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Tag: cars

sunday lists

In the last month:

  • I met my friend at the local hospital just before 5am. She was rear-ended at a stop light and suffered minor cuts and physical shake-up. She showed up just before 7am.
  • I spent a few weeks after that helping her get her personal affairs in order. We also looked for cars, bought one, and I helped her with her job.
  • I learned what a dog walker does for a living. If I ever needed to get into a job that can make good money inconsistently, dog walking would be kinda high on the list.
  • At times, I was completely needed to take care of someone. I’ve never been in a situation where I am tending to someone and I can’t imagine doing this for someone in critical need is any better. I’ve gained respect for those who do this for a living. It’s mentally draining at times.
  • I left the house every single day. Sometimes, normally, I’m home for days in a row now because I have work or no incentive or need to go anywhere. It also helps save gas. I like alone time but need a social balance more often.
  • I helped someone to buy a new car. Out of all the SUVs out there, one of the best purchases anyone can make is a Honda CR-V. They’re one of the most fuel efficient, solidly built SUVs.
  • I realized how detailed one should be when buying a new/used car. VIN numbers, background checks, mechanic checks, registering, renewing, time, time and more time. It’s so consuming and tedious.
  • I learned first hand that car dealership salesmen are very aggressive even when you warn them not to be. Some don’t get the point when you tell them to back off.
  • I realized that car dealerships don’t carry cars older than about 5-7 years. I had no idea.
  • I went to Disneyland for a night and another full day. I love going to Disneyland randomly.

During this last month:

  • I did not go into work. I wasn’t called into work, I didn’t respond to or initiate anything. I will spend the next few weeks playing catch up. I spent 30 minutes on the phone for a meeting one morning. That was it.
  • I kinda dropped off the social radar from most people. The majority of my time was consumed.
  • I got sick with a summer cold. It lasted from Monday until today. Today I am 100%.
  • I paid no attention at all to this website. I’ve felt very apathetic about writing lately.
  • I spent less time online than usual. It was kinda freeing.

Escaping the monotony of life was nice for a few weeks, but within that escape I formed another routine of montony. It reinforces my belief that we’re beings of habits, complacency, and addictions. We find habits, we form too much complacency in the mundane and we become addicted to aspects of our habits and complacencies. Maybe I’m only speaking of myself, but I doubt that few who read this won’t identify.

old and precious

I was definitely spoiled. Driving a brand new 2007 white Chevy Impala for over a month really got me used to what I’m missing. The smooth ride, stereo system with an input jack for my iPod, the amazing shocks, the tall seats, the v6 engine; there was so much to love about that car.

Upon finding a parking violation stuck to my windshield of my real car this morning, I quickly examined what was obviously standard issue in this private neighborhood. I needed to go to the bank and post office and this was my only mean. Thankfully, I already took care of my registration online while I was in Texas so the decal was waiting for me upon my arrival. I stuck it on my rear plate and stumbled into the driver’s seat, forgetting how low my car seats are.

Man this feels weird, I thought to myself. I already wanted to go back and pick up the Impala.

I turned the key, misfired the ignition and received a solid check engine light. No worries, the car was not driven for the last month. I drove around the block, clearing my translucent windshield covered with dry sludge and mud from the warm California wind and morning fog. Just to be safe, I briefly parked in front of my house to verify that solid light wasn’t threatening my ride. And then I was off.

Geez, this thing feels so old.

Feeling every bump along the way, I just remind myself that this car is in it for the long haul. I made that decision when I moved out here. There’s no reason to purchase another car as long as this one works great. That’s how my family works; you run your car into the ground. I know no differently.

Cars never were of any interest to me. My first car in high school was my short stint with my mom’s sky blue ’74 Chevy Nova. She received that car when she was in college and we had it ever since. It was a haus of a car and eventually was sold to my older brother because of his growing emotional attachment. My next car was an maroon ’86 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. It was a joke of a car but it got me to and from school. I was always more excited to drive our grey ’77 Oldsmobile which was more like driving a tank, but had a nice huge engine.

I unfortunately was left without a car for my first year of college. It wasn’t fun not being able to go anywhere freely or having to constantly ask friends or my grandmother to pick me up. But that changed on my 19th birthday. My grandmother decided she couldn’t handle driving anymore and I received the best birthday gift I’ve ever gotten. It was an almost brand new ’97 Saturn SL2 with just over 4300 miles on it. It was a beauty, and although I would have preferred a silver model, the champagne gold was just fine by me for the price I paid.

I’ve tempted myself a few times over the years to trade up for a newer model, but I was fortunate enough to either talk myself out of it or have someone else slap me out of it. It was smart to not have to worry about taking on car payments and all I had to do was put up with a car that was slowly aging.

This car’s time is coming, but if I can stretch another five or so years out of it, I’ll be made. I just need enough time to get my fortunate rolling.

Dear fate, please don’t let me down!