very smart and very dumb at the same time

Ever have the feeling that you are both very smart and very dumb at the same time?  I had that feeling today.

After class ended at noon, I decided to be super productive and take my car in for an oil change (something that hasn't been done in a year.  Oops.)  While on the phone to make the appointment at the dealership, I asked how much it would cost for them to replace the turn signal lightbulb that burned out the other day.  I figured it would be pretty cheap and I considered spending the money to save myself the time.  (We have lots of stuff going on this week, so every precious moment to get ahead for next week counts!)  It cost $35 for a freaking lightbulb and labor!  I don't think so...just sign me up for the oil change thank you.

So I wander over the Napa to get a new bulb, thinking that I will be able to get into the taillight on my own to replace it.  (After all, I successfully replaced my own car battery a few months ago.  See photographic evidence below.  If I can do that, a little bulb should be no problem.)  I am thrilled when the cute guy in the store sells me a bulb for $1 and throws away the old burned out bulb.  I proceed to replace the bulb, which was super easy and took like 3 minutes.  At this point, I feel super accomplished, smart, and proud that I saved $34 by doing car maintenance alone.

Photographic proof that I actually changed my car battery a few months ago.  Thanks to Joe for his help.  I obviously couldn't have done it alone.

I continue to run errands, noticing that my turn signal is still clicking like mad, indicating that the turn signal is still not working.  Want to know why?  I replaced the wrong bulb.  (There were 2 bulbs inside the taillight.  I assumed the one on the top was the turn signal.  Wrong.  The turn signal is apparently the bottom bulb in my car).  This means that the bulb that got thrown away at Napa was a perfectly good bulb and I need to go back and get another one.  I instantly feel really dumb.

I go back to Napa and the same cute guy that helped me the first time asks if it burned out already.  Nope.  I sheepishly admit my mistake.  He grins, reaches into the trash can to pick out the "old" bulb that was still sitting on top, and places it on the counter in front of me.  I look at him and stupidly ask, "can I take this one?"  His reply?

"Sure.  We just put it in the 'filing cabinet'."

Haha.  And that is how I spent $1 and probably a little too much time to do something that saved me $34.  Well worth it?  I think so.  Back to feeling pretty smart again.