ODDS AND ENDS--

1) I am currently sporting a goth girl look as Tuesday of last week I walked into the local supercuts to get the formerly blonde highlights turned brassy yet again turned into something presentable for an interview the next day. The hairstylist who looked like she was ridden hard and put away wet a few too many times, picked out the darkest brown she could and went to town. And then I sat in the back of the salon for a good half an hour and some while she dealt with another customer.  So while I basically paid for a half price dye job that didn't involve my bathroom sink, she did manage to get some dye on my neck and later that evening I had miker2 do a spot check as a dirty dye job wouldn't make a good impression the next day.

Unfortunately, it seems as if the dye is already washing out and I found a few more gray hairs while getting ready on NYE, so I guess I will have to actually hit a real salon in the next few weeks to get that remedied...but I kinda like the dark hair as it's different and it's puzzling the hell out of certain men in my life.

2)I bought a new car on Friday.... Here's the story on how it went down...

After the interview on Wednesday, my other to do on my vacation day was to get my car inspected. So I had an appointment at the local dealer (yes, I know, I had a run in with a local mechanic who didn't know all that much about jeep thermostats and after that experience, found the dealer...) and I expected to get an oil change and get the inspection. I waited while the service department worked on the car...anyway, I should have known something was wrong when no one came out when they said they would. I wound up approaching the service department guy and he had his gravest face on.

Because of the bend me over and fuck me inspection laws, the station basically can take apart your car -- they take off tires, check brakes, the whole fucking bit....Anyway, the guy told me that my front door wasn't working as the door stopper rod was missing (the door opened and closed just fine) and that there was brake fluid leaking.  Should I mention the fuckers replaced my brakes and rotors this past summer?  I'm not a rocket scientist, but fuck, they were the last fuckers who touched my brakes....

Faced with the reality of over a thousand dollars worth of "repairs" that had to be done within 14 days since I would lose legal transportation -- I went from calm to incendiary in about 0.2 seconds. I argued with the guy for a bit when he insinuated that I wouldn't be able to drive the car in two days when the registration expired and told him not to touch the car. He then threw the "well, we'll have to order some of those parts" and I keeping my wits about me, I asked if I called the department by 12 the next day, would he have those parts and he mumbled something about yes, he would have those parts.

With that knowledge, I went back to the waiting room and told a girl who I had earlier commiserated with about the reliability of jeeps that "fuck this, I'm going to another dealership and getting a Japanese car". (she was, unsurprisingly in hindsight, told that she had to replace her brakes and rotors on a car with 30,000 mi on it....I mean if the service department was telling the truth, then jesus, these brakes are kinda flimsy, don't cha think?)  

After finally getting the "recommended repairs" written up, I left the dealership and drove to the Mitsubishi dealer. I basically walked in, grabbed the first salesguy I saw and asked him for a test drive of the Outlander. I spec'ed out the car back in October with Miker2, who found the car via a Consumer Reports article touting reliability and we had gone to take a look see one Sunday. The salesguy was kinda goofy and adding to the goofyness was the fact that I drove the car off the lot and the gas light came on and the guy said "I hope we don't stall out going to get gas at the wawa".

Took the car out onto the highway and I tested the accleration, which is what I was most worried about. The car did well (the best I can describe is that it's like a cross between my old geo and the jeep) and my decision was sealed.  After the test drive the dealer asked what I thought, and I said I was pleased and I asked him how much he'd pay me to get rid of my car.

After some negotiating and subsequently finding out that my jeep was only worth 2500 on trade in, I got the car for 1500 under invoice. I got the VIN on Wednesday night and after some research online and finding out how good my numbers were, I arranged financing myself and called the dealer on Thursday to let him know I wanted the car I test drove.  I could have paid cash but need to build credit (remember my old can't get a credit card diaries?). As it turns out I got an easy to swallow interest rate and zero fees of any kind since I am dealing with my main bank and most of my assets are with them.

Picked up the car on Friday, just before close of business.  Cleared out the jeep beforehand on a sunny but chilly afternoon and took a few last photos to commemorate 8 years of a car I brought LO home from the hospital. Even with all it's problems thankfully never did break down on the NJ Turnpike.

Miker2 went with me to the dealer and he gave support while the dealer's back room dude nearly had a heart attack after he realized that there may just be a problem with transferring plates as the plates were renewed just a few days earlier (because I needed them for the inspection). After that problem was solved with a plea from the dealer "simplify your life, just get new plates, you don't want to deal with PennDOT"  and I got some flourescent colored carnations from the dealer's slimy-looking-to-the-role manager, I finally took the keys to the car.

Miker2 and I got into the car and the dealer showed me all of the bells and whistles. The car had only 11 miles on it. While the dealer was doing some last minute stuff, Miker2 and I checked it out and turned on the radio - to hear Kayne's Golddigger. How apropros. I believe there may just be a photo of me with the new wheels.

I drove the car this weekend and I like it more and more. There are some nifty things about it (like a 12v plug in the cargo area ) and I found out the reason for the complaints about the cargo room -- the spare is kept in the back. The engine doesn't seem loud to me, as I'm used to the Jeep, and this engine sounds like a purr.  To be honest though, even if I paid full price, I'm happy with the car. Just don't tell the dealer that. ;-)   

I hope y'all had some fun New Years Eve.  My new year's eve was spent with Miker2 and LO at my brother's party, talking to relatives and hanging out...3 glasses of wine and some champagne later, we arrived back at my place, put LO to bed and the foldout couch became involved. Let's just say that some of us woke up at 12:30 pm yesterday....

YEAR END WRAP UP--

2005 was the year of building the foundation for my future (working hard, creating my own separate household, choosing a place to live, etc...) The past year was great in some ways, good in others, oh so exhausting in some certain circumstances and ended with a literal flurry of activity. 

I can't believe 2006 is here. Just a mere 10 years ago, I graduated from college, got married, moved 11 hours away from my family (and moved again a few months later) and got my first real job.

RESOLUTION--

My resolution this year is to take care of and to improve myself.

My biggest character flaw at the moment is that I tend to take things as they come and everyone else comes first. Then I will look at myself in the mirror and say "Oh, wait, I wanted to do [certain thing]" and I won't have time to do it. So, it's time for me to learn how to pace myself and to incorporate my goals into my life.

So, to fulfill my resolution, here's what I've done so far.

-A certain someone got me (finally) to join the local well known gym (there's a funny story how we're under a "family" membership)...so not only do I have a built in exercise partner, but my two goals this year are 1)take a self defense class....2)get a road bike so I can start riding.

-look for a new job...already doing that...

-take a few business classes so I can get some business fundamentals under my belt...I have a couple options here, but I'm leaning either torwards some distance learning classes or some night classes at a certain local institution.

So, with this in mind, here's to 2006!