rattle, rattle, rattle, bang, bang, boom, boom boom boom!

Well, we took our car in for some seriously LONG overdue maintenance on Tuesday when we got back from the party. Ok, lets see, there was the oil change, transmission fluid change, brake pads, rotors, fix the oil leak around the gasget, and as if this wasn't enough... let's charge the a/c!

chaaaa....ching!

Well, we picked up the car....drove a little way, and the car that has been sooo very faithful, figured out it was Finally it's turn to be taken care of. SOOOOOO, Cabluie! Now the A/c compressor has went out and leaked oil ALL over the engine. Then as IF this wasn't enough, the belt went flying off, and ALL the lights lite up on the dash, temperature went to the top and the powersteering started to seize.

NOW the good news. We were a few blocks from the shop who had worked on the car and it limped into the place...then they did all they could do take it right in and do whatever they could to fix it...BUT...Nope no such luck.

They did give us a loaner car for free as well as are doing all they can to do what they can to help us out. I could be upset, but I am too busy thanking GOD for the blessings. If we had taken the car on the trip this weekend then we could have been stuck WAY far away from home. If it had been six months ago... we could have been walking because of lack of funding to fix it, so for now....These things didn't happen. So life's little glitch gave us a break. Thank goodness.

Talked to a couple of friends today and even though some are struggling with health, car trouble and other issues...Only one person has had problems truly terrible news for the Friday the Thirteenth.

I haven't had very much to complain terribly about. I have a great KID staying with me still. Though I cannot been able to talk Her parents into seriously leaving her here! It would be so wonderful. This girl has been a joy. There hasn't been anything she has been asked she hasn't done, There really isn't anything I wouldn't do for her in return. She has honestly has stolen my heart. It has been a kick in the butt! I so enjoyed being a parent when my kids were teens, even when my eldest had problems. They taught me so much, we always had a lot of fun and having this girl here for however long they'll let me keep her, I will gladly take!

I guess I am going to have to go to court and appeal to the courts for freind? visitation? do they do that? Teasingly, we have told her for her birthday we are buying her bedroom furniture for here! She just laughed! (The teenager)
It took a little explaination to Dad to explain that Kids ALWAYS mind someone else. Has anyone ever noticed that? Though, I so enjoyed my children, don't get me wrong...THEY drove me BATTY sometimes. They always were on their best behavior for someone else. Never fails.

The truth is though, that between the children of my own I raised, the children of close family I helped raise, my step-children as well as the throw-aways and the vollunteer time at the schools, I've had a hand in quite a few childrens lives as well as they in mine.
I honestly can say, they have taught me far more than I them though. I have enjoyed them far more than they me. The memories, lessons in life, struggles and the ability to bounce back has been far more given to me than the otherway around.

Well, so for my declaration for Friday the 13th, I just have LOTS and LOTS to be grateful for.

Oh boy Banana found a new way to BRIBE!

Well, as I stated yesterday, I went birthday partying this weekend. My grandson, who has ALWAYS been fascinated with trains made a new request this year of us. No, it wasn't Thomas the train...GASP! It was something I'd never heard of. Having a daughter who is VERY in touch with the needs of her son and what we refer to fondly as "just being Caleb", otherwise known as sensory issues, helps.



I get a call a week before the party and my daughter says, "Mom, Caleb wants something different this year!" My, lovely grandson wanted something called a Quadrilla. OK? what is it, what does it do, and then...how much? Of course she didn't give me the rest of the info, but then by virtue of the Internet who couldn't find out about it.



Yep, Banana went and hit the Google button and WA...la there is was. On a site that sells (no Less) toys for autistic and learning impaired children. Alright, good for the grand baby...I'm sold.



This year has been both horrible and blessed at the same time , so we were able to order the larger of the sets. They are expandable at that, so all the better for Caleb. So I order it on line, get my confirmation email and OOOOPS it takes 2-3 weeks for delivery. Ok we are now it Panic mode. I quickly fire off an email to the company, Sensory Edge, and explain my dilemma. Now we all KNOW, the Internet has that impersonal aspect when dealing with companies. Amazingly enough, I received an email very shortly, they said they would do their best to help me out. Further more I received 3 more emails from this company and they did just THAT. I had the gift 4 days after I ordered it! I truly was amazed and GRATEFUL!



Now back to the Quadrilla. My daughter saved it for the last gift, because it was huge! When Caleb opened it up, Oh My Goodness! did we ever get hugs, ( something he seldom shares).

The Quadrilla set itself< class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Kudos. Caleb packed it off to his other grandparents for another party and it was a hit there as well, not only for him but for every child there. Then it was packed away and easily sent back to home. I am impressed and would say that ANYONE with children should at least check it out.
As well as the company I got it from, Sensory Edge. They are truly customer oriented.

Ok that's my rant.

BTW...Caleb hasn't stopped playing with his toy and tells me about it when we talk on the phone as well, Banana made some REAL brownie points!

what a week!

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Welcome to the flood zone! I would relate terrible stories of the water rising and the things going on here yet, we were gone all weekend and the only excitement water wise here is the army going by occasionally and a few road closed signs. Bicknell in currently under a boil advisary for an indeterminite time but other than that, not much other here.

The town north of us a few miles has had considerable flooding and the damage (according to the news and grapevine) is extensive.



Why weren't we home? We ventured south to Kentucky to shared our grandsons fifth birthday! Woo Hoo! He is such a cutey, and he loves his Pappy ( my husband) and his Banana ( He couldn't call me nana when he was younger and it stuck!). We unfortunately get down to see him very often due to the fact of he lives. Everytime we go though, it is an adventure. He is adorable, as any well meaning loving grandparent would think. He has had a few hard days lately, they are pretty sure the Asbergers autism is a comfirmed diagonosis. So the little guy has a time at doing and getting along to things some other kids wouldn't have a problem with. BUT I must say, if your going to have an issue like Autism, it is best to have his mother and father for parents. My daughter is a special education teacher and his father is a high school teacher as well. they were prepared for this before the thought was formulated.
Well for the childs birthday, since he has since he was able to recognize thing has had a passion for trains. So Mom and Dad rented the caboose to a scenic train for the party, HOW cool is that! Well, cool in the term of a kid is about right, no one knew it was going to be 96 degrees in the shade and that the caboose had a few small windows and no A/C! We were all miserable, hot, and soaking wet with sweat. I am SOOOO glad I didn't miss it! Isn't that very gandparently of me.
There were lots of doating adults, plenty of childhood best friends for him, so all was well.
As we were leaving, because we weren't familair with the area, we took a wrong turn. ended up taking our own "scenic" route through the woods, and after suffering the heat and humidity, we ended up at Cumberland Falls! We stopped and enjoyed the scenery for about an hour , took the normal tourist pics , visited the gift shop for the normal, useless, "we were here" stuff, and went on our way.
It was a great break, and pleasantly cool there. It hit us at this point it was the first time we had EVER went anywhere and weren't worrie dto death about something. We just enjoyed the moment. Of course Our daughter was worried at where we had gone off to, and when we finally contaced her it was late, late at night. She has turned into the worlds worse worrywart! Things are seriously reversed there huh?
Well, we still have one of the kids here, she stayed to watch the house for us while we went south, and now her family is sick and it really is best she stay here till all are well ther. ALTHOUGH....It would be fine with us if she just stay for the summer!

HINT, HINT HINT MOLLY! She is just wonderful. Reminds me how much I miss having kids around.

well i've been plenty long winded today and I hope to start catching up to my blogs and writing soon. Sorry for the delay!