Stuck

Today's classroom theme at Tommy's school was Career Day, so students could dress up in outfits or uniforms that would depict what they want to be when they grow up. Since Tommy plans on being a professional snowboarder snowboard instructor, he wore his snowboard boots to school. I didn't question whether he packed his sneakers in his backpack because I didn't think I had to, but I learned quickly that he hadn't when he called me just before 9 AM to ask if I'd bring his sneakers to school. Because, you know, I just sit around all day looking for things to do and places to go.

Unknown to me yesterday and finding out only this morning, G had the day off. He thought he was going to have to go shopping for a small Toro snow thrower because the one we had had apparently expired. He was able to revive it, so the day's agenda changed to his starting on taxes and stacking more wood. Under normal circumstances, his being home only messes up my plans, but today, I didn't have to get Jeffrey bundled up to make the run over to the school. So I made my coffee and off I went, but without getting very far. I had lightly sanded and salted the driveway yesterday afternoon, but apparently not enough because although I made it to the top, I had to stop for the one little white car to go by and then I couldn't see past the 12 foot-high snowbank and thanks to the plow's messy aftermath that froze at the edge of the driveway, I had to back up, which my non-AWD vehicle didn't like, and so I slid back into the snowbank, sort of. After spinning my tires, I decided to do the practical thing, turned off the van, trekked back down the driveway, and grabbed the nearly empty barrel of sand. I figured I would fill it up from one of the blue barrel supplies in town after I dropped off Tommy's sneakers. I scattered the last of the sand and salt under the tires and made another attempt to get free, to no avail. Back down the driveway, this time to retrieve the bucket of ashes from yesterday's fire because the sand/salt barrel was empty and this would work just as well. But I over-corrected and only wound up more in the ditch than I was originally.

I silently thanked God that I had AAA and went back inside to make the call, only to find that my yearly membership renewal wasn't until mid-March and apparently, I had used up all my get-out-of-jail-free passes, but they would certainly still come out for a $50 fee. I canceled the request because I could certainly use a shovel to dig myself out, and not for $50. By now, it is after 10 AM, and since he hadn't received them yet, Tommy called again to make sure I was bringing his sneakers and to emphasize that he would need them before lunch at 11 AM. I could certainly dig the van out in under an hour!

I am not the damsel-in-distress type. By now, G knew about my situation and wished me luck as I headed out the door, and I wasn't insulted because if I could get my van stuck, then I can certainly get it unstuck on my own, without any assistance. I was almost dug out when G came out to lecture me on the do's and don'ts of driving on an icy driveway help me get on my way. Between the two of us (team work!), I did get free, although I didn't ask for his help and told him I had it all under control. (I did. I would have gotten out eventually.) Still, I was thankful that he was home and there to help me and I told him as much as I drove off, nearly clipping the car driving down the road because - hello! Snowbank! Can't stop to see who is coming! You just have to take your chances and play chicken.

Anyway, Tommy had his sneakers by 10:30 and I stopped at one of the blue barrels later to fill up our supply. I dropped it off back at home in between dropping of Jeffrey at school and heading to church to work and give blood at the blood drive taking place, and again, my helpful husband offered his assistance, but not without dropping the barrel on his toe. I told him to wait for my help but he didn't listen. His toe is fine.





I did try to give blood, but was rejected. Again. I tried to give last year and was turned away due to low iron, and did try to make up for that all this week by taking iron supplements, but it wasn't enough, it seems. My number was 11.7 on the second try, and it has to be 12.5 or they won't take it. But! I still got my coupon for a free pound of coffee, so it's all good. You can't say I didn't try!