Heya guys!!  Sometimes people do things that shock you.  So today you get an insight into the RL world of SJ.

I own a 2004 Toyota Tundra.  It’s black, it’s awesome, and I love it.  I’ve got some tire issues atm (they need replacing), but otherwise my vehicle is in great working order.  Well today I stupidly left my air compressor plugged into the cigarette lighter with the compressor’s light on.  While I was at work.  >.<

So when I get out of work, all ready to go home I’m suddenly fracked.  *grumble*  Borrowed some jumpers, got a buddy to come out and help me, and then no go.  o.o

As it turned out we spent 15 minutes trying to jump my truck from his car, until he finally reveals to me that he has a weak battery on his car.  Two thumbs WAY UP!!  Good to know genius…

So then I get someone else to pull their car up, jump the truck instantly, and I’m on my way.  But low and behold the engine light is on, the clock lost it’s settings, and the radio lost all preset channel’s.  This isn’t good.  Run the engine for about an hour, finally turn it off, try to turn it back on, click click click click click…  Damnit!!  /sigh

Well I open up the hood and really take a look at things (as a heads up I know !@#$ about cars).  Between a good deal of corrosion and the fact that it’s a 5 year old battery I figure I might as well go buy a new battery.  And as luck would have it my roomie is on his lunch break at home.  So he takes me to Autozone real quick and I head back to get to work.

First bolt on the battery comes off fine.  Second one comes off instantly…ALL OF IT!!  /facepalm

So I’m staring at a corroded bolt in my hand trying to figure out what the hell to do.  Well, might as well get everything off at least.

I’m pulling out all kinds of screwdrivers at this point trying to wedge them under the terminal clamps to pry them loose and it’s just not working.  These suckers are on TIGHT.  Between the corrosion and rust, it’s bad. 

And then I remember how coca-cola is used to clean engine blocks, corrosion, etc… (true story)  I go inside and there isn’t any…  *blink* *blink* *blink*  W T F ? !  I’m a coca-cola addict (drinking 1-2 12packs a day is not unusual).  So where the hell is my coke damnit!!  /cry   

I end up breaking out some of my roomie’s girlfriend’s Dr. Pepper and pouring it on everything to eat some of the crap away…  You can see I’m trying anything at this point.  *wry grin*

I managed to get one of the terminal clamps off, but low and behold the other one is just stuck.  Bad.

By this time some of my neighbors get home, and one of them can see me struggling big time with my truck (me sweating and grunting trying to pry metal with a screwdriver…not pretty folks).  And what does he do?  He comes over (thank you lord!!).

Well the next thing I know he’s going into his house and coming back with tools and crap, and busts out a crowbar on me.  He couldn’t get the clamp off with the crowbar (which did leave me with a sense of satisfaction as my manliness was now still intact with his failure, heh) and decides to go look for some more tools in his house.

So me being me, I grab the crowbar.  I’m gonna get this !@#$er off damnit!!  And about a minute later, I’ve got it off!!  YAY!!!  Woot!!  P90X paying off baybeee!!!

Well then it turns out the battery is too short and the metal clamp to hold the batter in place won’t hold it.  So this dude goes back into his house and comes out with a “spacer” he calls it.  Hunk of plastic exactly the perfect size to wedge between the battery and the clamp.  O.O

So he pops it on top of the batter, slaps the clamp in place, and then bam.  It’s in.  And it totally didn’t fit before.  He just happened to have this in his house laying around!!

So now we’ve got to figure out how to fix the terminal clamp because the one that has the broken bolt isn’t going to work right anymore.  So this dude says he can fix it.  He drives me to Autozone and I but some new terminal clamps and we get back to work.

He takes wire clippers and cuts off the excess terminal clamp, just leaving a piece of metal attatched to the wiring with a bolt hole.  The hole is too small, so he then grabs a drill and increases the hole enough to fit the new terminal clamp.  He pops that lil baby in, tightens everything up, and BAM!!  My truck is fixed and 100%.

I cleaned off the corrosion on the clamps, got the battery in nice and tight, and actually have better terminal clamps on a new battery.  All thanks to this neighboor, his tools, know how, and generosity.  He even drove me to get spare parts!

And I have never met this man before today.

Do you believe that?  We’ve never spoken one word to each other.  I never asked for help.  Nothing.

And in just seeing me in trouble…struggling, he went out of his way for nearly 2 hours to help me out.  No reward, no pay, no requirements…  Just kindness and generosity.

I’m a firm believer in passing it along.  I go out of my way to help people out on a regular basis.  I don’t believe in Karma or anything like that.  I just got raised that you help people.  And when I see someone else go so far out of their way when they don’t have to, it surprises me. 

In today’s world, generosity isn’t that common anymore.

So, thank you Alfredo, my neighbor.  (Yes that really is his name.  No jokes, he helped me out here!!)

Next time you see someone in need, what will you do?  Be a good samaritan like Alfredo?  Or walk away?

 - Suffer Well Brothers and Sisters

Tags: Fun