Stupid Things I Have Done

[Sprinkler Fitter]

When I worked on specialized emergency vehicles, I had to disconnect the battery bank on a large rescue rig (4 massive batteries) by taking off the cables. Trouble is, it was in an aluminum compartment and it was a tight fit. I grabbed my trusty 1/2” combination wrench in my left hand and started to work the cables loose. My mistake, disconnecting the POSITIVE cable first in a GROUNDED enclosure. My advice, get married AFTER you perform the work because, you guessed it…

Positive battery post -> wrench -> wedding ring -> grounded aluminum enclosure.

Now the following happened extremely quick, 2-3 second therabouts...

A massive shower of sparks engulfed the compartment and I instinctively released the wrench to remove myself from the fireworks show appropriately called “The 1,000 Suns”, blinding my retinas.

I couldn’t move my hand.

My wrench and ring started to glow as it all was flash welded together. The autonomic nervous system literally took over my brain’s “What should I do now?” processing functions and commanded my hand to grasp that red hot wrench and break it free in one big do-it-or-you-will-loose-your-hand move. Hand finally free, I backed out and saw (in the haze) that my ring was still cooking.

Burned my right fingers trying to get my ring off but strangely, felt no pain on my left. Quickly I ran to find water while spitting on it.

After it cooled down, I went to the ER and they got the scorched ring off with two very distinctive entry & exit marks but left a very clean sear mark around my ring finger. It was classified as a 3rd degree burn (hence lost my pain receptors) and never felt pain, nor since. I was kinda proud of myself for telling others (with my wife present) that a traditional wedding ring wasn’t enough and I wanted something more “permanent”!

I now had her blessings to keep my ring in my tool box when working on vehicles from now on.

42 years married and neither one of us wears a wedding ring.

I did construction and she did hair for 37 years and didn’t like the ring catching on the hair the first week we were married.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

We've all done worse, Fuddy. No sweat, don't look back. I just got back from the tourist trap that is my former home town, over-paying for everything from food and drinks to socks and sweaters. Sometimes the convenience of here and now beats out lowest price.

Thank you...I feel better (although my seat hurts ).

 

[masseyrider]

How about it's 10°F outside and sleeting...so two pair socks, briefs, union suit, t shirt, sweatshirt, thermal pants, suspenders, lace up boots, down jacket, heavy gloves, ski mask...then outside.
Stomach pain? Maybe it's just gas? Uh-oh...that bean burrito wants out! ...so back inside...can I make it in time?

Reminds me of an old one when you had to pay to use a public facility.
"Here I sit broken hearted, spent a dime and only farted."
In my house it's a long hallway to the main porcelain alter. More times than I care to admit to I've left a trail of clothing. Coat in the main entrance and the rest in order of appearance. Releasing the suspender snaps just as you get there. The last challenge is getting your backside down to the seat in time. Or getting there and ... nothing... until you've stood up and almost got your things back on.
Old joke, hope I get it half right.

The body parts are having a discussion about who is most important.
The brain, being a bit arrogant, says me, "I do all the thinking for this organization."
The eyes pipe up and say we're the most important, "without us you wouldn't see were you're going or what you're doing.
The legs say we're the most important, "We take everybody everywhere, without us you couldn't go anywhere."
And all the other parts pipe in with their claim to being the most important.
Finally the A--hole makes his claim.
All the other parts laugh at him. "you're just the A--hole, you're useless etc."
This really pisses the A--hole off and he goes on strike.
Couple days later the brain can't think, the eyes can't see, the legs can't walk and none of the other parts can do their function.
Grudgingly they admit the lowly A--hole is the most important body part.

 

[tfuller]

I'm wondering if I just did something stupid. I had our driveway repaved summer before last (17 months ago) & the contractor seal coated it. He stops by "I had some sealer left over from another job and I'd be glad to do your drive with what's left. No labor, 98 cents a foot". Driveway is 520 ft x 10 ft plus a right big area in front of garage half way around.
He did blow everything off well and he sprayed it well, heated tank.
When through he said "I'll give you a good deal...$6,000".
It does look good and I had places Miss Utility had marked and tire scuffs (FedEx & UPS).
I paid him...hope I didn't get ripped off.

Was your contractors last name Carroll by chance? Sounds like the work of the Irish Travelers from my area.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Was your contractors last name Carroll by chance? Sounds like the work of the Irish Travelers from my area.

No. I'm in S.Central Va. but website is Richmond area. They've been in business many years. They repaved neighbor's driveway and ours summer before last.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I called just now, this time he answered phone. He will text and mail receipt with warranty information so I feel better about it.
He said this summer he will finish the rest where cars & mowers parked no additional charge.

 

[MoKelly]

This is really stupid.

We just moved into a vacation place in Florida. Great weather and never had the heater on. Had the a/c going a few times.

Last week it got a little cool and my wife turned on the heater. I go outside and hear the a/c unit fan motor going. Thought my wife mistakenly turned on the a/c v. heat.

Go inside and see the heat was indeed on.

Huh?

Call the a/c place and say something is wrong.
The heat is on but the outside a/c unit is running.

The nice tech says - “sir, you have a heat pump. The outside unit always runs when the heat is on”.

Sure enough.

Would have only felt more stupid had the guy actually came to the house.

Never had a heat pump before.

 

[Alan46]

This is really stupid.

We just moved into a vacation place in Florida. Great weather and never had the heater on. Had the a/c going a few times.

Last week it got a little cool and my wife turned on the heater. I go outside and hear the a/c unit fan motor going. Thought my wife mistakenly turned on the a/c v. heat.

Go inside and see the heat was indeed on.

Huh?

Call the a/c place and say something is wrong.
The heat is on but the outside a/c unit is running.

The nice tech says - “sir, you have a heat pump. The outside unit always runs when the heat is on”.

Sure enough.

Would have only felt more stupid had the guy actually came to the house.

Never had a heat pump before.

I don’t find that stupid, just not knowing about your unit!

 

[MoKelly]

Thanks. I felt stupid calling the guy.

I should have known more - just assumed it was electric.

 

[Dftodd]

42 years married and neither one of us wears a wedding ring.

I did construction and she did hair for 37 years and didn’t like the ring catching on the hair the first week we were married.

The only time I'll wear my wedding band at work is if I know I'm gonna be in meetings or a classroom setting all day.im a mechanic and have seen photos of the after effects of someone catching their ring.