car troubles

My car troubles here, remind me of one other time. Years ago

I was living in Wisconsin, with my then-fiance' and was driving on the highway back to the house when the drive lost power and died. It had run out of oil and had seized. I had bought it 2 months prior. I had no cell phone. I was slimy and dirty from work (foundry work). So... I stopped where I could -- side of the exit ramp (up) and walked to a house (farm house) where they were not willing to let me use the phone. It was now 6 pm, dark, wintery -25 F. At stop number two, I was able to use -- get this, an outdoor phone near a barn.

I called X. She was eating dinner with her mom and her mother's 5th husband. I told them my problem and got the response, "So what do you want me to do about it?"

uh ... I can think of no rational person who wouldn't understand that the caller would like assistance ... a ride, out of the cold, perhaps dinner after working a long day ... walking in the cold. I simplified my answer. I walked back to the car -- never anyone pausing to see if I needed help near the car with blinking lights, in the cold. I waited, and waited and waited.

I went into a fetal position in the back seat for warmth. After a while, my anger kept me warm. Around an hour later -- travel time from location was about 9 minutes, they arrive -- annoyed they had to come. They asked me to try to start it. Wow! It wouldn't turn over -- it was seized. They had the great idea of me -- alone pushing the boat of a car up the exit ramp on slippery roads. Bright idea -- didn't work. They eventually bumped it up and onto the other road ... the direction away from where I needed to go.
Brilliant!
So ... after about 2 and a quarter hours ... I get out of the cold, into the car ... the mood was colder than the winter. I return, have no dinner, tired and am out of luck. Much like tonight. Thankfully, Indiana isn't typically -25 F without windchill, unlike Wisconsin which gets that cold.

It was my only winter there ... married then separated, then the long process of divorce from a quack.

Later, in unwanted corospondence ... I was told, stupidly, that the used car dealer would have bought the piece of crap back from me ... really?! Did they pocket more of my money up there? Thank goodness! It might have burnt me.

This car -- now battery-less had been smashed on the side -- by me vs cemet pillons, an old man backing down the drive, at least one bump and run, and a woman backing into me at a light. The dents inward made it smaller -- if you can make a clown car smaller.

circling the coffee shops

Parting from the typical fare of beer, MR and I popped about getting coffees. He really liked the vending machine at the library, but wanted to try other coffees -- laden with flavorings. I believe he liked white mocha, of the selections we got, the best.

In his mind, a guy sitting at a computer, who asked us how to get to Bluffton, IN was cruising ... uh, and not the net. It wasn't clear to me. Sorry ... not gay -- wouldn't anyway.

Anyway, the second stop there was the lady barista who looked very similar to a woman who works at Applebees -- our normal stop on Wednesdays. She wasn't her, but I had to work to block that thought from my mind. It was loading up with people later on -- 7 something. There were some kids looking at MR and I while we played chess. I was reminded of the vultures circling pool tables at bars. I discovered that they weren't interested in playing, but rather in staring, I guess.

MR beat me in around 20 moves (each player making 20 moves), perhaps less. To finish the evening, we watched Renenge of the Sith, finding new critiques and voice-overs. Maia (cute little white dog who has a Mickey Mouse look when playful) wanted to play, for hours, and hours, and hours, and then some. Toward the end of the evening, she was prying through my jacket pockets, looking for goodies -- where I often keep them. It is odd, perhaps, that I buy dog treats, yet don't have a dog of my own. There are just so many around. I guess, now, I also need to get cat treats for Cerpicio and Paula, as they have 2 cats.

A tip -- especially for those who don't often drink coffee -- don't drink late at night and don't drink much ... no expresso. I'm a little energetic, but am growing sleepy.

car service

or is it ... owned?!

My car was not holding a charge, which meant two very likely possibilities: the battery was bad or the alternator was bad.
I pulled my weak car into Auto Zone, at my father's suggestion, as they check batteries at no cost. They tried a diagnostic ... and the engine wouldn't run long enough to complete the test. They pulled the battery and charged it, then tested it -- taking four hours. After this time, I called them to find out what, if anything they determined. They reported that the battery was ... okay.

That's bad. An alternator costs much more to install. To couple this problem, they didn't re-install the battery before they closed. I now have no car, must wait until it opens AND someone installs the battery before I can drive it to get it repaired. In the meantime I have a job in the afternoon -- thankfully within walking distance and one all day on Friday. Joy of joys --- spend my I don't have on this -- and waiting more time ... of course.

God loves me, luck hates me.

Timely demise of my stinking bucket o' bolts

alas ... the 11 year mark and I see the start of many parts failing and the vehicle dollar and dollaring me to death.
11 years I think is like 110 car years, right?

It has served me, but I think that it will not last much longer. What a grand time to time ... winter! Maybe I'll luck out and find a reasonable car on a lot that an owner wishes to not pay on taxes.

Cans

That's right! Mafia-run Waste Management has dropped off cans to each of it's "customers", not that any resident has any choice.

The cans -- around 5' tall, were gingerly laid in the street so that cars and vehicles can crash into them. Why would they do that? Simple: they were too lazy to drop them off last month (when they were due), it was too much effort to actually move your butt off the truck.

We ensure our jobs by wasting your time!

Criping number two: this is THE CAN that each customer will use for trash. There will not be a two nor a three. There shall not be a one, unless it stops at a one. More ... is right out. The number of the cans shall be one, and one shall be the number of the count.
And the company did grin and the customers did pay, out the ___; out the ying-yang; out the wazzoo; out the backside; and did pay more money

Revision: customers may use other pre-existing (store bought)additional cans. Customer may obtain additional Waste Management cans for $2 per month ... forever.MR reported to me that there were two stickers (I got them too) that could be put on any cans to be destroyed. The caveat, unwritten, was that they must be put out the week after (only) the new can was received. Thereafter -- they don't do squat.His area was recently annexed -- to all of that area's opposition, and were subjected to King George taxation and subjegation.

Backing into a crash

Thankfully, God was looking out for me, as I near crashed into someone. It was due to my haste -- not taking long enough to look, and the vast array (banquet) of vehicles parked along the street that made visibility difficult.

Thanks God!