Bumper Sticker

Good Thing Joe's Got a Sense of Humor

Aquarium alert!

First, you have to know that I often sit in the deli next door to Ian's Aikido dojo, Marco's Italian Deli, and do my homework while Ian takes class. The guy that puts up with me is Joe, but Ian, for the longest time and against all reason, believed Joe's name was REALLY Marco.

Ian has now decided on permanent names for his other two fish: Marco and Vinnie. Marco and Vinnie chase each other around the tank, while Ian sits in front of the tank pretending they are talking. "You wanna piece a me?" "Hey, leave me alone-a. I gotta maka my sangwiches!"

I feel like I've got The Godfather Fish Tank going on. Mr. Kahn, Marco and Vinnie. Joe would probably get a kick out of it.

Hook, Line and Sinker

At the dealership, I was telling the salesman what I wanted/needed in the car I was about to buy. I knew, from research, that the Aveo was available in either a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback.

The saleman looked at me and said, "So, how many doors do you need?"

I looked at Ian, looked back at the salesman and said, "Really, I only need one. He can slide across the seat."

The salesman didn't miss a beat. "One it is, then! Or, even better, you could drop him in the sunroof!"

"Yeah! I'd have to stop feeding him, though, so he doesn't get too big."

"You're right." He looks at Ian and says, "And carbs put weight on you, so no more macaroni and cheese for you!"

Ian looked absolutely stricken. As we were biking home from the dealership, my beautiful little boy said, "Mommy, can we please get two doors on the car?" It was all I could do not to laugh. I said sure, and we left it at that.

A few days later, I picked up the car, and Ian was thrilled to discover it was the 5-door hatchback. Joe from the Deli asked him, "Hey! I thought it was supposed to have only 1 door! How'd you get your Mom to get all those doors?" Ian just grinned and said, "I don't know! She just did!"

He's going to need psychotherapy when he grows up, I just know it.

Somebody Play Taps

{heavy sigh}

My Car Broke.

My poor, poor baby. The clutch finally had enough on Wednesday, when I actually made it home in second gear.

It needs the clutch kit and flywheel. The cheapest price I can get to have it fixed is $1500. In general, the car also needs a new power steering hose and valve gasket seal. Whatever those are, they are apparently leaking. I'll also need tires about mid-winter, they guestimate.

To get the car back to where I need it to drive, it will cost me about $2000, which includes tires. I've never replaced anything on this car besides the tires, so this is my first major repair. It is 11 years old, and has almost 100,000 miles on it. Everything on it is original.

Decision time. Should I put $2000 into a car that is, at best, worth $500? Kelly Blue Book value for this car is $690 for "fair" condition. If I repaired the car, and got into an accident tomorrow, I'd only get something like $250 from the insurance company. As my boss said, when I pondered this with him, it does not make good economic sense to put $2000 into an 11 year old car with 100,000 miles on it.

So I will take my money and put it down on a new car. I found one I really like, too. It reminds me of my last favorite car, a 1981 Citation, that died when I lived with my brother. I loved that car, and I cried my eyes out when the tow truck came to take it to Chevy Heaven.

Anyway, the Chevy Aveo is my choice. I test drove a bunch of cars, but the Aveo is the most comfortable for me, not only in price, but also in size. Here it is:

Winter is Coming

It was 46 degrees when I left to bike to work this morning! Brrrr!!! I am NOT ready for this!

JT said...
Not missing that AT ALL... been nice here in the mid to upper 70's...:)

Serena said...
Rub it in, rub it in. I need to move somewhere warmer. Who'da thunk Seattle would qualify?

Aquarium

Hope gave us a 7 gallon fish tank with a filter and heater. She said to start it with tropical fish.

On Friday, the senior partner at the law firm I work at, Dennis Kahn, came to Ian and asked what his plans for the weekend are. Ian responded that we were going to buy fish. He asked Ian, "If I give you some money, will you buy a great fish and name him Mr. Kahn?" Ian, of course, said, "Sure!" Here he is, our fish, Mr. Kahn:

There are actually three fish in the tank, but they move so quick, I had trouble getting a picture of them. They are Zebra Danios, a hardy fish that is good for starter tanks. Apparently bacteria has to build up in the tank (eeeuuuu) in order for the fish to live healthily.

I wonder what I've gotten myself into.

"Party Guy" - Sarah Vowell

An interesting opinion from the New York Times, September 7, 2008, concerning the presidential election:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/opinion/07vowell.html?ex=1378440000&en=f38dca75da3a2a4e&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

My Final Semester

The semester, my final semester at ECC, has begun. I am taking Calculus II, Business Finance, Marketing I, and Intro to Theater. I'm thinking the Theater course will be the most fun this semester.

With a little luck, I'll have my Associates in December. Provided, of course, that I can make it through Calculus. {heavy sigh!}