What I Did On My Summer Vacation Part II, or, How Not To Enjoy Your Birthday

The day after kayaking we checked out of our B&B and waited with the car on dock for the return ferry ride back to Anacortes, and then Seattle. The wait let us see some interesting "wildlife": the hippie mom who let her child run around the parking lot without shoes or socks, and who had a bumper sticker that read, "Magick is alive" and the jovial 65 year old man who the previous evening at dinner had been downing martinis like they were going out of style, and who thus looked a little worse for the wear.
We took the hour long ferry and deboarded around 12:30. It was an overcast day, so I turned on the headlights for the hour and a half drive back to Seattle. With a good portion of the afternoon remaining, we decided to brave the Seattle freeway traffic and check out Capitol Hill.
We crawled along, found parking and wandered the streets. Independent stores that would never be able to afford rent in Boston abounded, kitschy bars and seedy lounges beckoned. We entered one with a Mexican motif and asked what was on tap. Only Ranier (a kind of PBR equivalent) so G ordered us each one. I should mention that it was my birthday. We read the local papers and nursed our watery beer, then asked for the check. The bartender mumbled something about $3...G thought he must have misunderstood and so said, "No, I'll pay for both." The bartender said, "Sure-- they are $1.50 each-- it's Happy Hour!" G demanded to know what other specials we were missing out on then asked the barkeep to hit him again. We wandered out of the bar into the refreshing Seattle air and decided to head back so that we could enjoy my birthday dinner with my stepdad. I went to start the car while G finished a phone call...but the car wouldn't start. I made sure the key was in the right way and that all systems were go. And that's when I noticed the headlights had been left on. G and I exchanged angry glances and he tried to turn on the car while I called the rental agency who put us through to AAA. I was told someone would be by in "half an hour or less" and that I should remain with the car. G and I had reading material, but limited water and no snacks. My stomach started to growl. We played count the hipsters as they walked past and tried to find our Seattle area couple match. Forty five minutes passed and G went to scavenge for food. I called AAA again and was told they were delayed. I stared at the sunset behind the space needle through the rearview mirror. G brought back sandwiches and fries. After an hour and a half the AAA guy arrived, our car was jumped and we were reminded to just drive for half an hour to keep the charge. I smiled and turned on the car and that's when the gas light went on. G had that "I told you so" look on his face, because he had, in fact, told me that we should fill up with gas earlier. I didn't know if we could drive 30 minutes and then buy gas, or if we would run out. We took the gamble, found a station, turned off the ignition, bought gas and...the car started. We made it home, and my birthday dinner was at the breakfast bar; sandwiches, the salt from the remaining fries, and a bottle of bubbly found in the garage. In Amazing Race terms we were 0 for 2.

next...like a monkey hitting itself over and over, we take the car into the Seattle AGAIN