Part II - Curse You, Ohio Winter!

The fun continues!

So...Bryan was driving the van to work the other day...wait, let me back up a bit...

Bryan was driving home from work in the Escort last week, when he hit a GIANT pothole. Ya know, the ones that could almost swallow your car whole - Cleveland roads are famous for them! He wasn't able to swerve because of the cars on either side of him, so he hit it hard and knocked the wheels out of alignment, or something. Now it makes a lovely knocking sound when you drive.

SO...not wanting to drive the injured car until we could get it fixed, Bryan drove the van to work (the day after the whole gutter incident, by the way). On the way down the hill on our street, he hit a slippery spot and tried to brake, but van didn't slow at all (Did I mention that the van is in desperate need of new tires? We've been putting it off and putting it off for a couple months now)! He hit head-on at full speed into a large snow bank, and smashed the front bumper (that's not gonna be cheap)! He was also hopelessly stuck in the snow.

While trying to dig the van out, a truck pulled up and the man inside asked Bryan if he could use a hand. He gratefully accepted, and the man helped tow the van out of the snow bank with his truck. Bryan surveyed the damage on the fron of the van and then thanked the man for his help.

Man: "You're welcome. Do you have anything to tip me with?" (what?!)

Bryan, a little surprised: "Um...I'm sorry, I don't have any cash with me."

Man: "I'll take a check." (WHAT?!)

Bryan: "I don't have a checkbook with me either."

Man: "Well, you said you lived close by, right? You could go home and get me some money." (Are. You. Kidding. Me?!)

Bryan, being the sweet guy he is, came home, found our last $10 bill (the one we were going to buy toilet paper with), and gave it to the man. When Bryan told me the story, I was floored! I know times are tough right now; maybe the guy really needed it. If so, I'm glad we could help. But whatever happened to helping out your neighbor and random acts of kindness? I don't know. Maybe I've got it all wrong.

P.S. Now, nobody go out and buy us toilet paper! We just got our tax refund and Bryan's paycheck comes this week, so we are fine!

I Love My Minivan!

Great News: Our beloved van is back from the shop and back in commission! Now ($1000 later -ugh!), everyone can ride in their own seat, not touching another person. So for the time being, we have two cars!!!

When we were driving to church on Sunday (in blissful minivan comfort rather than cramped in a two-door sardine can), Andrew said, "It's kinda good our van broke. If it didn't, we wouldn't know how good it is."

Too true! It's sad that sometimes we have to have things taken away from us in order to really appreciate them! We've had a pretty rough car year, starting with Bryan's car accident, then the incident with the Buick on the way home from Cedar Point, and the most recent leaks in the van gaskets. I guess we needed an extra strong kick in the pants to be truly grateful for our cars!

You know what else I am grateful for right now?

We can fill our van with gasoline at $1.85 per gallon!!!

During the summer, when gas was over $4.00, I thought we'd never see it under $3.00 again, much less under $2.00! I don't really even mind filling it up when it's this cheap.


*LATER NOTE*
Gas has dropped to $1.79 now, AND I had .40 off per gallon from my Giant Eagle Fuel Perks, SO I filled our van at $1.39 per gallon! Only $23.00 to fill our entire van!!!

Don't Let This Picture Fool You...

Yes, there are three cars in our driveway, but only one of them is drive-able. Guess which one.

It's the two-door Ford Escort!

Ugh! I really HATE cars right now!!!