Less than two weeks ago, we spent just under $1,300 in repairs to and new tires for our 1998 Ford Windstar (mileage 160,000). We debated whether to make the repairs or buy another vehicle. Given that the van is used mainly by Rachelle at college and for work transportation, we decided to go forward with the repairs and tires. (We'd also paid for a new transmission a couple of years ago.) We hoped that our trusty, oft-repaired and banged-up red van (aka "RV") would last until at least Rachelle graduated, got a job and bought her own vehicle. This morning, our hopes were dashed.
The good news is that Rachelle and the other driver were uninjured. Rachelle is stiff, sore, and in pain. (I guess saying that she's sore also means that she's in pain.) The other good news is that she works for a chiropractor who can fix her up. The bad news is that the accident (in which both drivers were cited for different reasons) totaled our car and perhaps the other driver's car as well. Another bit of "good" news is that, since the tires are so new, we can get a little money for them.
Stay tuned, if you're interested. I'm sure there'll be more to this story. (Remind me to tell you about all of the college paraphernalia Rachelle left in the vehicle that her father had begged her to remove. Guess who removed it? I suppose I just told that part of the story.)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Fair Warning
Mark helped me prepare tonight's dinner. As the family entered the kitchen, he said, "Be prepared for a little food poisoning."
It's been an hour or so since we finished dinner and, so far, no one has become ill. Stay tuned . . .
It's been an hour or so since we finished dinner and, so far, no one has become ill. Stay tuned . . .
Thursday, January 14, 2010
I Want to be . . .
A sweet, young mother friend of mine recently wrote about "the kind of a mom" she wants to be. She copied another friend's list and noted that she will add her own items as she gains more motherhood experience. Reading her blog post got me thinking along the same lines, but with a different slant.
Here's my list in no particular order. By the way, it's not all-inclusive. Oh, and, please don't judge me.
I want to be . . .
*. . . the kind of a mom who doesn't take offense when a child says, "You've ruined my life."
*. . . the kind of a mom who realizes that a child's perception is their reality. (Think about it.)
*. . . the kind of a mom who doesn't cry over spilled milk. Or snipped levelor blinds. Or stories written in black permanent marker on the wall. Or "accidental" haircuts. Or flooded toilets, flooded bathrooms, flooded hallways. Or sopping wet basement ceiling tiles.
*. . . the kind of a mom who patiently teaches "Toilet Roll Replacement 101" over and over and over ad nauseum.
*. . . the kind of a mom who doesn't panic when the school principal calls (for the 200th time).
*. . . the kind of mom who never owns a television (unless she keeps it hidden in a closet and sneaks it out only to watch football or THE AMAZING RACE).
*. . . the kind of mom who could lovingly influence her children to never be interested in video games.
*. . . the kind of a mom who could inspire her children to always trust her with the truth.
*. . . the kind of a mom who really isn't at all bothered when her children wear mismatching clothes or doesn't comb their hair before being seen in public.
*. . . the kind of a mom who remains unflappable in the face of a child's angry outburst(s).
*. . . the kind of a mom who always remembers to leave the window slightly ajar for the Tooth Fairy to enter.
*. . . the kind of a mom who sits calmly and quietly in the passenger seat while being driven about by her student-driver child.
*. . . the kind of a mom who isn't burdened by unnecessary guilt (whatever that means).
*. . . the kind of a mom who lives with few, if any, regrets.
Here's my list in no particular order. By the way, it's not all-inclusive. Oh, and, please don't judge me.
I want to be . . .
*. . . the kind of a mom who doesn't take offense when a child says, "You've ruined my life."
*. . . the kind of a mom who realizes that a child's perception is their reality. (Think about it.)
*. . . the kind of a mom who doesn't cry over spilled milk. Or snipped levelor blinds. Or stories written in black permanent marker on the wall. Or "accidental" haircuts. Or flooded toilets, flooded bathrooms, flooded hallways. Or sopping wet basement ceiling tiles.
*. . . the kind of a mom who patiently teaches "Toilet Roll Replacement 101" over and over and over ad nauseum.
*. . . the kind of a mom who doesn't panic when the school principal calls (for the 200th time).
*. . . the kind of mom who never owns a television (unless she keeps it hidden in a closet and sneaks it out only to watch football or THE AMAZING RACE).
*. . . the kind of mom who could lovingly influence her children to never be interested in video games.
*. . . the kind of a mom who could inspire her children to always trust her with the truth.
*. . . the kind of a mom who really isn't at all bothered when her children wear mismatching clothes or doesn't comb their hair before being seen in public.
*. . . the kind of a mom who remains unflappable in the face of a child's angry outburst(s).
*. . . the kind of a mom who always remembers to leave the window slightly ajar for the Tooth Fairy to enter.
*. . . the kind of a mom who sits calmly and quietly in the passenger seat while being driven about by her student-driver child.
*. . . the kind of a mom who isn't burdened by unnecessary guilt (whatever that means).
*. . . the kind of a mom who lives with few, if any, regrets.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Call Screening
Because we have "caller I.D.," we screen our calls. Rest assured that we answer calls from everyone we know but don't answer most calls from solicitors or callers with unknown numbers. When the phone rang this evening, the caller I.D. showed "FFFF" (Feature Films for Families). I get way too many calls from them, and I get tired of giving the same answers to the same questions to the same guy. (I hope none of you know him.)
Sara was closest to the phone when it rang, so I asked, "Who is it?"
"FFFF," she replied.
"At least it isn't the KKK," Mark quipped.
Sara was closest to the phone when it rang, so I asked, "Who is it?"
"FFFF," she replied.
"At least it isn't the KKK," Mark quipped.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Mark's First Quotes of 2010
"How come you can't be like a regular woman and not watch football?"
"I wish I could audit all of my classes."
"I wish I could audit all of my classes."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)