The Vending Machine

So, here is a story that some of you know, but some of you don't.  Recently I have been asked about this experience by a couple of my siblings, and I thought it would make a pretty good blog post.

When I was about 8 or 9 (we lived in a trailer park), there was a vending machine near the manager's house.  Being the sugar addict that I am, I would often buy candy from the vending machine.  This particular day my brother, John, was tagging along with me and my friend.  He was begging me to buy him something too.  I kept telling him no.  He had his own money.  Why should I buy him candy?!?  When I got to the vending machine, he was still right by my side.  I put my money in, and as I pushed the button of the candy I wanted, he pushed what he wanted too.  And then, a miracle happened.  My candy came out, and so did his.  Wait, it gets better...someone had the idea to push the coin return, and I got my money back. 

We weren't stupid.  We continued putting the money in and pushing as many buttons as we could at the same time, to maximize our buying power.  By this time, my sister Sandy had joined the fun, and another friend, Joey.  (We fondly referred to him as yellow teeth...weren't we so kind?!?)  Within a few minutes, we had the entire vending machine emptied.  Best day of my life!  We divided up the candy and each had a bag full.  I remember walking around the neighborhood living up the moment.  I started my candy binge with one of my least favorite kinds of candy, a nut roll.

Delicious...not.  By the time I was about half way through the candy bar, I started feeling really guilty, along with my sister, Sandy.  (John was apparently void of this feeling at his young age.)  Despite our friends', and brother's utter confusion, we confessed what we'd done to our mother.  She told us we needed to give the candy back and pay for what we had eaten.  We took the candy back to the manager and gave him the money we owed.  Yes, we made the right choice in the end, and yes it felt better than having a whole vending machine's worth of candy. 

Fall Break

Fall break was fantastic this year!  Sam and I went to Washington D.C. to visit my sister and her family, and of course, to see the sights.  My parents went with us, or we went with them, but we bought our tickets first, so they went with us.  It was so much fun!  We did so many things and I loved it.  I won't bore you with too many details, but I'll try to post some pictures...Sam's pictures (I didn't take many myself).  If you ever go to D.C.  I highly recommend going to Mt. Vernon, getting tickets to go up the Washington Monument, and hitting Arlington.  I love the changing of the guard and there are some cool things to see there.  We walked around so much that my legs were sore a couple of the days (and I consider myself to be in pretty good shape).

 There are some pictures for you.  If you'd like to see more you can check out my Dad's blog, or apparently his facebook.  He's much more diligent about getting pictures out than I am.  And just fyi, there was one day we didn't have our cameras because we went to the White House, so yes, you are only getting a taste of what we did.  Also, many places don't allow pictures.  But it was a great vacation and it was so hard to go back to work.  Such is life.  Can't wait for Thanksgiving!