Anyone who has spent any considerable amount of time with me has always made the comment that once I'm out of nursing school I should write a book about all of my adventures and challenges along the way. While I highly doubt I will ever write a book, I am going to make a better effort to share those stories here.
Since buying my new vehicle this fall (new to me, not new in years)there have been a few incidents that have led to this being my first vehicle ever to have a name. Her name is "Christine." Yes, because of the movie. I may or may not share the earlier stories of Christine another day. Today, I am sharing my adventure from yesterday.
As I left my final review yesterday I thought to myself how the cold weather seemed to have made the parking lot unusually quiet. Like everyone was so cold that they were no longer interested in standing out by their cars talking; instead, preferring to rush into the warm building. Class had let out early and I was trying to think if there were any errands I wanted to run before picking my youngest up from the babysitter.
The day before, the battery had died on my wireless entry remote, and so I was having to use the key in the lock on the door to unlock my truck. I put the key in the lock and turned it. However, when I opened the door I received a not welcome surprise. Somehow the security system had been activated. I jumped as the horn started blaring, the lights started flashing, my windshield wipers were flapping across the windshield (front and back) and as if this all wasn't enough, my truck was spraying washer fluid everywhere. I tossed my bag into the truck and pressed the panic button on the remote. I've accidentally hit this button before, though never with such boisterous results. The panic button was doing nothing, which made sense considering the batteries were dead. I tried pulling the remote apart to get to the battery in hopes that pulling them out and putting them back in might give just enough charge to activate the panic button just once. No luck. By now I've thrown my gloves off and into the truck... maybe my gloved fingers just weren't pushing the buttons hard enough?
I closed the door, and used the key to lock it again. Horn still blasting away. I unlocked the door again and put the key in the ignition. the engine fired to life... and then shut itself off. The security guard slowly drives past me, looking as though curious about what is going on, but doesn't even roll down his window. I whip out my cell phone and try to call my husband. He's on campus, but in class and doesn't answer his phone in class. I hang up and call him again. Maybe if I call a couple times he will realize something is going on and will come to my rescue. Still no answer. I try the ignition again, tears are welling up in my eyes now. Again, the truck starts and then shuts itself off. Nothing has made the horn stop blaring. I take a step back and evaluate the situation. I seriously consider locking the doors and walking away like nothing is happening. But, who will get the kids? The security guard drives past my truck again, still not willing to step outside his warm vahicle to see what is going on. I don't know which class room my husband is in so I can't just go pull him out of class.
I put the key back in the ignition again, but stop myself from actually turning the key... I know that after a certain number of attempts the vehicle will lock itself up and require a tow to the dealership to get it back on the road. Defeated, I called my dad.
"Um, dad? I'm having a bit of a situation?" As if he didn't know something was up by the sounds of my horn coming through his cell phone. I quickly told him my story followed with, "And I don't know what else to do!" This is where the big perks of a father working at a major dealership which is also the manufacturer for your vehicle comes in. He hollered out into the shop for the master mechanic, told him his daughter was having trouble and gave him the cell phone (I'm betting partly just to get the sound of the horn out of his ear). I again explained the situation. The wonderful mechanic instructed me to unlock the passenger door with the key. I head around to the other side of the vehicle. Place my key in the lock. Turn it. And...
Silence!
Finally!
It was explained to me that some vehicles are having a tough time with the cold weather and the sensors in the doors are getting frozen. My truck thought I was trying to steal it. Apparently Christine is not impressed with the cold weather.
After a huge sigh of relief, I climbed into the truck, turned the engine and thanked Christine for not turning herself off again. In my rear view mirror I watched the security guard drive past my truck one more time. As I placed the truck into reverse i heard the familiar bing that means I have a message on the dash. "Low Washer Fluid". Of course. I glance at the clock and see that only 8 minutes have elapsed... I assure you it felt much longer.
Today I took all my valuable belongings in to the building with me and risked someone getting into my vehicle. I was not locking the doors again and inviting a repeat performance!
Since buying my new vehicle this fall (new to me, not new in years)there have been a few incidents that have led to this being my first vehicle ever to have a name. Her name is "Christine." Yes, because of the movie. I may or may not share the earlier stories of Christine another day. Today, I am sharing my adventure from yesterday.
As I left my final review yesterday I thought to myself how the cold weather seemed to have made the parking lot unusually quiet. Like everyone was so cold that they were no longer interested in standing out by their cars talking; instead, preferring to rush into the warm building. Class had let out early and I was trying to think if there were any errands I wanted to run before picking my youngest up from the babysitter.
The day before, the battery had died on my wireless entry remote, and so I was having to use the key in the lock on the door to unlock my truck. I put the key in the lock and turned it. However, when I opened the door I received a not welcome surprise. Somehow the security system had been activated. I jumped as the horn started blaring, the lights started flashing, my windshield wipers were flapping across the windshield (front and back) and as if this all wasn't enough, my truck was spraying washer fluid everywhere. I tossed my bag into the truck and pressed the panic button on the remote. I've accidentally hit this button before, though never with such boisterous results. The panic button was doing nothing, which made sense considering the batteries were dead. I tried pulling the remote apart to get to the battery in hopes that pulling them out and putting them back in might give just enough charge to activate the panic button just once. No luck. By now I've thrown my gloves off and into the truck... maybe my gloved fingers just weren't pushing the buttons hard enough?
I closed the door, and used the key to lock it again. Horn still blasting away. I unlocked the door again and put the key in the ignition. the engine fired to life... and then shut itself off. The security guard slowly drives past me, looking as though curious about what is going on, but doesn't even roll down his window. I whip out my cell phone and try to call my husband. He's on campus, but in class and doesn't answer his phone in class. I hang up and call him again. Maybe if I call a couple times he will realize something is going on and will come to my rescue. Still no answer. I try the ignition again, tears are welling up in my eyes now. Again, the truck starts and then shuts itself off. Nothing has made the horn stop blaring. I take a step back and evaluate the situation. I seriously consider locking the doors and walking away like nothing is happening. But, who will get the kids? The security guard drives past my truck again, still not willing to step outside his warm vahicle to see what is going on. I don't know which class room my husband is in so I can't just go pull him out of class.
I put the key back in the ignition again, but stop myself from actually turning the key... I know that after a certain number of attempts the vehicle will lock itself up and require a tow to the dealership to get it back on the road. Defeated, I called my dad.
"Um, dad? I'm having a bit of a situation?" As if he didn't know something was up by the sounds of my horn coming through his cell phone. I quickly told him my story followed with, "And I don't know what else to do!" This is where the big perks of a father working at a major dealership which is also the manufacturer for your vehicle comes in. He hollered out into the shop for the master mechanic, told him his daughter was having trouble and gave him the cell phone (I'm betting partly just to get the sound of the horn out of his ear). I again explained the situation. The wonderful mechanic instructed me to unlock the passenger door with the key. I head around to the other side of the vehicle. Place my key in the lock. Turn it. And...
Silence!
Finally!
It was explained to me that some vehicles are having a tough time with the cold weather and the sensors in the doors are getting frozen. My truck thought I was trying to steal it. Apparently Christine is not impressed with the cold weather.
After a huge sigh of relief, I climbed into the truck, turned the engine and thanked Christine for not turning herself off again. In my rear view mirror I watched the security guard drive past my truck one more time. As I placed the truck into reverse i heard the familiar bing that means I have a message on the dash. "Low Washer Fluid". Of course. I glance at the clock and see that only 8 minutes have elapsed... I assure you it felt much longer.
Today I took all my valuable belongings in to the building with me and risked someone getting into my vehicle. I was not locking the doors again and inviting a repeat performance!
