It was cold enough, Embarrass, MN was in the news again. 36 below zero. Here, it was a balmy 8 below when I left for work. With a front tire low on air. It'll be fine, sez me.
At noon, a co worker said it was sitting on the rim. You lie, I say. I drive it, really low, and really slowly the two blocks to the filling station to get some air. But GET THIS.
The air is so dense at that temperature, it won't go into the tire. I waited and waited, and nothing. So I call AAA. Not only did my policy lapse, but it's a four hour wait.
So the guy finally gets there after I re-up, and puts on the birthing ring they call a spare these days. Then I drive to the tire store to have my own tire put back on. Only to find out I shredded it driving on it in the cold while it was flat. So new tire, plus the AAA charge. And another three hours, and they tell me they broke the lug nuts getting the tire off. Because it's so cold I guess even metal is brittle.
Two day wait for the lug nuts. I guess I need special ones flown in from Germany. Meantime I say just put anything on so I can drive the damn thing. Anyway, I'm home now, icing my back. Because I wrenched it crawling on the concrete. And ice is just what I needed more of.
Lesson learned: Fill your damn tires when it's above zero. Also, a cold weather emergency kit can be a life saver. I had a blanket and a heater in the car and was never cold. It could have been a real disaster.
Comments
Eh
Mid sixties and sunshine. You do know there is a reason ducks fly south for the winter right?
heehee
You're cruel ;)
`
One suggestion
don't lick the flagpole
My wife freaked out
when our youngest licked the mailbox. She's from California and didn't know every little boy does this once. I just went inside and got some hot water and freed him. As she wailed and gnashed her teeth.
Don't let the fire ants bite.
Hee hee.
Same reason
they fly north for the summer!
Actually, they don't. Fire ants can't survive any place that get
hard freezes for more than a few days. Praise be.
Can you
ice fish there? Didn't think so. Nothing compares to sitting in your living room and having dinner pop up from a hole in the floor as you watch football.
Just to be clear
I prefer a crustacean from the mud than a fish from an icebox.
Hey it rained here for three weeks straight the good thing about that is the fact we don't have to wait till spring to complain that it's "fucking muddy". ;^)
I have a feeling
I'd love shrimping and you'd love ice fishing. It's not cold if you do it right.
Windows open for the breeze and to let the house
breathe, it was a beautiful day in North Texas. But, it was still Texas. Wishing warn breezes and sunshine for you :)
What an ordeal you went through. That's horrible.
I'm glad it finally got resolved.
Funny thing... My car, which is almost five years old, had an indicator light go on today saying I need to put air in my tires. We're balmy here: 28 degrees Fahrenheit. I lie. It's friggin' cold. Coldest of this winter. Anyway, I did put air in my tires. So thanks for sharing.
We really skipped winter last year
It was 90 degrees in March, which is usually prime ice fishing. So this is more like normal. Most years, we have a couple week period where the high is below zero. I had forgotten how cold that is. I still saw a kid in a high school letter jacket and gym shorts and no socks walking down the sidewalk like nothing was up. 28 will be swimming weather to me!
I used to marvel at the ice cream eaters
when I left the south and went north. Did not matter the temperature--strolling down the street eating ice cream.
I'll just say that a snow rake is an implement that screams, "I should not exist! Move!"
damn! now that's one terrible horrible no good very bad...
very cold day! glad you got home, but brrr - more ice? aaack! ;)
what a craptacular day
it was right around zero this morning and my car protested quite a bit before finally starting. Sorry about your lousy day. Just for you:
Sexy Sax Man Careless Whisper Prank feat. Sergio Flores (directors cut)
And I was whining because it was 48 when
I left for work this morning.
I'm going home tomorrow and it was 8 degrees there this morning.
Maybe I should write my will before I leave.
Oh, that's right. I don't have anything but debt.
Well, here I sit, burning up my vacation time because it took..
me an hour and a half to make it four miles from home on a 25 mile commute only to surrender to the elements, turn around, and go home. Cleveland TV news just showed gridlock at the stretch of road I have to use, so I guess I won't be trying again anytime soon.
And the snow continues to fall. I partly blame Governor Kasich for this; his cuts to state funding that was previously shared with local governments led directly to cuts in the snow removal budget.
Glad you made it home safe.
This is no lie--this is the first thing I said this morning
"What is it with all the clouds?" It's a disappointing 64.
Hats off for telling such a story without a hint of self pity. I'm assuming there's a little in there somewhere. Who can go through a day like that without thinking some version of "Why me? Why today?"
It's Minnesota Geomoo
If you complain about cold weather you will complain a lot. I whined about the heat last summer. Couldn't take it. Then in August I went to Orlando for a conference. I'll take 8 below over that shit any day. At least you can dress properly in the cold.
I'll take cold over extreme heat
But there is still that winter clinch underneath all the clothing. Sometimes I miss the extreme cold a little bit.