Transportation: Part 1
Friday, December 8, 2006
A few things change when you rely on a motorcycle for all your transportation needs during the winter as opposed to more pleasant times. Things like never being able to fix your hair up nice before you go places really aren’t as big a deal to you anymore. Instead you are worried about not being able to use the front brake because you can’t bend your fingers, or walking into a hospital with a frozen snot stream coming out of your nose, or hitting some ice on a bridge and going flying off into sure death. The thing that you are most concerned with though is how you are going to get your bike started when it is covered in ice.
This is where my story begins, and although I could tell several related stories from this past couple weeks, I will try to sum them up in two parts. Ever since this cold weather hit, it has been a sweet adventure trying to find a way to get to work, and I am a big fan of adventure.
Wednesday (5:15) - Wake up, walk outside, see no rain and feel a pleasant 45 degree temperature. It’s a good day, got to work by 7:00.
Thursday (5:15) - Wake up and walk outside to a winter wonderland. Took a couple minutes, and then called in to tell them that I won’t be risking my life for them today.
Friday (5:15) - Bike is still frozen, parking lot seems free from ice though, and I get ready for work. (5:40) - Pour hot water all over my bike and try to break up the ice (tearing my vinyl seat in the process). Bike still won’t start after draining the battery trying. Resort to pushing and popping the clutch just like old times for another hour and I finally get it going. (9:00) - Make a pit stop a little over half way to Fort Worth to gain my composure and try and move my fingers. (10:00) - After trying to avoid bridges and getting a little lost, I arrive at work.
Monday - Exactly the same as Friday, but I get to work by 9:30 and can feel my face again by 10:30.
Tuesday - Same start to the morning, except the bike isn’t frozen. I go through the same routine of trying to start it with the electric start button until the battery dies out and then begin pushing it around our apartments as usual. However, this morning she just isn’t having it, and the few times I did get her rumbling a bit she quickly died out. This has never happened before. By about 9:00 I am freezing cold while drenched in sweat, and finally come to the conclusion that I’ll need to find another way to work.
Remembering an email I got from my Dad, I decide to rent a car. After calling around, I decide on Enterprise, because they pick you up. The cheapest vehicle they have available is a decked out PT Cruiser. By 11:30 I arrive to work in style, just in time to pick up the guys for lunch at Pei Wei. I was at work for about 2 hours before leaving to go back home to return the Cruiser. I decided since the motorcycle is broken, I probably need to find a less expensive option until I can fix it, or until I get the jeep back (which may or may not ever happen). To cap a good day off, Nick picks me up to go watch the Ag’s get beat. It was a bad game, but we enjoyed Humperdinks' house brews. Got home by midnight and began planning out my morning train ride.Labels: ben
posted by benbox @ 4:22 PM,
5 Comments:
daaaaammnniitt
Posted by
| Dec 9, 2006, 12:14:00 AM
oh, Ben. I hope your sweet mom doesn't see this...it was hard for ME to read.
Posted by | Dec 10, 2006, 3:45:00 PM
"Things like never being able to fix your hair up nice before you go places really aren’t as big a deal to you anymore"
Posted by
anymore? box, let's be honest..this was never a big deal to you..
Kate | Dec 11, 2006, 8:00:00 AM
my escalade is really running good. with the four wheel drive i never have to worry about bad weather. the heated leather seats are nice when it is cold. just wonder if you ever think about it when you are pushing your jeepless tricycle?
Posted by
dont take girls or credit cards to casinos. hope to see you around christmas. bring ham.. love ya. papaw | Dec 14, 2006, 11:57:00 AM
Hey thanks Papaw, I'll always count on you for good casino advice. I'm glad to hear the Escalade is running good because I still plan on driving that someday.
Posted by benbox | Dec 14, 2006, 2:54:00 PM
The Authors
Kendal Haug
Kendal is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin and most recently earned his Masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. He works for Bible.org and likes to think he knows how to play the guitar. His man-crushes include, but are not limited to: Ryan Adams, Donald Miller, Ray LaMontagne, Neil Young, Vince Young, and of course The Box.
Ben Box
Box, is a recent graduate of Texas A&M University and currently works for Medco Construction building hospitals and being important. Ben loves paying lots of money on broken down Jeeps and has a propensity for getting Kendal into trouble.
About This Blog
This is a multi-author blog devoted to the happenings of two bachelors living it up in Big D. We will record the daily nonsense that occurs when 2 life-long friends live together in the same apartment and have no shame, sense of fashion, or chance of meeting a girl in the next 10 years.
A Word on Comments
Ben and Kendal both highly encourage your comments. They look forward to hearing your thoughts and insights. No matter how harsh the criticism or if you just want to give them a good ole pat on the back and say "Way to Go!" or "Ha! That was a funny story!" or "That Ben sure does crack me up." And if you have a request of something you would like to see Ben and Kendal do or write about, let them know.
Disclaimer
Ben and Kendal are in no way responsible for stories that may worry, upset, or lead their parents to altogether disown them.
