Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Last week I said goodbye to a good friend. We have known each other for these past six years and have had some good times. 144 thousand miles later I said goodbye to Simon, it was a bittersweet moment. My first new car, first grown up purchase. We had some good times, now Simon is off to make some memories with a new family. Goodbye friend.... parting is such sweet sorrow...

Until the new car smell hits your nose and you slide into the drivers seat of a 2013 Ford Escape and get a big ol' car hug from the comfy cloth seats. Simon who?! (I'm just kidding Simon, I do miss you, sorta)

Meet Edgar, my fancy new car. More space and more tech, so much tech I'm still trying to figure it all out. It's nice to treat yourself to something new every once in awhile. I even talked the salesman into giving me the price I wanted for my monthly payments. Holy moly is car shopping exhausting, we ended up being at the dealer for like 3.5 hours, my tummy was rumbling by the end!  So far I'm absolutely loving the new car! 

The No Choice Snow Day

A no choice snow day is not really the way you want to come about a snow day, while I'll take it, tis bittersweet. Like a kid on Christmas morning (haha get it snow) I eagerly called the work weather line hoping for a recorded message of splendor letting me know I can sleep in... Instead I get this crap message that Indiana is opening late, and everyone else get up and come to work! Boooo! Then I see the tweet... my road to work is CLOSED! As in do not pass go, might as well stay in bed since you have no where to go. You see the sad part of a no choice snow day is you have no choice, and you'll have to use your personal time to make up for it... lame. So thanks I guess Spring snow, you tricky devil.

I had to beat gpa out the door to get to the shovel so he didn't hurt himself... old people, everything has to be done now. I definitely got a work out in today, whew! That snow is heavy, and I was sweating, it's actually kind of a nice day if there wasn't ELEVEN FREAKING INCHCES OF SNOW on the ground! I texted OL today to make sure she wasn't going to venture out either, fear not she's going to make a cake today and nap.... sounds perfect!

Here I give you a few pictures from the both exciting and tragic day know as the no choice snow day....

Before: March 24

After: March 25

That's a 12" ruler... looks like 11" of snow to me

Poor Oliver is going stir crazy, he just wants to play in the snow

I call this one Snow nom

It looks like someone sitting in the chair eating snow

It's up to the top of my boots! 

At least one side was kind clear

Here's a snow covered tree in case you didn't know what that looked like

Thanks USPS! Rain or snow they deliver.

What a great snow day treat, my 2013 motorcycle accessories catalog! 

Dear Spring, 
Please arrive soon, we had made arrangements for you to come early since your little rodent friend Phil said you'd be here. No worries that you're late, we just really want to see you! 
Love,
Everyone in Illinois

In a Man's World

I am kinda sorta looking at new cars. I've had Simon for about 6 years now and we're up to about 140k, so it's not unreasonable that a new car is on the brain. Moreso I just want something new. Every so often (like every 6 months it seems) I think I want a new car, I always talk myself out if, but none the less we do this dance. Research, research, research some more, and then stop short of actually test driving anything, because at this point I have talked myself out of it and don't want to fall in love with anything. That all changed yesterday....

Remember I went to the car show? I saw all those new cars and that new car smell got stuck in my nose. It was like a drug, I need that smell I thought to myself. So yesterday I did the unthinkable.... I went to a dealership for a test drive.... BY MYSELF! Holy moly.

I should preface this story with the fact that I am a research-aholic. I check Edmunds, consumer reports, blogs, forums, anywhere you can think of to see what others think of the vehicle I am researching at the time. Working in a automobile industry I see the values of cars everyday. I checked NADA and even KBB and I knew where my car was valued at. I had checked the rates in the credit union, and I knew what I wanted my payments to be, so I knew about where I needed to be with the amount I finance. So to the dealership I went...

I was test driving the new Chevy Cruze. Which is nice, it's super fancy on the inside with touchscreen navigation/satellite radio, push button start, heated seats, remote start and on and on and on. It's smaller than my car though, and I rather enjoy my space. So after the test drive, while impressed with the looks, not a huge fan of the space issue, and the steering wheel doesn't telescope or move as much as I would have liked for my height and driving position. But humor me with your numbers Mr. Salesman.

While on the test drive the appraiser was looking at my car. Also Mr. Salepeople...know your audience. I realize a young female walking into the showroom alone would normally be a bulls-eye and you can pull out all your "girl" tricks. But sir, when I begin chatting you about the Corvette's in the showroom and inquire about the new Stingray, I feel that should have been a heads up. Also while on the test drive as I'm asking about other vehicles, I'd think you'd be aware that while not an expert, I am not dumb when it comes to automobiles.  Keep in mind reader that this was the first car I have test drove, even if I were in love with this car, I would at least need to test drive a competitor just so I don't get large purchase Heather buyers remorse which often accompanies large purchases (aka anything over $100 I analyze and do the whole, is this a want or a need chat). 

So.. time to talk basic numbers. Granted I know that my car has high miles, but having checked my sources I know what my car is worth. Your low ball offer of $2500 was an insult, telling me that is your best offer, leads me to believe that is your best offer. So... no go dear sir. My brain is on shutdown, I would like to go now.

After that offer, I did the whole need vs want conversation on the drive home. I think I'm going to stick with good ole Simon for as long as I can (which was my original plan when purchasing him, so why did I even dream I needed a new car) But I did take this as a great learning experience. Why do car purchases have to be who is the best negotiator? Why do you say that is your best offer when 1-I told you what I wanted for my car, then seem confused when I'm not pleased. 2-You could have "got me close" to what I was looking for but I "didn't want to deal" It's a confusing thing looking at cars. Why do we have to go through this exhausting ritual. Blah, it makes me never want to buy a new car. But like I said, I've learned something and will be better prepared when I really am ready to buy. And just because I go in alone, doesn't mean I should be treated any different, especially when I express that I'm not illiterate when it comes to cars, show a girl at least a little respect!

Crash, Boom, Bang!

... also know as how we spent our New Years. Now that a few day's have passed and everything has been worked out and everyone is officially alright, here is the story of how we began 2013, in with a bang! 

Shortly before noon I get a call from NiBo frantic saying he just had an accident and wrecked his car.. it's pretty bad he said." Without hesitation I fly out the door still in my pj's and try to make my way towards where he was at. I wasn't speeding at all because the back roads were slick... but I still managed to go in the ditch and mess my car up too. 

Simon's first boo-boo

Thankfully NiBo is ok, just a little scraped up and sore, and a little bit of chemical burn from the airbag. The probe was not so lucky. Sadly we had to say goodbye to the '94 Ford Probe. Affectionately know as 'Herman' when he was mine, 'Taz' by A.Drama and NiBo knew him as 'Frank' short for Frankenstein (because at this point there were several swapped parts and nuts and bolts holding a few pieces together)

Herman came into our lives the fall before my 16th birthday, back in 2001. But this wasn't the first rodeo for Herman, back in 2004 he was totaled after a Jeep Cherokee got a probe in the rear-end (haha, get it?!) but with a few repairs he was back on the road. In 2007 when I upgraded the torch was passed to A.Drama, then on down the line to NiBo. 

My first accessory was a purple fuzzy steering wheel cover, which you can kinda see in the first picture. My upgrades to Herman included an upgraded bitchin' new stereo (it was a CD player, no need for a stock cassette) another convenience upgrade was a remote starter. I've never been lucky enough to have a garage so this feature came in very handy for several years. When I was in high school gas prices were not nearly as high as they are now and every Friday or Saturday night everyone would just cruise up and down main and make the loop. It's kinda sad that kids these days don't get to experience that. 

I have so many great memories of cruising main with my girlfriends blasting Backstreet boys and singing at the top of our lungs or stopping through McDonalds to get fries or through DQ to get a cone. Those days are gone and I basically just use my car now for travel back and forth to work, don't really have the leisure time money to spend just to go drive around and listen to music. It's kind of bittersweet losing the first car. But I'm glad Herman 'Frank' went out with his boots on and his legacy got to be experience by all my siblings. I chose good when I picked the shiny red Probe with the pop up headlights, that's badass when you're 16.

You were good to us Herman, may your belts never squeak and your oil never more leak. You will be missed (especially by NiBo since he is in a borrowed car now) Thank you for the great memories and may you enjoy that big parking garage in the sky! 

16 and can finally drive alone! February 8th, 2002

Cruisin' the town 

Herman weathered a good storm or two 

October 19, 2001 - January 1, 2013

Simon Rolled Over

Simon, my 2007 Nissan Sentra SL has rolled over to 100,000 miles. Holy Moly. I drive a lot. Sadly it's mostly been just to and from work. Simon and I have been to Nashville, Tennessee twice, then to Asheville, North Carolina to Biltmore Estate with Gma then down to Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina for a Spring break trip one year and back and forth to work ever since.

I bought Simon the weekend before I started my first grown up full time job at the insurance company, my first brand spankin' new car; he only had about 8 miles on him way back then. We've been through a lot my Simon and me... so Happy 100,000 Simon, here's hoping for 100,000+ more (no really you're almost paid off so don't crap out on me anytime soon!)

I should mention Simon is not my first car, not my first love. My first car was Herman, a 2004 Ford Probe. Herman has been passed down through all the Bo children, he is currently in the posession of NiBo and goes by the name Frank now, short for Frankenstein (which is literally, he is about ready to go to the big car park in the sky being held together by a few bolts) Herman was the bombdiggity back in the day, fully matching side panels and flip up lights I thought I was the coolest. Here we are back in 2002, the day I turned 16 and could hit the roads solo... it's perfectly normal to be jealous, so go ahead.

We had some good times me and Herman, but with the ground clearance of a midget I'm happy to sit a little bit taller in Simon, and who knew four doors could be so convienient, and cruise control what a blessing, bluetooth and automatic windows... fogettabout it!

Leave some love for your first car! What did ya have? and give a shoutout if you got 100,000 miles! Keep on truckin'!

Bad Simon!

You know how you think oh finally the day is getting good 3:30 is here and I'm outta this place, leaving em in my dust suckers this day if finally getting good.... today was not that day.

I walk my happy self out to the car thinking to myself it's a little warm was planning to go to the mall to use my Victoria Secret coupon in the car, turn the ignition... nada. WHAT WHAT WHAT?! I'm thinking I left something on, nope sure didn't. My car will beep buzz and hoot at you if you leave something on open or don't have the car all the way off. This was not my fault.

Luckily a midwest girl is always prepared had jumper cables in my car (brand new never been used, but there in case) none of the guys had any. A helpful friend game me a jump and on my happy way I went, confused none the less as to how your battery can go from juicy to nada in a single work shift.

So after a good 45 minute drive you think the battery would be charged and hope it was just a fluke. I had called ahead and had dad on hand to take a gander so straight to the 'rents I went. Car in park, ignition off, a hail mary and pray for a restart... Houston we have a problem. No go. Frustrated that Simon has once again let me down we run scenarios inside. Dad say "alternator" I hear ca-ching $$$. Or it could be just a worn out given up on life battery (hoping for choice B here).

Another jump and we are on our way to the family mechanic. Diagnostics ran and the alternator is charging (good news) check the batter yep, sure enough. It went all Harakiri on me, a noble death. Three years old and given up all ready.. shame.

Short story long: I got a new battery and am down on the cabbage again.. bad Simon. You've cost me my camera moo-lah. BAD SIMON! I still love you but let's not make this a habbit, if I give you more washes can we not be so selfish with the few dollars I have to my name. Thanks.

So needless to say I didn't have much time after work to catch up on Bachelor Pad, and no I didn't get any farther into Eat, Pray, Love. I'm a last minute girl, that's how I roll... don't judge. I work well under pressure.

Silence IS Golden

Ahhhh the joy of no noise. Hopefully I succeeded in being stealthy and none of you actually heard my car and it's noise. I don't have the best luck with exhaust systems apparently. My three year old Simon (my Nissan Sentra) had a growing grumble to him, then there came a day when the noise was not pleasant then came the constant tapping.

Well the exhaust pipe had officially rusted in half and was now clanking on the bracket. Called a few places and apparently Nissan does not sell parts to third parties or something like that so a call to the dealer yielded a heart stopping estimate (over the phone) of $411+... cue the heart attack. I call BS. Then after a few more calls and a converstaion to our family mechanic, after a few cuts and welds and an "unoffical" fix and only $35 we are quiet again.

Thank you America for boys that aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and make something... and on the cheap. Today we drink to you mechanics of America!

Simon and a handsome brother posing for a photo