eredien: Dancing Dragon (Default)
[personal profile] eredien
So I drove [livejournal.com profile] rax to the airport early this morning, and got a little lost on the way back from the airport due to bad signage. So I pulled over, turned on the GPS, and got home accompanied by the Rolling Stones' "Beggars' Banquet," which was great, and a thunderstorn, which was not. And I turned off the GPS, thinking "yay now it won't draw power!" But I forgot to unplug it.

Then I slept for a little while, and mowed and wheedwhacked the lawn, and spread formaldehyde-containing plaster on the ceiling, and showered, and was going to run some errands, but the battery'd drained and the car wouldn't start. I cursed my lack of thought, and called a friend for a jump.

Now, her battery was new, and we'd successfully jumped my car before. But as soon as we touched the ground clip to what we thought was an ok place on the engine block to ground it, it sparked, and glowed red-hot, and caught on fire. And smoke billowed everywhere. We backed away and went into the house and called 911.

Our neighbor showed up, peering into the smoke. "You've got a fire there." We yelled at him to stay away, fearing the car batteries might explode, and remembered that we had a fire extinguisher. So we used it, and about 3 or 4 minutes later the fire department showed up to remove the melted, charred remains of the jumper cables from the batteries, since the connection had burned through the cable entirely and melted lovely Pollock-like smears of plastic on our headlights. And they said I should get my battery looked at, and didn't know why it had caught on fire because they thought that place had been ok to ground it, and we thanked them, and they drove off. I guess it's good to know that they are actually quite quick in an emergency. And then she went to go reassure the neighbors while I talked to the policeman who showed up later.

No one was injured.

Car is still sitting in driveway, unmovable.

Did I mention Rachel's parents are coming tomorrow?

So for those of you wondering why the items "call car insurance," "get towtruck," "go to car repair place," "refill fire extinguisher," and "put out electrical fire" just showed up on my task list, that's why.

If you don't have a fire extinguisher you should get one; I think that might have been the difference between "two ruined cars" and "one car will probably need a new car battery and both need a good car wash."

(no subject)

22/7/10 01:58 (UTC)
zdenka: Yellow leaves. (all will yet be well)
Posted by [personal profile] zdenka
That is highly unfortunate. I'm glad you thought of the fire extinguisher and that no one was injured.

(no subject)

22/7/10 02:15 (UTC)
zeeth_kyrah: A glowing white and blue anthropomorphic horse stands before a pink and blue sky. (Default)
Posted by [personal profile] zeeth_kyrah
My goodness.

I'm wondering whether the wiring is screwy. That shouldn't happen at all.

(no subject)

22/7/10 02:49 (UTC)
sovay: (Psholtii: in a bad mood)
Posted by [personal profile] sovay
So for those of you wondering why the items "call car insurance," "get towtruck," "go to car repair place," "refill fire extinguisher," and "put out electrical fire" just showed up on my task list, that's why.

Between this and your ear infection, I think you need new karma. I'm glad no one but the jumper cables were hurt.

(no subject)

22/7/10 20:01 (UTC)
sovay: (Psholtii: in a bad mood)
Posted by [personal profile] sovay
Yeah, my great-uncle also died the weekend I was in the hospital, and one of rax's aunts had a seizure while they were on vacation in Belgium that same weekend.

I am so sorry.

I wish you well for August. And it had better hold for the next twelve months.

(no subject)

22/7/10 03:12 (UTC)
ext_646: (Default)
Posted by [identity profile] shatterstripes.livejournal.com
Damn, that's a hell of a day. o.O;

(no subject)

22/7/10 03:27 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] postrodent.livejournal.com
Yow. That's the wrong kind of interesting. Glad nobody was hurt, and that the property damage wasn't as bad as it might have been.

(no subject)

22/7/10 03:49 (UTC)
kelkyag: notched triangle signature mark in light blue on yellow (Default)
Posted by [personal profile] kelkyag
I'm very glad you had a fire extinguisher, and the presence of mind to use it!

(no subject)

22/7/10 03:52 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] rabidfangurl.livejournal.com
If it makes you feel any better, a present from Greece is winging its way to you.

(no subject)

22/7/10 04:13 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] doma.livejournal.com
Oh my god I'm glad you weren't hurt that's terrible.

(no subject)

22/7/10 04:22 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] audesapere.livejournal.com
i'm glad you are okay! that sounds like an unfortunate adventure.

(no subject)

22/7/10 10:51 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] gallian.livejournal.com
Eep!

Tell me, has anyone in your family ever run afoul of a witch?

(no subject)

22/7/10 14:00 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] jadia.livejournal.com
Eep! I'm so glad everyone is okay. *hug*

(no subject)

22/7/10 15:01 (UTC)
ext_413051: (Default)
Posted by [identity profile] taliabear.livejournal.com
Oh geez, so glad you're okay hun! *hugs* Fingers crossed that there's nothing majorly wrong with the car, as well.

(no subject)

22/7/10 16:31 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] fiddledragon.livejournal.com
Eep! I'm glad everything is, if not ok, at least much better than it might have been.

(no subject)

22/7/10 16:44 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] wormulus.livejournal.com
WOW. I'm glad you guys are ok! Good job on having a fire extinguisher!! We have one in our kitchen.

(no subject)

22/7/10 19:25 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com
Yeesh! I am so glad no one was hurt and impressed at your quick thinking in an emergency.

You are totally due not having any emergencies for at least the next several months.

(no subject)

22/7/10 22:16 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] gaudior.livejournal.com
O dear gods! Glad you're okay, but how scary!

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