Scotty…I need more power!

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Well, dammit Jim…I’m givin’ her all she’s got.  So there I am, heading out of the office to meet up with Mabel.  I pop the trunk (no problem) and plop in the work stuff, unlock the doors (easy enough) sit down and pop the key into the ignition.  I’m greeted with a very brief glow from the dashboard and then…darkness falls.  Odd, I say, turning the key.  Zilch.  Not even the whirr of an unhappy starter motor sucking the last couple of amps from a dying battery.  Nada.  Goose egg.  A friendly co-worker (Terry rules!) happened to be parked next to me and was also heading out.  I ask her to help with a jump start and she very kinds tries…to no avail.  She goes as far as to call AAA (I told you she rules!) but as she’s on the phone with them, one of the security cars happens by and offers to help.  I don’t know how a Jeep’s battery is that different from a Ford, but the car fired right up and off to Pep Boys went I.  $70 worth of Energizer car battery later (with dirty hands and borrowed tools) I was back on the road.  You never notice until it happens, but modern cars are worthless without power.  No door locks.  No lights (natch). No alarm.  Nothing – the damn Accord was a paperweight.  Well, at least it was just that and not some gremlin in the electrical system.  And no, damn it, I STILL haven’t gone to the gym this week!