The little girl is growing up

I feel like such an adult now - I just bought my first "new" car. Over the past week I created a shrine to the car gods (bottle of 10w oil, section of radiator hose, air filter, fuzzy dice and a picture of Henry Ford) to pray for my car that has been acting up. In the mornings, when I would go to work, the transmission would either stick or be very slow to respond. Since my last 2 cars have had transmission problems (the last car, a Mercury Mistake is still sitting in my front driveway unable to move) I knew this was going to be expensive.

Being the queen that I am, I decided THAT'S IT!!! I need a new car. I went online and applied at a dealership here in Tucson which called me right back. We discussed my "situation" (I have not had good credit experiences in the past) and they said I could have a car. I left work early and went to the dealership while warming up my car. I figured, when the car is warm the transmision problems are not as apparent so I can get a better trade in to pay my loan off. Anyway I get to the warehouse of a dealership and deal with Mike (YUMMY!!!!!!!). He gets an application from me and disappears upstairs.

When Mike came back he said they have a couple of cars that would suit my needs and be in my price (i.e. credit cappabilities) range. We started walking towards a Hyundai Accent - I figured this would be all I could afford and I would be stuck driving a roller skate; however, he stopped at a 2004 Chrysler Sebring. My jaw dropped and I couldn't believe this would be a car I could afford. He said of course and we went for a test drive - the car only had 630 miles on it. It drove like a dream and I fell in love.

We got back to the dealership and I did test drive 2 other cars, but the Sebring was the one for me. Mike went upstairs again and came back with the offer, which was negotiated down by me. I know that I still ended up paying a little more than what I had planned, but now I have a new car with a full warranty covering it for more than the life of the loan. The other thing this has done is given me pieve of mind -- the car shrine has come down and the Homer Shrine is back in all its glory.

On to other things -- I am counting the hours until Homer's craft party - last year I could not attend because I was recovering from a tweekend. Hopefully there will be some cute available guys - at least for a Christmas fling. I know that you read this Homer and I just wanted to let you know that I love you dearly and you have no idea how much your friendship has mattered to me over the last 5 months. As I am typing this, I am getting all choked up thinking about the wonderful people in my life that have stood by me and really been there. It has been tremendously difficult and I have had to call on my friends in times of need - which by just answering their phone or hanging out with me for the Amazing Race has helped me get through the "crazies"
Well, that is enough for today.
Doug