Battery Closure

I just returned from a run up to 7-11 up on the corner to test the new batteries(yes, I got them and that drama is the stuff of todays post). I was pleased with the way the batteries preformed –I left with the batteries at 98 % and returned with the batteries registering 79% and that was a walk round the neighborhood with the whole family especially with Asher in the new perambulator. What a sight to see us all marching proudly down the street. This was one of Asher's first out bound excursion. This was a considerable walk too going Al round the hood Almost all the way up to the “7ve” so this was quite a load test to place on the new chores.

I would like to report the trip to the battery store Standard Battery went off without a hitch but that would not be true so here is the rest of the story. Yesterday was a good day, not only was the day quasi warm acting as the gateway for warmer weather which is starting today but the day was also Mark A's birthday—once again Happy birthday Mark—know that you are loved. I copped out this year and sent him an “e-card” for Amazon—Mark seemed to like the card so I wass left off the hook easily. No lunch, dinner just a e card and a call that's All.

I was up early, showered and dressed and ready to go for my second PT Appointment at the University Out Patient Rehab. I purposely scheduled the appointment early on Fridays so I would be up and out of the house early and its working. The workout was good, lots of good stretching and a minimal cardio vascular work out. I was driving th van and I did not want to be too exhausted as I drove cross town to Standard Battery. Hopefully, After I get the batteries using the van will be s none issue since I'll be using my chair for the ride back And forth to PT meaning I will be using the bus and train to get back and forth.

Following my work out I was going to buy lunch at the hospital cafeterian was shocked to wallet was not in its usual space in my backpack—luckily I found this out before I had loaded a tray and was at “check-out”. I also new the rest of my planned morning was a no go if I did not have my purse and credit and debit cards. Luckily when I returned dto my van I found the wallet on the foor when I had tipped the back pack upside down when I was getting out at the PT unit. I set off for the batter store.

Standard battery is a solid operation. Blue collars hanging round, smoking and doing their jobs of replacing dead cores with new ones. Mostly young guys, dressed in gray service shirts with their names sown into the shirt above the left hand breast pocket, waiting for closing time or any other diversion to take their minds off the heavy, itchy burning batteries they handled all day long. I was that diversion.

I pulled up to the service bay with the doors open And Tyler, sundered out and got stuck me. I coached him though the opening of my automatic doors, deploying the lift tipping the seat back of my power chair—the lad was a quick learner. He struggled a bit with getting the from off the battery box but eventually prevailed-- mind you Tyler had already found the batteries which had been “brown trucked” in from Boise. The seacond we had the batteries out we could see--as the week before-- the replacements were to large for the battery box.

Tyler scratchezd his head and backed away calling Todd to come over, Todd was a slightly obese guy who had worked at Standard for years and “knew everything” especially how to be lonely. Todd was a genius one glance at the battery spectacle developing in my van and said, “them's too big” duh?!! We gots some which will fit though fifty ampers.They're in the back.”

Sure enough, the batteries I had been driving for two years were 50 amp batteries much small then I had realized—no wonder my ranging abilty seemed severely compromised. At this point I wanted to be done and out so I said “put'em in” and they did and I was gone.I am a little disappointed the cores are as small as they are but the size has not been too bad. I just have to treat the batteries better and know I will wear them out quicker. But, I am also going to see if there is anyway of getting a bigger battery box in hopes of increasing my ampage and there for my distance. The best part is the smaller batteries have smaller cost and that is mighty fine by me.