I went out of town this past week for a business meeting. I left Wednesday afternoon because it was a five hour drive to Manhattan (KS, not NY) and I really wanted to have time to find the hotel, relax, find the meeting location, etc. I've been to Manhattan...4 times in my life, so I'm not familiar at all with the town.
I got to town around 5 p.m. Got checked into the hotel, and thought about supper.
I wasn't really hungry, but wanted to physically move around. I walked around, but quickly noticed that there wasn't anywhere to eat near my hotel. So, shortly after 6, I got back into the very nice 2008 Chevy car and drove down Tuttle Creek Blvd to see what sounded good for supper.
Saw a Dairy Queen, so decided that some ice cream would just hit the spot. You know, something light and healthy for supper...like a blizzard. I placed my order and returned to the car to go back to the hotel.
Except the car wouldn't come out of park. I turned the steering wheel, thinking that it was just locked since the tires weren't square. Still wouldn't come out of park. So I messed around, trying various things to see if I could get it to shift.
Nothing.
So, being the kind of person I am, I got the car manual out and read it. I found a paragraph that said...if you park this stupid car on an incline and don't set the parking brake, you can put torque on the transmission and it won't shift out of park. To fix this, have someone push your car to release that torque, and you should be ok....
Well, I'd parked on a slight incline, like a bump. So, maybe that was the problem.
But, I didn't know anyone in Manhattan. So, I went back inside the DQ and a couple of guys working there volunteered to push the car to see if we could get it fixed.
We couldn't.
Finally, I remembered that I had the phone number of one of the librarians in town. Called her. She wasn't home.
So, I ran across Tuttle Creek Blvd (5 lanes of traffic) and two blocks down to a Firestone dealership which was open.
But, only one person was on duty, so no one there could help.
I ran back across Tuttle Creek Blvd which provided me with plenty of exercise, but not any solution to my problem. In fact, I broke my shoe running back across the street. (Thank god for long toes which kept my flip flop under my foot while I ran across the street.)
At this point, D, the librarian, called me back. She knew someone who might be able to help, and they arrived a little while later.
We pushed the car, but still no luck. We even called a couple of mechanics that D knew, and they all said, "yep, that should take care of it."
By this time, I decided I'd had enough. D took me to the hotel for the night.
I called the "head of college cars" and got permission to have the car towed and repaired. The next morning, after a less than restful night, I called a tow truck, had the car towed to the shop.
The tow truck driver even picked me up at the hotel so I could talk to the dealership and the mechanics.
Another librarian, who happened to be staying at the same hotel, let me bum a ride with her to our meeting, and back to get the car that night.
The best part...it wasn't my fault! There was a broken wire in the...something...that kept the car from shifting. Second best part...I had a school VISA, so I could simply charge the repair bill instead of having to pay for it myself and then get reimbursed. Third best part...I get to buy myself a new pair of shoes to replace the ones that broke. (The third best part is my personal favorite.)
But, for the rest of my trip, I made sure I parked on level ground, just in case it was my fault...
And, hey, I now can say that I know Manhattan a letter better now. I actually know where Tuttle Creek Blvd is, and which direction it runs. I actually know where the Firestone place is, and I know where the Hampton Inn is, and I know where the Chevy dealership is! Somewhere, in that town resides KSU. But I don't know anything about that part of town; I'm saving that for the next trip.
But I don't think that I'll go to DQ next time. DQ is dangerous for my waistline and for my car.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
heat
The temperature in my car last night at 5:30 p.m. 117.
The temperature in my car last night at 5:45 p.m. 113.
The temperature in Bucklin last night at 6:05 p.m. 95.
The temperature in my house last night at 6:07 p.m. 95.
Today, the new AC unit goes in. We've been without AC since the 4th of July.
It's been hot since the 4th of July.
Like well over 100 degrees every day.
The new AC goes in today, and the forecast is for a balmy 90. Shoot, I won't even have to turn the darn thing on!
Yet.
The temperature in my car last night at 5:45 p.m. 113.
The temperature in Bucklin last night at 6:05 p.m. 95.
The temperature in my house last night at 6:07 p.m. 95.
Today, the new AC unit goes in. We've been without AC since the 4th of July.
It's been hot since the 4th of July.
Like well over 100 degrees every day.
The new AC goes in today, and the forecast is for a balmy 90. Shoot, I won't even have to turn the darn thing on!
Yet.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Nasty surprises
Last night, I got a rather nasty surprise.
I was gathering eggs (15 thankyouverymuch) and I noticed that one of the waterer's was empty.(spell check doesn't like "water-ers, but...what else do you call them???) So, I grabbed the waterer to fill it up. As I lifted it off the cinder block that keeps it off the floor, 4 little mice ran out from the holes in the cinder block.
Fortunately, not one made a mad dash to my legs or feet. Two went up the wall by the nesting boxes the other two went somewhere else--but not up my legs. (You have my permission to shudder. That's what I did. Shudder, some fancy footwork and some noise, all while holding that waterer. If it wasn't already empty, it would have been after my fancy footwork.)
Once it was safe, I scolded the chickens. After all, they should have made a mad dash for that fresh protein! But, instead, they just looked at me as if to say, "Woman, it's 105 degrees outside, and I am not in the mood to chase my food today." (That's what I'd say if some wacko person told me to go chase down some food when it's 105 outside.)
Thinking it was now safe, I peeked down into the cinder block and saw little things squirming. Baby mice. [go ahead and shudder] Baby mice are not cute. They look like little pink and gray slugs with feet and a long tail. [you can shudder again if you want.]
Andy and I got the shovel and scraped these disgusting, squirming vermin and carried them outside (on the shovel) and deposited them outside for the cats to dispose of. Except, those cat's had just dined on succulent dry cat food, and they weren't any more interested in the mice than the chickens had been. Stupid cats.
Didn't matter. We deposited them outside and left. I'm sure they are all gone today. But I'm not going to look. My hope is that the chickens found them and decided that a breakfast of baby mice was just the thing. [take your final shudder now.]
Ugg.
I was gathering eggs (15 thankyouverymuch) and I noticed that one of the waterer's was empty.(spell check doesn't like "water-ers, but...what else do you call them???) So, I grabbed the waterer to fill it up. As I lifted it off the cinder block that keeps it off the floor, 4 little mice ran out from the holes in the cinder block.
Fortunately, not one made a mad dash to my legs or feet. Two went up the wall by the nesting boxes the other two went somewhere else--but not up my legs. (You have my permission to shudder. That's what I did. Shudder, some fancy footwork and some noise, all while holding that waterer. If it wasn't already empty, it would have been after my fancy footwork.)
Once it was safe, I scolded the chickens. After all, they should have made a mad dash for that fresh protein! But, instead, they just looked at me as if to say, "Woman, it's 105 degrees outside, and I am not in the mood to chase my food today." (That's what I'd say if some wacko person told me to go chase down some food when it's 105 outside.)
Thinking it was now safe, I peeked down into the cinder block and saw little things squirming. Baby mice. [go ahead and shudder] Baby mice are not cute. They look like little pink and gray slugs with feet and a long tail. [you can shudder again if you want.]
Andy and I got the shovel and scraped these disgusting, squirming vermin and carried them outside (on the shovel) and deposited them outside for the cats to dispose of. Except, those cat's had just dined on succulent dry cat food, and they weren't any more interested in the mice than the chickens had been. Stupid cats.
Didn't matter. We deposited them outside and left. I'm sure they are all gone today. But I'm not going to look. My hope is that the chickens found them and decided that a breakfast of baby mice was just the thing. [take your final shudder now.]
Ugg.
lightening bugs
It was a beautiful evening last night.
I sat outside at sunset, enjoying the calm and watching the thousands of twinkling lights all across our yard, and the pasture. No one put up Christmas lights, but there were lots of twinkles and flashes of light anyway--from the lightening bugs.
Last night was the perfect night for them to be out. It was warm, and calm. No wind to speak of. And they were out in full force. It was very relaxing to just sit out by the pond, listening to the waterfall, and watching the light show.
The chickens were in bed, the kittens were frolicking in the drive and the lightening bugs were putting on their show. I could see twinkles of light for over a quarter of a mile. I think that next time, I just might take out the camera and try to get a picture. But, then again, I might not. It was simply too relaxing sitting by the pond and enjoying the evening.
I sat outside at sunset, enjoying the calm and watching the thousands of twinkling lights all across our yard, and the pasture. No one put up Christmas lights, but there were lots of twinkles and flashes of light anyway--from the lightening bugs.
Last night was the perfect night for them to be out. It was warm, and calm. No wind to speak of. And they were out in full force. It was very relaxing to just sit out by the pond, listening to the waterfall, and watching the light show.
The chickens were in bed, the kittens were frolicking in the drive and the lightening bugs were putting on their show. I could see twinkles of light for over a quarter of a mile. I think that next time, I just might take out the camera and try to get a picture. But, then again, I might not. It was simply too relaxing sitting by the pond and enjoying the evening.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Our 4th
Kev had the bright idea to pit BBQ a pig for the 4th this year.
He invited all his co-workers and their family's out, and he started looking for a pig. We picked up Ms "Pit"unia Thursday evening.
But, by then, all our guests had backed out. Well, all except one family of 4.
We had a 300 lb pig, and 4 guests.
We had a 300 lb. pig that we killed and butchered ourselves on July 3.
It was 100 degrees in the shade on July 3. And, we don't have any shade at our house.
It's not very fun to handle that much meat when it's 100 degrees outside. You have to work fast, and cutting up pork chops and hams and such isn't easy when it's 100 degrees.
It's actually rather gross to have a slab of meat, that an hour earlier, was a living animal on your counter. It's still warm, it's still bloody and it doesn't cut very well.
But, we got the pig butchered, and put most of it in the freezer. (We'll make ham and bacon again once it gets colder.)
Kev had his pit dug, and Friday evening, he started burning wood to get his coals. At 2:30 in the morning, he woke me up and had me come help him put the meat in the pit.
I wasn't sleeping very well knowing that he was sitting out there by the pit watching all that wood burn, so him waking me up wasn't that bad; but making me come outside in the rain to put the meat in the pit was rather annoying. (I don't remember promising in my wedding vows "I promise to help BBQ pigs in the rain at the ungodly hour of 3 a.m. in the rain."And, I'm not sure where it falls in the For better or worse, in sickness and health part.)
We pulled the pig out at 4 on the 4th. It was good, juicy, tender, literally "fall off the bones" tender.
It went very well with the homemade BBQ sauce I made, and the cheesy potatoes that our guests brought.
Was it worth the work?
Ask me in a few days--after we eat some more of the 3 gallon bags of pulled pork that were left over...
(I need ideas of what to do with all this meat. Recipes anyone?)
He invited all his co-workers and their family's out, and he started looking for a pig. We picked up Ms "Pit"unia Thursday evening.
But, by then, all our guests had backed out. Well, all except one family of 4.
We had a 300 lb pig, and 4 guests.
We had a 300 lb. pig that we killed and butchered ourselves on July 3.
It was 100 degrees in the shade on July 3. And, we don't have any shade at our house.
It's not very fun to handle that much meat when it's 100 degrees outside. You have to work fast, and cutting up pork chops and hams and such isn't easy when it's 100 degrees.
It's actually rather gross to have a slab of meat, that an hour earlier, was a living animal on your counter. It's still warm, it's still bloody and it doesn't cut very well.
But, we got the pig butchered, and put most of it in the freezer. (We'll make ham and bacon again once it gets colder.)
Kev had his pit dug, and Friday evening, he started burning wood to get his coals. At 2:30 in the morning, he woke me up and had me come help him put the meat in the pit.
I wasn't sleeping very well knowing that he was sitting out there by the pit watching all that wood burn, so him waking me up wasn't that bad; but making me come outside in the rain to put the meat in the pit was rather annoying. (I don't remember promising in my wedding vows "I promise to help BBQ pigs in the rain at the ungodly hour of 3 a.m. in the rain."And, I'm not sure where it falls in the For better or worse, in sickness and health part.)
We pulled the pig out at 4 on the 4th. It was good, juicy, tender, literally "fall off the bones" tender.
It went very well with the homemade BBQ sauce I made, and the cheesy potatoes that our guests brought.
Was it worth the work?
Ask me in a few days--after we eat some more of the 3 gallon bags of pulled pork that were left over...
(I need ideas of what to do with all this meat. Recipes anyone?)
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