It was not a good day yesterday at our house. It started with helicopters flying low over our house at 6AM and waking us up. No, they weren’t those mysterious black UN helicopters. There was a horrific traffic accident on the Long Island Expressway not far from our house (which puts everything in perspective because as rotten as the day was, none of us are in critical condition in an ICU) and the helicopters were going to the accident scene to airlift the injured. When I got up, my back was killing me from painting the living room the previous day.

Next was the concert Beth was supposed to attend. She was going to see From Autumn to Ashes with one of her friends but her friend punked out on her. Beth tried to round up someone else to go with her but with short notice on a Sunday she couldn’t get anyone. Michel would have gone with her but Michel hasn’t been feeling well. So Beth ending up missing the concert because she didn’t want to go by herself.

Next the Volvo wouldn’t start when I went grocery shopping last night. Everything came on but the starter didn’t make a sound. I had to call Michel to come and get me and the groceries. The parking lot where I was stuck has a rule against overnight parking so I had to talk to the manager to keep from being towed away.

When I got home and got the groceries packed away, I went upstairs to kiss Mikey good night and he promptly sat up and vomited everywhere. I didn’t think my kisses were that gross! So we got him cleaned up and changed his sheets and then I had to run out to pick up my mother from Bingo. She’s 88 and doesn’t drive anymore. Michel wanted me to stop at Walgreen’s on the way there but apparently the 24 hour drug store closes at 10 PM on Sundays. Then when I got home, I found out that Mikey had two more bouts of vomiting while I was gone. Everything settled down after that.

Today has started off better already. Mikey was feeling fine this morning and was in fact full of energy and raring to go. We got him on the bus for school and then I went to check on the car and get it towed. I called Volvo emergency service and they sent a tow truck within the hour. That gave me enough time to get coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts and read the paper. The tow truck guy tried to start the car and said, “I’ll bet it’s the interlock. Happens all the time to Nissans but not too much to Volvos. Let me get a crowbar.” Crowbar?! He went to the tow truck, came back with a crowbar, opened the hood, and banged on the starter with the crowbar. “Try it now.” The car started right up! So I thanked the guy and drove the car over to Volvo and they gave us a brand new Volvo station wagon as a loaner. Michel is enjoying driving around in it. So with luck, the day will continue to be better than yesterday.