A lot of things have happened to me from working on or with computers.  I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights trying to complete a job for a client.  Sent myself into a panic when someone a partner or contracter didn’t deliver.  I’ve even been shocked with a left over charge from a capicitor (apparently when the panel says, don’t remove … you should really pay attention).  But you know what’s never happened to me … getting burned by a chemical.

Now mind you the chemical is gasoline … I had no idea that if you left it on your skin it would burn.  The few times in my life that I’ve spilled the fuel it’s been a little run over down the side of my car and nothing more.  Today however I thought the best way to stop a fuel line break on my lawn-mower was to slide my hand under the deck and try to plug it with my finger.  This put my shoulder and upper arm on the ground in a pool of already leaked out fuel while my hand and upper arm got soaked looking for the source of the leak.  To make a long story short I resorted to putting a thin pan between the deck and the leak and just letting it run out.  Then the burn … thankfully my father-in-law was there to inform me to get my shirt off and get over to the water hose.  Seems he too had the grand experience of bathing in fuel one time … except his was fuel for a Constellation aircraft while he was in the Navy.  The octane in that fuel was in the 130 – 140 range and it sprayed on the inside of his legs and groin area … no thanks.

So much for my stellar outside day.  I’m still counting the day as a win … fixed the break-lights on the car … put a seal back in place around the trunk and topped off my ever-leaking power steering fluid.  Thought I was going to top it off by listening to the Gaithers while mowing the yard. But that didn’t work out.  After dinner I was wanting to try some new drink my wife had purchased that had an interesting top … after I popped the top it looked like I had struck oil … apparentl the liquid in question was under pressure.  I should just go to bed.