Progress!

Hey everyone! It seems like I must have been extra busy lately! I'm not exactly sure that it's true at 100%, but it sure seems like it!

Monday night I went out after school to start my car (5:00 pm, most others had left) and it wouldn't start. It's been finicky lately in that you have to hit the gas at just the right moment to get it to start. Not usually a problem, so gradual that it didn't step right out and yell my name, but more noticeable now that my battery wouldn't start last weekend in the hyper cold weather. After the first attempt, I think I must have flooded it. The battery killed quickly, even though I waited for a while between attempts. I cried like the girl I am, and then called one of my coworkers to come back and give my car a jump start. It fought to stay running, killing as soon as I let off the gas a couple of times. It has started ever since, but it makes me more than a little nervous! It is becoming more obvious that I need a new car. Last week I noticed that a light has burnt out in my speedometer. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Now my speedometer is un-illuminated between 50 and 70 mph. Not like I need those numbers at all!

I've spent much of the week doing my research on cars. I must try for 38mph which will free up $165 per month for a car payment. There is a challenge to be had for sure! I've found the 38 bit, but the car payment would be $50-$70 beyond that. I don't think I can do it! I don't have the discipline or the wiggle room in my budget for that!

Today was car shopping day. Angily and I (and the boy) went to the town just down the freeway and started shopping. We test drove a 2007 Chevy Aveo. which was actually pretty nice. I don't know if the gas mileage meets the criteria though, although the bright orange color really appealed! No CD player, and no power locks or windows. It was a manual transmission, which I only vaguely can drive (like around the parking lot out back, oops, I killed it again! Sorry Mr. Car Salesman!) I think it was $8000. I like that you sit up higher than many cars.

Then there was the Toyota Corolla. It wasn't bad to look at, but the instrument panel is white, which is so distracting and the plexiglass was cracked. The single most disturbing part was that the windshield had a wave running right through it. It was as if I was driving wearing somebody else's glasses. I was dizzy almost instantly. Defect!

My favorite was the Honda Civic. 39,000 miles but in over budget at $13,999. Even with the trade in of my old beast, over my desired car payment. Really pretty car though! (Yes, I did say pretty!)

The good news of the day is that my credit ROCKS! I thought so, but I called one of the local banks to ask about a loan and they were able to pre-approve me right over the phone, even giving me the lowest interest rate! I love that! It helps that I was able to pay off my last car loan early, and also one of my student loans, well before it's due date! I've had a couple of credit cards, for the most part used responsibly. But there's only so much credit can do for you in budgeting in a car payment!

As a special education teacher, I have tons of paperwork to complete, especially after the January marathon of meetings. I've had 3 of these meetings to wrap up for waaay too long. They've been hanging over my head since. I know they need to be done, or I risk losing my job but I've been sick and had so many other things going on. It seemed like any time that I did have that I could work on them, I was sick, or tired, or busy with other things and my brain was not cooperating. Or I only had a short time, and I really need more than that to make progress! Well- I left work Friday night at 6:45 pm (yes, I have no life) with two of the three almost done! Paper work filled out, all I need to do is review them and copy them and get them in the appropriate mails(office vs. USPS)! The last of the 3 isn't as late as the others, so a little less pressure! The kids get out early on Wednesday for PT conferences, so I should have time to finish it then! Yippee!

Well, I'm off to bed. It's nearly 10 o'clock. Car shopping and the Olive Garden really took it out of me!

Oh- anyone want to join my personal rant of the day? Why are cars still being produced with 25-30 piles per gallon STANDARD? Our world has the technology, why are they choosing to not use it? I am amazed that it's so hard to find a car with 38mpg, when Toyota and Honda and Geo Metros have been doing it for years. Perhaps if we all banded together and refused to buy the lesser cars . . . It makes me feel like there is a conspiracy or something. Someone told me that the big car companies also own the oil companies? Its like we live in a less than free country or something. We are in bondage to big oil . . . this is not progress but regress! or is it digress?

Now- really, off to bed!

A