Dead Car

"Babe, good news. I got your car running. It's back to, well, normal."

Crap.

The black Honda Passport with leather seats, CD player, AIR CONDITIONER, and ski rack that I had longingly been dreaming about quickly vanished from my mind.

My car was running. What should have been good news was quite disappointing, in all actuality. I had been looking forward to test driving the Honda, although my tears the day before proved that I loved my Mazda.

And I do. I love my Mazda. And I had cried (twice) the day before thinking about my dead car.

The drama started on Thursday morning when I went to leave for work. It was 6:10 a.m., and my car wouldn't start. Dead. Panic set in. I knew I could call Shannon and Jeff and they would be there to help, but I also knew they were still in bed. In fact, most people are still in bed at that hour. My next option was a co-worker. I called Liz to save the day. Although she lives in the completely opposite direction of me and the school, she was more than willing to come pick me up. Thanks, Liz, for saving the day!

After school that day, my friend Lauren graciously offered me her daughter's car for the rest of the week. That got me to school and lacrosse on Friday without having to bumm a ride from Liz again.

Friday evening when Josh arrived, we jumped my car and discovered it was just a dead battery. Phew, easy fix! My car would be running by morning, just in time for my lacrosse game.

Saturday morning, Josh woke early to run to the auto parts store. One hundred dollars later, I had a new battery and Josh was installing it while I was getting ready for my game. Twenty minutes before I had to leave for my game, I went downstairs to check the progress of the battery installation. Supervisor, I call myself.

This supervisor knew immediately something was wrong. Not only were sparks flying through the air, but the battery was backwards. Although I know nothing about battery installation, I gave Josh my opinion.

"Ummm, the battery is backwards."

"No, it's not. Some batteries are made differently than others, and this one happens to have the negative and positive on different sides than your other battery."

Well, I'm not the mechanic, just the supervisor, so I shrugged and continued to watch him install the battery.

Upon completion, I went to start my car. Nothing. Deader than it had been the day before. I stuck my head under the hood to inspect (also part of my job description) and saw with my own eyes that the battery was in fact backwards. Using my memory from the night before when I had hooked up the jumper cables, I informed Josh that negative had been on the right and positive on the left. He had the new battery hooked up opposite.

"Babe, you ARE smarter than me." (A previous discussion about who was smarter). "I'm surprised I'm not dead. I could have electrocuted myself."

Tears are welling in my eyes. Josh quickly turned the battery around and hooked it up. "Ok, now start it."

Nothing. Dead. Really dead.

At this point, I had to leave for my game. I hopped in my loaned car and arrived at my game. Josh called to inform me he had fried my car and we were going car shopping after lacrosse.

More tears welling in my eyes. I love my Mazda.

We spent all of Saturday car shopping. After a drink stop at Sonic, I lost it. With tears running down my face, it took everything in me not to yell, "This is all your fault." Instead I cried, "I don't want a new car. I want my Mazda working." I was frustrated, hot, and tired. I just wanted to be with my family instead of driving to car dealer after car dealer and finding nothing but junk.

After a sleepless night Saturday, Josh awoke at 3 a.m. Sunday morning and went to work on my car. He found a blown fuse and hoped it was the problem. Since auto part stores are not open that early, he also did some car shopping from the computer. He found a beautiful black Honda Passport with everything I want, plus it was without our price range. Low miles, too. He was in love.

When I woke up, he showed me the Honda. I was in love.

Maybe my car dying was going to be OK after all. I wouldn't mind a new SUV if it looked like that.

At 7 a.m., Josh went to the car store and bought a new fuse. He installed it, and low and behold, it worked. My car started!

Bummer.

No new car.

But that's OK, I love my Mazda. I really do.

I'll just continue saving my money so I can buy a pretty new car in the near future.

Easy Craft

Three weeks ago, someone from my apartment complex moved. Alongside moving, they decided to downsize by throwing some very nice stuff into the dumpsters. While dumping my trash, Josh noticed some unused plastic bins and a brand new bulletin board propped up against the trash bin. He appeared back in my apartment with these "gifts" for me.

I immediately thought of a craft project for the bulletin board, and here's the finished project.

I took some fabric I already had (made throw pillows with the fabric last summer) and wrapped the bulletin board. I then took ribbon I already had and made the triangles. I found buttons and flowers I owned and added a few special touches. I LOVE it. I put it in my kitchen so I can hang cards and pictures that I currently have on my fridge. My next project is to make a curtain for my bedroom, which will hopefully keep out some of the heat this summer.

It Oozes Out Of Me

I never played sports in high school.

Shocker, I know. I mean, one look at me and the athleticism just oozes out of me, right?

I've come to realize God had a little fun when creating me.

When making Shannon, God thought, "I'll add some beautiful red CURLY hair, long, slender legs, and a small frame. She'll be good at basketball and running."

When making Collin, God thought, "I'll make him with long legs, he'll be fit and trim, and his six-pack will be evident. He'll be good at jumping, running, bike riding, football, basketball, and basically anything he attempts."

When making Shiloh, God thought, "I'll make her with short, stumpy legs, straight as a nail hair with no body or life and hair as thin as can be, she'll be plumb, and she'll have fat knees. She'll be good at.....well, nothing athletic but I'll give her the talent of writing, acting, and singing."

The thing that always deterred me away from sports was the whole running aspect. I can't run more than a block without wheezing and people staring to see if I'm OK. It's just not in me. Every sport involves running, so I just never went out for a sport.

The comedy (or irony, if you will) continues when I decided to coach Lacrosse.

"Those who can't do, teach."

I can't play LAX. I don't know how to throw a ball. I don't know how to cradle. I don't know the rules of the game. I can't run the length of the field, let alone back and forth, back and forth for a full 45 minute game. In fact, I've never even heard of the sport.

That was three years ago. Now I'm a seasoned pro, I like to think.

I still can't play LAX. But I do know how to throw a ball (kind of). I do know how to cradle. I do know the rules of the game. I still can't run the length of the field, but I do walk while my girls run. I've not only heard of the sport, but I am an undefeated coach this season.

Practice makes perfect, right?

This is my third season as a LAX coach, and I am really enjoying the sport. I've learned so much over the past three years, and I can even answer questions about rules and form! I know when to put in a sub, I know when to call a time out, I can spot fouls on the field, and I can read hand signals from the refs.

So, I'm not athletic. I can't play sports. I can't run. I'm short and stumpy. But man, can I learn a mean game of LAX.

The coach gets all the credit for a 5-0 season, right? See, I am athletic after all!

Shape-Round

Well, the training has begun! I have officially been on five rides thus far, which is pretty impressive, I think. I have to give credit to Josh-he's the one who pushes me and makes me get on the bike even when "I don't wanna."

Our first ride was 8 miles. Then 12. Then 15. Then 22. Then 25.

And man, 25 miles kicked my butt. I have a lot of getting into shape to do.

I signed up for the MS bike ride. I'm going to do it. This is year number 5.

I will do it.

I will survive.

I will get in shape.