Maybe you’re just stopping by for the very first time, so if this is true please read this previous post. Otherwise skip back to it later and wonder what the hell I’m talking about for a little bit.
First, enjoy the song while you read along. Ok, so you remember the tale of the bus this past weekend right? The insanity that occured over 24hrs and the trials that went with it. Well I finally got a chance to deal with the bus and the people that installed the system. I had to vent a bit at the guy and he sat on the other end of the phone then proceeded to tell me that I shouldn’t worry, I’m covered for it under warranty. As nice as that is too hear, it doesn’t stop the fact that I had to drag David Randle out and that it cost me money to limp the damn thing home. We’re talking a huge 40 foot bus. Not some little volkswagon toy bus – nothing against volkswagen. In fact it had been a little VW bus I probably would have done things a whole lot different.
Without going into great depth about that Sunday’s post, let’s say that after about 20 minutes on the phone it’s a pleasure to find out that nothing was faulty. The answer to all the troubles as to what happened?!? The fuse blew on the switch. Uh, a fuse? The tech walked me through it on the phone. I’m out there yesterday behind the bus with a volt-meter touching contacts where he tells me to. I find out that there is power missing from one terminal. Turns out its the lead that goes to the battery and it’s equiped with a fuse. Apparently, it has happened to several people with regular trucks and cars. Good thing they let me know this after the fact!!! The fuse that was installed was a mere 15 amps. The relay can take 45 amps. So they suggested I go get a 30 amp fuse. Sure enough I get back from the autoparts store with the 30 amp fuse. I plug it in and presto, there’s power where it should be. I take the switch cap and plug it back in, voila – the switch works and does what it should.
Amazing that a little $1.00 part can bring an enormous 40 foot bus to a grinding halt and create a mountain of headaches. What obviously happened was that the switch got stuck in the veggie position, then when the tank was too low, it started gasping, especially going up hill, which is why no fuel was getting to the engine. ARGH!!! A stupid little fuse! Needless to say, I’m happy it wasn’t something more expensive. Though I’m still pissed off that I had to learn it at a time when I’m tapped out of money, and it ends up costing me – albeit a reasonable fee from David – to get it home. Next time, if it ever happens again, I will certainly be looking up that fuse first.
Ok, on to the song. Since on a kick about little things, I dug up a song that has lyrics to match. Pay attention, the song is called Little Bones. What exactly do you have to watch for when you’re eating chicken? Oh, does that bring back memories for me. First, the band. These guys are heavily popular in Canada. They ought to be down here in the States too. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, they’re HUGE in Canada. I found out about them through my Canadian roommate from music school. This was the first song I heard by them and I was hooked. Its great straight up rock. Like I need to tell you, you’ve probably heard the song by now. I’ve unfortunately not seen them live yet. But I can tell you that I own a lot of their CD’s. Who can I compare them to? Well, they’d be in the vein of the Rolling Stones, but I think the Hip has catchier tunes. Either way, they’re still just good ol’ Rock ‘N’ Roll done with the reckless abandon that most bands dream about.
As for the chicken. I used to hate eating chicken because I was fearful of the bones that could poke through the meat at any given time. I was worried I’d probably bite into and choke. Lame, I know. I’ve since gotten over that issue. It’s always in the back of my mind that I used to have that issue. I’ve had many years of therapy, I’m over it. It will probably take just as many years of therapy to get over the gigantic bus and that dopey little fuse that litterally sidelined it. If you believe those last two sentences I’ll need to talk to you about a bridge I have for sale in New York, it’s really cheap – oh I’ll let it go for $2 million. Heck you’ll be allowed to start charging a toll once you buy it. You’ll make your money back collecting a LITTLE pocket change from all the New Yorkers that make use of it everyday.
Until you cough up the cash for the bridge, I’ll just ask ya to buy this song and any or all off The Tragically Hip’s CD’s. They’re all damn good!