Some expensive ice cream...

On Wednesday, Daniel came home at five and we all hopped into the car to drive over to the South Bronx to catch the last 20 minutes of Eucharistic Adoration that the Friars have on Wednesdays. It ends with Benediction during which Juan Pablo was sleeping and Emmanuel was looking anywhere but the monstrance and doing anything but making the sign of the Cross which I exhorted him to do. Oh well.

After that we dropped something off and picked something up from next door where the St. Elizabeth volunteers work. Then we went off in search of a Baskin Robbins...because we found out that on April 30th Baskin Robbins were have 31 cent scoop night in support of firefighters. You can't beat 31 cents a scoop...well, I considered trying to figure out how much a scoop of Breyers Ice Cream is when it is on sale for $3 per half gallon to see if its less...

We drove around a bit knowing approximately where we could find one but not totally sure. We spot one but have to wait for a truck to move so we can park along the street across from the BR. Truck moves. Park car. Cross the street and go in to crowded store. Wait in line and pick our flavors. Order 5 different flavors when we realize they serve them in little cups with lids so we can take them home. Pay $1.80. Walk out and across the street to our car. Some men come up to Daniel and point out that our back window has been shattered and that they saw a boy throw a rock out of a bus as it passed. Listen to them curse a bit about delinquent kids. I send Daniel into cafe right next to us where I saw a table full of police men. He goes in and asks them what to do. They are helpful and say a police report won't help because we don't have a description of a person and nothing was stolen from car. We call the insurance who finds a glass repair place and faxes our car info to them and reminds us we have a $500 deductible. We knock the rest of the glass down...carefully as not to send glass shards flying through the car into our children's faces and not to scare Emmanuel too much. Drive home trying to figure out what to do with the car at night since we have only street parking.

Juan Pablo asks lots of life questions like, "Why did the boy break our window?" As we pull up to the house, he says, "That boy needs to say he's sorry for breaking the window." So we pray for the boy.

After dinner, Daniel drives the car down to the Sisters 30 minutes away to park the car in their gated lot. He then borrows their van and switches the car seats to it since we are coming to their convent in the morning for the Solemnity of the Ascension Mass at 7:45 am. He drives 30 minutes back up and parks. Grabs keys and locks van. Closes door and then realizes he has his keys and not the key to the van. Looks in and sees they are in the ignition. Fights the urge to curse...well, I don't know if he did, but I would have. He comes back in the house, now 10:30 pm. We realize we will have to take subway and bus to get to the Sisters in the morning. Contemplate him going alone and I'll go to Mass later at our parish. Decide to decide in the morning. I go to bed and he goes down to the kitchen to make the starter for cinnamon rolls which he promised the Sisters for the Feast day brunch after Mass.

Daniel gets up at 4:30 am to do the next step on the cinnamon rolls and try to inconspicuously unlock the van with a coat hanger though he admits that he's never done it nor has he ever seen anyone successfully unlock a car this way. Doesn't succeed. Goes back to the house and showers. Wakes me and we decide we'll go with the kids on public transportation to Mass and brunch at the Sisters...with the fresh, fragrant cinnamon rolls in a large canvas tote.

We make it to Mass on time and they kids act like kids during it. Fr. and Sisters get a dose of parochial Mass in contrast to their small chapel religious life Mass. Enjoyed a delicious meal and see all the things Daniel has been working on.

Head back up to the house via bus and subway with the Sisters' extra key to their van. Daniel tries the key, but the van doesn't start. Arghhh! Some man tries to jump it for him, but it doesn't work. Daniel wants to ask him to try again, but doesn't. Calls Sisters who drive on up in their other van while Daniel rides his bike down to get our car and take it to the glass shop before it gets too late.

The Sisters arrive bringing us food. Then we use their newly-donated jumper cables and with the help of another man who spoke no English and some prayers, we get the car started. The Sister say good-bye and drive off in their two vans after many apologies from me for the inconveniences we've unintentionally made for them.

At 4:30pm on Daniel's Ascension Day-off, he arrives home. We eat a quick meal, pray, and Daniel falls asleep with the kids while it's still light outside. And I figured out that the 31 cent ice cream from the night before cost us about $50 per scoop not including all the extra gas used in the extra driving. hmmm....