True Stories Deserving Reps:

[ForHisGlory]

Tale of The Exploding Gas Nozzle

So, last night I was on my way to the Al-Anon meeting, I left early cause I had to get gas and then run into Wal Mart before it started. I wanted to go there first so I didn;t get home mega late cause we also go for dinner after.

So, I'm at the gas station, enjoying my MP3 player, gas is pumping, then I heard that little click it does when it shuts off.
*I get off the front seat and notice the pump is still going, so I thought I was hearing things..then I noticed the amount as the gas is still pumping, and before I can finish the thought that my tank from dry to full never holds that much, the gas comes shooting literally out of the tank, spraying my entire right side with gas. It's still pouring out and not shutting off. I reach over to pull the nozzle out of the tank, and it's still going high speed, splashing me some more...so I threw it on the ground, and when it hit it finally stopped and clicked off.


*this took place in a matter of seconds!

I'm now standing there soaked from gas, and in a puddle of gas, petrified that someone is going to come by with a lighter or cigarette and I'll be on fire.
I went inside to complain and to wash up. The guy (not an American), is looking at me like "what do you want me to do?", the customers are gagging, and I'm sitting there telling the guy that no I'm not on my way home, home is a half hour away and I'm on my way to a meeting and dinner.
I told him I had to go buy new clothes first, and that what I had on might be ruined and it was new as well.
The guy finally moved when I told him there was a large puddle of gas on the ground arund my truck.

He goes out, puts the nozzle back, and stares at me. I told him that I shouldn't have to pay for all that gas (I'd already swiped my card), and for the new clothes I was going to have to buy.
He told me to come back and talk to the manager, that he gets there at 7:30.
I asked if he'd still be there at 10 and was told yes.

So I open my windows, it's 30 out but I don't care, and drive to KMart which is the nearest store. All the time praying that something doesn't cause me to catch on fire when I go walking in, especially when there was a lady out front smoking.
I went to the service desk and explained what happened, I told them I need to buy new clothes and change imediatley.
I grabbed pants and a shirt, went in to put it on, went to the restroom to wash as best as I could, realized my socks and shoes were still smelling of gas. I cleaned the outside of them as best I could.
Anyway, I paid for the outfit, stuck everything but my shoes in a bag and stuck that in the tool box in the back of the truck and went on to the meeting...I was chairperson last night. I could smell and taste the gas all through the meeting.
After the meeting (many of us had our eyes close to watering from the smell), I knew I had time to go back to the gas station before we went for dinner.
I told a much shorter highlights only, to the manager, he asked what I wanted him to do, and he ended up paying me for the outfit and the extra amount I knew my tank couldn't hold. He told me to take my clothes (I'd brought them in and put the wreaking bag on the counter) to a certain cleaners and tell them he was paying for it. I guess they own that too.

Well by the time I got home my throat had been closing on and off and was quite raw. I thought it was from talking in the meeting and at dinner. I wake this morning to find my voice messed up and my throat feeling like it's on fire. I left my shoes outside last night after realizing they were still wreaking. And I pray that God's rainfall washed them good, and now they are in the house drying.

Before I drive 35 minute to the cleaners, I'm going to take my clothes and try to wash them myself, by themselves.
So, how was YOUR Friday night?

ps. my eyes keep blurring upas well..either from all the fumes I inhaled, or from the gas going through my skin and mouth.

 

[drstevej]

Yikes, that is awful. Hope you are better.

 

[mizangelwolf]

You must have needed that meeting or else you are a very dedicated person. I would have gone home, showered and delt with the gas station tomorrow. Reps and high octane hugs .........

 

[ForHisGlory]

Thanks Steve
My daughter just made me realize that all I did was clean where it landed, but I got home so late that I changed and went to bed.. she told me it's still in the pores and only a shower can help.
I sat there like DUH...how dumb I am that I just changed my clothes, but didn't shower before bed.

So I'm off to do that now, and I'm a little drowsy, so after I'll lay down a bit then be back this afternoon.

 

[mizangelwolf]

You know gasoline is a hazardous material and breathing those fumes and having it on your skin may mean you need to visit the doctor if your throat keeps being sore or you develop a rash. You may have scalded your respiratory tract. I am not trying to be mean here or insensitive, just honest.

 

[ForHisGlory]

You must have needed that meeting or else you are a very dedicated person. I would have gone home, showered and delt with the gas station tomorrow. Reps and high octane hugs .........

I was the chairperson for last night, Kmart was 5 minutes away, home was 35...the smell would've knocked me out, and then off the road.
Thank you hon..I'm off to shower now.

 

[drstevej]

Might be good to contact the station owner and report the problem an incident.


True Story: I was in Lowes and tripped over a place where the concrete was joined but one side 4 inches higher. I was OK but could have been really hurt.

I went in and got the manager and showed him the place and suggested he at least paint it.

Three weeks later it had not been done. So I found the address of OSHA and wrote a letter explaining what had happened and the lack of action on Lowe's part.

I then took the letter to Lowes and found the manager and showed him the letter and said, "You can either paint the concrete in one hour or I am putting this in the mail. Your option."

It got painted!

 

[cfFosterANGEL26]

reps!

 

[cfFosterANGEL26]

About 15 years ago I was carless. I was taking buses everywhere and really started hating buses especially when I stood on them most of the time. I was getting sick of being thrown here and there when the bus drivers slam on their brakes. Finally, I took the money I had and went looking for a car on this street known for having lots of car lots. I was really naive about the dishonesty of SOME car dealers and salespersons. After trying out about 10 really lousy cars I came to this place where I saw a mustang with $500 tag in the window. I asked them to try the car out. First of all the salesman drove it and showed it to me. That should have been my first clue. Then I noticed it was almost on empty and told the salesman. He took it to a gas station where he put $1 in it. This should have been my second clue. So, because it was about 10 degrees outside and I was sick of buses and not thinking clear AT ALL I bought the car for $500. I immediately went to the gas station and proceeded to fill it with gas. As I am pumping the gas all of a sudden the gasoline is coming out of the car and all over my brand new boots. So I had to fix the neck of the gas tank and then the gas tank, too. Then the car lot owner kept putting me off about getting the title to the car. I called the attorney generals office and got the title right after that. While I was getting it at the lot the owner yelled at me for calling the Attorney General and I proceeded to tell him about how bad this car was. Everything was going wrong on it. I was so glad when the carb broke because I finally got rid of it for 35.00 from the junk yard. LOL. I am not that naive any more.

 

[Ben johnson]

"FHG", I'm so glad you're OK. I don't know the health consequences of gas exposure, but I'm betting you're feeling better now. Dry-cleaning should certainly help with the smell...

I once stuck the nozzle in my car --- the pump was one of those where the hose connects about 7 feet up. When I turned on the pump, the hose was cracked; it showered me, the car, the concrete...

You must have needed that meeting or else you are a very dedicated person. I would have gone home, showered and delt with the gas station tomorrow.

I woulda done that too --- but "home" is usually only 10-15 minutes away. Our city's only 1/2 million.

Reps and high octane hugs .........

That's funny.

Seriously --- if you still have symptoms tomorrow, uhm today, spring for the hundred bucks at a clinic. Aren't they open Sunday?

 

[Valentine]

and reps for ForHisGlory. True story that happened in my town [not to me]: A lady was pumping gas into her car and realized she'd left her cellphone in the car. She left the pump running, slid into the carseat and nabbed the phone, put it in her pocket. When she went back to take the gas nozzle out of the tank, a spark from static electricity from her sliding across the car seat ignited the gas fumes, blew up her car and the gasoline tanks. Thankfully she somehow managed to not get injured and no one else was at the pumps when it happened. MAJOR damage to the gas station, etc. NEVER slide into your car and go back to a gas pump. Stay with the pump until it finishes and you've replaced the nozzle on its holder. This story made international headlines. We got a phone call from our son in Germany who saw it on the news.

 

[ForHisGlory]

thank you fellow reppers for your prayers and concern (and reps lol)

Yesterday I finally called my Dr cause I was sick of seeing blurred and my throat still feeling raw...My Dr called over to the ER and told them I was coming in for consult.
I was given a prednisone pack, and am to take a benedryl every 6 hours. And he said my friend Alice was right about taking a bath with a cup of salt to absorb some of the toxins out of my skin. And that yes, while I used an antibacterial soap to wash my side and leg down, that it wasn't just the gas itself doing damage, it was the smelling of the fumes through out the meeting and dinner...stupid me thought that the gas that hit my shoes would evaporate. But I also had the fumes in the house on Saturday while we tried to wash the clothes too.
So I did get a good lecture about the fumes, and how they cause death, not the liquid. And proceeded to tell me all the things that could've happened, but that he was glad I finally came in. But that I should've done it on Friday night.
Today is my first with the steroids, so maybe by tomorrow I won't have blurriness, one eyes is blurring more than the other.
And it should also help with my throat being raspy and sore, and the benedryl is suppose to "shut down" some part of my system so I can heal up quicker???
Anyway, I have Dr appt's all week, my one year checkups. So I'm going to lay down for a bit before hand.

You guys are great, God Bless & Reps to each of you!