What did we learn from our work today, Azz?

[azurelunatic]

*kitten rocket pack*

• We learned that if you use the wrong batter in the (metaphorical) cupcake, nothing obviously goes wrong, just things start silently shitting themselves (metaphorically) later.
• We learned that my mechanic really wasn't kidding about that dodgy battery.
• We learned that I have in fact memorized the number for workplace security (they actually make it really easy on purpose).
• We learned that security does in fact do jumpstarts.
• We learned that my reaction to this is an impulsively blurted "I love you" to the (very amused) security guy doing the telephone tree thing.
• We learned that an actively dodgy battery results in -- oh gosh -- the Check Engine light turning the hell on.
• We learned that I can in fact walk someone generally internet-competent who has never touched a Bugzilla before through getting to it, creating an account and logging in, and finding a specific bug. (Not actually related to work, but it seems that norabombay has Feelings about the running of communities, and I'm working on a Thing.)
• We learned that my friendly neighborhood Spider-Man O RLY auto parts store is open at least until 9.
• We learned that even though I did not have the receipt on me, O'Reilly keeps a log of battery purchases by phone number, and the fact that my last battery died on Thanksgiving meant that I bought the battery the day after meant easier for the dude to search.
• We learned that when the more experienced dude says to the less experienced dude, "Dude, it's *boiling*," this means the old battery totally needs replacing.
• We learned that what was about an hour of trial, error, and swearing for me was less than five minutes for the dude (who did not appear to have an electricity phobia).
• We learned that when the problem was in fact the seriously fucking dodgy battery, the check engine light then goes *off* after it's been replaced.

In non-work news, I had a wonderful bad idea: what happens if I make orange-lime jello shots with Mountain Dew and vodka? Possibly also with a little added caffeine?

I may be referring to http://www.myscienceproject.org/j-shot.html over the course of the experiment.

Plans currently involve:

• Stopping by the supermarket on a probably-foggy evening
• Variously citrus jello
• I already have some of the good Dew with the real sugar
• I already have some vodka left over from the fruit infusions
• I already have caffeine
• Suitable vessels
• Some mixing time
• Some chilling time
• Some time with absoluuuutely no place to be for SOME TIME FOLLOWING.

Comments

[synecdochic]

Aw, you don't really have to fear electricity until you start getting up to 220v or so. 110v just tingles a little. Car batteries are only 12v! That's barely even a zap!

If you are really concerned: work with one hand tucked behind you, thumb in waistband or so. That keeps you from having one hand on the electricity source and one hand on a ground and completing the circuit through your chest.

(My dad once got hit with 440v in his college shop class. Dumbass wasn't taking precautions, either, and it was not the only time he did something stupid in shop class -- it's a wonder he lived to become my father, i swear, but it did mean he's a very good shop teacher now because he knows EXACTLY how to intimidate them into not doing what he did.)

[azurelunatic]

I was working one-handed the last time I was meddling with my battery, because I knew that would eliminate even the remotest chance of getting zapped through the heart. It was awkward and horrible and I was still terrified. It is approximately as rational as you & leftovers, I guess?

[synecdochic]

Ah, yes! gotcha.

(I maintain that I have been through too many food safety courses for my thing with leftovers to NOT be rational, but I totally get you *G*)

[cleverthylacine]

I don't think you're irrational about leftovers AT ALL, but I work in a hospital too. It either goes in the fridge immediately or it goes in the compost.

[mfb]

... never realized you could get just caffeine by itself (extract or something?) but considering my soap has it it makes a hell of a lot of sense. *rubs chin plottily*

[azurelunatic]

I got a bottle of powder (and a little scale, on the advice of some scarily focused bodybuilders) from Amazon.

[mfb]

Thanks for the tip! I'm not sure when I'll have use for it but you never know when you'll need to add LOTSA CAFFEINE to something that is not typically supposed to have caffeine in it.

Like toilet paper.

[mmegaera]

I discovered the phone number thing with O'RLY last fall when they sold me a pair of bum windshield wipers (they started chattering within a couple of weeks). They replaced them for me at no cost.

[azurelunatic]

Nice!

[silveradept]

Hooray for batteries that are not seriously dodgy.

And we encourage the making of these caffeinated Dew jello shots. If they work well and aren't dill of bitter alcohol taste afterward, I might have to make some.

[azurelunatic]

I will keep everyone posted with the results. I may become a Terrible Warning, but it must be done!

[azurelunatic]

Bitter as fuck, but that may have been the caffeine.