You know, you learn something new everyday. Like today's lesson, for example. Did you know that those air hoses you find at filling stations freeze in weather like this? Oh yes ... it's true. And God help you should you go outside on a morning like this and find yourself with a deflated tire.I know this because I tried not one ... not two ... but three separate stations before I finally hit one that had a sticker on the front explaining the situation. It said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that in situations where freezing may occur, you should stick the nozzle of the air hose up your exhaust pipe to defrost it before trying to inflate your tires.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "A sticker on the side of an air compressor told you to shove the hose up your exhaust pipe?" But it's true ... and it wasn't a hand written Avery label that some wise guy stuck on there either. It was a real warning sticker complete with colorful fonts and exclamation points and a graphic of this little stick dude shoving a hose up his tailpipe.
So picture it. There I am ... 7:30 in the morning. I'm freezing my ass off ... looking at this sticker like a monkey staring at a math problem ... and then slowing walking over to my car ... bending down ... and shoving this hose into my tailpipe. I felt like some kind of car pedophile ... and I'm looking around because I just know that some smartass is driving by thinking, "Hey, check out that moron ... she's trying to inflate her muffler."
Before you ask ... no. It didn't work. I finally wound up at Brahler's on North Grand where they were kind enough to fill my drooping tire. They also explained that, yes, hoses freeze in the winter ... and yes, the exhaust trick is real ... although it takes several minutes to actually defrost it enough to get the air to flow.
So ... I was 30 minutes late to work ... my hands were filthy ... I'm pretty sure I got frostbite on a few toes ... but I guess losing seventy-five cents to a frozen compressor is worth the lifetime of knowledge I received in car maintenance.
I'm a loser baby
So why don't you kill me?
(Get crazy with the Cheeze Whiz)
Soy un perdedor
I'm a loser baby
So why don't you kill me?
(Drive-by body pierce)
Beck - Loser
Thirty-
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking this morning that one of the worst things that could possibly happen would be to break down on a day like today. Breaking down is one of the most annoying things anyway, but on a cold-ass day like today it really sucks. Sorry to hear about that.
Glad to see you're back in action here at ThirtyWhat.
It could have been worse if there was a photoblogger there. hehe :)
ReplyDeleteRemember on Fantastic Four, where the metal guy got a hold of stretchy dude?
ReplyDelete"Doctor... Do you remember what happens when rubber freezes"
Remember.... Movies and Television will teach you everything you need to know in life.
~college one
OMGIOD ... see ... if there was a photoblogger around, I would've been busted and looked like a moron for all the world to see. As it is, I only DESCRIBED for the world what a moron I am!
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, College One, I do believe that movies and television have taught me everything I need to know about life.
For instance ... I am currently rooting around in our back yard, looking for the hatch that will lead me to the underground bunker in which I will find out what the Dharma Initiative has in store for me! Gosh, I can't WAIT!