Sometimes Saving Money Costs You More: A Lesson From My Fuel Tank
There was a piece of advice I heard about a month ago that I never got around to sharing. As I was driving to a local detox facility to bring a recovery meeting, it came back to me.
It was one of those simple pieces of car care advice that makes perfect sense once someone explains it.
Most gasoline sold in the United States contains ethanol. The exact blend varies depending on the season and location. Alcohol has impressive cooling properties. That reminded me of my drinking days.
Back then, a bottle of Jack Daniel's often lived in the freezer. Since alcohol freezes at a much lower temperature than water, there was no need for ice. If I was drinking it straight—or with Coke—it stayed ice cold without getting watered down. (Side note: Applebee's serves Pepsi products. Jack & Pepsi? No thank you.)
Anyway... back to the car.
I recently heard that during the hot summer months, it's a good idea to keep your gas tank at least half full whenever possible. Why? Because the electric fuel pump sits inside the gas tank. The gasoline surrounding it helps keep the pump cool while it's working, and having more fuel available reduces the chances of the pump working harder than it needs to.
That advice made a lot of sense.
Unfortunately, I didn't follow it.
Not too long ago, I found myself driving around with less than a quarter tank of gas. I was trying to time the market, waiting to see if gas prices would drop a few cents before filling up.
Then it hit me.
The price of gasoline might fluctuate by a few dollars per tank. Replacing a failed fuel pump can cost hundreds—or even well over a thousand dollars once you factor in labor. On many vehicles, the technician has to remove the fuel tank to access the pump.
That's a pretty expensive way to save five bucks.
Sometimes we focus so much on saving a little today that we forget the much higher cost tomorrow.
I think I'll stick with keeping my tank at least half full from now on. My wallet—and hopefully my fuel pump—will thank me.
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
Peace, Serenity... and the World's Longest Car Horn
Today I was reminded that peace and serenity aren't destinations—they're things I have to keep practicing every single day.
I've shared this story before, but it still makes me laugh... and cringe.
On my way home from my initial retina detachment consultation in Hanahan, South Carolina, traffic came to a complete crawl. Bumper-to-bumper. I was actually doing fine with it. Traffic happens.
Then someone decided the shoulder was their own personal VIP lane.
They flew past everyone who had been patiently waiting and squeezed right in front of me.
At that exact moment, my serenity clocked out for the day.
I didn't give a polite courtesy honk.
I didn't tap the horn to let them know I was there.
I introduced them to the entire catalog of my car horn.
And I kept introducing it.
For so long... that I literally wore out my car horn.
Yes... I broke my horn.
I actually heard it take its last breath.
I'm pretty sure if my BMW could talk, it would've said, "Niel... buddy... enough already."
I estimate I was honking continuously for at least 15 minutes.
The person who cut me off probably forgot about me after 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, I was apparently auditioning to be the Low Country Symphony's first horn section.
Looking back, it's hilarious.
It's also a little wild.
For me, that's what alcoholism can look like today. It isn't that I'll pick up a drink—that was never my first thought, and recreational drugs weren't my thing either. Instead, it can show up as anger, self-righteousness, and reacting in ways that make absolutely no sense.
I've never repaired the horn.
Not because I don't have the time.
Not because I don't have the money.
I haven't fixed it because, in my mind, I haven't yet truly learned how to share the road with other people. Until I make more progress on that, the broken horn serves as a daily reminder that I still have work to do.
Recovery isn't about becoming perfect.
It's about recognizing when I'm the problem, owning it, laughing at myself when appropriate, and trying to do a little better tomorrow than I did today.
Recently, an awesome friend from one of my recovery meetings thought of me. She knows this story. She knows I still wrestle with the rage that can pop up out of nowhere—and she knows I've been driving around with a silent horn ever since.
She surprised me with the perfect gift.
I laughed immediately.
Now I need to mount it on my dashboard.
If you want to see what she gave me—and hear some of the hilarious things it says—head over to:
Oh... and before anyone points it out, ignore the lack of manicure in the video. Dialysis, life, and recovery have been keeping me just a little busy.
Who knew one broken horn would become one of my biggest recovery reminders?
Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons.
Sometimes those lessons arrive with a whisper.
Sometimes they arrive with 15 minutes of uninterrupted honking.
Thanks for reading, and if this story made you smile—or reminded you of one of your own moments of insanity—leave a comment. I'd love to hear it.
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
Helping Launch A Godd3ss3s Cr3ation Has Strengthened My Recovery
One of the projects I’m most proud to be involved with right now is helping launch A Godd3ss3s Cr3ation at https://agodd3ss3scr3ation.com.
Most people know me through NielFlamm.com, where I write about everything from leadership and AI to movie reviews, recovery, and whatever else catches my attention. This project, however, has become something much more personal.
Working alongside Godd3ss Aisha and Godd3ss Alicia has given me the opportunity to help build something centered on healthy living, mindfulness, self-care, and becoming a better version of myself.
What surprised me is how much it has helped me.
I’ve been sober for many years now, and I’ve learned that recovery isn’t simply about not taking a drink. That’s where it starts—not where it ends.
Recovery is about taking care of my mind.
My body.
My soul.
It’s about the people I surround myself with, the conversations I have, and the thoughts I allow into my life.
As I help edit blog posts, brainstorm ideas, and publish articles for A Godd3ss3s Cr3ation, I’m constantly reading about gratitude, letting go, protecting your peace, managing stress, self-care, healthy habits, and slowing down long enough to check in with myself.
I can’t spend hours editing articles about becoming healthier without asking myself if I’m doing the same.
The blogs aren’t just helping readers.
They’re helping me.
I’ve always believed that if I'm around positive people long enough, some of that positivity rubs off on me. The discussions I have with Aisha and Alicia aren’t about gossip or negativity. They’re about growth, healing, perspective, and trying to become better than we were yesterday.
That reinforces the principles I’ve tried to live by throughout my recovery.
One thing I’ve learned is that sobriety requires maintenance. It isn’t something you accomplish once and never think about again. Just like physical fitness, healthy relationships, or a successful career, recovery requires attention.
Helping launch A Godd3ss3s Cr3ation has become part of that maintenance for me.
If one of our blogs encourages someone to pause before reacting…
If it inspires someone to take better care of themselves…
If it helps someone choose hope over despair…
Or simply reminds someone that they’re worth investing in…
Then we’ve accomplished something worthwhile.
If you haven’t visited the site yet, I’d love for you to take a look.
Visit https://agodd3ss3scr3ation.com, spend a few minutes reading through the Blog, and if you enjoy what you find, subscribe. It’s completely free, and you’ll receive new articles as they’re published.
And if a particular blog resonates with you, please share it with someone you care about. You never know whose day—or life—you might brighten with a simple act of kindness.
Thank you to Godd3ss Aisha and Godd3ss Alicia for trusting me to help bring this vision to life. It’s been a rewarding experience, and one that continues to strengthen my own journey every day.
📬 What You May Have Missed This Week on NielFlamm.com (June 6-13)
Hello Friends!
Another week has come and gone, which means I somehow managed to produce another collection of blogs, movie reviews, videos, LinkedIn posts, opinions, and assorted Internet Garbage.
If life got busy, here's your weekly recap of everything that happened on NielFlamm.com between June 6 and June 13.
🎬 Movie Reviews
It was another busy week at the theater.
I reviewed Pressure, the fascinating true story about the meteorologists whose weather forecast helped make D-Day possible. It was less about the battle itself and more about the pressure of making decisions that would affect thousands of lives.
I also reviewed Scary Movie 6, where Marlon and Shawn Wayans return with exactly the type of over-the-top parody humor that made the franchise famous. If you're easily offended, it probably isn't for you. If you enjoy ridiculous comedy, you'll probably laugh the entire time.
Finally, I shared my thoughts on Eternity, a movie that explores relationships, death, and the afterlife while asking some interesting questions about love and forever.
If you're trying to decide what to watch, hopefully my reviews save you a little time and money.
🌎 NielFlamm.com Continues to Grow
One of the biggest surprises this week came from looking at my website analytics.
During the past month, more than 800 unique visitors generated over 1,000 page views, with readers coming from all over the world. The largest audiences are currently in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Germany.
When I started this hobby, I honestly thought only friends and family would stop by.
Seeing people I've never met visiting the site is both humbling and motivating, and I appreciate every single visit.
🎥 Videos, Blogs & Other Internet Garbage
There was plenty of content outside of movie reviews this week.
I shared my thoughts on celebrity sports fans and carpetbaggers, those people who somehow become lifelong fans the minute a team starts winning championships while the real fans have been suffering through decades of heartbreak.
I also posted another handicap parking adventure, featuring a driver who apparently believes parking lines are merely suggestions despite having an entire parking lot available.
I shared my appreciation for the growing international audience that continues to find NielFlamm.com, thanking readers around the world for spending time with my content and encouraging them to reach out with suggestions on how I can continue improving.
The website continues to fill up with blogs, videos, podcasts, health updates, technology discussions, humor, random observations, and whatever else happens to cross my mind during the week.
💼 Leadership, AI & Nextdoor Commentary
My ongoing commentary surrounding Nextdoor leadership and corporate communication continued throughout the week.
I discussed Nirav Tolia's comments surrounding artificial intelligence, pointing out that AI has existed in many forms for decades through predictive dialers, automation tools, instructional design software, Grammarly, and other technologies many of us have worked with throughout our careers.
I also examined Nextdoor's moderation model, asking what protections exist to prevent moderator retaliation and whether enough transparency exists when volunteer moderators are making decisions that affect neighbors and local conversations.
Another article compared Nextdoor's constantly shifting messaging to companies like Waffle House and In-N-Out Burger, organizations that have built loyal customer bases through consistency, simplicity, and delivering on a straightforward promise.
I also shared my thoughts on Nirav Tolia's appearance on the New Economies podcast, questioning whether the company is truly listening to user feedback while discussing AI, neighborhood data, and community engagement.
As both a shareholder and former user, I continue to believe transparency, consistency, and accountability are critical ingredients for long-term success.
❤️ Recovery & Life
This week I reflected on celebrating 17 years without a drink and the gratitude I have for everyone who reached out with comments, texts, messages, and encouragement.
The AA chip I picked up wasn't just for me—it serves as a reminder to newcomers that long-term recovery is possible, one day at a time.
Humor, gratitude, and community continue to be some of the greatest gifts of sobriety.
👉 Catch Up!
If you missed anything this week, stop by NielFlamm.com and catch up on the latest blogs, videos, podcasts, movie reviews, opinion pieces, and all the other Internet Garbage I've been creating.
And if you enjoy what you read or watch, please forward this email to a friend and encourage them to subscribe.
Don't gatekeep the Internet Garbage.
Thanks for reading, supporting the site, and following along on this crazy journey.
See you next week!
— Niel
Thank You for Reading My Internet Garbage
There are moments when I stop and look at the analytics for NielFlamm.com, and I honestly have to laugh a little. When I started this little hobby, I figured the only people visiting would be a handful of friends, family members, and maybe someone who clicked the wrong link.
Instead, something unexpected has happened.
I've started seeing steady movement in the site's traffic, especially through the RSS feed, and visitors are coming from places I never imagined. A huge percentage of readers and viewers are coming from Asia, with China and Vietnam leading the way. The United States continues to be a strong audience, and across Europe, Germany has become the largest source of visitors.
I have no idea what resonates with everyone. Maybe it's the movie reviews, the health journey, the recovery stories, the Nextdoor commentary, the random observations about life, or just the collection of what I affectionately call Internet Garbage.
Whatever the reason, I'm incredibly grateful.
Over the last 30 days, the site has received more than 800 unique visitors, over 1,000 page views, and more than 800 visits overall. I'm still learning what all these analytics mean, but every number represents a real person who took time out of their day to stop by my little corner of the internet.
That's pretty amazing to me.
If you've read a post, watched a video, or listened to a podcast episode, thank you. Your support means more than you probably realize.
I'd also love to hear from you. Tell me what you enjoy, what you'd like to see more of, or what I could do better. This website is a hobby, but like any hobby, I want to keep improving and evolving.
And if you enjoy the content, please share it with someone else. Don't gatekeep the Internet Garbage—spread it around!
Thanks again for stopping by, and I look forward to bringing you even more Internet Garbage in the weeks and months ahead.
See you on the website!
#NielFlamm #Blogging #ContentCreator #Gratitude #ThankYou #MovieReviews #RecoveryJourney #LifeAsAnAmputee #ESRD #InternetGarbage #Podcast #PersonalBlog #RSS #GlobalAudience #KeepCreating