The disappearing Pepsi

[fbhjr]

For various reasons, I got going late today. I had to go over to the other
building and check out a new part anyhow, so I already knew I was not in
for going to the office, hitting my supply of caffine and reading my email.
So, I grabbed a bottle of Diet Pepsi from the fridge, so I wouldn’t be
totally decaffeinated, and headed out.
My car has a funny gas gauge. What it says when it is shut off is not what
it says when it is turned back on. (Its got to do with the hill I live on.
It sloshes gas forward as I come down it making me think I’ve got more than
I do.)
So, last night when I got home from work I thought I had ¼ tank of gas,
which is more than enough for getting to work and back.
This morning, it was almost all the way over to E.
I decided to buy gas. I took a quick sip of my Pepsi while waiting at the
traffic light and went to the gas station.
It wouldn’t take my credit card.
I finally went in and gave it to the attendant who was able to run it
through. He tried to convince me that it wasn’t a normal card they took
and I shouldn’t be surprised. I reminded him how I buy gas there at least
once a week with the same card.
I managed to get my gas, glad that it only took 9 gallons to fill my tank.
I had to go back in to get my card back, then set off.
I reached for my Pepsi, and it wasn’t there.
I remembered putting it in the drink holder. I reached over to the floor
as I drove, and couldn’t find it. I check the back seat and floor, not
there.
“It must have fallen out when I took the turn onto route 9,” I said to
myself. “I’ll look for it on the floor when I stop at the traffic light.”
I went through 6 traffic lights on the way to work. Every one was green.
I drive through 4 of those 6 every day. There’s only about a 25% chance of
making most of them. With one at 50% and the rest at 25%, that means there
was only about a 7% chance of getting through them all. I don’t know the
odds of the two I don’t normally drive through, but even at 50%, that means
there was only a 2% chance of hitting them all.
When I did get to our other building, sadly decaffeinated, I did find it
under the passenger seat. I guess turning onto route 9 made it fall out
and turning into the gas station made it roll under.
Sad.
I took another sip. Then, I inspected the new product I was sent over to
look at. It looked good. Better than the quality we get out of that
company. I took a bunch of pictures and headed back to the office.
I got stuck at both lights heading back to the office.
Yes, while I had Pepsi, I made it thought 0 lights. When I didn’t have it,
I made it through 6 lights.
But, I got to the office.
There I found an email from one of our suppliers saying they have decided
not to make two of our critical parts anymore. I guess they took offense
at our saying .250” off is way more than the .015” or less you promised and
refused to take any more orders for the part.
So, I’ve either got to redesign the part to make it easier, find a way to
use parts 1667% over tolerance, or figure out a way to make cubicles
without L or T joints.
But, I do have my pepsi.

Comments

[temperlj.livejournal.com]

Glad you made it to work okay. And maybe it's better to find a new supplier anyway

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

This is the one that after I visited them 4 years ago I said "this is going to be the problem vendor". I was right. They've been trouble ever since.
Strangely, they are the one that speaks English the best. The owner went to school in NJ and his son is there now. Of all the people I met in China, he was the only one who took his notes in English.
But, if he can't make the parts well, or won't even try, I don't care if he speaks the same language.

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

Glad that you finally found your wandering Pepsi - just don't ever go back for coffee !! :-)

It sounds like you should have bought a powerball ticket while you were in the gas station this morning - all green lights on the way in !

[yebo.livejournal.com]

So, E is the new 79? I'll have to note that in my fits and tolerances schedule....

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I think "we make it how we want Mr. American" is the fit and tolerance they're using...

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Ugh, crazy day for you! :D

But you now have your Pepsi

I've noticed too that when I leave "on time" or slightly early from home towards work, I somehow hit long traffic in Upton; yet when I am "late" I don't seem to hit any traffic, but still arrive a few minutes late from work.

Doesn't make any sense. Maybe I need to start bringing Pepsi with me... :b
(Moxie isn't working apparently? Or maybe I need an unopened bottle)