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Dec. 17th, 2013 02:07 pmYesterday I did one of the dumber things I've done recently.
Driving around the outlet mall in Pleasant Prairie, I stopped my car in the fire land to jump out and consult a nearby map and directory pillar. When I got back, I realized I'd locked my keys in the car with the engine running. That's not the worst part.
I'm very forgetful about things like this. One of the nice things about my last car was the window was loose in its track and I could easily reach past it and unlock the door. My current car does not possess that feature. I ineffectually tried to gain access, then leaned against the car to figure out what to do. Then the car started moving.
I grabbed the mirror and managed to haul it to a stop. Looking in, I realized that not only had I locked the keys in with the engine running, but the car was in drive. Yes, it was in drive. I'm still having trouble figuring out how I did that. There must have been just enough resistance due to snow on the ground to keep the car from rolling forward when I exited.
I stood in place, holding the car back for a few minutes, but eventually was no longer able to restrain it and it started rolling down the fire lane, picking up speed. As you might imagine, I was panicking. With one arm wrapped around the mirror, I grabbed onto the wheel well with the other, gouging my hand as the car dragged me across the pavement. Soon enough, one of the many scenarios going through my head came to pass; my car was in the oncoming traffic lane heading toward another car. The occupants didn't seem to understand my frantic hand signals and my car ran into theirs.
At least it wasn't a person. I was terrified at that thought.
My car stopped up against the curb in the oncoming traffic lane and the man whose car mine had hit got out to look. I explained what was going on and profusely apologized. I tried to exchange contact info, but he decided that there wasn't any damage and no further action was necessary. I'm very grateful the person involved was so kind about the whole thing. He even let me use his phone to call my mother to ask her to please please bring a spare key. I got her voice mail.
With my car stuck in place, and my coat and gloves inside of it, I ducked into the nearest store. The woman working the counter was nice enough to let me use the store phone, and I got through to my mother on it. She was already getting ready to come get me. I didn't explain the whole series of events or the full extent of my stupidity on the phone. I was still freaking out and didn't feel up to it.
While waiting, a security officer came by to look at the car and I walked out to let him know what was going on. He was super nice about it to, and told me the story of how he'd once, as a police officer, locked his keys in his squad car during a traffic stop. He let the people he'd pulled over go without a ticket after they gave him a ride to the police station. That, and him just being nice and understanding, made me feel a little better.
Eventually my mother showed up and I was able to get into my car and go home. It took a while for me to calm down and relax. My dad cooked some of the burgers I bought at Dominick's yesterday and food and games with my brothers helped. I'm so grateful to have wonderful family. I was still stressy this morning when I woke up, but I'm feeling better. Just really dumb.
I went out on my bike today to get two spare keys made for my car. One of them will go in my wallet. The other one will go in a magnetic key box under the car, like I used to have several cars ago. Very helpful things, those. If I lock my keys and my wallet in the car, I'll still have a backup. I may also tape a note to myself on the dashboard; "Do not leave the car with the engine running."
Geez, I feel like an idiot.
---
Anyway, on the way north from Skokie, prior to all that craziness, I'd bought a pair of The North Face's Montana Mitts. To test them out, I rolled the window down and stuck my bemitted hand out the window. It seemed to work pretty well.
The return policy is annoying; if they're off the cardboard backing, no return. So I left them together on the card, wearing just the one. On my bike trip today I did the same thing, wearing one and letting the other one dangle. I wish it had been colder today so I could see how they work in really bitter chill, but they do seem to be notably better than what I had. My wrist brace just barely fits inside though, and I'm a little worried about it putting stress on the seams. I think, though, I'm going to end up keeping these. If it gets really bad out and these don't quite do the job, I can add handwarmers. And depending on how much I need them, I might look at the $100 more model next year. But for now, I hope, these will do.
Now I need to decide about buying studded tires.
Driving around the outlet mall in Pleasant Prairie, I stopped my car in the fire land to jump out and consult a nearby map and directory pillar. When I got back, I realized I'd locked my keys in the car with the engine running. That's not the worst part.
I'm very forgetful about things like this. One of the nice things about my last car was the window was loose in its track and I could easily reach past it and unlock the door. My current car does not possess that feature. I ineffectually tried to gain access, then leaned against the car to figure out what to do. Then the car started moving.
I grabbed the mirror and managed to haul it to a stop. Looking in, I realized that not only had I locked the keys in with the engine running, but the car was in drive. Yes, it was in drive. I'm still having trouble figuring out how I did that. There must have been just enough resistance due to snow on the ground to keep the car from rolling forward when I exited.
I stood in place, holding the car back for a few minutes, but eventually was no longer able to restrain it and it started rolling down the fire lane, picking up speed. As you might imagine, I was panicking. With one arm wrapped around the mirror, I grabbed onto the wheel well with the other, gouging my hand as the car dragged me across the pavement. Soon enough, one of the many scenarios going through my head came to pass; my car was in the oncoming traffic lane heading toward another car. The occupants didn't seem to understand my frantic hand signals and my car ran into theirs.
At least it wasn't a person. I was terrified at that thought.
My car stopped up against the curb in the oncoming traffic lane and the man whose car mine had hit got out to look. I explained what was going on and profusely apologized. I tried to exchange contact info, but he decided that there wasn't any damage and no further action was necessary. I'm very grateful the person involved was so kind about the whole thing. He even let me use his phone to call my mother to ask her to please please bring a spare key. I got her voice mail.
With my car stuck in place, and my coat and gloves inside of it, I ducked into the nearest store. The woman working the counter was nice enough to let me use the store phone, and I got through to my mother on it. She was already getting ready to come get me. I didn't explain the whole series of events or the full extent of my stupidity on the phone. I was still freaking out and didn't feel up to it.
While waiting, a security officer came by to look at the car and I walked out to let him know what was going on. He was super nice about it to, and told me the story of how he'd once, as a police officer, locked his keys in his squad car during a traffic stop. He let the people he'd pulled over go without a ticket after they gave him a ride to the police station. That, and him just being nice and understanding, made me feel a little better.
Eventually my mother showed up and I was able to get into my car and go home. It took a while for me to calm down and relax. My dad cooked some of the burgers I bought at Dominick's yesterday and food and games with my brothers helped. I'm so grateful to have wonderful family. I was still stressy this morning when I woke up, but I'm feeling better. Just really dumb.
I went out on my bike today to get two spare keys made for my car. One of them will go in my wallet. The other one will go in a magnetic key box under the car, like I used to have several cars ago. Very helpful things, those. If I lock my keys and my wallet in the car, I'll still have a backup. I may also tape a note to myself on the dashboard; "Do not leave the car with the engine running."
Geez, I feel like an idiot.
---
Anyway, on the way north from Skokie, prior to all that craziness, I'd bought a pair of The North Face's Montana Mitts. To test them out, I rolled the window down and stuck my bemitted hand out the window. It seemed to work pretty well.
The return policy is annoying; if they're off the cardboard backing, no return. So I left them together on the card, wearing just the one. On my bike trip today I did the same thing, wearing one and letting the other one dangle. I wish it had been colder today so I could see how they work in really bitter chill, but they do seem to be notably better than what I had. My wrist brace just barely fits inside though, and I'm a little worried about it putting stress on the seams. I think, though, I'm going to end up keeping these. If it gets really bad out and these don't quite do the job, I can add handwarmers. And depending on how much I need them, I might look at the $100 more model next year. But for now, I hope, these will do.
Now I need to decide about buying studded tires.
