Wednesday, December 28, 2005
7000 lb Expedition vs 2000 lb Moose, and the winner is...my family of 4 inside.
We were involved in a horrible head on collision with a very large MOOSE on Christmas day, coming home from visiting the in-laws (see, I knew we shouldn't have gone). It was dark and foggy and those of you who know anything about moose know that they are just stupid, dumb animals. Really, they are. Their brains are about the size of an actual walnut. Their eyes do not reflect like deer, their coat is as dark as night and they are not deterred by headlights or car horns.
Note the moose hair caught on the windshield in the third picture.
Thank GOD were were in the FORD EXPEDITION ( I will advertise for them until I die, which is what most definately would have happened if we driving a vehicle any smaller). The game warden statistics are that only 1% of people who hit a moose actually walk away with no major injuries or death.The game warden, sheriff, and state trooper were amazed that not a single one of us was hurt. They said it was the worst they had seen this year. That highway is notorious for moose and has a high fatality rate but the state refuses to put street lights or push for cell service. The third row window was kicked in my the moose hoofs as he was flipped around. I cry every time I think about how he just missed the middle window right next to where our 3 yo was sitting.
We are very thankful to be alive!!
There are NO cell towers where it happened (this particular highway area being woodland Maine).
I am thankful to all the people that stopped to make sure we were OK, and help us push the truck over to the side of the road, and who then drove to the next town (30min) and called the police.
I am thankful to the 60ish couple from Nova Scotia Canada (GO FELLOW CANADIANS) who actually made room in their small Civic for us 4 and drove us all the way to our house! (~1 hour away). I got their name and address from them and will be sending them a nice thank-you basket.
Thank you Good Samaritans !!!
The next day at the Auto Body place we took some pictures when we went back to get all our belongings and xmas presents which were left behind. It didn't look any better the next day in the daylight.
The kids saw it happen - they heard and felt the loud thud, were rocked forward in their car seats, then saw the moose smash against the windshield. Our 2 yo starting wimpering but we quickly told him everything was OK then he was fine. The 3yo wanted to know what happened:
3 yo: "Mama what happened to the truck?"
Me : " We hit a Moose"
3 yo: "How come we hit a moose?"
Me: "we didn't mean to hit a moose, he just walked right in front of the truck"
3 yo: " how come he walked right in front of the truck?"
Me: ...pause "because he didn't look both ways before crossing the highway, remember how mama and dada always say to look both ways and always hold a grown-up's hand? Well the moose didn't look both ways and he forgot to hold a grown ups hand"
3 yo: "yeah, he forgot to look"
Then they went back to watching the DVD which for some reason was still working even though we lost power for every other part of the truck .
Since I was driving I got the brunt of all the shards of glass and my door wouldn't open so after climbing out and getting the kids out all my 3yo cared about was wanting to see the moose. The 2 yo kept repeating "uh oh, trucka broken" (he's fanatic about cars and trucks)
Yesterday for pre-school they took some of the pictures and a couple of the moose hairs to show their friends.
Have a happy new year everyone!
PS. I got a BIKE! Bianchi Boadwalk, more about that next post...
PPS. Did I already say I LOVE FORD EXPEDITIONS?!!!
Monday, December 12, 2005
Agatha Christie...
Hubby asked to use the Expedition today to “help” a fellow doc move some filing cabinets. Hmmm, something smells fishy here!
Here’s why -
- I asked for a bike for Xmas before we decided not to spend too much. (Since construction of our office is going over budget). I bike would fit nicely in the back of an Expedition.
- Xmas is coming and I am naturally suspicious this time of year.
- My husband sucks at trying to be inconspicuous. Like maybe he should trade me his Accord a few times prior to now so it won’t look so obvious when he asks to borrow my SUV.
- Why would he and another doc ‘move file cabinets’ in their work clothes? They have a handyman ‘helper guy’ for stuff like that. Hmmm. See where I’m headed with this?
- Now 3 weeks from now I may have a big foot in my mouth if I end up with something like a book instead of a bike but it’s fun to be imaginative. Xmas is no fun if there’s no drama.
- I don’t go looking for presents or receipts but like to pick up on verbal cues instead. This way I don’t spoil a potential surprise but can only speculate.
In one way I’ll be really happy to get the bike but on the other hand I have a hard enough time as is making treadmill time. I will admit there are plenty of times I could be working out at home but you know what, my kids come first.
This is not an excuse but rather simply accepting things as they are. Confusing isn’t it? I figure it this way, if my kids are tired, hungry and grumpy when we get home at 5:30pm it is my job as their mother to make things right. This usually means food, cuddling and lots of hugs. Those of you who have kids know this takes time and that when there are hungry toddlers around even the fastest microwaveable Kraft Dinner (Mac & Cheese) isn’t fast enough.
*violins start playing*
I envy all you kidless folks out there for having the time to work out whenever you want (I was like that too, once). To those of you that have only one child, you too have more time to yourself (you’re only “it” 50% of the time). It is common knowledge that the more children you have, the less time you have for yourself, especially if it is your job to pick up the kids and feed them because your day ends sooner. When you have 2 or more kids you are “it” all the time because at any given time there is at least one child that needs you, guaranteed.
Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying. I would not change my life for anything, I absolutely adore my 2 young boys and would love to have 2 more kids but I don’t know if that will happen since time is limited (I’m 35-ugh-now).
My point is when I’m 50 will I be looking at myself and saying “wow, I’m glad I put the kids needs aside so I could have this rock hard body” or will I say “I’m so happy that my kids are happy and cared for and that I am in pretty darn good shape for my age”.
The best time to be in great shape is before you have kids and after your kids are teenagers (at that point they are somewhat self-sufficient). In the interim, I make do as much as I can and wait for the teenage years to come so I can have that “rock hard body”
Some days I get discouraged by all the activity other runners are doing in the off-season, with their running, swimming, weights etc but I have to remind myself that it really is impossible for me to fit those things into our family schedule right now. When the kids are in grade school and they have practice for one sport or another I can drop them off, go for a run and be back in time for pickup. Yeah.
*violins stop playing*
Still there? I haven’t lost you yet?
Good, a question...is there any logical reason to take 2 toddlers to xmas eve church services if they never pay attention and are always being shushing by their grammie (my MIL) even though they are in the glassed off kids room?
I would prefer to not take them (the last 2 years were tough with them). We don't go to church because we are raising them Hindu but to appease my Mother-in-law we go to church at Xmas and Easter. My kids are very well behaved but they are at the age that to go to something formal and to have to sit still, let alone not talk is very hard for them. Especially when there are other kids in the same room. My MIL gets disturbed that they are ruining the service for her even though we told her and the FIL to sit with the rest of the congregation if they wanted to hear the service.
My husband agreed to Xmas at their house instead of ours thinking that he was doing me a favor so I wouldn't have to cook but I would rather cook than listen to the MIL go on about why we don't take the kids to church. *Note to MIL (she doen't know about this blog) it was your son who chose to raise his kids in my religion not me! We make sure to teach the kids about all different faiths, and cultures but, ack, the MIL is pissing me off. The Hindu religion is very mythological, which makes it fun (remember Greek mythology in high school?). When my 3 year old was telling her the role of some of the indian gods, she replied with "oh great, he knows about the gods now"
Curse the MIL! I'm taking back the cashmere sweater set now!
I’ll keep you posted on the Xmas sleuthing *giggle*
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Tagged
OK, I've been tagged by Cosmogrrl...
Here are the directions: Write 5 random facts about yourself, and then list the names of 5 people whom you in turn infect. Also, leave a post to these people letting them know they have been infected.
Here goes:
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Here are the directions: Write 5 random facts about yourself, and then list the names of 5 people whom you in turn infect. Also, leave a post to these people letting them know they have been infected.
Here goes:
- I was a Texas State mixed doubles tennis champion for 3 years straight (in the late 90s-under my maiden name-we were newly married).
- I was my happiest when we lived in San Antonio. Far away from the clutches, oops, I mean influences of parents and in-laws. I could be myself and got to grow as an individual.
- I grew up in a strict, Indian household that did not promote expression of emotion or sexuality/sensuality. Goes with the culture. Although I am an extremely outgoing person, I am still a very reserved person. I do not share my feelings or personal information very easily. Starting this blog was both very hard and therapeutic for me. Because of this I am very open with our kids. We discuss everything. I don't ever want them to feel as though they cannot come to me.
- I am a daredevil. The one thing I have not tried yet is skydiving. I missed my chance before the kids were born and now will wait until my kids are in college.
- I have never liked the taste of beer, have never tried pot or any other drug. And don't feel like I missed out on anything-I don't understand the attraction.
Now, I tag Cassie, Mia, Sharon, a.maria and...Chandra :)
In other news, I ran another 3 miles on the treadmill on Sunday, did lunges and used my free weights and balance ball to work biceps and triceps.
