The Clip-on Sunglasses Fiasco

So I came home today wearing these........

And my wife and oldest daughter LAUGHED at me!!!! (The younger one was not around at the time)

When I explained that because I wear prescription glasses these were the only real option for me, they LAUGHED even more!!!

I began to get really mad when they said that it made me look like an old man! 

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked.  "The sun is really bright and this is the only way I can wear sunglasses"...  but my anger only increased their laughter.

This would have been really upsetting if I had been serious.  In fact, I got a new windshield put in the Alero today and the installer must have found these things stuck between the windshield and the dashboard, because when I got in the car they were sitting on the passenger's seat along with a parking lot ticket and some other junk.... so of course I had to put them on and make the girls think I had lost my mind - which, apparently, would be quite funny to them.

So now.... the big question:  In light of the fact that they did not know any better (I could have been totally serious) and yet they laughed at me any way..... how would you interpret their actions?

    A.  I should be happy to know that they love me enough to be honest - even if it hurts my feelings.

    B.  They are mean and sadistic people who like to laugh at my expense whenever they can.

   C.  They knew that I was too hip and cool to be serious about clip-on sunglasses in the first place.

   D.  Some other fourth thing.

Me.... I am hoping for "C"..... but it is likely "A"..... though I would not bet against at least a little bit of "B" thrown in there too.   :)

Our new wheels

Hey all.... I am only posting this just to complete the cycle... I told you that we wrecked Van-essa, so here is the replacement.... a 2007 GMC Acadia.  We have not named her yet.... suggestions????

Bugs on the Visor :)

After church today, my buddy Paul said to me, "Hey, I am riding my motorcycle out to Bengough to see my uncle.... wanna come?"

I was non-committal.

He left and then came back and said, "I am going and your wife said that you should go with me".

So I knocked my chair over and I ran to Paul's truck.  He gave me a ride home so that I could change, get the bike and get on the road.

It was great!  It was a beautiful day.  We stopped and looked around in several small towns.  We soaked in the sunshine on the deck in his uncle's back yard and drank cokes.  We stopped in Weyburn at Tim Horton's.  It was spontaneous, silly and a lot of fun.

You know that you have had a good day (and that you have a very nice wife) when, at the end of the day, you look at your motorcycle jacket and your helmet and they are covered with bugs!
  :)

PS.  We may have sorted out our "we need a replacement for 'Van-essa'" situation.... stay tuned.

The Girls' new ride

Well - we are starting to sort out some of our vehicle troubles.  We bought the kids a 2004 Olds Alero last night.  It is a newer car than what we were originally looking for, but we thought that maybe it would serve as a decently reliable back-up if we needed a car again.  It has a little 4 cylinder engine (so it should be good on fuel), it is sporty looking (it even has a sunroof) and it won't be embarrassing to drive (which, apparently, matters to some girls).

So there you go.... step one is done.  Now we just need to find something to replace our van.

Good-bye Van-essa

I think it has come time to say "Good-bye" to our dear friend, Van-essa. 

She has been part of our family for almost 10 years and almost 200 000 kms.  I still remember the day we saw her on the lot at "Carlyle Motor Products".  We had said, "If we could find a van like....." and there she was... honestly, just what we were looking for.  We test drove a few other ones, but as soon as we drove her onto the highway, we looked at each other and said, "Ok - this is it!"

We have been through a lot together from trips to see family, to the kid's first drive-in movie, to going up the mountain in Montana to Sari's aunt's cabin, to trips to the beach, to being lost in the tri-cities area of Washington looking for a restaurant, to Katie learning to drive in it, to going to Oregon last summer (Her last big hurrah!).

However, last Thursday night, a lady missed a stop sign and plowed into the driver's door and now I am afraid that Van-essa is not long for this world (We had her in at SGI today and the prognosis was not good).  
 
So we are preparing to say good-bye.  She was a good old girl and  fun while she lasted (Well - other than that really annoying and super expensive transmission problem and the fact that we froze to death in her for a few winters until we got that problem fixed and the leaky intake manifold gasket and the power sliding door that did not always work right and the door locks that would not lock and the front end work that needs to be done now..... hmmm - now that I think about it - maybe I am not so sad to see her go after all). 

Thanks for the memories, the fun and the miles, Van-essa!  :)

(Knock, knock) Penny .... (Knock knock) Penny...... (Knock knock)Penny

So the girls (all three) went to see "The Hunger Games" the other night. 

When they got home, they got into this intense discussion that used English words, but made no sense to me.   I remember hearing things like: "Tributes..... Capital ..... Katnip..... Peta (I am not sure what "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" has to do with it. Maybe they sponsored the show)...... Rude" and a bunch of other stuff that I do not remember, get or (honestly) care about.

As I sat there listening to all of this, I thought to myself, "This is my 'Penny' moment.  I AM Penny from the TV show 'The Big Bang Theory'!"  (Though I am not so sure I would look as good in her "Cheesecake Factory" dress..... yellow is not my colour)

For those who may not know.... On the show, Penny is a girl who lives across the hall from two physicists. The guys have a tendency to get into these huge, convoluted discussions that Penny neither understands or cares about, so she often just rolls her eyes and leaves.

Therefore, since my house has now been invaded by a group of "Hunger games physicist nerds", I am rolling my eyes and leaving.   I will be across the hall if anyone wants to talk about something real.... something interesting and important........ like Motorcycles!  :)

PS.  As an aside.... I may have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating:  Because of Sari's employment at the school, my kids have a very different view of their teachers than I ever had.  For example, my kids went to the movie with their current and former teachers.... saw them in a social setting.... talked to them like real people.... maybe even threw popcorn at them when they weren't looking (That is an unconfirmed.... actually - totally made up report.  It did not happen... but it could have).  

Me..... I assumed that my teachers lived at the school and had no other interests outside of teaching since I never saw them anywhere other than at the school.  They certainly were not "real people" that one could get to know or converse with (maybe you could throw popcorn at them.... whether you should is another discussion).  It is just weird!   I like that my kids like and know their teachers...... but where is the fear????   The intimidation????  Where is the kid standing in the coat room crying because he is so scared of his teacher that he doesn't want to go into the classroom????? (Not that I ever did that.... but I.... ummm..... heard about it... once).  There is no trauma inflicted anymore (except maybe the trauma inflicted by the kids on the teachers.... but that is another story).  

Apparently, the "Good old days" are gone!  :)