It figures that on a Neo-Pagan "Holiday" I feel as though I've been cursed. It all started last night, as the storm was ending. I figured I'd be smart and shovel the driveway and the sidewalk because the plow had already packed the snow pretty tight. An hour and a half later, I'm done and congratulating myself for my wisdom and foresight. Right, about that.
I wake up to the very unpleasant sight of a snowbank replacing the one I had dispatched the previous night! Huh, what the hell happened? Simple, as I live on a street corner with a bus stop, it must be cleared of every and all obstacles. In this case, lots of snow and ice. The over-zealous plow driving, hopefully not drinking on the job, blue-collar twat went a smidgen tooooo far and dumped everything in my driveway. Hence a wall of compacted snow, 3 feet high, 6 feet deep, 12 feet across. It's seven a.m, no coffee yet, not enough sleep and this is the shyte I wake up too! Nice.
Two bloody hours later, it's back to square one. I'm drenched, freezing and very late for work. In I go, shower, change, out the door and what I see next stops me cold. My landlord is "liberating" my neighbour's driveway (ok, she's a little old lady) from its icy tomb with a very powerful snow blower. AArrgghh, now that's just no fair..oh oh but wait, it only just started!!!
I unlock the car, put the key in the ignition, turn and nothing. Hummm, try again...half a turn and kaput. Great, the battery is shot, no worries, we have a paid for but never-used-in-two-years CAA membership. Back up I go, dial for a boost and oups, seems we forgot to renew the membership. It was due two weeks ago. I plead innocent forgetfulness but Lil' Miss Sunshine at the other end wouldn't have it. Just mail the check and as soon as it clears, you're good to go, she informs me. She added that since we are in full holiday swing, nothing will be done before/until January 5th!! With that attitude, Hell's gonna freeze over before you get one red cent!
I knew the battery was about to go because there was a lot of corrosion on one of the poles, I figured it could wait a bit. Sure, and Murphy usually has Laws for half-assed ideas like that. Ok, next, I call a cabby to help me with a boost. One hour later (sorry sir, we're very busy today) we try, nothing. His fee was 10 bucks, win or loose. What a scam (note to self!). I get dressed and walk the 3 klicks to the closest tire shop. It's still a balmy -25°with the wind, not bad this time of years (groan). 100 bucks later, I walk off with a new battery. No, I took a cab to return home, only 30 minutes wait this time.
Change into some warm works clothes, back downstairs. Popped open the hood and got to work swapping the batteries. It won't be easy 'cause it's effing cold. I'm not protected from the wind and the snow from the roof is blowing right at me, or so it seems! The first pole ring come off pretty clean and easy. The pole with all the corrosion...not so. I put the ratchet on the bolt, gave a tug and the whole ring assembly exploded in pieces. My day was over, just like that. I still don't know what stopped me from throwing that ratchet as far as I could.
Call the dealership, explain the problem. They have the piece, cool. They give me an appointment for tuesday but I have to get the car to the garage before six p.m. today . Ok, that gives me 3 hours. At this point, I clue in that I have emergency roadside assistance from the manufacturer. I give em' a call and they casually inform me that since my car was bought a little more than a year ago, it's not covered because it was only good for twelve months. Well, this just keeps getting better by the minute. I call a towing company and guess what, yup, two and a half hour waiting period. Hah, saw that one coming! Finally had time to eat and warm up.
We get to the dealership and as he unhooks the car, the fee was 65 $ for a four km trip! Man, I'm so in the wrong business. As he drives away, I head towards the office but I stop to look at the car. Something doesn't look right. I go back and notice that the clips holding the plastic spoilers in the front are all ripped out. The towing guy broke them as he pulled out the forks holding up the car! Sonavabitch, will this day ever end. I fill in the paper work and leave the garage. I'm gonna get the estimate tomorrow and that should be interesting. As I leave, I realize that I'm still wearing my work clothes. Meaning I left my cash in my other pants. No ABM to be found, no change for the bus or a cab and too pissed off, I walked back home.
This day has cost me about 185 dollars. That amount will probably double after the garage calls me up tomorrow. I walked, worked and froze my ass off today for nothing! I had to use my last remaining vacation day to cover for today. It was reserved for the 31st, to give me some quality time with my family (yes, I like my mother-in-law, ok!) Big, Bad Mojo against me on this, the first day of winter.
Yule time celebrations indeed.
Bah, humbug!
I wake up to the very unpleasant sight of a snowbank replacing the one I had dispatched the previous night! Huh, what the hell happened? Simple, as I live on a street corner with a bus stop, it must be cleared of every and all obstacles. In this case, lots of snow and ice. The over-zealous plow driving, hopefully not drinking on the job, blue-collar twat went a smidgen tooooo far and dumped everything in my driveway. Hence a wall of compacted snow, 3 feet high, 6 feet deep, 12 feet across. It's seven a.m, no coffee yet, not enough sleep and this is the shyte I wake up too! Nice.
Two bloody hours later, it's back to square one. I'm drenched, freezing and very late for work. In I go, shower, change, out the door and what I see next stops me cold. My landlord is "liberating" my neighbour's driveway (ok, she's a little old lady) from its icy tomb with a very powerful snow blower. AArrgghh, now that's just no fair..oh oh but wait, it only just started!!!
I unlock the car, put the key in the ignition, turn and nothing. Hummm, try again...half a turn and kaput. Great, the battery is shot, no worries, we have a paid for but never-used-in-two-years CAA membership. Back up I go, dial for a boost and oups, seems we forgot to renew the membership. It was due two weeks ago. I plead innocent forgetfulness but Lil' Miss Sunshine at the other end wouldn't have it. Just mail the check and as soon as it clears, you're good to go, she informs me. She added that since we are in full holiday swing, nothing will be done before/until January 5th!! With that attitude, Hell's gonna freeze over before you get one red cent!
I knew the battery was about to go because there was a lot of corrosion on one of the poles, I figured it could wait a bit. Sure, and Murphy usually has Laws for half-assed ideas like that. Ok, next, I call a cabby to help me with a boost. One hour later (sorry sir, we're very busy today) we try, nothing. His fee was 10 bucks, win or loose. What a scam (note to self!). I get dressed and walk the 3 klicks to the closest tire shop. It's still a balmy -25°with the wind, not bad this time of years (groan). 100 bucks later, I walk off with a new battery. No, I took a cab to return home, only 30 minutes wait this time.
Change into some warm works clothes, back downstairs. Popped open the hood and got to work swapping the batteries. It won't be easy 'cause it's effing cold. I'm not protected from the wind and the snow from the roof is blowing right at me, or so it seems! The first pole ring come off pretty clean and easy. The pole with all the corrosion...not so. I put the ratchet on the bolt, gave a tug and the whole ring assembly exploded in pieces. My day was over, just like that. I still don't know what stopped me from throwing that ratchet as far as I could.
Call the dealership, explain the problem. They have the piece, cool. They give me an appointment for tuesday but I have to get the car to the garage before six p.m. today . Ok, that gives me 3 hours. At this point, I clue in that I have emergency roadside assistance from the manufacturer. I give em' a call and they casually inform me that since my car was bought a little more than a year ago, it's not covered because it was only good for twelve months. Well, this just keeps getting better by the minute. I call a towing company and guess what, yup, two and a half hour waiting period. Hah, saw that one coming! Finally had time to eat and warm up.
We get to the dealership and as he unhooks the car, the fee was 65 $ for a four km trip! Man, I'm so in the wrong business. As he drives away, I head towards the office but I stop to look at the car. Something doesn't look right. I go back and notice that the clips holding the plastic spoilers in the front are all ripped out. The towing guy broke them as he pulled out the forks holding up the car! Sonavabitch, will this day ever end. I fill in the paper work and leave the garage. I'm gonna get the estimate tomorrow and that should be interesting. As I leave, I realize that I'm still wearing my work clothes. Meaning I left my cash in my other pants. No ABM to be found, no change for the bus or a cab and too pissed off, I walked back home.
This day has cost me about 185 dollars. That amount will probably double after the garage calls me up tomorrow. I walked, worked and froze my ass off today for nothing! I had to use my last remaining vacation day to cover for today. It was reserved for the 31st, to give me some quality time with my family (yes, I like my mother-in-law, ok!) Big, Bad Mojo against me on this, the first day of winter.
Yule time celebrations indeed.
Bah, humbug!
