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April 24, 2008
Celebrating Earth Day the Old-Fashioned Way
** alternate title: Junk In My Trunk **
Yesterday was the first time that I'd driven my car since the weather turned warm. My meeting was an hour away, and I was anticipating a nice drive, full of singing along to the radio, enjoying the sunny weather, and taking some quality time away from my computer. I didn't realize that I would actually be wilting under a rolling wave of steam that seductively wound around my feet, then my ankles, then my torso, before finally turning my perfectly coiffed hair into a white-girl Afro.
I had forgotten, you see, that my car's air conditioning was defunct. I had driven it last summer with Sisyphean patience - believing that at some point the weather would cool down and I wouldn't be subjected to the oppressive sauna-like conditions. Then we broke the heat record in September, and again in October, and by the time November came around I was actually looking forward to taking the subway as a means of avoiding that tiny block coffin.
But oh, dear reader, how soon one forgets misery like that when winter rolls around! It wasn't until I popped into the Miata yesterday and began to feel that familiar tingle of sweat behind my knees that I remembered a vow I took many months ago: "I will get a new car when the weather warms up".
So I did. Here's the chronology:
-- 4:00 p.m. - drive home, realize I want a new car
-- 4:30 p.m. - arrive home, call my mom, tell her I have decided to get a new car
-- 5:00 p.m. - realize I have no budget in mind, nor make or model of preference
-- 5:30 p.m. - look at bevy of reviews on affordable small cars, play crossword online
-- 6:00 p.m. - decide that the Scion XD is the car for me
-- 6:10 p.m. - locate a Scion Dealership in the next town
-- 6:15 p.m. - arrange to meet my dad at the dealership at 7:45 p.m.
-- 6:20 p.m. - take a nap
-- 7:45 p.m. - arrive at dealership
-- 7:55 p.m. - take a test drive
-- 8:20 p.m. - look at all of the different color options
-- 8:30 p.m. - decide that the dark blue one is my favorite
-- 8:45 p.m. - start the paperwork, get Miata appraised (end up selling it for a roll of cash to the dealer's cousin)
-- 10:10 p.m. - get keys to car and begin the arduous task of transferring all of my junk from the Miata over to the new Scion, hilarity ensues as my dad nearly has an apoplectic fit at the mess I've been driving around in
-- 10:45 p.m. - drive my new car home
Not bad for an afternoon, I thought. And now, because it has been too long since we've enjoyed the amusement that is life with a small child...here is a family email exchange that happened today:
Jessica: Janie put an unopened bottle of water in my purse today, and my cell phone is now useless. I believe this is the second time Janie has destroyed my cell phone with water. Yay.
Dad: Don’t you be blaming my PERFECT granddaughter. It clearly must have been someone else’s fault.
This coming from the man who flipped out for DAYS because we once left a box of crayons in the back seat of the car. In Guam. In 90 degree heat. If you could get past the fact that there were melted crayons covering the seat, it was actually quite pretty.
Comments
I misspoke...it was not an unopened bottle of water, it was an improperly closed bottle. This was after she opened MY water, spewed french fry crumbs into it, thereby making it undrinkable, announced that it tasted funny, and then halfway closed it and put it into my purse. I can't wait to have another one.
Posted by: jess at April 24, 2008 08:11 PM
WTF? You junk the Miata with no advance notice? What about my vicarious convertible needs? What about CT's plans to turn the Miata into a drag roadster? I am severely disappointed that not only have you deprived me of your convertible but also deprived us of at least helping you look for a new car.
Posted by: Elizabeth at April 25, 2008 10:16 AM
I am so happy for you. Welcome to the Tribe of the Hatchback.
Posted by: La at April 25, 2008 01:06 PM
