Just Perfect

I got into my first real car accident yesterday on the way to the hotel from LAX. I say first real accident because I was involved in an accident the day after I moved into my apartment at UCLA.  I was the third car in a four car rear ending incident.  So there was no damage sustained to my car since the car behind bore the brunt of the impact.

I'm traveling down the 405 at around 3:00 pm in the afternoon.  Things are fine.  I'm on schedule to get to the hotel, change, and meet a college friend for dinner.  Not quite.  The car in front of me brakes, I brake, the guy behind me did not get the memo in time.  I hear tires squealing, I smell rubber burning, I instinctively brace for impact, and then get hit.  *sigh* PERFECT!  I pull off to the side of the road and the guy's pretty cool.  He's never been in an accident before either.  I say I'm calling the cops because this is a rental car and there is no way I'm going to be held liable for this shit.  I call 911 and they bring out some CHP officers.  He takes my info and gives me a little card and sends me on my way.

I finally arrive at my hotel (Hilton Waterfront Huntington Beach - it's a beautiful hotel) and to add insult to injury, my room is not ready.  EVEN BETTER!  I take the time to call Avis and report my accident.  They tell me to fill out the incident report card in the car.  There isn't one!  After the useless call to Avis, I head over to the bar and have a much needed drink.  Yes, I had a drink alone in a hotel bar.  I'm definitely traveling on business.  An hour later (30 minutes after the regular check in time), I get a call that my room is finally ready.  I get upstairs to my room and just sit there and finally relax.  What a day!