Tuesday, November 12, 2019

If It's Not One Thing, It's Two More

Monday, Hillmomba plunged into the deep freeze around 12:18 p.m. I know that, because that's when bits of sleet started hitting T-Hoe as I parked at EmBee to get the mail. Except, DUH, there was no mail, because Veteran's Day is a federal holiday.

Anyhoo...this was in the forecast. I had expected a plethora of schools to call off, but no. They were in session, but sending home the students at various configurations of noon. I know that, because my cell phone still gets the notification from Newmentia like when The Pony was a student. And also I saw the buses leaving the bus shed over by Country Mart for Hillmomba's district. Before I descended to my dark basement lair with lunch, the storm was upon us. At least upon the back porch rails of the Mansion.


Anyhoo...I knew this storm was a-comin', so I'd gotten moving earlier to fetch my 44 oz Diet Coke and pick up some chili-fixin's. Everything was running on schedule. A light rain was falling as I left, at 38 degrees. My first stop was Save A Lot, for the chili stuff. When I left there, it was 35 degrees. A light mist.

From there I got my magical elixir. THAT is where the weather took a turn. As I walked back out to T-Hoe, I could feel that the wind had shifted. It was ICY cold. Gusty. Almost blew a scratcher out of my soda-hand. Temp was down to 34.

On to Country Mart, for the scratcher machine. Heh, heh. A man came up behind me while I was making my picks. I couldn't move away, because those machines don't give change. He wasn't TOO annoying. Just said,

"I'm going to get the winner. I have to wait patiently for my turn."

"Heh, heh. You MIGHT get the winner. At least you can see what I'm getting, so you pick something else! That's what I do! I won't buy a ticket right after somebody else gets that kind."

I didn't stick around to see what he got, but I won $35, so I bear him no ill will.

Back in T-Hoe (32 degrees), I texted Farmer H to see if he wanted me to bring something for lunch. He did not, but I started for Hardee's anyway, for some chicken tenders.

SWEET GUMMI MARY!

T-Hoe's LOW TIRE light went on. Only 26 pounds of air in the one with the slow leak. It needs 35. Well, crap. If it had warned me over at The Gas Station Chicken Store, I could have gotten my FREE AIR while I was there. With a doctor nurse practitioner appointment the next day, I had to get some air in that tire. So I went back to The Gas Station Chicken Store after disloyally buying chicken from Hardee's.

By the time I got over to TGSCS, it was 31 degrees. The wind was whipping with a vengeance. I had to untangle the air hose to make it reach T-Hoe. I meant to put in 8 pounds of air, but turns out it was only 4. It's hard to judge when the temperature is so cold. Besides, I lost feeling in my hands. I could barely screw the little plastic cap back on the tire valve.

I'm pretty sure it's because my fingers are already damaged with frostbite, and more prone to extra frostbite, due to Farmer H's lack of attention to FRIG II's icemaker. And let's not forget his going-on-six-months apathy about T-Hoe's leaky tire.

Did you know that Farmer H got a NEW TIRE put on SilverRedO last week? Because it had a leak.

7 comments:

River said...

HIS car gets a new tyre while YOU have to stand in a blizzard pumping air into a tyre that should have been replaced aeons ago???
Why don't you one-up the rat and get your own new tyre but don't tell him? and get the icemaker fixed while you're on a roll.....
You'll thank yourself eventually.

Hillbilly Mom said...

River,
The problems such actions would cause would be worse than the benefits of the solutions I accomplished. In theory, it's a good idea. But in life with Farmer H, it's not going to make things easier on myself.

Sioux Roslawski said...

I'm glad the storm didn't curtail your normal plans.

No snow day for me. However, many public school systems were off.

Hillbilly Mom said...

Sioux,
I'm sorry you didn't get treacherous roads! Schools are still out here today (Wednesday). It don't make me no nevermind, by cracky! Farmer H and I are headed to the casino!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

I have never put air in a tire. I suppose I would figure it out if I had to. Cabin fever is encroaching here. Now that he no longer smokes, he is in here ALL THE TIME!

River said...

I don't see a problem as long as he never finds out. Your other option is to stamp your foot and throw a minor tantrum, but I guess that wouldn't work either. How can he be so blasé about your safety?

Hillbilly Mom said...

Kathy,
Such a sheltered life you lead, lying about eating bon-bons, dogs bringing your slippers, wifely-Kevin at your beck and call...with your constant companion HeWho to share your life 24/7/365.

***
River,
I have asked that question SO MANY TIMES! Not using the word blase-with-the-little-accent-mark. Because we're talking about Farmer H, you know. I'm sure he'd find out, because it would be something that required the purchase of a new pair of tires, or there'd be a robbery with me taken hostage, or a semi off the highway would crash into the building...