Parade

Last week the kids and I were invited by some friends to join them for a nearby small town parade.  I say "small town parade" but it was actually the longest parade I've ever been to.  It was an hour and a half long.  We sat on a blanket and the curb and watched the floats, firetrucks, tractors and horses go by.  The kids had a blast and enjoyed having candy thrown at them.

It was not only the longest parade I've been to, but the most expensive.  On the way home the check engine light started flashing.  Apparently flashing means if you keep driving you might damage your catalytic converter.  Thankfully I didn't drive it that long after the light came on.  It ended up being a defective spark plug that was covered under warranty since it had just been installed in April.  After having the battery replaced, paying for diagnostics and some other odds and ends it only cost us $147 which was way better than the $1200 we were afraid it would be closer to.