A Day With An Alaskan Woman
January 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
At 7:15, went out to start the vehicle, it’s only 35 below zero. Grabbed my keys, flipped the light on, opened the door and didn't bother smacking the handle on the Nissan for it to shut after attempting to start it, was getting right out anyway. Put the key in.... *click* ... I almost cried. I'm so tired! I just don't want this right now! The emotions started coming forth and the tears did come. I was able to pull myself together and popped the hood. I went into the house, looked through my tool stash in the kitchen, and couldn't find what I needed, so had to make due. I know I had what I needed, I can see them in my head, but they weren't where they were supposed to be. Again, for a second, the vision of me falling to my knees and sobbing is so welcoming! I pull it together and take what tools I have, grab a flashlight, and open the back of the probe, which has hydraulic thingies that hold it open. Well, they didn't want to move, so I had to slowly allow them to come up, it's now 34 below zero... I don't blame them, and it irritates me. Another late day to work!!!! I dig through Mike's tools to find something that will work better and walk back over to the truck battery, expecting to pull the terminals and clean them, and for it to work like a charm. Removing the terminals was simple, well, compared to everything else! So, I pull the terminals, scrape them with a sheetrock screw and put them back on snugly. I wandered to the drivers side of the vehicle, opened the door and plopped myself down in the seat to push the clutch and turn the ignition. I pushed in the hydraulic clutch (which has to be in all the way for the vehicle to start), all the way to the floor, and .... *click*... *sigh* Okay, Jeri, try the probe. Getting out of the Nissan, I have hope. Perhaps the Probe is ready to get out on the road and is feeling good this morning (at 34 below? yeah, right). I opened the door, I plopped in, inserted the key, pushed in the hydraulic clutch, and it turned over, it's got fuel! It catches, then the starter continues going; it didn't catch enough! Died. So, in my *I'm going to mess with batteries!* phase, I popped the hood, removed the battery and took it in the house to thaw.
Well, shoot, it's a quarter to 8, so I'd better call work! Danielle (my boss) answers, I told her what was happening, and she kinda laughed. I informed her that I was warming up my toes and would go out and continue attempting to start my truck. Of course, a ride was offered, and I said, "yes".
Back outside (after my toes are thawed) I went. I played with the terminals a little bit more, then it clicked.... the hydraulics in the probe took a minute to engage fully due to cold temperatures. Therefore, doesn't it make sense the hydraulic clutch on the Nissan would do the same? I got excited, got back into the Nissan, sat down, inserted the key, pushed in the clutch, waited for about 3 seconds, then turned the key.... IT STARTED!!!!! WAHOOOOOOOO!!!! All that effort towards the batteries, and it was the hydraulic clutch needing time to move through the cold fluids! I am so very grateful I learned this! Yippeee! Now I am ready to greet the day, well,,,, kinda. I'm still tired. *yawn*
My ride called, and I was able to tell them my truck was running, and thanked them.
Whoops, gotta stoke the stove and get ready to go.
At lunch time, went out to start the truck, put the key in and... click... I am so grateful Lori was there and I am so blessed to have her as a true friend. She jumped the truck and I let it run for about half an hour. I got in it, and due to a sensor or 2 being bad, as well as it needing a new exhaust & manifold, it didn't want to move. In my fear of it dying and not being able to start it again, I coaxed it while it sputtered and spit; turned on the Hazard lights (though in my mind, I wasn't a hazard, just moving about 10-15 mph), and inched my way back home. I only have 4 and a half miles to go, so all is good. I got out on Pittman (the road to home) and I do believe that at one point, when I had the vehicle floored, it hit 30, then cut out. At another point, as it's sputtering and jerking down the road like it's only hitting on 3 cylinders, I pulled over to let some cars pass. It ran GREAT up the driveway.. go figger ( I think she just wanted to be home, lazy wench!)! I parked it, came in the house, got the battery for the Probe, put it in the car, and YAH... it turns over REALLY nice! Wahoo! It's going to start... eventually. I turned it over and the starter started spinning, and when I let of the key, there was a clunk. I angrily, and painfully (my emotions were strong here... the pain of being without a vehicle would be overwhelming and put me over the edge), yelled "NO", and turned it over again with engagement. I found if I held it too long, the vehicle would attempt to start, disengaging the starter, but when it didn't start, the starter would continue spinning. Mind you, this is a total of a 2 to 5 second process from turning the key to disengagement! I attuned myself a little more, delving deep within for the abilities that Jesus informed us of, and controlled the amount of time the starter was being engaged. After about 5 minutes, the vehicle... reluctant of course, started. I'm thinking, “ I may leave it idling at work, and when I get home, letting it idle all night, too!” So, I did, and finally got over my stupidity and resentment (for a minute) for having to work so damned hard to get to work, went out and turned the probe off. I was half scared when I went out to start it again, but it was no problem. I should go pull the battery out of it right now, but I'm so tired of being out in this weather! I have spent HOURS out there this week, and I just want to fall over! Crikey.
This is ridiculous! I should NOT be doing this! These vehicles should be in good running condition and should have block heaters, or in line water heaters, or something! Therefore, I am going to buy a battery blanket (quick fix for now) and when funding is available, I'll take care of it. I am missing too much time at work because of foul running and unprepared vehicles~! The stupidity of this situation astounds me. I am so mad at myself for allowing this to happen! My high spirits have been darkened and weighted down a bit, and this too shall pass, so let me groan and moan and complain for a minute. *sigh* I am frustrated. And the bath faucet still doesn't work. I'll go to mom's for my damnable showers! ****ARGGGHHHHH**** I'm going to leave it be until my spirits have lifted a little bit. So far in all my probing and feeling of the lines, there's nothing frozen.
I think I'll bring home some Carolan's tonight and whoop it up... (yeah, right.. whoop it up... uh-huh - on a shooter.. yeah... that's the ticket!). I think the stress of the week is catching up with me, and I still don't have the stuff I need from the doctor, so am exhausting myself easily. To heck with it Talk about testing my total self-reliance and resolve! I am so darned grumpy I could spit nails, but it would do no good! I just need to take care of what I need to take care of and make sure I am taken care of. Make sense?
I have taken all this in stride, and have kept a good attitude about it for the most part, and when it starts affecting my hours at work, it starts to really enrage me, and the defensive, attacking lion comes out (Leo), teeth bared, snarling, claws extended. I do what I have to, then want to just fall over. This is highly emotionally draining, distressing, troublesome, and the roller coaster rides are detrimental to my psyche. Of course, if a woman lives likes this for a period of time, it lessens and she becomes reliant upon herself, totally and completely, then it's not so distressing, because it doesn't happen. And, of course, Boo doesn't help AT ALL, darn dog! I think I am going to get him a harness (like the sled dogs wear) and make him haul wood around the yard! At least then he'll be doing something. Maybe hook him up to the garbage can and he can pull it up and down the drive way, and if a vehicle doesn't start, he can pull me to work on a little, green sled! Oh, my... what a fun thought! And if there are no mice for Cleo to catch, she needs to start folding laundry, or something! Sheesh.
I did some mudding and taping yesterday (it was a safe, indoor project) and had fun doing it. I'll work some more on it some time or other. Heck, last Saturday, I put plastic over the windows in the living room and bathroom because the cold air was blowing through them like they didn't exist! So, I went into the bathroom and climbed up on the bathroom sink (forgetting it was not anchored down) and almost bit it. I had to have been watched by angels, as I landed on my feet instead of falling back into the wall and light switch. That little incident told me "Stay off of anything higher than 5 inches". Last time I was alone and I climbed on something, I ended up in the ER. And it was so fantastic, cuz when I opened my eyes, there were at least 20 people standing around me! Standing room only! It was great! I was laughing (the drugs they gave me were wonderful) as long as I didn't move, and all the people I loved, and some strangers, were there, laughing with me. But, I don't want to do anything stupidly dangerous, so am not going to play with power tools (it's a running joke in my family now), ladders, etc. In fact, I saw Mom on Sunday. On Tuesday she called because she hadn't heard from me, and she wanted to make sure I was still alive, and okay! I got such a kick out of that!
And, as a last thought, everyone at work has been very patient and understanding with me through this tumultuous week, and Lori, bless her, has been my rock. I DO love my people. :O) (Those I am surrounded with...)
Blessings!
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