Posted by Sandra G Holland on 11/16/13 10:05am
Msg #493028
Reliable Transportation
After my old car was killed in a collision because of the heavy oilfield traffic here--Note: A deacon in my church tells me to take the blame because I was the one who pulled out.--my husband bought me a used car from a coworker. He tells me not to complain about the car because the previous owner is a veteran of war in Iraq. Anyway, to finish the sentence: after. . . , . . . from a coworker. This car needs repair every other month. I try to do maintenance in between. As with every car I've owned, some of the repairs are bizarre. There was one thing wrong on this car that needed a part that three dealers told me doesn't exist. One even showed me on his computer screen that it doesn't exist. My practice is to pay someone to identify the problem, buy the part, and then go to a mechanic who writes my price on a piece of notebook paper.
After almost a year, one of the hole-in-the-wall mechanics told me what the part really is by another name and said it is a common part which can be obtained at such-and-such auto parts place.
Yesterday, I was afraid I was going to be five minutes late to a signing. I had been there twice, once for an inspection with another company when the investment business opened, and the second time for a signing when the owner bought some business property. This time was for a rent house. I went down the highway, turned off on the sideroad, turned down the odd road that a C-store employee told me about one time, bypassed the C-store, got on the dirt road and was about to get to the railroad track before turning uphill and driving over dirt until I could see the office building and the construction on the storage building. I had forgotten about the sharp turn. I over-corrected (The deacon is not reading this.), and hit the sand embankment which pretty much looks like and is what a bulldozer pushed there. My car bounced off, turned sideways as if I was on ice, still going the same speed, and then I was able to turn it in the right direction again and kept going. After the signing, I got to the edge of the property when I heard "flubb, blubb, blablabla". I got out to check for a flat tire. It wasn't flat but all the tires looked low (!).
Anyway, I stopped at the above-mentioned C-store where I found a 24-hour road mechanic sitting in his truck. He said nothing was wrong. I went to the place that usually airs up my tires, checks for leaks, and sells me used tires. He aired them up and said maybe I damaged something in the wreck. I went to a mechanic who is a new customer of mine in another business who said the wheel is slightly bent. Oh, no, I thought. Then I asked why it couldn't just be some sand caught somewhere. He looked at me funny as he hadn't listened to that part of the story, looked down and said, "Here is your problem! It's a rock." So why does a rock not sound like a rock but sounds like "flubb", et cetera? Thank God that's all it was.
The last time I went to get an oil change, it was a place in the city. They refused to do it because of a few leaks that they said they might be liable for but they sold me a new tire. The deacon mentioned above said, "Never repair a leak! Never repair a leak! Just stop it up."
Your stories?
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Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/16/13 7:20pm
Msg #493068
Re: Well, I went back and read your OP...and technically
I say we cut her some slack. It's a weekend and we're probably all up to our ear lobes in SPW stuff.  Most of us have a tale or two of traffic/car problems. Frankly, IMO, reliable transportation is one of our most important business tools - and undeniably the most expensive one.
My thoughts on the story... You're incredibly lucky it turned out to be a rock - and that you have access to mechanics that don't try to sell you a bizillion new things you don't need every time you turn around! I hope your luck holds... 
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Reply by jba/fl on 11/16/13 9:17pm
Msg #493071
Then ok if I tell about running out of gas - well, almost?
I just wasn't paying attention, ran a stop sign, slid into 3 base on the little league ball field and heaved a sigh of relief that the game was over.
Well?
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Reply by Sandra G Holland on 11/17/13 8:09am
Msg #493082
Re: Then ok if I tell about running out of gas - well, almost?
It was meant to be humorous, whether anyone else thinks it is or not. It was about work. Those two hours lost were between two signings. I was concerned that I wouldn't get to the second signing. I did get there in plenty of time. I had a wonderful time talking to the couple and their two children in the RV. I even supplied them with some local information, since they are from another state.
The response to my commentary was rude. I don't live in a rude environment, I don't work in a rude environment, and no one I know wants to be around anyone who is rude. I see so much rudeness on this forum that it makes me wonder how some get along with their schedulers and borrowers. This is a business environment. Rudeness is not included.
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