Category: Crankypantsing

I got home this evening from work, and when I shut off my car, the check engine light came on and the car was beeping at me. I assumed the beeping was linked to the check engine light and ignored it, since there’s nothing I could do about the problem myself. Arrrrgh! What I do not need is car troubles right now, but whatever. I figured I’d cross my fingers and hope that whatever was wrong would wait until payday.

That was at 4:30pm. When it was still light out. About half an hour ago (it’s dark now), my awesome across-the-hall neighbor knocked on my door to tell me that my car lights were on. WTF?! I went out, and it was actually my running lights, not my headlights. Alsotoo, the dome light and the console lights. I hadn’t noticed before, because it was too light to see them. My neighbor and I tried everything we could think of to find the problem, but finally gave up. She offered to unhook my battery and give me a jump in the morning, if I needed one.

Being the obsessive person that I am, I just couldn’t let it go. I knew that the car was working Just Fine when I drove home, and that whatever had happened must have happened when I got out of the car. Meaning, I had to have bumped something. So I went back to the car one last time, and turned the knob on the end of the turn signal controller, et voila! I had somehow turned on the parking lights. Who knew?! I had no idea they could be turned on manually.

So that problem was solved. Better yet, while trying to troubleshoot the problem, the check engine light was blissfully dark, so I think it was just flashing as part of the normal “start up the car” routine. I’m pretty sure the airbag light came on, too, which is also a normal at start up. I don’t remember, but I don’t think it was on before I initially turned the car off. It only came on when I turned the car back on, to see why the hell it was beeping at me.

So, I’ll probably need a jump next time I leave, because my battery is pretty well drained, but that’s much better than having a broken car. Alsotoo, now I’ll be able to sleep tonight. I am sure that I would have been up all night worrying myself sick, because that’s the sort of obsessive person I am.

First, it was the furnace. Then it was the oven. Then it was the oven again. Then it was the dishwasher. Then it was the oven again. Then it was the bathroom ceiling leaking. And then it was the oven again. And then it was the furnace again. And now, it’s the refrigerator’s turn. The fridge temperature is hovering around 45F, and the freezer is around 20F. Way too warm for comfort.

So now I have to figure out when to call maintenance. Can’t do it on Monday, because I have to work and can’t be here to supervise maintenance-guys-and-dog interactions. Tuesday, I’m off work for my root canal, but that’s in the middle of the day, which is not convenient for scheduling home repair stuff. If I call when the office opens at 8am, they’re apt to show up 10 minutes before I have to leave. If I call later, it’ll take them 2-3 days to get to it.

In the meantime, the groceries I bought this week are quickly becoming inedible.

Leaving cigarette ash and butts in the stairwells is kind of gross. If you’re going to smoke indoors, at least use an ashtray. Were you raised by wolves?

Leaving a washing machine full of your sequined underwear for someone else to remove is likewise pretty gross. Especially when you washed them on cold.

Letting your dog shriek frantically all day, nonstop, is not only annoying to the people who live around you, but it’s not very nice for the dog, either. Poor thing.

Tossing your empty beer bottles in the bushes is awfully lazy, but it’s preferable to you leaving them in the parking lot. If you’re going to sit in your car and drink, put the empties in the trash, please.

To whomever put the rocking chair in the laundry room, I worry about you. I really do. Why on earth are you hanging around in the basement? It’s dark and a little creepy down there. Surely you can find a more pleasant place to sit?

And all you people who are leaving your new phone books sitting on your front doorsteps, please don’t. Believe me, I know it’s annoying to get junk you didn’t ask for, but at least take them to the recycling, instead of leaving them out in the rain.

Likewise, leaving your junk mail on top of the mailboxes is uncalled for. I know you’re probably annoyed at receiving it, but you don’t have to share the annoyance with all your neighbors. Chances are, we got the exact same junk mail, so now we’re doubly annoyed. Thanks a lot!

That is all. As you were, comrades!