Life as a Yowler

I haven’t been doing the best about blogging lately, but I feel this last trip needs documented. I want to look back someday and remember, but hopefully laugh too.

We had a trip to Texas that we needed to take. Brandon had a business meeting and trainings. In the process of getting ready for the trip, we managed to wreck two vehicles. I smoked a deer, which is not too unusual for me. But this time I did a little extra damage. Caed was riding with me. We both witnessed a large brown item crash into the windshield. There was dead silence, then Caed….. “mom, I think you just took off the antler.”

Brandon’s wrecking of his truck was a little more unique. He managed to crash a tractor attachment through the back windshield, while loading it into the truck bed. When he told me, my response was “very funny.” When I saw he was serious, I quit laughing. There might have been a few choice words spoken from both parties.

That left the Buick to drive to Texas. We enjoyed our time in Texas and made lots of memories. At one point, we were so close to Mexico that we couldn’t flush TP. We ate some of the best tacos we’ve ever eaten. We went through border patrol several times, as we were in several border towns. We made it through no problem each time, but one time I did notice several circling helicopters and several extra police cars. I had to use self control and not ask the border patrol officer if he could help my curiosity and tell me what was going on. He didn’t willingly offer me the info. Darn it.

We started the 30 hour drive home and made it 23 hours. Stinking 7 hours from home, and at 1:30am I should add, the Buick started majorly overheating. I begged Brandon to ignore all the warning lights. I’m like just get us the heck home. Finally, when the Buick started smoking, Brandon insisted we stop. I asked him to just leave me to freeze to death in the cold Chicago night. Seemed easier than problem solving at 1:30am. Instead, Brandon got us a hotel. Right away, when a dealership opened, he took the Buick up. They were nice enough to fit us into their very busy day. Unfortunately, it needed a new radiator, which was a 7 hour job.

I stayed at the hotel with the kids until noon, which was checkout time. Then Brandon came and picked us up in a loaner vehicle. We thought it might inspire the workers to work a little faster if we all came and took over their lobby. We planted ourselves as only a zoo of Yowlers can do. The kids worked on school in that dealership lobby. At one point a nice old lady complimented the kids on their “wonderful behavior.” J got really full of himself. Brielle didn’t realize the lady was complimenting her, because she’s Brielle. Caed(with his overly deep thoughts) goes “well…..she’s probably seen much worse from kids now a days.” And Isla was peeing. Missed the whole thing.

There is one bright spot on the trip home that also needs documented. We stopped at a Starbucks. Accross the road Brandon noticed at least 50 cars lined up at Papa John’s. Brandon asked the Starbucks worker what was going on. They said Papa John’s is giving away free pizza for their grand opening. Brandon sent J over to snag a pizza. He walked up to the door. There was a lady who told him to go away. She couldn’t give pizzas to anyone not in a vehicle. But then she softened and handed him a pizza and told him not to tell anyone. So now I’m blogging to anyone who’s reading. I will not disclose the location to protect the privacy of Papa John’s. I think she might have thought he was a homeless child as he was dressed as only J can dress(bright red shorts, blue tshirt, fuzzy green socks, 5 year old tennis shoes covered in dirt)

Normally this time of year, I’m worried about preparing for Christmas. This year, I’m worried about getting home. All those other details will come together. Get me home and I will never complain about the thumb of Michigan again….until it snows a lot. Then I’ll probably forget I ever wrote that.