Acid-spewing Monster!

  Life is full of lessons.  Some we learn from books.  Some we learn from past generations' teachings.  Some we learn the hard way through experience.  It matters not the method of which we learn but rather THAT we learn and that we never stop learning.  Our brains need the constant stimulation if we wish to remain mentally healthy.  Pop always used to say it was better to wear out rather than rust out. He did just that.  Up until the day he died, he was as sharp as a tack.  Physically, his old body just had enough and could go on no longer.  I would like to do the same.  So, with the urging of Son and Darling Daughter, I learn.  Maybe not as easily as in the past but I push myself to learn something new every day.  I want to wear out.

  Today's lesson was one that I should have known from experience but that part of the brain probably was taking a nap or something.   Son had put the boat battery on the back porch and connected it to the battery charger.  No problem...sort of...maybe.  The problem did not present itself as the battery on the floor but rather with trying to charge a faulty battery.  When I went out to feed our "new" cat, I noticed what appeared to be water around the bottom of the battery.  The battery was also making a rather strange hissing noise. Hmmm?  This was not good.  Batteries are not supposed to hiss and spew like some dragon monster!  That was not water but battery acid.  It seems that the thing had sprung a leak!  Sooo....now I had acid leaking all over the porch.  Not being able to lift the battery without getting the stuff all over me, I unplugged the charger and called Son.  He came to look at the thing and said to grab the box of baking soda from the pantry.  Aha!  Yes!   Baking soda!  Why did I not remember that nifty fix?  I had learned about that way back in chemistry class in high school. (In all fairness, that was eons ago so perhaps I had a reason for the lapse in good thinking.)

  While Son removed the battery, I poured soda on the spill.  Immediately, the stuff started fizzing and foaming!  The baking soda being a base reacted with the battery acid and neutralized it.  Now our porch was safe again albeit a messy safeness.  Son assured  me that once the stuff sat there a while and we washed it down with the water hose, the porch would be perfectly fine for our feral cat visitor to come eat his supper.  

  So...lesson for today...if a battery decides to spring a leak and spew battery acid everywhere, that trusty box of baking soda is the answer! Just cover the mess and let it fizz and foam.  Well, that and never try to charge a faulty battery in the first place.  And...maybe remember some of the things from high school chemistry class.  Fun times!