Thursday, August 6, 2009

Clunker Deal is Done

It begged; it pleaded; it flung itself down in the driveway and clung to the concrete.
It wrote letters to the governor arguing for a stay of execution.
And then things turned nasty--it implied that it knew birds in high places and I might never want to sleep with both eyes shut again.
In its final days, it tried what it thought was its ace-in-the-hole. . . the speedometer mysteriously started working again (I'm not making this up!); I turned a hard heart and drove the poor thing off to its fatal injections at the Toyota lot.

I turned the poor old gal in for a flashy floozy of a bright red trophy model. The Venza is now sitting like a high-priced diva in the middle of my garage, not too close to the snowblower on one side or the lawnmower on the other, taking up two spaces, eager for Doug to come home and fawn all over her.

And believe you me, I don't intend to drive it, thank you very much. I'll be driving my nice, reliable, unassuming 1998 green subaru. And Hoighty-Toighty Ms. Venza just better move over to one side of the garage, once Doug moves it, because I was too freaked out about parking it just right). And the subaru is outside in the driveway. Alone. In the dark. And cold. .. . Eating the leftovers. . . . (and it's all Doug's fault.)





Oh. Yeah. Doug doesn't know about the Venza in the garage (won't HE be surprised when he gets back rom the mission trip????)

And holy, moly, you guys are goooooood! I thought I'd get away with that last line in the post yesterday. Every once in a while, I sneak a line or two past you, buried in the narrative, but apparently not this time!

There's really not much to the story. The 21 year old "adult" leader had a DUI in March and didn't mention it; nor did it turn up in the background check. But, given the new Homeland Security scrutiny, it turned up at the border. All the kids were kept in the van for an hour and a half, and questioned by border patrol, while Doug and the very nervous young-un were brought inside and questioned. The girl fell into the category of "Inadmissable felons" because of the DUI. This was a good 8 hours away from our home town. Either the whole group would have to return, or her mother would have to drive out and get her (and she couldn't reach her mother). Eventually, Border Patrol said she could pay $200 for a one time permit (charged to our credit card because she didn't have one), but would not be admitted again without filing more petitions to the Canadian courts, and paying more fines. Doug is actually having a rough time on this trip, with kids getting sick and now he doesn't feel well either. He'll be very glad to get back, I'm sure! I would have a hard time arranging the time off from work, so don't go on these trips.

13 comments:

Sharon said...

Nice shiny car! I'll drive it!

Sorry about Doug's trip. Maybe he should write a blog...

pat said...

Oh man, poor Doug! All that stress at the border, sick kids, and now he's not feeling well either? Yikes? Hopefully the bright red medicine sitting in the garage will make him feel better.... vroom, vroom

Nicki said...

Gorgeous car - nice reward for Doug after the misadventures he is going through. It is sad that they couldn't have just gone straight to the chase (fee in lieu of return home) rather than subject everyone to an hour and 1/2 of lecture and sweating bullets. BTW - like the new header!

Amy said...

Wow, love the shot of the car. Hope your DH has an easier go of it for the rest of his trip.

Suzy said...

Poor Doug, but nice car!

Erika said...

I hope he feels better! I'm sure that beautiful car will help! :)

Barb said...

I am going to be a copy cat. Poor Doug, but nice car.

Maria said...

Love your new car! Great color to perk up the soul, especially with your white winters.

Reds said...

That is one nice car! And I feel sorry for Doug - going to all that trouble at the border!

Anonymous said...

I agree with Sharon, get Doug a blog! What a shiny red surprise:)

Mandy said...

Ummm...that is SUCH a hot car. I love it. I love shiny things though. (but I also drive an older car...I think I should name her) I am sure Doug will love it.

And I feel so badly for him. It seems like he has truly had a battle this trip. I am sure the car will make him feel better. Nothing makes me feel better than new rubber! (or diamonds)

Cindi Koceich said...

I love your writing!!
And, I'm so sorry about how the mission trip is going, but it just sounds to me like Satan is worried about all the good they are going to do!!

Amy said...

What a beauty of a car! What a trip Doug has had!!!