I think we'll be able to buff that right out...

Toddler Child and I are in Arizona.  We flew here on Thursday and return to Utah later this afternoon.  I'm here primarily to visit my grandmother - Mamaw - and I have Toddler Child with me because I lost the bet.  We're staying with Mom and Dad and things are going fine, although I'm tired. 

I'll post more about my time with Mamaw when I get home.  She's failing but it was wonderful to see her.

Toddler Child has a cold. [Of course.  I'm traveling alone with him.]  He developed symptoms about 20 minutes after we got off the plane in Phoenix.  This was after he spent the flight yelling, "Captain!  I need some orange juice!  Captain! Caaaaptain!"

Mom let me borrow her car to run to the store to get cold medicine.  I'll make this short.  I hit the house.  Backed right into it. In my defense, my car beeps when I get too near something [like a house] when I'm in reverse.  Her's does not.  My car has large windows and excellent visibility.  She drives a tiny convertible -- like a clown car -- with small windows and poor visibility.  It's like driving with a bag over your head.

I pulled the car back into the garage and entered the house to confess, only after contemplating if Mom and Dad would notice the damage to the car... and... the house.  I couldn't fly this one under radar.

"Hey, Mom."  She looked up from her spot on the floor playing with Toddler Child.  "I hit the house.  Sorry."

I'm a terrible driver, as shared in item number one in this post.  These things don't surprise or alarm my parents or husband.  When Chris and I were first married, I parked the car in our garage, on top of the lawn mower.

I showed Mom the damage, told her we'd pay for the repairs and went to the store.  Dad had been in their bedroom/bathroom showering after a bike ride.  Coincidentally, the part of the house that I hit.

When I returned from the store, Dad was in his office.  I walked in to tell him what I'd done and apologize.  He said he was in the shower when he heard and felt the "impact".  I asked him what he thought it was.  He said, "I figured Chrisy hit the house." 

Thanks.

Comments

[Middle Aged Woman]

Okay, so I'll fly out there and drive us both to Estes Park.

Love, Claire

[January 25, 2009 |]

My husband is probably wondering why I'm laughing so much... it feels a bit mean to say "because someone you don't know parked on top of their lawnmower"!

Recent blog post: TV, Bread & Soup...

[January 25, 2009 |]

Now I'm headed for Bad Friend Hell, which is the hell that women who are bad friends go to after laughing at her friend's post about hitting the house in a clown car.

Here you go: Read this and laugh at me. I deserve it. And then we can go to hell together.

XOXO

Recent blog post: How to Navigate the Apple Genius Bar

[Andy Sullivan]

I've always enjoyed this video. Seems appropriate at this juncture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeAPiRGTeqc&feature=related

[January 25, 2009 |]

Ok, now that's funny!

Recent blog post: I Guess It’s Okay I Puked The Day Away.

[jessica bern]

I think we went to the same driving school.

I haven't heard from you lately, where've you been? :(

[January 26, 2009 |]

It's kind of good, but at the same time, not so good when everybody around you thinks it's utterly unremarkable when you hit a house with a car.

I'd never had any sort of smash, big or small until a few years ago when a young driver had a brain freeze and turned right in front of my car. When I told my EX-best friend that I'd had a smash, before even asking if we were okay, she said, "Oh what, did you smash into a pole?" Yeah, thanks for that. It still annoys me.





Recent blog post: Grace In Small Things: 3 of 365

[January 26, 2009 |]

Laughed at your Dad's comments; man knows his daughter, right? ;)

Recent blog post: I smoked a cone. And I inhaled.

[January 26, 2009 |]

I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time. Probably at least a week or so.

That poor lady with the shopping cart . . . oh my, I've been there.

Hey, at least you're predictable . . .

Recent blog post: Why

[January 26, 2009 |]

I only WISH my father was that zen about this kind of thing. Ah - so many good childhood memories of watching his head explode... Of course, ironically enough, he recently hit his own house - taking out a chunk of trellised patio... But I wasn't there for that drama, so I get to laugh about it from the comfort of my own home several states away.

Recent blog post: Hubris Revisited

[January 26, 2009 |]

"I figured Chrisy hit the house." lol

Ah, we all have to hit a house at least once in our driving careers.



Recent blog post: Sunday May 10th 7:30 p.m.

[The Floydster]

Its always good to laugh, but when you can laugh on a Monday, you've hit the jackpot. Thanks for providing the jackpot, Chris!

[January 26, 2009 |]

Your description of your Mother's car is great!

I test drove a Nissan Armada over the weekend that has a backup camera and all of those alarms when you are close to stuff! I could get used to that....





Recent blog post: Makin' Pizza and Breakin' Heads

[Chris]

Claire, Thank you. I get carsick once in a while, but I'll bring a bag and a can of lysol. Love, Chris

Rachel Cottrill - Well then I hope laughter really is "the best medicine" and you're feeling better very soon.

Cheri - If that's how you go to Bad Friend Hell, I started the trip when I was like six years old. You need to show me how to include links in a comment someday. I don't know how to do that.

Andy Sullivan! (a.k.a. Cupcake when I was in kindergarten.) - Great YouTube video! It's destined to become a classic.

Sherri - The highest of compliments coming from you. :)))

Jessica - You mean there's a driving school?

Tinsenpup - "Utterly unremarkable" - those are the perfect words to describe how Chris and my parents feel about my "smashes". I love how you express things.

Braja - Yes. The man knows his daughter.

Tysdaddy - That's nice you laughed. I can laugh about it too, just not too hard .

Kate Coveny Hood - Your poor Dad. I'm used to leaving a path of destruction. I imagine it's more difficult for a mature man to admit "poor form" while driving. Hope he was okay!

Jannie - I suppose...

The Floydster - You're welcome. (blushing a little)

[Chris]

Connie - Oooh. That sounds spiffy and helpful. I read your post - funny that you referred to it as a "Monster Truck". It's difficult to find something that's sturdy, but not too bohemath.

[January 26, 2009 |]

I'm terrified of this type of thing happening to our new minivan! My wife is not the best driver in the world, either, and she's scraped the side of her old car many times while trying to get into her side of the garage. Now, she's got a much bigger vehicle to get in there, and I just know I'm going to see white streaks down the side one day, and it's going to make me sick.

Recent blog post: through a toddler’s lens

[Tristan]

I'll make this short too. I drove Corbie's mom's car through her garage. Not into. THROUGH! We only stopped when Corbie got on the floor and pushed the break with her hand. In fairness to me, she convinced me to drive a stick shift when I didn't know how, but I have had way too many scrapes along the side of my various cars to claim to be a good driver.

Thanks for making me laugh!

[michael.offworld]

Har har. I love it. Funniest home videos for cars.

I put a dent into every one of my Dad's cars between the ages 15 and 18. Then, when I got my own, I wrapped it around a tree. As soon as I hit 30, I had it figured. Took me a LONG time to learn. I'm dreading when my boys are old enough to drive.

Don't worry, you'll get there too. (hee hee)

[Chris]

Father Muskrat - OF COURSE it's going to happen. Be gentle with Pretty Bride. The important thing is that she and the pretty girl-child are safe. Right?

Tristan - You need to blog about this, PLUS all the other incidents you shared via email. I feel so much better. Maybe we should start a support group - or maybe our husbands should...

Michael - I don't think I'll ever get there, but thanks for the vote of confidence. That was a vote of confidence... right?

[January 27, 2009 |]

I love you! You always make me laugh, and these days, that doing something.Hope you, the Toddler, the car, and your parents' house are all well!Thank you for the chuckle - I needed it.

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[January 27, 2009 |]

I love you! You always make me laugh, and these days, that doing something.Hope you, the Toddler, the car, and your parents' house are all well!Thank you for the chuckle - I needed it.

Recent blog post: The site ... does not match member ID3089

[January 27, 2009 |]

Oh - that really is hilarious! You hit the house. You parked on top of the lawn mower... I love it! :-)

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[February 4, 2009 |]

That video, and story, were so awesome. Almost as awesome as people falling down stories and videos... and that is a HUGE compliment!

Recent blog post: Mexico or bust, Part II

[christy]

Oh my god I'm in tears over here Chris. "I figured Chrisy hit the house"!!!! Priceless.

You parked in the garage. OVER the lawnmower?!? hahahha!!!!

So freaking funny. I love that you linked up to this post - I wasn't reading you back then. Do that some more so I know which ones to read!!!