::: sometimes the system goes on the blink and the whole thing turns out wrong :::

Man, I'm pretty doggone frustrated right now.

I mean, I'd like to spend a few paragraphs telling you about our great trip to see Houdin at the discipleship center, but I can't. I just can't.

Instead, I'm thinking about my rotten luck.

We were given a van to test drive, a kind gesture from a friend. A nice van. A 2002 Town and Country. And while it has a lot of miles and a few little issues, it's a better vehicle than anything we currently have.

After a couple of weeks of test driving it, we told our friend that, yes, we would buy the van. He gave us the title and the extra keys. On Friday, I paid $150 for the title transfer and plates and had new tires put on to the tune of $450.

In less than 24 hours, the thing was dead on the side of the road. Apparent transmission failure. It was 7 A.M., we were three hours from home, halfway there to see Houdin's presentation, with three sleeping kids in the car. One minute, we're cruising along, admiring the scenery, making good time. The next minute, bam. Car no worky.

I could say that I'm so glad we were at a place where we could pull over. I could say that I'm glad I packed extra gloves and coats and that I had enough money in the checking account to get a tow truck.

But I don't want to say those things. I want to say:

Dang.

I didn't renew my AAA.
I spent $250 on a tow truck.
I spent $80 on a rental car.
We missed Houdin's presentation.
The car dealership that the tow company recommended for repair was closed.
We have to drive back with the rental (because the only rental place available didn't do one-ways) in five hours, just seven hours after returning home from the trip.
Nothing seemed to go well.
Everything seemed to be stinky.
I'm in a bad mood, and I don't know what to do about it.
I think God's out to get me.

Where I had just made some financial progress and was in the position to pay some of my debts, I am now in the hole by $500. More if we have to fix this vehicle. Like $2,000 more. And we haven't even paid for the vehicle yet.

Man.

So I'll try to settle down, and then I'll write about the rest of the weekend which, unfortunately, seemed to be true to the theme of "stinky."

But we got to see Houdin and Grace. And the hugs from them were sweet.

Goodnight. I'll try not to go much further into debt while I sleep. If I can help it.