When I recall some of the best times in my life, I often think about a little trip I took back in the summer of ’04.
If made into a movie, this story could be considered a drama, comedy, or even a romance tale, but most would consider it all three rolled into one.
It came about suddenly and unexpectedly. My friend of many years, Bert, and his mother decided to join several of their friends at the last minute on a trip to their favorite vacation spot, Destin, Florida. I was then invited along by Bert as we did most everything together.
Besides the planning that comes along with most vacations, it started out very typical. We loaded up the car on a Friday afternoon, and planned to leave the next morning, however, at 3 AM we all three, (Bert, myself, and Bert’s mom), found ourselves wide awake and, figuring we wouldn’t get much sleep anyway, decided to depart for Florida right then and there.
After a quick stop at Hardee’s to fulfill our late night munchies, we were on our way.
To take up the time we decided to watch some movies on a portable DVD player we had brought along, which in theory was a good idea, but not in the backseat with Bert. He was quickly asleep and had taken up most of the room. I tried to keep my own space, but within 30 minutes he had sprawled out all over the backseat, including on top of me, and I couldn’t stand it. I decided to move up to the front seat with Bert’s mom, which wasn’t so bad, except for the fact that for the next eight hours, of which about 3 of them I had the pleasure of sleeping, she forced me to listen to some of the worst music I have ever experienced in my entire life. I’m still not quite sure who it was singing, but a female country singer giving her rendition of famous Elvis songs has never sounded so bad.
At about noon my ears were finally granted some relief when Bert awoke and commanded his mom to turn on some new music and stop torturing me.
The next few hours were not so bad. I had good music, someone to talk to, and some nice ocean views. Even with all this, the time couldn’t come soon enough for us to get out of the car and get our vacation started.
Right around 3PM we finally rolled into the parking lot of our motel, The Ocean Moon Inn. I couldn’t wait to get unpacked, get poolside, and get some tropical drinks in my hand…sure, I got all that, but I also got something I didn’t bargain for.
As I stepped out of the car the first thing I had to do was stretch, as it had been a very long and cramped ride. As I was doing so I gazed up to take in what would be my home for the next week, and as I swung my view from left to right, there she was, sitting with a group of friends on the staircase leading up to the second floor. We made eye contact for what seemed to be forever, and then she glanced away. My heart thumped, I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline, and then I quickly grabbed my bags and made my way down a hallway and out of sight to think about what had just happened. I wasn’t sure if Bert had seen her or not, I was sure he noticed the loud group of mostly boys surrounding one or two girls, but I wasn’t sure if he had really noticed the one that I had, or the way that she looked at me.
The motel was a sort of "L" shape. It had two stories, and was quite small with only about 30 rooms. They all opened up to the pool which was in the center of the "L". It was an outdoor motel with no lobby, no indoor hallways, no convention rooms, as in you were either inside a bedroom, or you were outdoors.
Bert followed me as we quickly made our way to room 205. We were familiar with its location as we had both stayed in it only a year before, along with Bert having stayed in it with his family for nearly the past 5 years.
We opened the door and a cool breeze rushed us from inside the room. Bert unknowingly plopped down onto one of the beds, and rolled over as if to go to sleep.
I stood there for a few moments and then blurted out, "Did you see that girl?"
"What girl," said Bert, his voice muffled by the pillow his face was planted in.
"The one at the top of the steps!"
Bert rolled over, "Which one at the top of the steps…the dark haired one?"
I nodded my head.
"Yeah, what about her?" said Bert.” Did you think she was hot?"
I didn’t reply. I just stood there with a "DUH" look on my face.
A few more seconds passed and finally Burt assured me, "She wasn’t that great." Dismissing the idea entirely and rolling back over.
For the next hour or two we relaxed, watched MTV, and ate Cheetos…correction, Bert relaxed, watched MTV, I also ate the Cheetos (and some Ho-Ho’s), but I couldn’t do anything but think about those few seconds that I made eye contact with the girl on the stairs and the feeling that she gave me, even though I didn’t even know her.
I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, as Bert obviously didn’t feel the same way as I did, but I couldn’t get her out of my head. I wond

Is it true that with an infant car seat, the bar must be pushed back (not in the upright position) when driving? My friends husband just installed my Babys car seat for me –having her in about 9 daysss– and he told me that when the Baby is in the car, the bar needs to be pushed back level with the back of the car seat. I had no idea! He installed the car seat for me because he’s a firefighter, and could install it properly. Not that my boyfriend or I couldn’t have done it, but I feel a bit safer knowing that he did it ) Did you have your car seat installed by the fire / police department?
Thanks girls. I work at a bank (in the drive thru most of the time) and see so many car seats with the handles still up, as if they were just snapped in the car seat base and left. I also see wayy to many young children not in seat belts, on someones lap in the front seat.. aah it drives me nuts! I just wanna make sure I do what’s right + safest. Thanks again!
I agree beary. That is why I decided to get my friends hubby to install it for me! He knows what he is doing & is certified through the fire department!

My boyfriend thinks Im silly for having it installed by my friends hubby. He thinks that we will be taking it in and out of the car because of passengers. I rarely ever have any passengers besides him or a friend or two & there is still room. If they don’t like it, they can drive seperate.. right?

My son is five months old and since he’s tall and big for his age, it’s getting harder to carry him in his carrier when I go shopping. He can sit up pretty well supported, so I’m sure we can start putting him in a normal car seat soon. However, I’m not sure if he would be able to sit up well in the front seat of a shopping cart. Just wondering at what age can they do this? Thanks
By the way, I’m not asking when my son can use a forward facing car seat. I know that’s when he’s 1 year old. We have a normal car seat that can face backwards like most can.

and if u can, think of a continuation
Sherrie had been standing for an hour by the bus stand before she saw a car coming her way. It made its way a little too casually around the narrow bend. The yellow rays from the headlights jerked around crazily. She could make out its svelte, dark figure even in the darkening evening. I might as well just ask for a lift, she thought, trying not to let her mind ‘accidentally’ recall the awful stories she had heard about hitchhikers. They were probably just unlucky she thought as she lifted her thumb and gave a little wave, like me sometimes, she continued, as the car whizzed by. Boy, what a grouch. In the darkening twilight, she could make out a young man on the front seat. He was leaning dangerously on the wheel. God, I hope he’s not drunk. The cold and habitual fear gripped her; her throat went dry as the scenes flashed before her eyes. The crash….the shatter of glass…that scream….and the rain.”Ughh”.She shook herself out of her thoughts before they got the better of her. She took a deep breath and pulled her shawl closer around her, it was getting chilly and her head began to ache. She turned her head just to see the car’s lights fade around the overhanging crag. She sighed again. A light drizzle began. “Oh no, not rain”. she whispered to herself. She hated the rain the steady unjust rain. Sherrie watched in horror as it turned into a steady downpour. The water wickedly gathered its forces, getting every help it could every moment from above, together the little rivulets fell upon the innocent earth. She watched the tender earth underneath give way and turn into slushy mud. She squeezed her eyes, but as if right in front of her the car did a 360….it’s wheels screaming…the steady unending rain..a hand reached out for her..the dreadful scream..the car tried to hold on…. The cold wind as if understood her from its million memories of similar happenings blew strongly around her willing her out of the past. Her black silk skirt was no protection from the cold. She heard wild honking. Dazed by her thoughts, she stared on as a battered jeep spluttered to a stop in front of her. Grey paint peeled off its bumpy body. She was totally drenched now. “Pretty late partying for a gal like yerself. You love the mountain rain, huh?!” the driver croaked cheerfully. She really couldn’t make out his features. It was too dark. “Get yerself in; I’ll see you get home in good time.” He winked to her as he made his way to a rundown nearby shop. She opened the back door and got in without noticing the hint of red in his eyes. It was the local transport. She couldn’t wait the whole night for a better choice. She sagged against the battered seat. The musky smell and warmth did little to calm her, her dress clung to her wet and shivering body. Those horrible memories always drained her of her energy. Above the clatter of the rain, she heard laughter. It sounded so empty. The driver was hurrying his way back. Her hands were shivering. “You okay mam?” The driver had got in. He shut the door with a bang. ”Looks like someone’s been giving you a hard time” He laughed again, brushing the water off his leather jacket. What was so funny? She was in no mood for casual banter. She hated nosy people who needed just a glance at them to start them talking and asking a million questions. And there were many around here. She really needed to get home. Her temples were ready to burst. “High street, house no. 12. Hurry please. And take me through the shortcut”.” The shortcut? You gotta be kiddin” He turned around to face her. He looked around 35. “That ways bad up. Jes’ yesterday was going that way, Maggie slipped, not that she usually slips but she’d slipped alright an’ “. ‘Maggie?’ who’s that and who cares!!…He turned around and turned the key as he continued. ”Maggie is my jeepsie here, she’s a babe, held on, but we did go haf’ way down tha’ little muddy slide”. ‘Hold on’ was a very familiar word and she did not want the memories to come rushing back. “Was a dirty business there al right” Maggie spluttered. Sure seemed a babe. “Ya really shouldn’t be goin, that way. And I won’t take ya.. we should just…” What!! C’mon now he’s getting bossy. Then as if it added to her anger, she screamed at him “JUST DO AS I SAY ! ”. The driver turned around and stared at her. Sherrie stared back, breathing heavily. “Alright.” he spat sarcastically on her face. The jeep started. The wind howled outside. Sherrie put her throbbing head in her hands. The driver was talking again. She lifted her head and stared outside. The pine trees outside were being pushed roughly from one side to the other by the strong wind. They groaned trying to maintain their posture. The rain splattered on her window. Something was always sinister about the mountain rain. She shivered as she watched thunder light up the massive trees. Their long arms waving in the wind. It was getting scary. She just closed her eyes. The jeep turned around a narrow bend just off the main cemented road. It jumped a little. She remembered the last time she had come to the mountains, it was her 21st birthday. Dad had gifted a sweet little alto. And she’d loved it. Freedom was her love and it wasn’t new to her. She’d always been the reliable type. Mistakes were seldom committed, but that time she’d made one. Not wanting the horrible memories to come flooding back she stared outside. The overgrowth was getting thicker and the rain heavier. “Ughh” She groaned out loud. What a great day to stay late at the office. She wished she’d stayed the night at her friend’s house. It was the closest to the office. Thunder roared above her. Come to think of it, it was getting a little eerie around here. Infront of her the road was pitch black except for the occasional dim light the jeep was throwing on the road. With a sudden shock she realized it was spluttering and dimming. “Hey, what’s wrong with the headlights?” She shouted at the driver above the din of the rain. “Eh?” came the reply. The driver obviously was in no mood for any of his casual banter. “Oh Magsie here is a little upset on bringing her here. Told you was no place to travel. Not with all this rain.” His voice was soaked with tension. Though his face was out of view Sherrie guessed it must be all wrought into lines and crosses, amazing, for his voice really betrayed what he must be feeling. Sherrie herself was in a tight spot now. The weather outside was worsening and every thing seemed to be growing darker until..
love it people
i want as much criticism as you can give me
i kno it’s long but thing of it as a novel and please please read it whole

My Husband has an older pickup truck without airbags. Can I put the baby in the front seat next to him. The baby will be with me most of the time but in case he needed to pick him up for some reason can he? Thanks so much in advance!

We have an older truck that doesn’t have carseats. Everything I ready says "Don’t put kids in the front seat because of air bags," but we don’t have air bags.
The truck has a small second row of seating, but it is so difficult to get the kids in and out that we gave up using the truck once we had kids.

Is it safe to put my 3-year-old (in 5-point harness carseat) or 5-year-old (in booster) in the front seat?

I let my sitter take my 9 month old daughter somewhere today, but her 2006 H3 only had the LATCH system on the side seats. In the Britax book it says to use LATCH whenever possible, so we went ahead and installed it behind the front passenger seat with that seat all the way forward.
I did of course install the versa-tether under the front seat too. I guess Im nervous since I have always put my daughter in the middle except the one time she was sick and I needed to be able to see her, but we dont have LATCH in our truck.
Anyone else end up doing this?
Now both of my parents are literally freaking out that I let our responsible 25 year old sitter take my daughter somewhere. They think she is going to kidnap her. AND they are ticked that she is on the side seat…
Matt’s Mommy, good point. Yeah the age thing is irrelevant, considering Im 24 and hubby is 26. They just worry that she’ll take off with her. This sitter loves my daughter, but she is great with us and is even trying to hook me up with another mom she sits for. I have work contacts, and a page of references. Still, my mother is calling me every 10 minutes "Nobody picked up the house phone yet, where are they?" (they probably just left)

I am about to buy my buddies extended cab ford ranger. If I get it though, will I be able to put my son in the baby seat in the back seat of it? Is that legal in the state of Ohio? I am pretty sure you just cannot have a baby seat in the front seat. Anyone able to help me out here?

Hi all,

Earlier tonight I went to put my front driver side window up and it would not go back up. I turned the car off, pulled the key out and waited a few minutes and then tried to put it up again. This time it went halfway up and then stopped working again. At this point I figured that I would had to take it to the dealership tomorrow, but about an hour later my room mate suggested that I push out on the window while trying to put it up. Miraculously, the window went up and now seems to be working normally. My question: about two weeks ago I had the dealership inspect the front seat side impact airbags as part of a recall. Being that I’ve never had a problem with the windows before (I’ve had this car for about a year and a half now), is it possible that during the inspection the window motor was damaged? Should I call the dealership to see what they say? Is it safe to assume that this is was a one time thing even though logically I believe it become a recurring problem now. If I do call the dealership and have to have it taken in, does VW offer any kind of warranty on their labor? If not, any rough estimates what this would cost to fix? I realize it could vary greatly.

Thank you!

Accident was on the highway. About 70mph’s and ran into the back of a 18 wheeler truck trailer. Front seat passenger who was NOT wearing a seat belt. He is a 17 year old male, about 6’2 and 140pounds.

Most common possible injuries to him?
Okay well besides death.

Some friends of mine have a 1 year old baby, who the Dad sometimes just puts on the front seat of their car when going out. If she is in a baby car seat she’s not strapped in at all-just sits their rolling around- and it’s a stage 0 car seat (ie up to 9 months old) so she’s way too big for it to support her anyway. I’ve not seen the mum do this but she does know that he’s never strapped her in properly when he puts her in her car seat, even from a very young age.

I’ve been asking them for ages when they’re going to buy the next stage up seat (to try and make them realise they should already have one without letting on how shocked I am with them) and now they have bought one but they don’t use it.

I don’t know what to do! i can’t believe they’d put her life at risk so stupidly, as they love her so much, but they are doing it and it’s not just a one-off, it’s all the time.
I don’t want to lose them as friends, but how do i say something without doing that?

I have a friend who always drives with her kids in the front seat and she has air bags. The kids are 3 and 2. and i dont think it’s safe!

Some friends of mine have a 1 year old baby, who the Dad sometimes just puts on the front seat of their car when going out. If she is in a baby car seat she’s not strapped in at all-just sits their rolling around- and it’s a stage 0 car seat (ie up to 9 months old) so she’s way too big for it to support her anyway. I’ve not seen the mum do this but she does know that he’s never strapped her in properly when he puts her in her car seat, even from a very young age.

I’ve been asking them for ages when they’re going to buy the next stage up seat (to try and make them realise they should already have one without letting on how shocked I am with them) and now they have bought one but they don’t use it.

I don’t know what to do! i can’t believe they’d put her life at risk so stupidly, as they love her so much, but they are doing it and it’s not just a one-off, it’s all the time.
I don’t want to lose them as friends, but how do i say something without doing that?

Anyone else have an issue with this? My issue is that to have a rear facing infant carrier in our back seat, we need to push the passenger seat all the way to the front and then no one can sit in the front seat.
Have we done something incorrectly for this to happen? Is there no way that the seat can fit rear facing so we don’t have to buy a new vehicle to accomadate our 2 car seats?

When my dad hands down his car to me I want my interior to be like all black. No option to remove interior and get new interior. I need back and front seat covers that will match? And that look good and don’t look like obvious covers at first glance.
Thanks