- Jun 23, 2001
- 27,730
- 8
- 0
Alright, so I had to be in work early today to prep for a meeting of EVPs and GMs. That wasn't so bad, most of them are pretty cool people, plus I got to hang out for a portion of their presentations to ensure the IT equipment worked(they knew how to use it). Always interesting to get political perspectives from the CEO, VPs, and GMs of the company.
The shittiness happened afterward. The IT equipment worked fine and they had no problems using it. After that, I had to run cat 5 on a floor in preparation for a future deployment of IP phones. Not so bad, we had a good crew and the employees on that floor were relocated to other sections of the floor that we weren't cabling today.
Then, I began getting chalk from the fake ceiling tiles in my eyes, aggravating the usual dryness from my LASIK last year. Yes, I still need to use the artificial tears occasionally, especially when the weather is cold. With the eye irritation, came the head aches.
After we wrapped up the day's cabling, I departed and drove about two blocks before some odd floppy noises from outside my car made me pull into a parking lot. Yippee, flat tire. I knew it was getting soft, seems to be a perennial problem with my Corolla, and I intended to take it to Discount Tire, who replaced the tires and have done all my tire work in the past. Now, I don't carry cash and I prefer to leave my plastic at home, otherwise I end up spending the money on fast food on the way home, a massive interference when one is training for marathons.
So there I am in a parking lot of a Food City with a flat tire. Its 50 degrees and beginning to rain. Sound fun yet? It gets better. I removed the flat and put on the donut, but as soon as the weight of the car was let down, it was immediately apparent that the donut was flat as well. No cash, no plastic, and two flat tires. Lousy situation. Fortunately for me, I had a can of fix'a'flat in the glove box. Yes, I know its a poor solution and temporary at best, but it was all I had.
The can 'inflated' the tire enough for me to drive home, but once I got home, the tire was nearly flat again. With the nearest Discount Tire a 7 mile drive, that option was out. Walmart was close, but further that I wanted to drive on a flat tire.
Luckily, there is a Goodyear Tire right next door to my apartment complex. Turns out the was a crack/slash/gash in the side wall of the tire, unrepairable. So I got to buy a new tire. Yippee. While there, I mentioned that my oil change a week ago reported that my brake fluid was low and if they could top it off without charge. They said agreed, but came back with bad news afterward, stating that my front brakes were 95% gone. They gave me an estimate for replacement of 182 with a ten dollar discount for a total of 172, to replace the front pads with ceramic pads. 66 for the pads, 97 for the labor. The manager I spoke with stated they could do it for around 130 with cheaper, lower quality pads. I have no idea brake pad replacement should cost. And no, I'm not willing to do it myself. So I'll be making some phone calls this week.
Looks like 1) the new gaming notebook I wanted will be postponed a few more months and 2)my holiday gifts to my self will consist mostly of auto repairs. If I didn't have to run in a 30K this sunday, I'd pick up a bottle of Chivas and get trashed.
Cliffs:
Eye irritation from chalk dust
Headache
Two flats in cold rain
Cost of a new tire
Learned front brakes about shot, will cost more money
Still have a headache, want liquor
The shittiness happened afterward. The IT equipment worked fine and they had no problems using it. After that, I had to run cat 5 on a floor in preparation for a future deployment of IP phones. Not so bad, we had a good crew and the employees on that floor were relocated to other sections of the floor that we weren't cabling today.
Then, I began getting chalk from the fake ceiling tiles in my eyes, aggravating the usual dryness from my LASIK last year. Yes, I still need to use the artificial tears occasionally, especially when the weather is cold. With the eye irritation, came the head aches.
After we wrapped up the day's cabling, I departed and drove about two blocks before some odd floppy noises from outside my car made me pull into a parking lot. Yippee, flat tire. I knew it was getting soft, seems to be a perennial problem with my Corolla, and I intended to take it to Discount Tire, who replaced the tires and have done all my tire work in the past. Now, I don't carry cash and I prefer to leave my plastic at home, otherwise I end up spending the money on fast food on the way home, a massive interference when one is training for marathons.
So there I am in a parking lot of a Food City with a flat tire. Its 50 degrees and beginning to rain. Sound fun yet? It gets better. I removed the flat and put on the donut, but as soon as the weight of the car was let down, it was immediately apparent that the donut was flat as well. No cash, no plastic, and two flat tires. Lousy situation. Fortunately for me, I had a can of fix'a'flat in the glove box. Yes, I know its a poor solution and temporary at best, but it was all I had.
The can 'inflated' the tire enough for me to drive home, but once I got home, the tire was nearly flat again. With the nearest Discount Tire a 7 mile drive, that option was out. Walmart was close, but further that I wanted to drive on a flat tire.
Luckily, there is a Goodyear Tire right next door to my apartment complex. Turns out the was a crack/slash/gash in the side wall of the tire, unrepairable. So I got to buy a new tire. Yippee. While there, I mentioned that my oil change a week ago reported that my brake fluid was low and if they could top it off without charge. They said agreed, but came back with bad news afterward, stating that my front brakes were 95% gone. They gave me an estimate for replacement of 182 with a ten dollar discount for a total of 172, to replace the front pads with ceramic pads. 66 for the pads, 97 for the labor. The manager I spoke with stated they could do it for around 130 with cheaper, lower quality pads. I have no idea brake pad replacement should cost. And no, I'm not willing to do it myself. So I'll be making some phone calls this week.
Looks like 1) the new gaming notebook I wanted will be postponed a few more months and 2)my holiday gifts to my self will consist mostly of auto repairs. If I didn't have to run in a 30K this sunday, I'd pick up a bottle of Chivas and get trashed.
Cliffs:
Eye irritation from chalk dust
Headache
Two flats in cold rain
Cost of a new tire
Learned front brakes about shot, will cost more money
Still have a headache, want liquor
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