So this is a few days delayed but here are some fun stories from last weekend ...
We went to Dallas for the weekend for the RC Airplane swap meet in Denton (just north of Dallas, actually). While we have been in San Angelo, Tyler acquired quite a collection of RC planes and all parts and pieces associated with them. The plan was to sell them one by one and make some profit (and leave a few of the best for Tyler) but between working overtime and a new baby, that plan hadn't yet come to pass.
We've had ads on Craigslist in all major surrounding cities to sell the collection all at once. No takers - until recently. A man named Ryan called about the collection and after a few weeks of negotiating and decision-making, he and Tyler came to a deal regarding the collection. It was complicated, but mainly involved some payment from Ryan, us going to Denton to sell items at the swap meet, and then Ryan getting the leftovers that didn't sell. So we packed everything up - which in itself is a story, so I digress...
We had some trouble deciding which vehicle to take. The car obviously couldn't pull the rented U-haul trailer full of planes. The kids and I couldn't fit in the APEC truck (and aren't really allowed to ride it in). And the new Chevy truck needed some work done and wasn't yet registered in our name. However, the Chevy truck finally won and got packed to the brim with kids gear and plane gear. Both Tyler and I remembered to grab the title for the truck just in case. Hmm - more on that later!
After some craziness in picking up the trailer from U-haul, Tyler took several guys that work for him to the storage unit to load up. Well ... guess who forgot to pay the storage bill? That would be me. Big ooops! Because, when Tyler started to get the planes out, the manager wanted to call the police. That would have sent Tyler and all his guys to jail. Thankfully, Tyler called me and I quickly paid the bill online so when the manager checked again, it was paid. Close call!
Fast forward to the airplane swap. It was a very hectic day on about three hours of sleep. You know the craziness of a yard sale? Times ten! We did sell a lot of planes, though, so it was great. Toward the end of the day I was getting a little worn out between watching the kids and helping Tyler and Ryan sell planes. Just at the moment when I was at the end of my rope, a nice grandfatherly man volunteered to push Esther around in her stroller and bought her a snack. Saved my sanity for sure! I don't know his name, but he sure was a blessing!
Later, we spent some time with Ryan and his wife. It turns out that they are missionaries about to leave for New Guinea. Some of the plane equipment will be taken with them to a school there, and the rest he will try to sell to help fund the trip. It was a neat connection and great to think these planes will be enjoyed by kids across the world. And they got a great deal and paid for us a night at the Crowne Plaza in Dallas! Super nice way to rest up from the exhausting day.
Well, once we start selling stuff we can't stop. So we listed that Chevy truck on Craigslist. We just happened to have the title, so why not? After we bought it a few weeks ago, Tyler kept finding more things wrong with it. Most of it he could fix, but with an impending move he doesn't really have time. And then, who would drive the U-haul truck? : ) Sunday morning we got a call from a guy who wanted to see it. So we spent a few ... several ... hours waiting while it was detailed because the truck was pretty grimy. But apparently it was worth it, because he said he'd take it - even no negotiating! It seemed like a miracle that the one guy who wanted to see it wanted to buy it, especially because of the shape it was in. He was a mechanic, though, and could fix everything that needed it and still sell it for a profit (even after we made a few hundred dollars). And he just happened to be self-employed so he had a safe full of cash he could access on a Sunday! Selling that truck was a relief and a blessing.
Then we had to figure out a way back to San Angelo! We spent a while driving to the airport and finding a big enough rental car for all of us, our stuff, and the one plane Tyler kept from the show. Then we had to drop off the U-haul trailer and take the truck to Alan's shop. It was almost 10 pm by the time we got there. Tyler spent a few minutes talking with Alan, who shared some life wisdom. : ) So after we left and we marveled at how that deal came through, I started to call him an "angel." Maybe, like the movies, if we went back to his shop it would be deserted!
Those are the stories from last weekend. Next time, I promise to include pictures!
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