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Happy New Year from Mesquite NV - My 2008 Ends Stuck in the Carwash

By
Real Estate Agent with Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale DRE# S.0072173

Looking forward to the New Year, I thought I would end the year by cleaning off my desk then going to the local car wash before my 1:30 appointment.  Think positive and be ready for some hard work in 2009.

It looked pretty busy so I used my carwash time formula ( 5 minutes X each car ahead of me + 5 minutes for the 3 already in the car wash tunnel ) and figured I would make my 1:30 appointment.

When I was finally at the head of the line, waiting for the car ahead of me to move into the car wash tunnel - it stopped.  With cars piled behind me, bumper to bumper, nothing to do but wait.  The attendants were all in there working on the thing that pulls the cars through - after 10 minutes or so, the car ahead of me moved and they signaled me in.

I rolled the window down and asked;

"Are you sure it is fixed?  I don't want to get stuck in there!"

    "Yes, ma'm, it was just hung up, all fixed, working fine!"

So I pulled in, turned the interior light on and started reading the paper.  All of that swooshing water and whirling brushes and mops were making me too dizzy to read - so I just sat there.

View of Mesquite for 40 minutes in the car washThis was taking a very long time.

I peered ahead through the mops and soapy water swirling on my car and saw no one.

I peeked out the back window through the mops and soapy water swirling on my car and saw no one.

The swooshing water, the whirling brushes, the mops and brushes going around and around, covering my car.

I had been in there for 20 minutes with my car in the same spot.  I started getting creeped out, thought about getting out of the car - can't see in there, brushes coming at me....

Nope!  Too Scary.

I didn't want to get washed to death and I was pretty clean already.

I tried to google the car wash on my cell phone to get their number - but I didn't know the name of the place.

So I called my daughter in Mississippi to look it up online, she called right back with the number.

After a few tries, someone answered the phone -

    "Yes ma'm, how can I help you?"

"Well, I seem to be stuck in your carwash for the last 30 minutes!"

Silence.  Then,

    "Umm...we are trying to fix the mechanism that pulls the cars through."

"Well, can you turn off the washer part?  It is taking the paint off my car and it is creepy in here!"

Silence.  Then,

    "Oh.  OK."

Long story short - Too Late! - They got me out of there, I missed my appointment by 1 hour, but they cheerfully refunded my 22 bucks, and I have a really clean car to start 2009!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR - THANKS TO ALL FOR A GOOD 2008!

Comments(55)

Michelle Minch
Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

Virginia: I was laughing at your comment about getting your hair done. That was funny. Just curious why you didn't blow the horn. SOS in morse code is 3 short toots, 3 long toots, 3 short toots:o))

Jan 03, 2009 02:02 AM
Mark Watterson
Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Real Estate

I know it's not funny to you.  But, I have to laugh...  We love to stop at Mesquite on our way to Las Vegas and even thought about buying a winter home there.  We like small towns.  Better luck in the next car wash.

Jan 03, 2009 02:57 AM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Michelle - I know, I was just teasing you.

Blowing the horn would have been the perfect solution and simplest  - and I am sure they would have heard it right away.  Why didn't I think of that?  That is the question that my husband asked me, through his fits of laughter.  LOL

Greg - You own a carwash?  Has this ever happened at yours?  Tell me that I am not the first!

Roland - I tried Googl, but because Mesquite is in Clark County, HUGE area, I got a long list of results which sometimes happens on Googl searches, when you don't know the name of the carwash.  I use my daughter as my personal search engine.  :)

Chris - I had called her when I was in line to say I might be a few minutes late then called her back to say I was stuck.  She was standing there waiting when I finally pulled out of the carwash and she admired my clean car.  It was her suggestion that they refund my money.  It was fine.

Robert - Thank You!  I love your new Happy group.

Jan 03, 2009 03:01 AM
Gretchen Faber
The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek - Denver, CO
LifeStyleDenver

Hi Virginia, Happy 2009.  Don't shower alone this year :)

Jan 03, 2009 09:07 AM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Mark, it is funny to me.  Now.  But it sure wasn't at the time.  I think you should buy a house in mesquite.  Or 2.  Or 3.

BTW - I love your market reports on your blog.  Simple yet elegant, informative.

 

Gretchen - you nut - stop it!  You are scaring me.  (:-O)

Jan 03, 2009 09:51 AM
Mark Organek
And the United States of America - Mesa, AZ
It's not a game, it's your life.

Virginia - At least your clients were aware that they were important enough to have a car washed for!

Jan 03, 2009 12:02 PM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Mark - that's right, they were!  I wonder if they knew that was why my fingernails were all bitten off, too.  :)

Jan 03, 2009 05:01 PM
Mindy & Jay Robbins
Robbins Real Estate - Dallas, TX
Expect Excellence from Robbins Real Estate

Wow, I would not want to be trapped in a car wash.  I would have been freaked out also. We have handwash carwashes around here...maybe that might be better for you.

Jan 04, 2009 03:20 AM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Mindy and/or Jay :)  I am too lazy to go to the handwash!  When my daughter was still at home, she would detail my car - gave it the Q tip final touch - on a regular basis.  Now that I am an empty nester, I take it to the full service wash.  This is the only negative experience I have ever had there - so I will be back, they do a great job.

Jan 04, 2009 06:27 AM
Jon Wnoroski
America's 1st Choice RH Realty Co., Inc. - Green, OH
Summit County Realtor

Virginia - That's terrible.  Most of the time the mechanical features of today's car washes work just fine.  Unfortunately you got caught in one that had it's breakdown at the wrong time (for you).  I hope you were able to reschedule your appointment.

Jan 04, 2009 07:12 AM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Hi Jon,

I am over it - but will be probably be a little apprehensive next time I go, which will be soon, I was out looking at land today and walking around in the dirt.

My appointment was standing there waiting for me when I pulled out.  No problem.

Jan 04, 2009 04:37 PM
Mindy & Jay Robbins
Robbins Real Estate - Dallas, TX
Expect Excellence from Robbins Real Estate

Virgina, in Dallas they have car washes that you pay and THEY PHYSICALLY "hand wash" your car for you.  I dont wash mine myself....no way.  Mindy

Jan 05, 2009 01:55 PM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Mindy - There are a couple of guys here who come to your house or office - do a great job, but you have to make an appointment - I always seem to have mine done at the last minute.  I should schedule it for a time that I am in a meeting or something - yes, thanks for that idea!

Jan 08, 2009 01:38 AM
Terri Kincaid
ERA Brokers Consolidated - Mesquite, NV

Wow! Crazy story, Virginia. I would have been scared, too. Happy New Year!

Jan 08, 2009 07:07 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Virginia that is a funny story! Hope you are doing well:)

Jan 08, 2009 01:22 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Virginia, this is just way to funny.... to read.  I'm sure it wasn't all that funny for you at the time!

Jan 08, 2009 01:24 PM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Hi Terri, it was my first experience with claustrophobia.

Bill, all is well here, no rain so my car is still clean, thanks, I am sure you are doing well!

Margaret, my husband was laughing so hard he was crying, I didn't laugh till later.  :)

Jan 09, 2009 01:02 AM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

I'm still old-fashioned. I go to one of the magic wand car washes and feed them a few billion quarters. LOL

Jan 09, 2009 07:28 PM
Lara O'Keefe
North Texas Home Finders - McKinney, TX

Virginia, I'm so glad that you didn't get out! It was really smart to call from inside the car. Thank goodness for cell phones. Thanks for sharing your funny story.

Jan 10, 2009 04:56 AM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Russel - I don't like to get my shoes wet!

Lara - What did we ever do without cell phones?

Jan 11, 2009 04:36 PM