adventures in Meadorville

     O.k.  So it was a very interesting day! 
     We decided to go to Indianapolis to look at this van we were interested in.  We  had to leave one unfortunate tiny member of our family behind, as we could not all fit in our current van.
      So, we get there to look at this dream vehicle we hoped we would be driving home, and it turns out. . . it was a rusty white hairball!  I try not to snort or laugh out loud as Arlyn makes disgusted faces behind the man's back while he is busy explaining about a pet something or other .  And going on about how he couldn't really get the hair cleaned up very well, and sorry, etc. . . . Arlyn very politely takes it on a test drive, while I call up the Ausbans , who were already in Indy for the day, and tried to arrange where we would go.
      We decided on the State museum.  After our hour and a half at the museum, we decided to go look for something to eat.  Jim is in the lead, and Arlyn is saying something about buffets, and I am panicking about the price of buffets for this many children, and trying to keep silent, but not doing so very well!  We drive around and end up on Lafayette Road.  We pull around the front of this shopping center, and there she is in all her glory. . . .NEW TASTE BUFFET!   O my, now I really panic :)  I mean, why is it called New Taste?  Do you leave the restaurant saying "wow, that was sure a new taste?"  Arlyn reassures me that it will be fine, but then hops out of the car and says "hey dude, what is this? "  To which Jim replies, " who cares, I'll eat anything!"  And to which I retort,"my fears exactly ! " 
      But, in we went, and it turned out to be the BEST china buffet ever!  The children had so much fun down at the other end of the table where they could eat all the desert and drink all the sodas they wanted !  At one point, one of the boys came and said they were sick, and upon confrontation admitted to 5 glasses of soda!  E E E E E . . . . seriously?  That makes ME want to throw up ! 
     After leaving the restaurant we head for home amid cries of "papa, i need to go the bathroom."  No duh, really?  I mean you only drank Coca Cola out of business!  We convince him to wait until we get to 47.  We pulled off the road, very random like, and told him to get out and go.  He doesn't argue, and hops out of the van.  Arlyn politely turns off the headlights for privacy sake.  But, still, in the moonlight or starlight or whatever light it was, we see him wandering. and wandering. and . . . wandering.   By this time it dawns on me. O. I bet they don't teach you to potty outside in Los Angelos!  So how was I to know city kids don't potty outdoors?  He finally comes back to the van very disgruntled and says "where is it? "  :)  Arlyn explains that he is to go outdoors, and THAT does not go over very well!
      Finally, convinced, he finishes the job and is just climbing in the van when Arlyn says "Look at that oppossum!"  "No, that's not a oppossum, WHAT IS THAT? "  Arlyn suddenly realizes what it is and jumps out of the van saying "it's a rabbit! "  And a rabbit indeed.  Unfortunately it happens to be a pet rabbit.  So he catches it and comes running towards the van.  He opens the door and shoves it in at the children!  So great were the squeals and thank yous, that the poor rabbit probably got so frightened and made even more pebbles on the van floor for us to clean up! 
     The rest of the ride home was pretty uneventful.  That is if you call hauling around a free range rabbit uneventful! 
     And now, drumroll. . . . the cherry on top. . . .
We pull in the lane, and there, in the headlights, plain as can be is Arlyn's muffler on his truck.  A rather innocent-looking, ordinary muffler.  Except for one small detail.  There was exhaust coming out of that muffler!   And I, yes I, was the one to drive it last!  At 1 o'clock I pulled it back in the lane, jumped in the van with the rest of my family.  Not to return until 8 o'clock.  Yes my friends, that was 7 hours the truck sat in the driveway running !  And my husband was so kind. He only said one word. . . DUH!
      
 P.S.  It would be so fun if you would at least sign your name in the comment box!  Then I would know who I am writing to!  If you don't have a profile already, I think you just choose anonymous at the bottom of the list.