I have love/hate relationship with those moments when I just stand back and go, “Whoa!” at something I’ve figured out after years of doing it wrong.
Today my “Whoa!” moment came to me concerning the operation of a car, which is something I’ve been doing for (I’m dating myself here) about 34 years. I was talking to the lady who manages the dry cleaner down the street, and during our conversation, we were discussing the inclement weather yesterday. She said she had been in a store for only a few minutes during the blizzard, and when she came out her windshield was already frozen so much that she had to scrape it off. That’s when I realized it.
I too, went into a store yesterday for a few minutes during the same snow storm, and when I came out, for the first time in all my years of winter driving, didn’t need to scrape the windshield. Why? Because for the first time in my life I drove to the store with the warm air blowing out at my feet and through the front-facing vents instead of the defrost, which warms up the windshield causing ice to form before I get back in. If the windshield is relatively cold all along, the snow doesn’t melt.
I’m wondering why in the name of all laziness have I believed since I was a novice driver, that if it’s cold out do I need to warm up the windshield? But that’s it! If I’m too lazy to brush the snow off when I first go out, instead of letting the warmth of the car do it, then I’ll have to either keep doing it, or waste gas letting the engine do it!
Whoa!
How I love that feeling: and how I hate having not thought of it before.
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Pingback: A parallel world. | Is it just me?
January 20, 2014 at 6:41 pm
Too busy ogling my galley proofs to comment.
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January 20, 2014 at 6:53 pm
AHHH!!! When do I get one!
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January 20, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Later tonight. }:-)>
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January 20, 2014 at 7:38 pm
Yay!
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January 20, 2014 at 4:44 pm
For freezing rain, pull your wipers off the windshield as well. Keeps them from freezing. If they do freeze and you try to use them, you have a chance of sheering the metal joint inside! That’s no fun….
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January 20, 2014 at 5:02 pm
I bet it’s not. 😛
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January 20, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Now that posting grabbed my attention. I’d like to say “duh Linda”, but I’m not sure of the correct spelling of “duh” ! 😀 (Having said that, it doesn’t snow where I live…!)
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January 20, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Ha! Show off! You snowless person you!
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January 20, 2014 at 2:09 pm
I’ll admit, I never thought of this either. So simple and obvious, yet it takes years to get it. Thanks!
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January 20, 2014 at 2:18 pm
You’re welcome 🙂
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January 20, 2014 at 2:03 pm
I got it !!!
Many years ago I used an electrical little heater for 10 minutes at the frontseat, before I needed to drive, then I came out to a warm car with no ice on the windows and easy to start. Maybe an idea for you too.
Irene
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January 20, 2014 at 2:18 pm
That would certainly save fuel. Thanks for the suggestion, Irene. I’ll look into that. 🙂
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January 20, 2014 at 2:22 pm
You are welcome. At that time I needed to drive my kids in the morning, and I hated to offer them a very cold car, why I thought I could try using the heater. I’m happy, you can use the idea.
Irene
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January 20, 2014 at 2:39 pm
I normally just start the car a while before I get in, if it’s cold enough. But fuel is so expensive now that I hate doing it unless it’s very cold.
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January 20, 2014 at 2:45 pm
I know, I think fuel is so expensive all over the world. We are all trying to safe it.
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January 20, 2014 at 1:43 pm
I will bravely admit that I may be daft. I have read this post four times and I have absolutely no understanding of what you’re writing. I have thought to share it, so that others may explain it to me, but alas, I must admit to the source: I don’t get it.
How does this vent direction change whether or not one needs to scrape? Please help.
— Ijut in Indy
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January 20, 2014 at 1:49 pm
The defrost warms up the windshield. When you get out, and it’s snowing, the snow melts on the warm spot and then, if it’s cold enough, re-freezes to ice. If the windshield is relatively cold all along, the snow doesn’t melt.
Don’t worry – it took me 34 years to figure it out.
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January 20, 2014 at 1:50 pm
And it’s my fault anyway, for not explaining it better. Maybe I should edit the post, eh? 😛
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January 20, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Ah! Yes, when the snow becomes water, it has the chance to freeze, but while it is snow, it will come off with wipers! It’s a brilliant observation, as I have honestly never thought about it at all. I will spread your wisdom.
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January 20, 2014 at 1:58 pm
😀 Thank you!
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January 20, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Fixed – I hope. Thanks for pointing out that I wasn’t explaining myself properly. 😀
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