Really...Does It EVER End?!

It seems like lately things just can't go right for J...This kid has had a tough time when it comes to vehicles!! When he first started driving 2 years ago with his farm permit we had a 1980 GMC pickup for him but before he started his Sophomore year we decided he would get to start driving himself to school as he always has crazy practice schedules with his sports! So we sold the GMC because it needed a bit of work, nothing serious but like the blinkers didn't work so it needed a new steering column and the Hubby just thought it wasn't dependable as it was so old! So we bought him a 1994 Suburban, I know...a bit big for a kid BUT I want SAFETY for my kiddos when they are out there on these country roads!! The "Burb" had a bad engine when we bought it so the Hubby replaced it with an engine he bought from some guy he knows that owns an auto shop.



So J drove the "Burb" most of the school year then randomly one day it broke down...Lost all oil pressure and spun a bearing :( So the engine was toast! So then the Hubby decided he didn't want to mess with putting another engine in it, nor did he have the time so he bought J this 1989 Chevy.



I know we went backwards a few years but the Hubby insisted! To be completely honest I was against buying this truck as it would have been cheaper to just put an engine in the "Burb". BUT you know how Hubby's can be! He was very adamant that this was a good idea because this truck had been completely rebuilt by a friend of his about 2 years ago. It had a super solid engine and hadn't been driven much since it was built because the guy had bought himself a different truck. So of course he bought it and I won't even go on to tell you how many things we've had to replace on this truck. BUT not engine things, like brakes, axles, exhaust...Hubby says "well this stuff is all acceptable because I knew it hadn't been done"...WHAT?! Oh my goodness!! So a little over a week ago J and the Hubby replaced the compressor for the AC and the next day J calls while he was on his way to weights and says the truck is acting funny! So Hubby asks if all of the gauges are showing normal and J says yes they are, so they decided it must be something tied into the AC. Well they were wrong...J calls soon after and says "I'm broke down on the side of the road" AGHH!!!! So we rush to get there and lo and behold there is oil and antifreeze/water all over the ground! YEP threw a rod through the block. Engine D.E.A.D~!!! I was so stinkin furious! We paid a bit of money for this truck and now we have to buy a new engine! I just wanted to cry! Just to clarify, J is a very good driver he is not "hot rodding" or anything like that. We have had comments made that he must cause this, well both instances there was nothing one could have done to prevent it!

So for now he has to drive our business service van while we get the engine done. So it's been kind of an ongoing joke that J might call anytime and say that the engines toast.. Probably not a good joke because the call this morning to the Hubby before 6 am was "umm dad I just hit a deer"!! REALLY?! WHY OH WHY?! Thank GOD he was not hurt in anyway shape or form and I am so proud of him because he did not swerve! We have always taught him to just hit *whatever* if it jumps out in front of you because you are likely to lose control and roll if you slam on the brakes and swerve! It was shortly before 6 am, he was headed to weights driving down our dirt road about 2 miles from the house. The van is not terrible but it will need a new fender and grill. He currently cannot open the passenger door because of the fender damage.




Sorry but the birds had already stolen the doe's eyes and tongue!



Hair in the wheel were it hit!



Hubby getting it off the road before someone hits it



PLEASE OH PLEASE can we have a break soon!!

My Very First Wildlife Vehicular Manslaughter...

Living in the country you have that constant thought that someday you are bound to hit an animal... Well I have been making sure I do not drive fast at night down our dirt roads because of all the deer and other wildlife. We have been out here for a few years now and tonight I had my first "wildlife vehicular manslaughter"....It was a young buck and I totally did not see him, he must have stretched out running fast enough that I got him with the front of my truck. I turned around to check and see what I hit and what I needed to do... So as I approached the buck he lifted his leg up but he was bleeding from his mouth, I felt SO-O-O-O bad!!!!!! I immediately went to call Hubby to have him bring a gun down to put him out of his misery, but then remembered that I had left my phone at home earlier so I had to race home to get my phone to call him (he was down the road working). So he gets home grabs the gun and we head back, we pull up and Hubby gets out and nudges the buck a few times and says he's already dead. I was like thank God!! I did not want that buck to lay there in pain. He was in the middle of the road so Hubby had to drag him into the ditch.

I of course snapped a picture of him just in case there is any damage on my truck, we hadn't even really looked yet. But we looked it all over when we were done and didn't find anything but maybe a spot in the middle part of the bumper! So all's I have to say now is Gotta Love my Dodge!!! I'm impressed that it didn't damage the truck!

So I am feeling really bad, and I hope I never hit another one!!

Warning!!! Dead deer in photo below!!