...the rest of the story.

[triadruid]

Whoops. I alluded earlier this morning to a blow for energy independence encounter with a gas pump this morning, but forgot to put up the story for another 45 minutes or so. Cue distressed phone call from partner...

Anyway. What happened was this; finally got all my junk together for work this morning, fed the dogs, scraped the car, and headed north. Snow/sleet had already started by then, but that's actually not relevant to this story, believe it or not. What was relevant was the proximity of the needle on my gas gauge to the "E" side of the equation. So I pulled into the BP up the road, filled up the tank, and scraped more crap off my windshield. Got back in the car to make sure I had cash for parking downtown, listened for the 'click' of the gas pump. Put my wallet away, put my gloves back on, started the car, and drove out of the parking lot.

You may have noticed an element missing in this story... actually I didn't make it out of the parking lot, because after about 8 feet I heard a "clunk-CLUNK". What was that, I wondered - did I leave something on the back of the car? Did my rear axle fall off suddenly? Did I leave my card in the pump reader (I have no idea why that one popped up, but it did)? No, I drove away with the pump handle still in my gas tank, and thus no longer connected to the pump proper.

Whoopsie-daisy. Backed up, parked, coiled up the pump handle and hose (people do this sort of shit all the time apparently, so instead of causing Flaming Death, they're designed to disconnect from the pump and auto-shut-off). Debated briefly what to do next, then noticed that my gas tank cap had flown off somewhere... located that, then went inside to do the right thing and tell them their pump was damaged. As mentioned, they were unsurprised and amused rather than horrified and litigious.

So that's the story of Me vs. Big Oil.

::edit:: And my training tonight is cancelled - WIKTORY!

Comments

[celticwhistlin.livejournal.com]

LOL!

I've never known someone who has actually *done* that. I've heard stories, but... ;-)

Glad it wasn't anything worse!

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

True story: If you say "I took out a gas pump this morning" and give no further details, I will be mildly concerned. Only mildly concerned, though, because you were able to post that you'd done it, which is why you got a LOLWUT before the distressed phone call. I was, however, briefly horrified that you might have wrecked the druidmobile and that I might have to come and get *you* in the sled, rather than you coming to get me in the car with traction. This story was also made of No Good for the rest of the winter; I mean, I know we were talking about possibly being able to afford a car payment again, but really.

[teacup-werewolf.livejournal.com]

*in Guiness voice* BRILLIANT

WE used to live on 75th and Ward Parkway.

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

about once a year, during slick times, someone would take out one of the gas pumps at the Sinclair station at 75th and State Line.... even when they installed protective cement-filled pipes.

Not too long ago you might have started a fire. But they've made them breakaway.

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

Here's to you, gas-pump-handle-snatcher-guy. Here's to you.

*toast*

(I, also, was thinking the worst, because we had numerous gas pumps get torn off their moorings during hurricanes (2 within a week of each other!) when I worked 911 in FL. And then I, too, thought...wait. He's posting, he must be ok.)

[ruisseau.livejournal.com]

a) Glad you're OK.

b) LOL

[popefelix.livejournal.com]

I did that once, many years ago.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

::edit:: And my training tonight is cancelled - WIKTORY!

So you can totally just come and pick me up from work - WIKTORY+!

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Yup, what time? And are we going to SJ (hahaha)?

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Any time in the vicinity of 5:30 is probably good to get me. I don't know about SJ. If the roads are really all that crap, we should probably just head in the direction of home. We'll still have to work out food, since I so cleverly stuck the chicken for the paprikash back in the freezer...

[opaljax.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't feel so bad about doing that myself, well, within the last year. I know I felt stupid, but I'm over that now. Hee hee hee.

[theslice.livejournal.com]

horrified and litigious

This is going to be the stage name of a comedy duo someday.