would've frozen to death without my heroes! The buildings were all locked and it was too far and too cold to walk anywhere. I would've been completely stranded! 

Anyway, the experience really made me appreciate and value the kindness of friends and strangers and humbled me. (P.S. I finally made it to my hotel after 11pm and enjoyed a blissful night of no mishaps). Until the next day...