I Am Woman, Hear Me Use Jumper Cables

Just now I jump-started my car, without the assistance of anyone else. I am feeling particularly fabulous at the moment. I am ready to go out into the world, armed with my super long jumper cables that were a Christmas present from my brother Walter, (Thank you, Walter. Best. Gift. Ever. Second only to things like my skis, the diamond studs in my ears that Todd gave me for my 25th, and biggie presents like my engagement ring.) and jump start all the disabled vehicles in the greater Providence area.

Two Saturdays ago Todd and I took my car out to dinner. When we got home we were sitting in the car talking, and I turned on the interior light so we could look at something. Then we got out of the car and forgot to turn the light off. See, the light stays on for a few seconds after you get out of the car--so I didn't think anything of the interior light shining as we walked into the house. On Sunday I noticed that the light was still on and my car wouldn't start.

Then out of sheer laziness I didn't try to jump it for a few days. Then the temperature dropped, and all the stuff that makes car batteries work got too cold to work. Today it's warm out (warm for a Rhode Island winter, I think it's in the high 40's today) so I decided to give it a whirl.

I pulled the truck up to the sad, disabled jeep and opened the hoods. Positive here, positive there, negative here, negative there. Then I started the truck and let it run for an hour so that the battery guts in the jeep would get woken up with a steady jolt of electricity from the truck. (I shudder to think of the smog I am pumping into the air with this process.)

After the hour I went out and tried to start the jeep. It started but wouldn't stay running when I took my foot off the gas. I started it several more times, and sat there with my foot lightly resting on the gas pedal for a few minutes. I gingerly took the foot off the gas and the car didn't stall.

The jeep is on my driveway right now, smogging up the atmosphere over Rhode Island. My plan is to let it run for an hour or two, hopefully it'll stay running.

ROAR!