cat_77: Picture of Ghost with booze (cat)
cat_77 ([personal profile] cat_77) wrote2008-01-30 09:26 am
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Mysterious Man in... Yellow?

Today has been... yeah...

My tire blew on the way into work today from the cold. I was on 35W, so I pulled off to the side of the road, checked to see which one blew, and grabbed my cell phone, only to discover it was dead. After a brief panic, I got my stuff together, ready to walk back up the side of the freeway in something like -40 (F) windchill to the gas station a ways back. As I was opening the door, lo and behold, a beautiful yellow truck appeared.

Here in MN, we have a service originally called Highway Helper and now called First Response. They drive around and help people with car problems to try to get them out of traffic and back on the road. This wonderful man took off my blown tire and replaced it with my spare (I freely admit I could not do this myself - I know this from the tire-slashing incident about 6 months ago). He said I was about the 4th today, and it was 7:30 in the morning.

I did not trust the spare to hold all the way from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, so I went home, verified we still had a warranty on the tires from when they were replaced after the slashing, and my partner and I drove to one of the replacement locations. A half hour later, I was back on the road.

Total cost? $13.00 (and some mild frost bite).

I'm still taking a half day because, seriously, it's fricken cold and now I'm starving.

[identity profile] johnnym77.livejournal.com 2008-01-30 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I was wondering why I hadn't seen you yet. I'm glad you're OK.

[identity profile] cat-77.livejournal.com 2008-01-30 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep, I'm fine. Just a bit annoyed and a bit of a cat-cicle for a while there. I should be in around 1-ish until 5.

[identity profile] cleothemuse.livejournal.com 2008-01-31 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
We have a service like that here in Ky, paid for out of the Hwy Dept's budget. I haven't had to use it yet, but their number is programmed into my cell phone!

[identity profile] cat-77.livejournal.com 2008-01-31 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
Oh how I wish my cell had a charge... I kept trying, and it kept flashing "low battery" at me. Seriously, this service rocks, and the workers deserve at least whatever they are paid, if not more. 40 below 0 windchill, and he hops out and changes my tire for me.

Found their site tonight: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/tmc/first.html