WyoBuck
Hall of Fame
Thought I would share with you all tonight an amusing, though, inconvenient little turn of events that I had the pleasure of experiencing. Doubtful that anyone knows, or really cares for that matter, I am currently employed by a hospital in the capacity of a Central Plant Ops Engineer. All that really means, pertaining to this story is, every six weeks I have to run the plant at night by myself for a week. No worries there, I am reasonably intelligent. However, I also have to wear a radio because all "facility issue" calls come through me.
Well, tonight was my Friday, yee ha, and I came in early so I could cut out at 11 instead of 11:30 so I could meet up with a girl I have been casually dating for a drink after work. It was a relatively slow night. The Med-Flight chopper screwed a few things up because they were doing training runs tonight, but nothing major. So, I decided to do my rounds at about 10:30, getting me out the door, safely, by 11, barring any unforseen problems. Well, we have been having problems with the radio repeater for about a week, and aren't scheduled to have the new repeater in until Thursday, so, basically, our radios don't work for crap right now.
At about 10:40 I mosey over to the psych hospital, which is where I park my car so I can keep an eye on it at night as it is close to the plant, and glance over at my beauty, a scarlet w/ grey interior, 1996 Pontiac Grand Am, and wink as I walk by thinking what a wise color I chose 12 years ago even though, essentially, it is a cheap piece of crap that gets good gas mileage. What a beauty. And, I carry on.
Nothing seems amiss, mechanically, in the psych hospital, so, I meander to the lab. That is when I hear broken conversation on the radio, something about fire truck, emergency, med-flight, psych parking lot, blah blah blah. (security dominates the airwaves, and since no one is calling me, nevermind. Remember, Med flight was training). Continuing on, I finish up my rounds, put all of my tools under lock and key and head for the door, looking forward to meeting up with said girl and if I play my cards right, (her words, not mine) a late night snack, if you will.
As I walk out of the plant door, I look over, at about 100 yards, there is fire engine blocking my view of the lot in which I am parked, except for my car which I wisely park on the edge as to reduce the likelihood of door dings, and I see three things happen. Firefighter 1, knocking the windshield out of my car with a sledge hammer (where is your axe buddy?). Firefighter 2, prying the hood open with what appeared to be the worlds largest can opener, and Firefighter 3 pouring, what I can only surmise was around 15,000 gallons of water into the cab of my car. Needless to say, I suddenly became concerned.
Now, I am pretty low-key. You kinda have to be when you deal with asshat doctors that think they know everything, including how to do my job, so I didn't freak out, in fact, the fire department thought I was just a curious gawker until I pointed out the fact that it was my car that had been reduced to burning wreckage. Funny thing about cheap cars, their kinda like coffe makers in that, as far as the electrical system, their really not designed to be too safe. The wiring harness under the passenger seat, likeley, shorted out and caught the upholstery on fire, which after looking at the security tape, went up in flame in less than 20 seconds. Thankfully, there was a nurse who was just coming on shift that reported it immediately and the fire department, who is just 3 blocks away got it out before the gas tank detonated. I am just glad that no one got hurt.
Here is the funny part. I had been planning on car shopping tomorrow, but wasn't dead set on making a purchase. Tomorrow is my day off, so I guess I know what my plans are now. The shitty part? My brand new set of golf clubs were in the car because after car shopping, I have a tourney I was supposed to play in at 1. FUCK!
I am enjoying a few frosted barley pops to get me to bed and I will regroup with a winning plan tomorrow, one that includes moving a 1 ton piece of burnt metal.
Well, tonight was my Friday, yee ha, and I came in early so I could cut out at 11 instead of 11:30 so I could meet up with a girl I have been casually dating for a drink after work. It was a relatively slow night. The Med-Flight chopper screwed a few things up because they were doing training runs tonight, but nothing major. So, I decided to do my rounds at about 10:30, getting me out the door, safely, by 11, barring any unforseen problems. Well, we have been having problems with the radio repeater for about a week, and aren't scheduled to have the new repeater in until Thursday, so, basically, our radios don't work for crap right now.
At about 10:40 I mosey over to the psych hospital, which is where I park my car so I can keep an eye on it at night as it is close to the plant, and glance over at my beauty, a scarlet w/ grey interior, 1996 Pontiac Grand Am, and wink as I walk by thinking what a wise color I chose 12 years ago even though, essentially, it is a cheap piece of crap that gets good gas mileage. What a beauty. And, I carry on.
Nothing seems amiss, mechanically, in the psych hospital, so, I meander to the lab. That is when I hear broken conversation on the radio, something about fire truck, emergency, med-flight, psych parking lot, blah blah blah. (security dominates the airwaves, and since no one is calling me, nevermind. Remember, Med flight was training). Continuing on, I finish up my rounds, put all of my tools under lock and key and head for the door, looking forward to meeting up with said girl and if I play my cards right, (her words, not mine) a late night snack, if you will.
As I walk out of the plant door, I look over, at about 100 yards, there is fire engine blocking my view of the lot in which I am parked, except for my car which I wisely park on the edge as to reduce the likelihood of door dings, and I see three things happen. Firefighter 1, knocking the windshield out of my car with a sledge hammer (where is your axe buddy?). Firefighter 2, prying the hood open with what appeared to be the worlds largest can opener, and Firefighter 3 pouring, what I can only surmise was around 15,000 gallons of water into the cab of my car. Needless to say, I suddenly became concerned.
Now, I am pretty low-key. You kinda have to be when you deal with asshat doctors that think they know everything, including how to do my job, so I didn't freak out, in fact, the fire department thought I was just a curious gawker until I pointed out the fact that it was my car that had been reduced to burning wreckage. Funny thing about cheap cars, their kinda like coffe makers in that, as far as the electrical system, their really not designed to be too safe. The wiring harness under the passenger seat, likeley, shorted out and caught the upholstery on fire, which after looking at the security tape, went up in flame in less than 20 seconds. Thankfully, there was a nurse who was just coming on shift that reported it immediately and the fire department, who is just 3 blocks away got it out before the gas tank detonated. I am just glad that no one got hurt.
Here is the funny part. I had been planning on car shopping tomorrow, but wasn't dead set on making a purchase. Tomorrow is my day off, so I guess I know what my plans are now. The shitty part? My brand new set of golf clubs were in the car because after car shopping, I have a tourney I was supposed to play in at 1. FUCK!
I am enjoying a few frosted barley pops to get me to bed and I will regroup with a winning plan tomorrow, one that includes moving a 1 ton piece of burnt metal.
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