Just got our stimulus check-- which promptly went to paying for half the cost of repairs on our BMW-- rear brake lights, wheel bearings, power-steering U-joint, odometer light... oh, the list goes on. And just two months ago, I had the clutch replaced (at a 140,000 miles). This car better work for the next year without repairs!

The Pontiac is on its last leg, probably another 2 months or so before it just dies completely. So we're looking into a new car. So here's some information:

1. No trucks or SUVs, please
I'm not interested in a pick-up truck or large SUV. For environmental reasons, I just don't see the benefit of owning one in my life. (We rarely move large items, I don't work in construction, and I don't have a big family)

2. 4-doors would be nice, but I like them compact
I would like a 4-door sedan (the BMW is a 2-door) for child-seat reasons (I can't fathom trying to wrench a writhing baby from the backseat of a 2-door. I picture lots of bumps on head.) But I don't like the 7-feet long Cadillac cars that have the worst turn ratios and stick out in parking lots.

3. Needs to be durable in wet conditions
It needs to be fairly "waterproof" because the road I drive to floods quite a lot (seawater at high tide = not good for some cars). I was looking heavily at the Volkwagen Jetta till I found out that it's electrical wiring tends to konk out easily when driven through even 6 inches of water.

4. $20,000 price range
Give or take. So far, all 5 cars we've owned have been either free (inherited from family) or we paid less than $3,000. So this is a big step and I'm nervous.

5. Short, around-town driving
Unlike the BMW, which I currently drive 130 miles daily for my work commute, I won't need a car for highway miles or comfort in driving. Honestly, the long work commute is made so much better with the Ultimate Driving Machine. It's comfortable, it handles well, and it's compact. However, for my next car I will be 8 miles from work, and will use the car for just local errands.

So, several options on the table already..
- I like the Honda Civic Hybrid a lot. Any reviews or experiences out there to share?
- I'm still not sure I'm ruling the Jetta out, but I'm wary now.
- I really, really, REALLY love our BMW (318is), but it's so out of our price range unless we go used, and we would like to get a new car for a change.
- I'm open to any suggestions, so please share!

Linda's patio was a sharktank feeding frenzy. Everyone wanted a table because a hot pocket of air had arrived from the south and where else do you go during a mini-heatwave after a unexpectedly long cold spring? After a bit of hovering and propositioning and amazing thing happened. A guy with a cowboy hat and an "OLD BALLARD" t-shirt brokered a deal to secure us a small table in exchange for another group getting the picnic table that he and his party were about to vacate.

Then we sat around and ate cheap food and drank discounted pitchers of New Belgium's light and summery seasonal beer while the sun faded. I went home early because there is a new episode of Battlestar Galactica and I am fending off airplane sickness.

WOW... answers.yahoo.com has some of THE most fsck'd up stuff. THIS WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

speaking of fsck'd up stuff, I think I'm gonna see if I can't find a motorola processor written linux and make a media player out of it! I could probably find a remote for it, and have it kick apple tv's ass times ten!! Nay, probably probably 20. It will play divx!

(But I will beat my head across the monitor a time or two.)

but now! behold! I'm going to make guinea pig biscuits and watch TV with the furballs. Truly amazing!

mood: sleepy

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Last night we drove to Home Depot around 9:00 and bought a new washer and dryer. We went with an ocean-blue-colored Energy Star pair from LG. It's our first new, modern, energy-efficient appliance. And our first improvement to our house.

The bonuses: using a coupon we got in the mail two days ago, we got ten percent off. So that covered more than the sales tax. Also, they are running a promo for appliances, so we got a $200 gift card. PLUS we will get $100 back from Puget Power for buying an Energy Star washer.

In total, over $500 in discounts. Word.

This morning, I put on a dress. No tights, it's 70 degrees. I inspected my legs; haven't been shaved since I don't know... February? That's what happens when you never wear skirts. And don't care that much.

So I stepped into the tub and shaved below the knees, still dressed. I am awesome. Much smoother.

Wearing new yellow flats. For a first time on my feet, actually fairly comfortable, and cute. Though I'll probably need to treat my heels with aquaphor a little later.

Tags: homeownership, shopping

Okay, let's try this again. I'm still having trouble with the text, but it's better than it was, thanks to y'all's advice. Feel free to steal, if you're less embarrassed by them than I am:

I got a new camera: Canon IXUS. My third. Aah. I'd been using a Cybershot; slipping back into the Canon operating system was like putting on a comfortable old pair of pants. I also got a new tripod to replace my horrendous "Gorrilapod." Never buy a Gorillapod. It ain't stable, it's hard to aim, it's not big enough, its litlle bubble legs get tangled in the camera strap, and it takes the fun out of autoretratos. No more!


I saw this in a Korean Burger King (just using the bathroom, not hamburgering): dump the leftover liquid into the portal on the left, then the restaurant reuses the cups and throws away the straws and lids. Why in the fuck are fast food emporia worldwide not getting down with this system?


The coolest thing at the Leeum Samsung art museum. Inside: naught but a bunch of wack celadon pottery and, like, Rothkos.


Bibimbap looks so fine through a camera's eye! This one was done right, with a raw egg on top. I get disgruntled when it's a lame fried egg that just breaks into albuminous frags instead of leaking all over and lubricating the components.


In other news, the agency is going to send my bulimic colleague home. She was asking after laxatives the other day and my roomie directed her to the nearest pharmacy. She came back working a couple of pills free of their blister pack and plopped down in front of the TV. A few minutes later, she gurgled, "Are these supposed to be all...waxy like this?" Do I even need to say it? Suppositories. Honey, go home to your mom and get the love you need.

VIKING FEST STARTS TOMORROW

OMG.

I live in a town that has a VIKING FEST.

Also it's gonna be like 82 degrees. *bounce bounce*

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