(no subject)
Step one, the real step one, in my big plan to Reorganize My Life as a Secure, Confident, Non-Bitter, Gainfully Employed, Physically Fit, Fun and Funny Single Person is to buy a car. I've been meaning to do this for a while, anyway. I've got the downpayment, I've got the pre-approved financing (with the credit union's lowest rate, thanks Dad, for all those fiscal responsibility lectures), all that remains is to actually find and purchase a car.
I thought I had it in the bag. I drove (in my roommate's car) to every eefing Honda dealership in the metro area on Monday. And lucky me- Hopkins Honda had a red Accord that seemed acceptable. I called Wednesday morning and arranged to have it inspected at an outside mechanic's. The mechanic gave the thumbs up. I told the salesman I'd come after work and we'd talk price. I got there at 6:15. My guy was TCB with another customer, so he told me to have a seat in the waiting area.
A few minutes later, he came over and told me that while I was sitting there, another salesman had sold the car.
I should have left immediately. Instead, I followed him listessly around the lot as he tried to find something else acceptable in my price range. But for some reason, he seemed to think that "in my price range" was $1200 more than the original car.
There are times when I really wish I was able to give people a good tongue-lashing at the exact moment it's called for. But I never told that salesman, or his manager, where they could stick it. Instead, I just left and walked to the bus stop. Then I waited and waited and waited for a bus that never came. Then I called the stupid bus hotline and they couldn't seem to figure out what had happened, but they helpfully suggested that I walk a few blocks over and wait 40 minutes for the next bus.
That is when I got mad about the fact that I wasn't supposed to have to Do This Alone, and I started bawling at the Park & Ride in Hopkins, on the phone with the Metro Transit Trip Planner.
So I'm learning that it's very two-steps-forward, one-back, this path to being a Secure, Confident, Non-Bitter, Gainfully Employed, Physically Fit, Fun and Funny Single Person.
But I WILL find a car. Just not today, because today I'm busy drinking iced tea and reading and recovering from how awful my first attempt was.
I thought I had it in the bag. I drove (in my roommate's car) to every eefing Honda dealership in the metro area on Monday. And lucky me- Hopkins Honda had a red Accord that seemed acceptable. I called Wednesday morning and arranged to have it inspected at an outside mechanic's. The mechanic gave the thumbs up. I told the salesman I'd come after work and we'd talk price. I got there at 6:15. My guy was TCB with another customer, so he told me to have a seat in the waiting area.
A few minutes later, he came over and told me that while I was sitting there, another salesman had sold the car.
I should have left immediately. Instead, I followed him listessly around the lot as he tried to find something else acceptable in my price range. But for some reason, he seemed to think that "in my price range" was $1200 more than the original car.
There are times when I really wish I was able to give people a good tongue-lashing at the exact moment it's called for. But I never told that salesman, or his manager, where they could stick it. Instead, I just left and walked to the bus stop. Then I waited and waited and waited for a bus that never came. Then I called the stupid bus hotline and they couldn't seem to figure out what had happened, but they helpfully suggested that I walk a few blocks over and wait 40 minutes for the next bus.
That is when I got mad about the fact that I wasn't supposed to have to Do This Alone, and I started bawling at the Park & Ride in Hopkins, on the phone with the Metro Transit Trip Planner.
So I'm learning that it's very two-steps-forward, one-back, this path to being a Secure, Confident, Non-Bitter, Gainfully Employed, Physically Fit, Fun and Funny Single Person.
But I WILL find a car. Just not today, because today I'm busy drinking iced tea and reading and recovering from how awful my first attempt was.