Not good!

I determined last night that I would go to Muncie today in order to help get my family ready for a church retreat next weekend.  (My choice.)  As I was just getting on the road, Meg called me on my cell phone from HER cell phone to tell me that she was on I-69, broken down with the Taurus.  Over a couple of hours, neither of us had been able to get through to the house on the phone...  She called AAA, a perk that I had signed us both up for (thank goodness).  The Taurus was towed back to the house, to the tune of $80.  (They will tow anywhere within 5 miles for free...but you hafta pay beyond that.)

Meanwhile, I hit a major traffic tie-up just north of 116th Street that lasted until the Noblesville exit on I-69.  Accident?  Construction?  We crawled along at 4 mph for 45 minutes before the cause of the backup became clear:  a concert at Verizon Wireless Music Center.  Everyone was trying to get off at Noblesville!

I got to the house probably not too long after Meg did.  Aside from the normal tornado effect of toys and stuff, there was a dusting of flour, flour paste, and sugar on everything from the bathroom through the kitchen.  Apparently the children had tried to entertain themselves while Daddy was asleep and Mommy was stranded on the roadway!  The got into the canisters...  Nathan must have worked pretty hard to get it all cleaned up, but there was still a bunch to do.  And, interestingly enough, the children were good as gold the whole rest of the day.  (I guess Daddy yelled enough to keep them honest thereafter!)

Since my whole reason for coming was to try to get some laundry taken care of in order to get the crew ready for next weekend's retreat, I wanted to launch right into that.  I discovered quickly that the lint screen on the dryer wouldn't go into its slot.  Nathan said something broke off in there...so I was resigned to washing clothes, then finding a laundromat to dry them.  In the meantime, Nathan and his buddy James took a look at the Taurus.  The news wasn't good.  Blown head gasket, probably.  Somewhat unfixable at a reasonable price.

Meg couldn't handle it.  I'm not sure what else is going on with her (something is, but she isn't talking), but the bad news about the car drove her to tears, and the news about the dryer sent her into apoplexy.  She went to bed.  Meanwhile, Nate and James walked the dryer out into the garage to take it apart and fix it.  I noticed a hole in the accordion hose, so trekked to Lowe's to get a new one.  In short order, the dryer was back in place and in order.  (The biggest good news of the day!)

I fed the children and Nate and James while Meg slept.  The house still looks bad, but I have made a small dent in the laundry.  Meg has already decided that they can't go to the retreat because of the car situation, but I really want them to go.  May take a day or two off next week so they can take my car.  Thereafter, life will get a little tougher.  Decisions will have to be made...but there are ways around everything. 

Another problem in the house is that the remote control for the satellite and DVR is missing.  Meg and Nate went out this evening to try to find another that would work, but I don't think that happened.  They came home with one, but Nathan soon declared it unworkable.  Agony!  Agony!

All I want out of life is for my daughter to be happy.  It isn't happening.  She has been snappish tonight...and honestly, I understand the upset at the loss of a vehicle, but snarling at people won't help!  I tell her that, but she says I don't get it. 

Nathan came out in pink flamingo boxer shorts tonight and kissed me on the cheek to say goodnight.  It was a first.  Nate and I were somewhat thrown together, years ago, and we never really had a chance to connect.  We have now, somewhat, through the children.  There aren't too many men who like to have their mothers-in-law around, but Nate seems to welcome the help that I try to give. 

Of course, Nathan can't hope to compare to my bedside message from Robin.  She was thinking of her flower "geel" part of her uncle's upcoming wedding...and told me that she is "falling in love with [me]."  (Don't ask where she got it.  I don't have a clue!)  She said that when she is a flower geel, everyone will be looking at her and everyone will be proud of her.  I think so!!  (I still like the falling in love part.)

Good night, all.  I'm going to hate myself in the morning.