the basket that almost took my life and other tales of the weekend

This is a sad tale to tell. In fact, I'm getting a little choked up writing about it. Mostly because I lost a dear friend, my beautiful CR-V.

November 9th (Friday) it seriously rained and snowed all day long. Driving down the canyon to my classes that morning I seriously felt like I was in a hurricane! The wind was blowing so hard and the rain was falling so fast and hard that I couldn't see 3 feet in front of me. When I got to class, I was soaked from walking in the rain to my class. After my lab, I looked outside and it was snowing and kept snowing all day.

That night Josh and I went to Costco because we literally had no food since we just moved into our new house. (YAY! NEW HOUSE!) As we were packing up the car, a little old lady walked up to Josh and said, "Do you espeak espanish?" Josh, of course, said yes and then after finding out what she wanted, asked me if we could give her a ride. This made me think of the time I made my mom stop on the side of the road one day and pick up a rather large woman who I claimed was "Rosalinda" when in fact she was not. My mom thought I knew her so we gave her a ride and when I actually had no idea who she was mom was surprised she actually picked up a hitchhiker! haha ANYWAY, so this lady at Costco wanted us to take her to a bus stop which was on state street. No big deal. So we get on  State street and pass about 10 bus stops. She is just chatting away with Josh and I kept interrupting, "Is this the bus stop?" So finally she said it was on 800 North. When we got to 800N and State street, there is a bus stop so we of course stop. She yells, "NO NO izquierda!" So we turn left. Then we drive all the way to the freeway, down some dark roads, and I was beginning to get worried. She then asked us to stop in the middle of the street and let her out. So we did. We also gave her one of those mormon.org cards and Josh's phone number because she claimed her nephew could work for him.

On the way home it was dark and snowy. All that night it snowed. The next morning, Josh got up to do snow removal and I laid in bed. It was the perfect Saturday. Then I remembered I bought a Bountiful Basket and I had to pick it up at 9. I got up and just as I was walking down the stairs, Josh comes home, says, "Be careful its really icy". I get in the car and start to go. This whole year I have been dreading the snow coming because of where we were going to move aka on a mountain. There is a really steep curve that we have to drive down to get anywhere and I was scared of it to begin with. So, I get to the top of the hill, stop for a second, then proceed with caution. Or so I thought. The next thing I knew, I no longer had control of my car and I was sliding down the hill turning sideways. I had a split second to react and could have ran into a guy's yard/house or into a small (apparently huge) light pole and a street sign. I guess I chose the wrong thing because my beautiful CR-V is now totaled. Gone forever.

The guy who lived across from where I slid off the road came over to help out when Josh got there. He said, "Don't worry, at least 5 or 6 people do that a year and usually end up in my yard!" Through my tears I said, "Well, you're welcome." He said, "Oh, actually I built up my yard so that if someone does end up in it, there's nothing they can really do damage to and they can usually just drive out or get pulled out." Thank you kind sir for telling me that. It would have been helpful 10 minutes ago...  Josh picked me up and drove me home. I spent the day crying, literally I couldn't stop all day. I thought I was in shock, but Tuesday when I found out all the damage I'd done to my car and that I was never going to see it again, I started crying again. I really really loved that car!

I don't really remember that much about those 10 minutes, however, I do remember freaking out about something. I couldn't get out of the driver's side because there was snow jammed up against my door, so I climbed over to the passenger side. When I got there, there was a pink weird looking bag thing laying on the seat and against the door. I had no idea where it came from and wondered if the person who broke into my car and stole stuff two weeks ago left it behind. I kept trying to pull on it but it was stuck in the seat somehow. Finally I realized it was the air bag that came out from the side of the seat. haha So if you're wondering, my air bags were pink.

ok, back to the story, I was obviously crying away, Josh called the insurance people and took care of everything. He was originally told we didn't need to contact the police so we didn't. Then Monday, he called them because he was told he needed to. I was in class all day and got several calls from an unknown number. Josh text me and told me it was a sheriff and he needed to talk to me. So, I checked out google and sure enough, I could go to jail for fleeing the scene, not reporting the accident, ect. I once again, started crying. at school. Its been an emotional few days ok? I called the sheriff and luckily got off with a warning. phew!

Oh, and the basket I was on my way to get? We still got it, don't worry. Do I wish times a billion that I had just stayed home that day? Yes. Was trying to possibly save money buying our fruits and vegetables from a co-op worth it? No.

Good news is, I'm totally fine, and the accident actually cleared up some back pains I was having a few days before. Accidental chiropractic care I guess. And, although I was a wimp and had to ask my 80 year old neighbor to drive me to church the next day since Josh was working, I worked up the courage and drove to school Monday morning like a pro. Or like someone who didn't get in another accident... I am happy to be alive and happy that even though my car is gone, my husband doesn't care because I am not.

thievery

Two weeks ago, as I walked out to my car to drive to school, I noticed a dollar bill on the ground next to the driver's door. Score! I felt lucky as I got in the car and drove to school.

Lately I have been listening to the Book of Mormon while I drive to and from school. That day after school, decided to listen to the Book of Mormon on my ipod since I didn't listen to it that morning. I reached in the compartment I usually keep it in and it was gone. I felt around some more and noticed that the twenty dollar bill and a couple ones I had in there were gone too. I thought maybe Josh took the ipod and the money so I kept on driving. As I turned onto another street, the sun hit me in the eyes so I reached for my sunglasses and they were gone. No big deal, Josh kept some of his in my car as well. I reached into the compartment they were in and you guessed it! They were gone as well.

By now I put all the facts together and realized someone stole my stuff! I got nervous and actually looked around for them in my car... haha I even thought about dusting for fingerprints with flour or something but then realized it would make my car dirty and even if there was a fingerprint there, how would I figure out who it belonged to?

Then I realized that dollar bill I found that morning was actually mine. I thought I was actually lucky yet I picked up MY dollar bill. how embarrassing.

I arrived home and told Josh. His truck also had items stolen; sunglasses and money.

I kind of feel bad for the thief. I mean, the neighborhood we lived in is full of second homes/vacation homes and no one is ever there. And all he/she got away with was a little bit of money, an ipod, and some sweet shades. I mean, if you're going to thief around you might as well make it worth the effort right? Instead of stealing from the poorest people in the whole neighborhood? Hopefully, the thief will listen to the Book of Mormon as well since it was already playing, get a change of heart and bring us back our stuff? Or is that much to hope for?

Football and Pumpkins

We had tons of fun this fall going to football games and hanging out with our friends. Brad and Marianne came to a football with us as well and it was SO fun to see them and hang out with them again. It was homecoming, a "black out" football game, and we played really well until the last few minutes of the game.

my hair is huge. MJ's hair is cute. Brads hair is hidden

We also went over to the Harper's and carved pumpkins the weekend before Halloween. We also got to eat some of Cris' fabulous soup. I will never say no to something Cris makes, its always delicious!

carving away!

the finished products! Happy face, witch in a moon, and a cyclops.