Power On, Power Off.

I rushed through the day. I hit the bank. I was on a very long line with very many people. I was acutely embarrassed when my phone began reading my email message out loud in a VERY LOUD VOICE. So much for trying out this new app for Blackberry....I was thinking how handy it would be in the car...I hadn't considered quiet, public spaces. (Note to JD: Everyone at the bank now knows you feel like we haven't talked in years...)

When I tried to silence it, I inadvertently hit the “last number redial”, which then dialed my dad. When I disconnected, he promptly called me back…because, like everyone else on the planet, he has Caller ID.

This made me hit the “silence” button, because who wants to have a conversation with everyone listening whilst you’re on line at the bank? Hadn’t I been embarrassed enough?

When I raced home...trying to beat da boys' buses, I realized that I hadn’t changed the time in my car. So, I’d been granted a whole entire hour.

I decided to seize on this time to go back into my car to change the time on my dash….as I tend to drive off the road when attempting to change it whilst driving. When you only change the time twice a year, you tend to forget which buttons to press to make it happen. After changing the time I became so motivated, I thought I’d wash the interior windshield...which has had a layer of grime on it for…I’m thinking, maybe 6 months.

Do not judge me. In my own defense, who remembers to bring the Windex and the paper towels back down into the car once you arrive home? I mean, it’s great in theory…but who has the time? Seriously.

After cleaning the windshield, and the dash….and the console…I’d remembered one of those niggly little annoying things: I have an outlet in my console that’s supposed to be used for a cellphone charger. Only I’ve never been able to use it...‘cause for some reason, it doesn’t work.

Now, I realize I have an outlet where the cigarette lighter would normally go (geez…I can’t believe people still use these things for cigarettes...), but my navigation has to stay plugged in there…as I’m slightly navigationally-challenged. As in I can’t find my way out of my own neighborhood-kinda challenged.

So, I could really use an extra plug. Turns out, you’d be surprised how much crap you can fit in that console:

When I finally got to the bottom of the console, I realized I needed a flashlight to see inside the little spring-loaded trap door for the outlet.

Do you want to see what I found?

Yes, those are coins wedged tight into the opening of the outlet. Yes, I had been jamming those coins ever deeper into said opening each time I'd attempt to engage the cell charger whilst driving. Who the hell can see in there? It's dark....and full of crap. No, I've no idea how they got in there....the spring-loaded door should have kept the coins securely out of the way. Go figure.

I had to hold the little door open with one hand. I needed another hand to hold the flashlight. I need another hand to hold the teeny, tiny screwdriver I had to use to try and un-wedge the coins from inside the opening…and I needed another hand to pick up the coins with a pair of tweezers once I’d flipped them onto their sides.

That’s four hands, people.

When I got to the last coin (there were three), I saw a spark when my metal screwdriver came in contact with the bottom of the outlet. This reminded me that the power was ON. I then turned it OFF.

Smiling smugly, I congratulated myself on not waiting till I was back at Toyota to mention this "malfunction" of the outlet…the guys would have had a good laugh at my expense.

Now, ask me if the outlet works….go on…ask me.

No, it does not. Why not? I’ve no idea why not.

But, it kept you amused for 5 minutes, right? It took me over an hour. Who’s the schmuck now?!

Oh. That would be ME....