Madness In My Method

I came home Monday from work to arrive at the same time as the roommate. I pulled out my house key to unlock the door, but it wasn't working for some reason. When I realized why it wasn't working, I stopped to look at her a moment and then said, "Well, I guess I gave [2nd job] my house key by accident instead of the building key, since they're shaped the same, and now you can guess why I had to give them back the key."

( 2nd job stuff )

I other news, I had a Friday birthday (6/29) which involved working both jobs, drinking a fish (not my best moment in life), riding a couple rides at Six Flags, and then helping my overheated roommate get home. The next day (6/30) I spent with a couple friends at an estate sale, a nice lunch, and a parking lot incident in which a person opened their car door into my car with such force and such perfect timing as I was pulling into the parking space that their door wedged itself between the front quarter panel and my door. I actually had to back up an inch or two in order to get it unwedged. Then I couldn't open my door more than a couple inches, so I had to crawl over the center console to get out of my car. The driver/owner of that car refused to exchange insurance information with me, so we had to involve the police, and she still insists her passenger's door was already open when I entered the parking space, and stated so quite argumentatively with my insurance rep, so that's now gone into subrogation. The next day, Sunday 7/1, I spent with another friend going to lunch, an antique mall, and two different ice cream places. Because she drives so much for work and wasn't too embarrassed by it, I still drove us in my new car, despite having to crawl across the center console every single time I needed in or out of the car.

Keep in mind, this was the brand new car that I just bought at the end of May. I'd had it for just over a month. This was about the same amount of time I had with my previous car when the carport fell on it due to the weight of a foot-plus of snow.

Monday 7/2 arrived and I went to 2nd job in the morning, dropped off my car at the collision shop and picked up the rental during my usual lunch drive, and drove to primary job. I had not thought about it being a holiday week (July 4th), and the only rental they had available was a Nissan Armada, which really is like driving around a flotilla - that thing is HUGE. Saturday 7/14 finally arrived and Mom and I went to pick up the rental vehicle we already reserved for the trip, a Dodge Grand Caravan, much smaller and better suited as a 7-passenger vacation-mobile over the Armada. We took back the Armada and had lunch, then I went home to pack for vacation.

( Vacation Stuff )

Sunday 7/15 - I think I was starting to get back to normal. Of course, then Monday morning happened, and that takes you back to the beginning of this post. And round, and round we go.

Alternator went out in my car today.

Saving money? What's that?

I went with mom to pick the boys up from school on their first day, only because she was my ride from the mechanic's back to work to do some work errands before having to go back to pick up my car again. I lost 3+ hours at work today because of it, and that will still have to be made up later.

I'm frazzled.

Weeeeeeee.

The A/C went out in my car while en route to the bank for a work errand.

Bleh.

I officially have more money in my savings account than the payoff balance for the car note!

This means I should be able to pay that off in the next month or two and get back to rebuilding my savings again.

Ok, I admit it, I really want this car, in that paint job and everything.

But I can't stand the general design of the interior*.

That's why I love my Acura TSX. I love the way it looks both on the outside and inside.

*That's the interior of the 2010 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, but the layout and design would be the same. Are those Oh-Shit bars on the center console area? That's hilarious.

EDIT: This interior looks much better, but seriously, the Oh-Shit bars on the center console have got to go.

"So, I take you out to dinner and dessert, and the best part about the date is that you got to see an Aston Martin DB9 Convertible in the parking lot next to where we parked."

Yep.

And that statement was before driving back to said parking lot next to a white Lamborghini, and then getting to park and walk around said Aston Martin for a second time.

Swoon.

I <3 North Dallas.

PS. Last week we had dinner at Chef Point Cafe (Warning - Autoplay video), and in the parking lot when we left was a gorgeous blue Maserati. I was busy saying my goodbyes to my mom when Kevin yelled out, "Nikki....You're going to want to see this." Indeed.

The cars have been freed from under the carport. Eileen and Tom were able to raise the roof enough for me to carefully drive mine out. Paco then showed up and he and Tom finished off the propping up for him to drive his car out.

The next step is mayhem and destruction - as is usually the case around these parts.

Pics just before Tom's car was moved.

4-door hatchback

O_O

They dooooooo exist.......

I've been up since 1am. Two hours later I finally decided to go for a fuzzy navel and my computer to calm my mind. We'll see if it works.

EDIT: Three hours later, and I'm going to try this sleep thing again.

My car's thermostat is telling me the engine is overheating on idle, YET FUCKING AGAIN. It's probably more issues with the fan(s), but once every 2 months has me running ragged. This will be the 6th time. The car's A/C works, but you can barely tell. The leather seats are starting to split from dryness and age. I love my car, truly I do, but I'm tired of having to deal with it.

So yesterday I decided to start looking for a replacement.

I've gone on about wanting a 4-door sedan hatchback (not to be confused with a wagon-style or mini-cooper/suv-style vehicles), and the only thing I've been able to find are older model Mazda6. I've also decided to go with some frills that I've been wanting, such as climate control, in-dash cd changer, automatic everything, and heated seats (if possible), Bose speakers (if possible). I've become accustomed to automatic transmission, leather seats, moon/sun roof with wind guard, low rear spoiler, ABS, and alloy wheels, so those are basic default requirements. I am also limiting the search to either a maroon/burgundy or a dark gray exterior and a gray or black interior. I'm also getting away from two doors. I want to be able to carry passengers again, not just cut up body parts.

I managed to find a Mazda6 hatchback at Carmax that has pretty much everything required, especially the whole SEDAN WITH HATCHBACK part, but it lacks the heated seats, climate control, and wind guard (can be after market, so no biggie there). The price is nice, but the mileage is a bit more than I'd prefer and I'd have to pay an extra $500 to get it shipped down here. I also don't like the red display on the dials.

After talking with a good family friend who can easily give me the best discount from a dealership, I've also narrowed down a secondary search for a compromise vehicle, the Acura TSX. It would need the spoiler and roof wind guard to be added, but that's a minor concern. The number one concern is the lack of hatchback and cargo ability. Yeah, there's a lot of space, but anyone who has compared a hatchback to a trunk knows the difference when trying to cart around big items that won't fit through the pass through or the back doors of the vehicle. It's a little more costly, but with lower mileage and added goodies I think that part is a wash. It has better gas mileage as well.

I'll look back over my budget tomorrow later today and call the insurance guy to get quotes. Then I'll make a decision on whether or not to have the Acura driven over from the Plano office to Irving. Most likely, I will at least see about driving the car around for a day just to make sure it feels good.

I'm in indecision hell.

Any recommendations?

disgruntledgrrl came to notify that my lights were on in my car. Impossible, I thought, because I got home while it was still day light and the car ding-ding-dings at me when I get out of it without turning them off.

Apparently it's just my brake lights.

And we can't get them to turn off, even after pulling what appears to be the rear light fuse.

Yet another trip to the mechanics in morning...