Bike Thief!!!!!!

I created this blog last night to start writing down the great memories of exciting and wild adventures that I have had.  Oddly, I find myself writing about the events of today.  The past will have to wait.  Today started off fairly normally.  Before I left the house at 8:30 a.m. to take Austin to the orthodontist, I took the trash to the road.  I noticed that something was amiss but, took the trash out, jumped into my amazing new van(that I bought because a deputy crashed into me headon....another story) , and headed out.  It was  a very, very, rainy day so upon my return, Austin (my 15 year old) and I went to work on his online algebra 1 course.  I know you probably wish you could spend countless hours working on Algebra 1 with a teenageer but, that is time reserved for only the bravest and crasiest of parents! The girls (age 11 and 6) were so patient during the algebra session that I felt they needed to get out of the house.  It was drizzling but, all the better for an August Florida afternoon!  I went out front to get Katharine's bike and air up the tires.  The bike was actually on the side of the house because I needed room for the afore mentioned van (that I HAD to buy).  It was not there...so I looked in the garage....not there....looked in the shed....not there!!!!!!! During the night, someone came into my driveway, passed my husbands Highway Patrol car, into my grass, and STOLE her bike!  Can you believe it?  I called the sheriff's office and a deputy quickly arrived to take the report.  I know she probably thought I was crazy.... She said,"how much did you pay for the bike?"  I glanced lovingly at my kids and said, "Santa bought it!"  She stared blankly at me.    Moments later, she said, "Santa shops at WalMart?"  I said, "probably!"  As much as I would like to leave this alone, I can't!  I am determined to find the stolen bike! Not because I can't replace it but, because I love a challenge.
     I can't leave you hanging.....!  I took the kids to eat at Beef O'brady's tonight (kids eat free).  On the way home we saw a group of 4 kids riding bikes.  Austin was driving, so I told him to pull over so I can talk to the kids. My personal kids were mortified.  I got out and walked towards the kids and they ran towards me," Mrs.....McClellannnnnnn!!!!!"  They knew me from school.  I told them I need help tracking down Kats bike. They said they saw a boy riding the bike down the street this morning.  AHHHHHHH! I am such a detective!  I ventured up the street to the apartments and drove slowly around until I found a man outside...wouldn't you guess, he was deaf.  Also, his wife is deaf....oddly, I began communicating with them in sign language... I had forgotten that I even knew sign language. My kids were staring at me in awe. The man and his wife were so excited!  They hadn't seen the bike but were happy to keep an eye out for it and my kids said, "what else don't we know about you?"  I said, " Just wait, you'll see......"

Here Goes Something.....

As mentioned on FB, I have decided to start a blog to share some of my wild and crazy episodes with my friends.  I don't see myself as terribly different from most of you.  Ok, that is a lie.  I am different from most everyone I know. That's not bad or good really.  Things just happen to me that would NEVER happen to anyone else.  So much comes to mind.  Like the time I was mugged by gypsies in the Colosium in Rome, my mom was so impressed with me when I called her back in the states to ask for money!  Most importantly, life is a constant adventure for me.  I hope that I bring or have brought adventure to your life at some point.  Feel free to share them with me as well. I love to relive those times.  Thanks for following!