Writing on the Wall

     Matt and I have been considering a new car for me for the last six months.  When I say considering, I mean we have been to 75 dealerships, discussing pricing and walking out without the new car.  I like to get my bearings and know all of my options before I go in to do negotiations.  We have multiple excel spread sheets discussing our finances, what we can easily afford on a car payment, what the payment structure under interest rates will be figuring in down payment, tax, title, license, and MSRP of the car.  What the future value would be of all of the payments, interest and taxes.  I would never actually pay MSRP, but I want to make sure we have our bases covered and aren’t surprised at the end. 

     We have checked everything out.  Weekends have been given away visiting Dodge, Hyundai, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Honda.  We have decided that most likely we will be ending up with either a Honda Pilot or the Toyota Highlander.  Both are great cars.  You can’t go wrong with reliability and resell value.  We had decided that we would be buying in May.  End of May we figure will have holiday discounts and an end of month craze making dealerships ready to make a deal.  This timeline however might have been modified as of Thursday. 

I went into work early on Thursday because I had an early morning (i.e. the sun hasn’t come up yet) conference call with my boss that lives in Massachusetts .  East Coast and West Coast don’t jive too much with the timing and I have to accommodate when possible.  When I came in early I decided that I didn’t need to stay as late, which meant I left 12 minutes earlier than I typically do.  I am that good of an employee.  

I was talking to my mom on the phone on my way home from work.  When I get stuck in traffic I like a distraction from my anger that boils up at all of the ridiculous cars around me.  All of the sudden I notice a driver next to me honking and waving at me.  He was in this huge truck and looked kind of crazed.  I wasn’t sure if I should ignore him or continue on my way.  Had I cut him off?  Am I going to be the next road rage statistic?  I figure I am talking with my mom so I would have some back up, so I decide to roll down the window.

“YOU’RE LEAKING!” – He screamed.

“I’M LEAKING?!?!” – screaming back at 70 MPH on the freeway, while holding the phone in one hand and touching myself all over to see if I could be leaking somewhere on my own body.

“YES!  YOUR RADIATOR IS SMOKING AND YOU ARE LEAKING WATER DOWN THE FREEWAY!”

“UH. OH. WOW.  Okay!  Thanks!”

I get off the freeway to stop at the local Home Depot, you know, the one you can find pretty much off of ever freeway exit.  I get out only to realize that I am seriously steaming.  And hissing.  And smelling at that point.  Things do not look good.  The car is hot and toasty and I am not going anywhere without some intervention.

My mom gets my dad to come bail me out while I call Matt to come and meet us to deal with this car.  After 5 gallons of water (no joke) and an hour and a half later, we finally pull the truck up to the local po-dunk mechanic to have a look-see.  The first assessment is that the car has a cracked radiator.  LOVELY.  So not happy. 

Looks like I might be waiting a few more months for the new car while we justify putting a couple extra bucks into the crappy car. The good news is the po-dunk people are amazing and can fix a car in no time.  I will have my little truck back before the end of the night and will be rocking it with assurance that I can use my air conditioning at all times. 

The guidelines are: List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what they are. They must be songs you presently enjoy. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to. - I don't tag.  I have no one left!

MY TOP SEVEN 

1.      Grace Kelly – Mika (SO LOVE THIS CD!)

2.      Fly Away – Tim McGraw (any man who gets his three little girls to sing the chorus at the end has me as a fan)

3.      It Ends Tonight – All American Rejects (Good CD as well)

4.      Cupid’s Chokehold – Gym Class Heroes

5.      Stupid Boy – Keith Urban – LOVE HIM!!!!!

6.      Boston – Augustana

7.      What Goes Around. . . . . Comes Around – JUSTIN.  How can a list be complete without him?

• This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race – Fall Out Boy
• Lost Without U – Robin Thicke – Good slow song
• Face Down – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
• Wasted – Carrie Underwood - I haven't liked any of her music before this song.  I yell it in the car.
• Here (InYOur Arms) - Hellogoodbye – I bought this band t-shirt for my nephew for Christmas and I was the most popular aunt in the world.

I think I am far more eclectic than most people, but I highly recommend all of the above.  Very good music and highly enjoyable to listen to.