We've gone and done it
Mood:  not sure
After some fancy financial work we were able to get the money for the van without selling my car (yet). So Friday evening N calls the illustrious Jimmy Chang to let him know we would be coming over to pick the van. His answer? "Yes, it still here. Someone touch it, but no one took it."

Ick! Someone touched my van! heheheh. So, we gave it anther look and then went inside to fix up the paper work. One would think that it would be easy to pay cash for a car. It took us over an hour! Sheesh! Jimmy was great throughout, but then (dun-dun-dunt!) he handed us over to the finance guy to finish the deal. What a SLIMEBALL! We kept telling him that we didn't want the warrantee, that we couldn't afford the warrantee, that we had just enough money for the CAR. This guy didn't want to hear it. Of course I realized that it was because he wasn't making any money off the deal because we weren't financing. In fact, he kept trying to talk us into financing so that we could fit the warrantee in. I finally spoke up and said. "We can't faineance because we already have TWO car loans."

"OH, I'm sure we can work around that!" He made a few calls, got wind of our fica score and that was all it took! You've never seen someone push people out of his office so quickly! heheheh. For once my poor credit rating did me some good.

So we get the car, N starts driving the van home and I'm driving my bug. We're on the phone, well because we're sick like that, when he goes. "SHIT there's a HUGE crack in the windshield!"

Seems the numbers of the price had been hiding a huge chip and a crack about 12 inches long. Needless to say, we turned around and drove straight back to the dealership. They swore they didn't know it was there, and that they are going to fix the windshield right away. So, we'll see.

I have to admit it's nice to have a nice big vehicle. Knowing we can load up anything and everything and still have room for all the people is cool. It's also nice to be driving a nice strong Chevy v-6. I love Chevy's and for years that's all I drove. But as N put it after looking over at a young thing in a convertible. "It's really hard to look cool when driving a mini van!"

And there is something about being practical that rubs me the wrong way. Sick, I know it!

Still, I've got a LOT of work to do. Since I'm not using my car for a trade in, and still have to sell it, it means I have to clean it up enough that a private seller would pay blue book for it. After THAT, I've got to come up with the difference between the selling price and what I owe. At this point I'm just praying a LOT. Maybe I'll win the lottery and not have to sell the bug, or maybe (to quote N) purple monkeys will fly out of my ass.

Jimmy Chang Car Salesman Extraordinaire
Last night, I had the pleasure of doing business with the best car salesman I've ever met. No, I haven't gotten rid of my Bug yet, but not from lack of effort by one Jimmy Chang.

But, before I sing the praises of Mr. Chang, I would like to point out once again why I love my man so much!

We were getting ready to leave last night and I was pretty tense and terse. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of putting up a brave face, but as we were walking out the door N says "Are you sure about this?"

I couldn't even look him in the eye when I answered "No... but I know it has to be done."

"I knew there was something wrong, I could see it in your face" *pause* "We really need a car with more room"

"LOGICALLY, I KNOW this, but the rest of me doesn't always follow logic..."

He sat, thinking about this for a moment, and then he said, "How about this. We get the van, and then when we pay it and the Jeep off, we'll get you a convertible Bug."

I shook my head at him, part of my brain going `right, like that would happen'. But somehow, him knowing and understanding how I felt, and doing everything he could to make it better, made it better.

As we got close to the Car dealership, we gave them a call to let them know we were coming. N talked to Jimmy who seemed very excited. "I'll get the car ready! You ask for Jimmy...ok?"

As we approached the dealership we spotted the van and of course did the goofy tourist thing. *pointing* "Oh look! There it is!". We had to pass the place, go to the next light and turn around so it took a bit to actually pull onto the lot, and to our amazement, the van was GONE! We wandered around a bit, asked a few people for `Jimmy' and were told to he would be a few minutes.

A few minutes later we were approached by a elderly oriental gentleman dressed in jeans, a polo shirt and baseball cap. "Are you N___? Yes? I'm Jimmy Chang." He was so NOT what I would have expected: the casual attire, the age, the thick accent. But he had a fantastic smile and an enthusiastic hand shake. He won TONS of points by doing his best to talk to BOTH of us, meeting my eye every time he spoke and directing just as many of his comments to me as he did to N. Even if I did have to ask him to repeat some things so I could understand. As he lead us out to look at the van he casually mentioned "You saw this on ad for $7,999, less then it says right?"

N and I looked at each other and he shrugged. He had done all the research and had written down the info he had found in the internet. He looked at his papper, looked at me, shook his head then told Jimmy "Uh, yeah..."

By the tone of N's voice it was OBVIOUS we had no idea what the guy was talking about. Jimmy looked at both of us in turn, grinned and said "You saw it for $1000 less! If they advertised it for that we'll make sure they give it to your for that price. Just say yes!"

Needless to say the guy had already impressed us. He had taken the van out back when he heard we were coming and had rinsed off the dust. And NOW he was telling us that somewhere, someone had advertised this van for $1000 less and was telling us he would give us that price even though we hadn't seen the ad.

We took the van for the usual test drive. I made N drive it because test-driving a vehicle makes me so nervous I can't function. Jimmy sat in the back he had kept up a running inventory of this van's merits. "You want to tow? This is a good van for this, built on a truck cassis." "It has two air conditioners, and the kids can plug in, here in the back to listen to their music." And so on. Suddenly he says "Try the air conditioner. Make sure it works. You try everything, make sure it works."

So I did. Nigel started laughing at me as I pushed buttons, flipped switches all the while going. "Ooo what's THIS button do?"

After we parked, Jimmy hopped out of the van, told us, "You look it over one more time" and he went back inside. When he came back out he had a newspaper ad in his hand. "Here," he told N. "See it's advertised for 7.9. You tell them you saw it in the paper. Not on the internet. They have to honor this price, they advertised it."

Of course we weren't going to argue with the guy! Then came the shock, the blow this poor enthusiastic sales guy wasn't expecting. We told him we wanted to trade in the BUG. He took all my information, 2001 Beatle, 122,000 miles... amount owed almost 10k. He went into the back and then came back out, downcast. "here's the deal.." he started out. He went on to explain that trade in for the car was listed at 6,000 and that there was no way to hide 4,000 in the loan for the van. "But, there may be another way..." He then explained that we could LEASE a NEW van, hide the $4,000 in the lease and we would have a car that seats seven.

I have to tell you, the thought of getting a new van with leather seats and all the new fangled doodads was a bit appealing to me. But, this was a Mazda dealership. And I wasn't too thrilled with the MPV. N nearly fainted when he saw the sticker price of $35k. Then Jimmy said the thing that had us laughing the rest of the night. "Of course you can't tow with it, it's a JAPANESE car!"

The statement in and of itself was funny enough, but to hear it come out of the mouth of this fifty-something oriental man, with his thick accent, and with the OBVIOUS distain. It was all I could do to not burst out laughing right then and there!

As leasing wasn't for us, Jimmy was cool, he didn't pressure us, he didn't push, he handed us our paper work, told us "This is yours, you keep it, no one look at it but you." And then added "You go home and think about it. Call me." And then escorted us to our car. N shook his hand, which seemed to startle him. I had my hands full at this point so I nodded. To my surprise and pleasure this nice gentleman gave me a very formal and very oriental bow.

As we backed out, I had to tell N, "Look out!" Jimmy had jumped in the path of our car and was waving us down. "You pull this car over there. I'm going to see if I can get this guy to say OK to 10 thousand for it. The sales manager is gone. Shhhhh, we'll get this guy to say OK and then you can take the van"

It was very clandestine and very SWEET of him to give it another try. Unfortunately, he couldn't even convince THIS guy (whoever that happened to be) to ok $10k for my car, so it's still mine and we don't have a van yet. But I have to say, that was the most pleasant car experience I've EVER walked away from.

If you are ever in Redwood City, stop by Redwood City Mazda and tell Jimmy Chang I said HEY.

Like I needed a quiz to tell me this...
Topic: Quizes

You Are A Professional Girlfriend! You are the perfect girlfriend - big surprise! Heaven knows you've had enough practice. That's why you're a total pro. If there was an Emily Post of girlfriends, it would be you. You know how to act in every situation ... to make both you and your guy happy. What Kind Of Girlfriend Are You? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

Top 100?
Mood:  bright
I was over at What Do Pretty Girls Do? and was looking at her post containing 100 top-grossing movies. I sat down and counted and I do believe that I've seen 83 of those 100 movies. I'm not quite sure what that says about me other then maybe that I watch a lot of movies which if you consider we don't watch TV, I guess it's not that surprising. I've said it before, I'll say it again. Thank GOD for NetFlix!

In defence of myself I will also say that I also read an average of two books per week, so I've not COMPLETELY rotted my brain.

For all you doubters out there
"Hair can't possibly glow in the dark" I hear you say. "It can't be THAT bad" You mutter. For all you doubters out there I offer you

THIS


Of course, this means that all you people who read my blog will now recognize me when you see me in the store, and you'll run up to me and say "You're that girl that writes that blog. The one with the crazy cat and the perfect boyfriend. BITCH!"

Of course the real reason I wanted to share that photo was to show to everyone what an AMAZING day it is here in Northern California today. Enough of a breeze to keep it cool, and to blow all the polution out of here and into Nevada...

Loverly I tell ya, just loverly

All right All right
Mood:  not sure
I'll write a real post already!

But what to share? The fact that my cat has learned to whine like a puppy, and begins my mornings by peeking through the sliding glass door blinds, whimpering and trembling like a chawawa? Never mind the fact, that if you should you open said slider she would turn her nose up at the very THOUGHT of putting a paw outside (Ick - it's DIRTY!). And what causes all this trauma and consternation? A bird. A bird that flutters in and parks it's feathery butt on the wrot iron fence in the backyard. GAH!

Or perhaps I should enlighten you to the fact that I now glow in the dark. You see over the weekend, during one of those moments when N and I were sitting and snuggling on the couch, while staring into my eyes he gently brushed back the hair from my face and murmured "You need to dye your hair again" (Of course He only says things like this because he loves me and I don't get mad because I believe that) So, the other day while we were in the drug store, I wandered through the hair section. I had picked up my 'normal' (OK - normal for this week) hair color when N passed by me, looked over the rainbow of colors and said "oooo how about THIS one!". So, me, being the loving and giving fiance' that I am said "Oh! alright!" (OK - OK - so I'm always game for an excuse to play with my hair color)

The color is SUPPOSED to be This (See Flaming Red) But, because portions of my hair were pretty light (due to sun, and a little home streaking job) sections of my hair have taken on a shade very similar to the border that surrounds this here blog. The weirdest thing? I've never gotten so many compliments on a color job.

Then there's the whole CAR issue (BTW - thanks to those who commented - All TWO of you, that's the most comments I've ever gotten on a post. And you've inspired me to blog about my Camaro one day just to see if I can get an even BETTER response) Anyway - I can't weasel out of the fact that I have to get rid of my car. No matter how much I deflect and procrastinate and pout. Logically, I know it has to go. But DAMN if I'll be happy about it. This will be the first time I've ever gotten a car that I wasn't excited about. Doing things because they were PRACTICAL was one of the things I HATED about my pre-divorce days. BUT enough of my whining.

We've pretty much narrowed our choices down to two. A Volvo Station wagon with the third seat, or a Chevy Astro Van (unless someone can convince me otherwise).

Here's the thing. The Van has more space, can tow things, is actually REALLY built to hold 8 people and thus will be more comfortable on a long trip, and is cheaper. The Volvo is safer, will be more like my bug (leather seats, sportier), will hold it's value longer, and gets better gas mileage.

Again with the practical: It will probably be the Van because of the room thing. If I'm going to get rid of my car for something bigger I may as well make sure it's BIG ENOUGH.

FEH! How can I expect to get lewd looks and wolf whistles while driving a mini-van!?

And that's the last post I'll do on the subject until I have new car keys in hand. I promise!

Note: I find it rather ironic that the spell check built into my blog - doesn't recognize the word "Blog".

Having a little fun...
Mood:  chillin'
at this site

and so, I give you



Me...

You're in trouble now!
Mood:  not sure
I just discovered that I can now insert pictures into my blog. So, as a test, I give you

The Queen


So, now I can take requests (within reason!)

Feel free to post them here.

(I shall post of picture of Imbri's not to be believed 'hairy toes' soon)

Hey Baby, wanna buy a car?
Mood:  don't ask
I just want to cry! I went looking for a car today, and it was every bit as horrible as I had imagined.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy with my current car. In fact, I love my little bug. It's my first ever brand new car. I bought it after the divorce and it was such a sign and symbol of the new independence I had wroth, that I've attached a lot of emotion to that car. Not to mention it was my dream car. It was the car I had wanted for years and had finally gotten. In fact, if I wasn't forced to, the only car I would throw it over for would be the convertible version, or a mini cooper.

But, reality is an ugly bitch. This reconciliation with my children means that I often have two or three of them over at the house at the same time. The bug seats four. This means that when more then two children (weather they all mine or a combination of his and mine) we can't go ANYWHERE without taking separate vehicles. (N's Jeep also only seats four) Since MY car is the higher of the two payments it was decided that MINE should be traded in for something that seats at LEAST six.

So, today I went out looking at cars. Now, let me start this off by saying the ex used to sell cars. I KNOW these guys. I also know and understand that they are on commission. That selling me a car means they can feed their family and in some cases can be the difference in them keeping their job. This is one of the reasons, I ALWAYS let the ex handle these sort of things. Now, pile on top of that the fact that the guy _I_ happen to pick up was OBVIOUSLY new. (a fact he confirmed when I asked for his business card) and you've got a recipe for disaster. First, I'm a woman. And no matter how open minded a guy would like to think he is, he looses all sense of gender equality when he sees a woman walk onto a car lot. Add the fact that I would like to think that I'm a mildly attractive woman, and that I was wearing a short skirt - and I think the sweaty palms this guy had were due to more then him trying to make his first sale. He stuttered, he talked too fast, he laughed nervously and incessantly at his own inane jokes, he pushed way way WAY too hard. I did everything I could to calm him down. I listened intently when he talked, I smiled and nodded, I was upfront and straightforward, I even repeatedly assured him that I would not `give' his sale away to another salesman NOTHING would shut him up!

Now, let's talk about the car I looked at. It's the model we want, an appropriate year with a decent (as in low) amount of mileage, and well within my price range. At first glance it looked like it might work. But since this guy would let me walk away and bring my fianc? to look at it later, I spent a LOT more time looking at it then I should have. So, I noticed things. Things like the tear in the headliner, the seat belt that was obviously some sort of Frankenstein job. The broken drivers seat arm rest, etc etc. Every sign of abuse and neglect made that much more depressed! It's not as though my bug is perfect. But at least with it I KNOW what each and every mar is, and where it came from. The tear in the carpeting that's from wearing CFM shoes one to many times while driving a stick. The broken window switch from having to roll the window up and down EVERY day to pay toll as I crossed the bridge. The mar on the headliner from the time I drove 130 miles with a bike loaded in the back, only to throw the bike away when N pronounced it unfit to ride. Sure, I know that I can't afford another brand new car, but geeze is it too much to ask for a car that at least APPEARS as if I'm the first to drive it? At least superficially?

FAH - I don't know what to do now. I don't want to give up my car... I don't want someone else's memories sitting in MY driveway. But I can't continue living this life where we constantly have to make plans based on how many people are over at any given time. I DON'T WANT TO OWN A MINIVAN!!

How I came out of the weekend from Hell happier then ever.
Mood:  celebratory
I'm one lucky woman. Really I mean it. Let me tell you about our weekend, and YOU decide.

Actually, the story starts earlier then this. You see, my daughter was installed as Honored Queen (like being the president) in her Bethel (Job's Daughters - a club for young women who are related to masons) this weekend. Whereas most people have months or more to plan for this ceremony (Think Wedding-like in proportion to preparation required) She got three weeks! When she got the news she called me to tell me, and then asked how many from `my family' would be attending. As N wasn't around to confer with, I committed him without asking. Actually, let me put this another way, here was the actual conversation.

C: Hi mom, I just need to know how many from your family are coming to my installation.
Me: I'm not sure honey. You'll have to call around and find out.
C: No, I mean YOUR family. You know, people living in your house.
Me: OH! Well, I don't know. I'll be there for sure. Um. I'm sure Nigel would like to come, but he won't mind stay home if it would make your feel uncomfortable with him there.
C: I really don't mind either way.
Me: Ok then, he'll come and IB (N's son) will be here that weekend, so make it three.
C: Ok!

So we spent the week she was here making invitations, programs, carrying pieces, and corsages... among other things. Friday Night she had gone back to her Dad's but I was still working on the programs for her, putting in last minute changes, and corresponding with the Bethel Guardian (Head Muckey-muck) to make sure all is in place and correct. I stayed up until about 1:00am.

As I was part of the ceremony, I needed to be at rehearsal by 9:00am. That meant getting up at 6:00am and then leaving the house by 7:00 UG! (I believe I've mentioned that I'm not a morning person? Even when on work days I don't usually get up before 7:30am) So the alarm goes off at 6:00, N rolls over and snuggles close to me, I snuggle in closer and whisper, "My alarm is going off".

N: It's Saturday!
Me: I know but I have to be in (Town my Children live in) by 9:00am
N: *groan*
Me: Are you coming with me?
N: I have homework. IB and I will come later in the Jeep
Me: Yeah, right ok

So, I get up ALONE, and I'm pissed. I had counted on him coming with me. I had planned on spending the day with him and I figured that looking at a 130 mile drive in a Jeep Wrangler with no top on it, he would be calling me 30 minutes too late to leave the house to tell me he wasn't coming.
Now, part of me was mad because I figured C would feel a little let down that I had said he was coming and then he doesn't. But more then that, I was feeling selfish. I didn't want to sit through this special occasion with my family there and the ex there with his girlfriend ALONE AGAIN! It just made me feel sad and frustrated and well, it PISSED ME OFF!

But, on the way over I figured out a solution. When I figured he was awake I called and I made my move.

Me: Hey, how about if after the rehearsal I come home and pick you up?
N: What? That's way too much driving
Me: Not really, we're putting the same amount of miles, but it's just all on my car instead of on two, and this way after it's over we're not driving home in separate cars
N: Yeah, and I'm not having to drive the Jeep home late at night in the cold
Me: Exactly
N: I've got so much homework....
Me: Alright, well I'll call you after. If you HAVE to stay home, the you can stay.
N: But you said I HAD to be there.
Me: I know I said that, but in truth your homework is more important so if you need to stay home and finish it, you can.
N: Alright, I'll start on it and I'll let you know how it's going when you call

Now, I know, after saying how pissed I was before that you might think I was being facetious, but the truth is, I meant every word I said to him. His homework takes priority, and if he needed to stay home, I would understand. I wouldn't like it, but hey life's not always fair, I'm an adult, I'll deal with it.

So, I called after the rehearsal, he said "Come get me" and I did! I made it home in two hours... I printed programs, changed my clothes and we all piled in the car and prepared to make the two hour drive AGAIN.

We left the house at 3:50. I needed to be there by 6:30, the installation was at 7:00. My plan was to be there by 6:00 and be available for any last minute emergencies. We start driving, and hit traffic. We stop, we go, we stop, we take a short cut... it takes 1 hour to get to a town 35 miles away. We keep going. We drive on back roads thinking to avoid traffic and then disaster! The lift bridge is RAISED! Traffic is backed up waiting for some fool on a speed boat to go under...We fret, I stress, I want to cry and scream and throw things. I'm thinking deadly thoughts about my fianc? because he didn't just GET HIS LAZY BUTT OUT OF BED and come with me in the morning! The thing is, I really can't get mad because he feels guilty about it already.

Now we're about 50 miles into our 130 mile trip and it's already 5:45! N starts asking me about what happens if we're late? I have to explain to him that I HAVE to be there by 7:00. That my role involves me STARTING the ceremony. I CAN'T be late. OMG I CAN'T BE LATE!!! So, my wonderful loving, amazing fianc? gets us safely back on the main road and starts to DRIVE. I start calculating, PRAYING that we can make it there. I read every sign that says how far away we are. Finally, it starts to look like we might make it there by 7:00! Then I realize that we're going to make it before 7:00! OMG we pull in at 6:35! I'm about ready to burst into tears. My honey has the biggest GRIN on his face and is not shy about telling me how much I now OWE him. Heheheh..,. (yes, I rewarded him, but that's another story)

The ceremony was beautiful. I managed to make it through without crying. Even when I sang (Baby of Mine from Dumbo if you MUST know). The only fly in the ointment was when the girl who was leaving office kept flubbing her speeches. It really detracted from the overall effect. And then when it came to the part where she was supposed to hand over the cape and crown (I know it sounds weird to an outsider) She started bawling and said out loud to everyone there "I don't want to let it go!" My daughter, the ever calm one, simply said quietly "You have to...it's time" I was so proud of her.

So we get to the part where my daughter had to introduce her family. Earlier in the day I had called her and asked "Honey, do you expect N to stand when it comes time to introduce your family?" She said "Of course!" and actually sounded really surprised that I asked her. When I told N later that he and IB would have to stand he was a little confused, but I think secretly happy that she would give him that kind of consideration. Anyway, we all stand, and as a surprise to C we each had a sign that read how we were related to her and our names. This may sound strange but you have to realize that my grandmother has 9 brothers and sisters and 8 children. We are a LARGE brood and I have trouble keeping track of all the dozens of cousins, much less my kids doing it. So we stand, and we hold up our signs and she gets the giggles. The she starts going around the room, making introductions.

"This is my Mom, S____" *points* "and this is my Mom's Fianc? N____" And this was the GREAT part... She gets this GREAT BIG GRIN on her face and gives N the double thumbs up. He and I were both stunned! As casual as she made her invitation... She made it clear that she was really glad to have him there. We both got the impression that she REALLY likes N, and that she's glad we're getting married! She introduced her Dad and his Girlfriend, but N was the only one who got ANY thumbs up, much less TWO of them. N and I were both so surprised by her reaction that not only did we talk about it on the way home, but the next day as well!

(Anyway, I know this is getting long. I'm going to try to wrap this up, but I've got a few more points to add before I do... )

The other two kids were at this ceremony too. From the time he arrived to the time I left my son hugged me no less then 6 times! He also sat around and talked to N, IB and Me even when his Dad was in the room. At one point he became the `go between' between his dad and I when he stepped up to me and said "Mom, are you staying until it's over?"

Me: Why?
M: Cause Dad and J want to leave
Me: Oh, and you have to go unless I stay?
M: *nods*
Me: Well, I think I can stay a while, but I can't drive you home, I don't have enough room in my car.

M walks over to his dad, talks to him for a while and then comes back over to me.

M: Dad says if you could stay then we can stay
Me: does he understand that I can't drive you home? Is he coming back to pick you up or what?
M: *looking helpless* Can you just go over and talk to him!?

At this point I had to laugh. Really the DECENT thing to do would have been for his DAD to come over and talk to ME since HE was the one who wanted to leave, but I went over and made the necessary arraignments. I stayed `til the end while Richard and J took off to do God knows what. I stayed, and helped take down decorations, and clean the room. I got to take pictures of the fun and hug my daughter several times. I got to be the `good' parent! We may have gotten home a LOT later then we wanted, but DAMN if it wasn't worth it

My sweet honey drove me home while I slumped into a happy foggy stupor. And an early Sunday morning Shag made the weekend complete!