Today started out so good. Got the boys up early, got hair cuts, went to get our church directory picture, actually got a smile out of both of them! (Amazing feat when you have a 2 year old and a 4 year old!) Beautiful day, no wedding, and a strong wind. We haven't been out on the boat for almost a year, so I figured, let's go enjoy ourselves!

Of course, that's when it all goes horribly wrong. (I should have seen this coming!)

Christian (my 2 year old) decides that now would be a good time to start screaming for the next 45 minutes straight. He wanted nothing - no binkie, no bottle, no food, didn't want to be held, didn't want to be put down - he was pissed and nothing was going to change it. We figured he was just tired (he was) so we went back to the house to let him get a nap.

No problem, I'll just get everything ready for the boat this afternoon.

Battery charged - check.
Motor & Mount - a little dusty and some cobwebs, but still working - check.
Lifejackets - Ian, where is the other kids lifejacket? (I dunno.....). Ok, a trip to wal-mart. No problem.
Boom (for the sail) - hmmm...doesn't fit in the van. No problem, hang it out the window - check.
Anchor - check.
Main Sheet - check.
Sails - man, I really need to clean these - oh well. check.
Keys to the truck (in storage with the boat)...........
Me: Steph, where are the truck keys?
Steph: I'll get them.

Sweet. Check.
Keys to the trailer locks.

um......

Me: Steph?

45 minutes later, check.

drain plug.....must be with the boat.
Oh good, Christian's up. We can just all go.

Me: Everybody in the van!

Hmm...they changed the access hours at the storage unit. No problem, we just have to be back by 9. (It's about 6:30 at this point). Steph and Christian, you go get a new lifejacket for Christian, Ian and I will uncover the boat and hook it to the truck......

Why won't the truck unlock?

Crap. Dead remote batteries.
(unlock door)
Nope. Dead truck battery.
<sigh>
No problem, we have jumper cables.

Me: Steph, pull the van up.
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

(hook up the jumper cables, truck factory alarm goes nuts).
HONK-HONK-HONK-<start>-<die>-HONK-HONK-HONK-<start>-<die>-HONK-HONK-HONK

Crap. The remote batteries ARE dead. I can't turn off the alarm.

HONK
HONK
HONK

Me: STEPH, GRAB THE OWNERS MANUAL TO SEE IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN OFF THE ALARM!
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

HONK
HONK
HONK

Steph: WHERE'S THE MANUAL? SHOULD BE IN THE GLOVE BOX! IT'S NOT THERE!
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

HONK
HONK
HONK

(disconnect the jumper cables)

HONeeeeeewwwwww.....click....click...cli.....

Wow, the battery died really quick. Not a good sign.

Me: Is the manual in the center console? How about under the back seats?
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

Where is that thing?

Oh well, let's just try again.

(hook up the jumper cables)

HONK
HONK
HONK

Ian: DADDY, THE TRUCK IS HURTING MY EARS!
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

HONK
HONK
HONK

Me: GO GET IN THE VAN IAN!
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.

HONK
HONK
HONK

Ian: I GOTTA GO POTTIE!

HONK
HONK
HONK

(of course, the storage unit has no bathroom.....)
Me: GO OVER IN THE BUSHES THERE BUD!

HONK
HONK
HONK

Me: NO! DON'T CLIMB THE BUSHES! PULL YOUR PANTS UP, JUST GO ON THE BUSHES!

HONK
HONK
HONK

..........

Oh, using the key in the drivers door turns it off. Good.

<Truck finally starts>

Me: Ok Steph, go get the new lifejacket, we'll finish up here.
Christian: (Binkie in his mouth) suck suck suck.


Me: Ian, Did you see the drain plug?

Ian: This one?

Me: Nope...that's the wrong size......

<20 minutes of searching>

Me: <on cell phone> Steph, I need a new drain plug. 5/8 or so.
Steph: They only have 1".
Me: Ok, that's too big. Just get a 5/8 dowel. We don't have much time anyway.

<10 minutes later>
Ah, here in the overhead compartment.

<on cell phone again>

Me: Nevermind Steph, we found it.

Me: Ok Ian, stand way over here, and let me know when this hitch is near the front of the trailer, ok?

Ian: OK Daddy!

<pull the truck forward, put it in reverse>

<sputter sputter die>

grrrr...should have come over and started the truck this winter.

<turn the key> click...click...click....

<sigh>

<on cell phone>

Me: Steph, where are you? The truck died again.

Ian: Daddy, I'm going to throw up.

Me: Huh? What's wrong?

Ian: I drank too much propel.

Me: Well, go over there bud and just sit down, ok?

<Steph pulls up>

20 minutes later.....

Truck finally starts. We really need to get a new battery so it doesn't die on the launch ramp.

Steph: It's 8:00 already......

Me: Ok, we'll go to Wal-Mart. I'll kill it, and if it doesn't start back up, I'll get a new battery.

Ian: I'm still going to throw up.

Me: What's the problem bud? You've been saying that for half an hour.

Ian: I drank too much propel.

Steph: Here, I'll give you a bag. If you get sick, you can use this, ok?

Ian: Ok.

In the truck, 5 minutes later.....

Ian: Zzzzzzzzzz........

<at wal-mart, turn it off, try to start it....click-click-click>

Me: Ok, I'll get a new battery.

30 minutes later....

<truck starts right up>

Steph: We have 1/2 an hour to get back in the storage unit.

Me: Ian, we're going to have to go boating next week.

Ian: <yawn>But.....but I wanted to go today! <sniff><whine>

Me: I know bud, so did I.....

Ian: Can we go to Chuck-E-Cheese instead?

<I'm covered in grease and battery acid>

Me: um...no bud, not tonight. We'll take the boat out on Monday, ok?

Ian: <whine>Ok.....

5 minutes later:

Ian: ZZZzzzzzzzz.....




Ah, the joy of boat ownership!

At least we're ready for Monday. Hopefully we'll actually get to SEE the lake at least! LOL

Hope your day was more productive!

Shan