A lot of excitement!!!

So this week has been a bit nuts as far as things out of the ordinary...some exciting...some not good at all...but yet unique experiences that have now been experienced...let me explain...

So Sunday was the trip to the states...the family got broke into...nothing was taken...apparantly, however, the next morning the thieves returned and stole some of the goods...while the family was still sleeping...nuts!!!

On Tuesday I was at work, and Tuesday's are day trips day...so me and another staff member and five service recipients usually head to vernon (45 minutes away) or Summerland (About 45 minutes the other way) or something and find an activity to do...This past Tuesday we went to Vernon and were going to go to the science center. I drop the other staff off at the bank to get money, and with no place to park I circle the block. As I pull into the alley to pick her up, guess what Happens?? Just guess....

As an intermission, I recently got a 26" Toshiba LCD TV...not gonna lie...it's great...

So back to the story...I pull over to a no parking zone, but out of the way of other cars...and voila, the radio becomes silent...the lights on the dash begin to fade...the engine stops!!! Wonderful...stuck in vernon, in a busy loading zone with five people with developmental disabilities...hmmm what to do...

So we call the office to get the BCAA numbers, as we did not have a card in the van...call BCAA...go through the touchtone voice only to get a busy signal...do this five or so times...it rings...the lady proceeds to hang up on me...jerk...we try a few more times and get through...

We eat lunch in the van...

Tow truck comes...boosts us...engine dies 10 seconds later...crum!!! His next question, "where do you want it towed??" We call the office...at least we were plus members and they towed it to Kelowna.

We walk 5 blocks to the science center...and we begin just as it begins to rain...another staff brings a big van and picks us up (I got to hold a snake at the science center...a baby anaconda).

Okay...next story...long post...sorry...

Wednesday, I'm at the Salvation Army staff and executive board dinner party (I'm on the board still). The outreach coordinator (The job I used to do) stepped out to go to the church and get the outreach teams set up for the evening...his wife is still at the dinner and it was her babies due date that same day.

So I get a call from the outreach coordinator saying that he had been pinched in between a van and the church and was in emergency...he asked if I could tell his soon to pop wife (is that an insensitive way to put it??) he asks if I could tell her. He also asked if I could go to the church and help out the outreach teams...since I have keys and that still.

So I pull his wife aside...and tell her...she thought I was joking, but once she found out I wasn't, so was obviously quite upset...the associate pastor takes her to the hospital...I go to the church and finish up with the outreach.

After seeing the dent in the van...and the hole in the church wall, he is definately lucky...all that is hurting on him is his one calf muscle and his other foot. He should be in a full body cast. I took a pizza to him yesterday to check up on him and his wife...and to move the tv into the bedroom...he is okay, and so is she....it was crazy though!!!

Anyways...like I said, a lot of excitement...not necessarily good, but definately noteworthy!! Hope all is well...

later

Jer

Road Trip!!!

So yesterday I went on a road trip. For a few weeks now some friends and I have been talking about taking a day trip to the states on a Sunday after church. The only snag in our plan is that one of my friends (well actually the couple) are having a baby probably as I write (Well, the due date is on Wednesday, but ya never know). So anyways after church I was ansy to do something, so I started bugging my one buddy to go to the states...he agreed...we then got a family involved (they are a fun family...two teenage kids, but fun)...so off we went...snow pouring down, knowing the roads were bad. It took us about 4 hours to do a 2 hour trip to Omak, Washington)

The trip was filled with much cheerful yipping, and freezing coldness...the dad likes the window rolled down during the whole trip...I didn't have a toque...my head was cold.

When we got there, we went to a mexican restaurant...unlimited homemade nacho chips, amazing salsa, and this cabbage stuff you put on too...it was good. I got the fajitas, which were the special that day, and were amazing...

Then it was off to walmart (they have a huge one)...I bought a movie (rudy) for 5 bucks, a shirt for 10, some leather gloves for 10, and a balaclava to keep my head a face warm on the way back for 2 and a pack of amazing gum for 1...but the experience was priceless.

We were unsure how much we were allowed to take across the border without paying customs at the border...we agreed it was 50 bucks a person. The family we went with spent about 600 bucks, so there went that...

On the way back, the roads were a lot better...it appeared to have warmed up a bit. The balaclava came in very handy...my face and head were toasty warm.

When we got to the border, the dad had to show the receipt of purchases..we then got pulled to the side (this was new for me...I've heard of such things, but never experienced it)...the dad went in...had to pay 60 bucks for customs, or duty or whatever...he then came out, and we thought we were on our way, but he said we all had to go in...I'm not gonna lie...I was excited...my first time in a search. We all piled in the building (no frisking...what kind of search was this...I should have cracked a drug joke)...she took the keys and went out to the van...searched through all the stuff...seemed to spend a lot of time looking through my jacket...nothing in it, but there are small holes in the pockets...perhaps she though I was stashing stuff. A few minutes later she came back. I asked out of curiousity how much we are allowed to bring back without paying...she said nothing for just a day trip...if you spend a night it's different. I mentioned I had gone to Mariner's games before and bought souvenir's and she said it was up to the officer's discrection. Okay...now you and I know. Moving on...

We got back at midnight...the dad of the family walks up his steps to the front door and immediately says, "phone the police, someone broke in"...we thought he was kidding, as he often jokes this way...so I walk up the steps and see that the door had been kicked in...interesting...

The dad says, "I think he's still in there" we all stand at the door expecting a murderous beast run out with a pocket knife flailing...nothing happens...the mom phones the police...

The dad and kids proceed to go into the house...I tell them to stay out, but follow them in...some of the rooms had been rooted through, but nothing appeared to be missing...a typical smash a grab job...the mom says the cops tell us to keep out...I leave

The dad stays in the house, and the kids...we all yell at them to get out...we are still waiting for the psycho to run out slitting throats...

Four cop cars come....only one male and one female cop go in...hands on guns, flashlights in hands...we here them yell "police" and bang around a bit...it was like a scene from CSI...except no killer...the snow indicated there were footprints going in, but none going out...interesting...

So in the end there was noone in there...the cops don't do much...what can they do? But it made for an interesting end to a road trip...

Jer