An entertaining end to a Friday night

Last night I covered the Gatesville high school football game in Gatesville, which is about 40 minutes away.  The night ended kinda crazy, and here is the story of that. 

Game ends around 10:30, my deadline to get my story into my editor is 11:15.  I asked the press box hostess (yes, that was her actual title) about the wifi situation in the press box.  Apparently they don't have any because they just finished renovating and they haven't gotten it set up yet.  This means I had to find wifi somewhere after writing my story so I could send it in on time, as I was about 45 minutes away from home.

Gatesville, home of the Hornets.

So when the game ends, I head down to the field to talk to the head coach, and after a few minutes, I thank him for his time, congratulate him on the win, and then run to my car.  I sit in the drivers seat with the AC on (It was 10:30 at night, but still 90+) and write the story.

Once I finish up writing, I start to put together the box score to send in as well, when I notice the time.

11:05.

Crap.

I throw all the stats in the passenger seat of my car, and peel out of the parking lot.  Previously, my editor had told me that the local McDonald's there has wifi if the press box didn't for whatever reason.  I head that way, and pull into the McDonald's parking lot, where the tablet is not picking up any McDonald's wifi network. 

Double crap.

I did notice some other secure networks it picked up though.  Like the one from the sketchy hotel across the street.  I zoom across the street and park, and head to the front desk to ask for the password, when I notice the lobby is locked.  There are two doorbells there, so I push both and stand there jumping up and down like I have to pee.  Nobody responds.

The time is 11:10

I am running out of time, so I scan again for wifi networks, and see one for the drug store by the McDonalds.  I head over there, and see that the drug store is closed.

Triple crap.

I'm still in my car, when off in the distance, I notice something that may be my salvation...

Oh sweet, sweet Taco Bell!

I drive across the parking lot and straight across the 5 lane road seperating me from the Taco Bell, and connect to their free wifi.  This prompted a terms and conditions screen to pop up, and I figured this would mean I would need a password as well.  So I head to the front door of the Taco Bell, which is locked.

But I didn't need a password!

So I set the tablet on top of the garbage can that was by the door and send in my story to my editor.

It was 11:13.

I got it in on time.

And I only lost 4 pounds in sweat while doing it.