a new addition to our family

Good morning.
The last couple of days have been such a blur!
After cleaning the Salon Sunday morning, I came home, showered, woke Craig up, and while he showered, made our morning coffee. Except, we had no milk. So no coffee for us! So we went out and did some grocery shopping, came home, and then had our coffee, and read the paper. I went out to wash/wax his PT Cruiser, while he did laundry and bookwork.
I got the car washed, and vacuumed, and as soon as I was ready to wax, it started to rain, and it rained for several hours.

So, Craig had been interested in trading in my 9 year old, gas guzzling truck in for something more economical, especially since we sold our boat years ago and really have no need for a truck. My 2001 Ford Ranger 4x4, 14 city, 19 highway

So online we went.
He had seen a few interesting vehicles on the road and we started to check them all out. He really liked the mini Cooper, but it was to small and quite expensive. He thought the smart car was stupid, since it doesn't get that great mpg, and requires premium gas! He liked the cube, but I said no way! That was the ugliest car I've seen, and would not be caught dead in it much less drive it!
So we settled on the KIA Soul.

The dealer in Lansing had 12 in stock, but from the web site, they didn't appear to have one with the options Craig wanted. But I said let's just go , look and see if you even like it in person. Test drive it, and we'll go from there.
So by then the rain had stopped and I went out and weeded some. Craig fixed dinner, which was ham steaks, mashed potatoes, and asparagus.
Okay, flash forward to Monday morning. I'm thinking if we do find a car he likes, I better get the truck cleaned up, so as soon as it was light enough out side, (5:45am) I went out, washed him, cleaned out the interior, and waxed him. Damn! It looked real good for a 9 year old truck! I got done a little before 8. Took my shower, woke Craig up, made coffee, and off we went!
Well, to make this long story a little shorter, we bought a car! One exactly like the stock pic above. I'll try and get a pick of me and it today. It's about the same size as Craig's PT Cruiser. The color is called Titanium Metallic. It has everything! Even a free subscription to Sirius Radio.
They were giving generous rebates, and gave me way more for the truck than I expected. And none of the pressure to buy extended warranties and other crap. It was really a quick and easy deal!
We drove it home around 2pm. Spent the rest of the day checking out everything it has.
And so, that's why I missed my Monday morning post. But it was worth the wait, right?

A trifecta

Good morning. Well, I don't know what's wrong with me, but I made it all weekend without doing much. 3 days off, nothing.

I did put another year on my phone. Did that online, it's so easy.

I have a Tracfone. My new phone is on the left, old one right. I had the old one for about 5 years, and the little antenna was about to break off, and they were running a really good deal on a new on. Got the phone for $19.95 with double minutes for the life of the phone. So instead of 400 minutes and 200 bonus minutes I usually get each year, now it's 800 with 200 bonus. So I'm now getting 1000 minutes a year instead of 600. Not that it matters. I don't use the phone very much, so the minutes keep rolling over, and I now have 2780 minutes. But at least I have them if I need/want them.
And with the 1 year service of $99.00, it ends up being like $8.25 a month. You can't get a cell phone for that rate anywhere else!

The other thing I did yesterday was put air in the truck tires. I must have a very slow leak in the passenger front, because I need to put air in it about every 3 months. I need the truck ready in case we get that 4 letter stuff later this week. And Craig won't drive his Honda in the snow. Here's a pic of his baby.

It's a 1998 Honda Accord. It's never seen the snow. Not that it wouldn't drive okay in it, It's just that Craig doesn't want the rust from the salt. So at 11 years old, it still looks brand new. The color is called black currant.

So other than that, I was a lazy bum again. Maybe I felt I need to rest up for today. I've got customers from 9am all the way through until 8:30pm. I will be one tired puppy when I get home tonight. But I'll have tomorrow off.

So now I must get ready for work. Later!

A Wednesday rant

What's wrong with this picture! No, not the actual pic of my truck. More on that later.
Okay, I'm in the mood for a good rant today, so be warned!
I just picked up my truck yesterday from the ford dealer,
where I had an issue I thought stemming from last fall when I had my brakes done. Last fall I took in in for a grinding noise, and left with $1400 worth of repairs. I needed brake pads, rotors, bla bla bla. (I wish I new more about cars, but I don't)
Well, of course this issue was unrelated to the complete brake job I had last year, even though it started right afterwards. When I came to a stop, the petal would give, like I had air in the lines, or something like that. I took it in last January, and it wouldn't do it for them. (isn't that how it always is?) So they told me to drive it until it did it on a more regular basis. So I finally take it in, since it was doing it all the time, and they tell me I have a cracked bla bla, and it's in the rotor assembly, bla bla, it's part of the anti-lock braking system, bla bla, and it'll be $582. And what can I say? I haven't a clue what he just said. He could have been speaking Chinese for all I knew, so of course I said okay.......
Now this truck is a 2001 Ford Ranger Extended Cab, 4 wheel drive, with only 26000 miles. I have just spent $2000 the last year on repairs. Craig has a 1998 Honda Accord, that's never been in the shop! What is wrong with this picture!
And the unions wonder why people buy foreign cars?
Now Craig's Honda was actually assembled here in the states, so why can they build cars that last and American manufacturers can't. And it's not just the repairs! The front seat is ripping, and the tailgate is rusting thru! And it's not just this truck! I had two Chevy's before this and both were falling apart within 5 years! And I don't put that much mileage on them! My Ranger only has 26000 miles! Shouldn't parts last longer than that?
Okay, I'm done now........and no, I don't feel better for the rant, I sure could have used that $2000 elsewhere.

Easy come, Easy go!

It's been such a busy week and weekend!
Last week was the busiest week in the Salon this year!
Not sure why, but enjoy the extra income! But very tiring.
And it's been a wonderful weekend in the yard. Mid 70's all weekend. So unusual for mid October. Normally, we'd be lucky to hit 60. Spent a lot of time cutting down all the perennials.
On the downside, Took my truck in for a brake issue. Had a very spongy brake pedal. Also had an oil change. And a slow leak in the front tire. They called this afternoon and said front rotors and pads need to be replaced, the back so and so needs to be replaced, the transmission needs something, the coolant is bla bla bla, and so on. When said and done, $1317.00!
And of course, what can I say but 'okay'.
I took it to the Ford dealer thinking they will be honest about what needs to be done. So I'm kinda stuck when they say something like this.
I know nothing about vehicles.

But I sure didn't need this bill.