Well I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th yesterday.  
The evening was surely eventful for my kids and I.

Fireworks are scheduled to start at 10pm over the Maumee River in Toledo Ohio.  We leave shortly after 8pm so we can get a decent spot to see and enjoy the fireworks.  I request for the kids to use the restroom before we leave, Liz declines because she "doesnt need to".  But of course about 5-10 mins into the drive she cant hold it...lol.  So we stop and she does her business.  

We arrive into the area of Toledo where the fireworks are to be set off and jamm packed it was.  Traffic was horrible and I think people camped out the night before.  But we manage to snag ourselves a spot on some bridge that I dont even know the name of...but directly over the river.  Turns out we had the best seats in the house.  Josh and Liz absolutely loved the fireworks, although Liz was scared most of the time that we were too close but I assured her we werent.  The beauty of it all distracted her.  After about a half hour of beautiful and very loud (my fav part) fireworks, we join the rush back to our car to venture on home...and I thought traffic was bad on the way there!  HA HA!!

I forwarned my kids to not be in a hurry to get home because it would sure take a while.  Little did I know just how long!  Just as I am at a stand still in traffic, I notice my temp gauge higher than normal and will ya lookie there...smoke coming out of my car hood.  I did very well not to panic tho as I looked for a place to pull over.  We were being watched over because just as I found a parking lot to pull into, a lady yells to me from her car..."do you need a jug of water"?

Her and her husband were so generous and patient with my kids and I and helped us so much.  Turns out I was low on the antifreeze and needed to go buy some.  But of course I dont have enough cash in my wallet to make things easier...so this awesome couple offers me and extra 5 buck so I can get it.  Long long story short...we got what we needed and make it home by 12:30.  By that time both Josh and Liz got their second wind and didnt want to go to bed...more fun!!!

I realize things could have been alot worse but we got more than expected...lol.

So how was your 4th of July??????? :)
Hope it was great!

Many Blessings to you and yours!
Tess

tessistired wrote on Jul 5^th, 2008 at 1:54pm:

Her and her husband were so generous

There are some good people out there, and sometimes you dont even have to look for them.....they find you!

Glad it all worked out, Tess!  :)

Tessie:

Sometimes GOOD things happen to NICE people.  Glad it all worked out for you and your kids.

Ray

Ray wrote on Jul 5^th, 2008 at 6:03pm:

Tessie: Sometimes GOOD things happen to NICE people.  Glad it all worked out for you and your kids. Ray

Couldn't have put it better myself Ray.

Tess, you and your kids will remember the adventure longer than the show from the bridge.  Sometimes these are the best memories down the road.

Hey Mom, remember that time... ;)

-Dennis-

I'm glad you all enjoyed the show and that there were some "Good Samaritans" out there to take care of you.

Quick Car Tip:  Sometimes, when the car is starting to overheat, if you crank the heater as hot as it will go and turn the fan on high, that will help bring the engine temp down.  The reason this works is because when the heater is on, the engine coolant runs through the heater core and the fan blows air across the core, bringing the temp of the water down some.  It gets as hot as hell in the car, but the engine might stay cool enough to get you home or to a mechanic.  I have used this little trick when sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and the engine temp was creeping up to dangerous levels.

Thanks guys for the well wishes!

I agree with all of you.

And thanks Gator for the advice...I will remember that if I start to over heat again after my fan gets fixed...lol
Im laughing becuase just a week ago the fan went out in my car and wont blow any air...so no A/C or heater for the time being...till I get it fixed of course.  Thank God the windows open...lol

Tess

wrote on Jul 5^th, 2008 at 11:29pm:

Quick Car Tip:  Sometimes, when the car is starting to overheat, if you crank the heater as hot as it will go and turn the fan on high, that will help bring the engine temp down.  The reason this works is because when the heater is on, the engine coolant runs through the heater core and the fan blows air across the core, bringing the temp of the water down some.  It gets as hot as hell in the car, but the engine might stay cool enough to get you home or to a mechanic.  I have used this little trick when sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and the engine temp was creeping up to dangerous levels.

LMAO Gator, when I started my welding company we only had one old truck. It was a 79 pick up, I had to drive with the heat on in 95 degree temps and carried lots of water doing pick ups and deliveries.....LMAO  ;D

Lots of folks laughed at me at those stops, but I told them that one day I would be sitting fat writting my own ticket and they would still be in their dead end jobs.

Alot of sweat got me that last laugh!  ;)