Chunky Old Cars...

The other day Natalie was browsing at my blog. She noticed my labels and hollered out, "MOM... do you write about Dad's old cars?"

"Yes." I answered proudly.

"I thought that was a secret... I don't want people to know about those."

It all started when I ran over my glasses....

Last friday as I drove to school, I put on my sunglasses. When I got to school, I couldn't find my regular glasses. I hoped they were in my purse. When class started, I reached into my purse and didn't find them. I searched every nook and cranny.

During my prep, I ran to the store and took one last look for my glasses. I got out of my car and looked down. There they were right under the car tire. And so... there I am in my glasses.

Saturday was a perfect day with Jason drinking tea in coffee shops and browsing photos in a photo show. We went to the movie "Gran Torino" staring Clint Eastwood. I loved the movie. I fell in love with Clint Eastwood. Of course, I started making connections to "The Outsiders" and wondered if my students watched the movie too. My mind always works that way.

Sunday. Well. Sunday was not a perfect day. Our pipes were frozen. I couldn't wash dishes nor clothes. In the meantime, Jason was going to fix the brakes of my mini-van, and I helped him clear a space in the garage for my big red beast. As I ran outside to get something out of the van, I fell on some ice and landed on my big red bum. I felt every vertebrae jar into the other. I looked at J and said "I felt that."


Later that night, I washed dishes. The pipes in the kitchen thawed. I eyed the pile of clothes sitting by my washer. The pile was high. So high I knew we were desperate.

I walked over to the washer and put my fingers down the "out" pipe. The water was so cold. I took a stick and slushed it around and added more hot water. That water was going no where.

Finally, Jason and I devised a plan. I filled the washing machine with all the necessaries. I let the machine go through its regular cycle. When it was time for the water to drain, I took the hose and connected it to a longer hose and had the water empty into a rubbermaid container. Then, I pulled the rubbermaid container and emptied it bucket by bucket into the sink.

I was feeling pretty smart.

As I was doing my third load of laundry, I held on to the hose with one hand and folded some laundry with the other. I smugly smiled at my cleverness. When it came time for the water to drain, I clasped at the hose, but suddenly, the hose disconnected and started flingly wildly. Water flew at me at all directions. Water was leaking on to the floor.

Everything was a mess.

And so there I stood, mopping the water up when I suddenly heard the gurgle of water. Water draining from the out pipe down into our septic tank. The pipes had finally thawed.

Mother Nature had the last laugh after all.

Napolean Dynomite Bought Jason's Car

Jason sold two of ten of our - err - his car collection. Now, admittedly, all but three of those cars are parts cars. J.Bird sold a Caddy and the parts cars to Napoleon Dynamite.

It's funny to see some teenagers all excited to work on an old car. This is how Jason started years ago. He would drive by farmsteads and fall in love with pile of junk heaped up next to an old barn. Sometimes, he would stop and talk to the old farmer about how much he'd sell the ole dear, but most often, the farmer would not sell.

Let's just say I don't get it. I don't like to get dirty or burned from welding. I like to have nice air conditioning and easy parking. But, to see these young guys eyes' light up and see J. Bird's face all animated really takes the cake.

Next year, he will drive this black Cadillac to prom with some wide eyed girl who tanned too much at the video store. They will be the talk of the town when all the parents and spectators wait for the grand march.

They'll say; "Did ya see Napolean's new ride?"

"Ya.. ooof. Now, that was a lot of work."