my money: a retrospective
October was a very expensive month. Right around the beginning of the month, a funny thing happened on my way to work. The passenger side rear wheel of my car apparently had something of a disagreement regarding the direction we were all heading (it was always a very philosophical wheel) and attempted to disconnect itself from the rest of the vehicle. While I was driving. So. Not actually "funny." More "queer," though I'm not sure you can use that word for its intended purpose anymore. Luckily, I was turning slowly through an intersection at the time, so this altercation did not result in any serious harm to my person, or to the vehicle itself beyond just the one disagreeable wheel.
In the interests of butchering a perfectly serviceable metaphor: This was the wheel that broke the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville's back.
After 195,000 miles -- most of them with my father behind the wheel, before he passed away and the car was left to me -- it was time to just let go. It was a good car, but always a little too big for me, and it was well into that time of a car's life when it was more expensive to maintain it than it was actually worth. So I let it go.
I spent a week with a rental while shopping. In the end, I decided on a shiny new 2008 Subaru Impreza. I like it very much, thanks for asking.
A note to any car enthusiasts reading this: Most technical questions you have will be met with a response such as "hyuk, ain't it purdy?" You have been warned.
A further note to any armchair economists who would like to tell me all about why "buying a new car is bad!": Your comments will be met with a response such as "snore wha? Hyuk, ain't it purdy?" You have also been warned.
So then there I was with this shiny new vehicle. Whatever would I do with it? Oh hey, I know. I could put that brand new cargo space to use by purchasing new furniture! I'm smart. My old entertainment center was pretty lacking. Time to upgrade. I will also include this second photo only because it features a surprise appearance by a rather perplexed feline. And here is a gratuitous shot of the big map on my wall just because I like it (the map, not the picture).
So then there I was with this shiny new entertainment center. Whatever would I do with it? Oh hey, I know. I could put that brand new central space to use by purchasing a new television! Damn, I'm smart.
Hyuk, ain't it purdy?
In the interests of butchering a perfectly serviceable metaphor: This was the wheel that broke the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville's back.
After 195,000 miles -- most of them with my father behind the wheel, before he passed away and the car was left to me -- it was time to just let go. It was a good car, but always a little too big for me, and it was well into that time of a car's life when it was more expensive to maintain it than it was actually worth. So I let it go.
I spent a week with a rental while shopping. In the end, I decided on a shiny new 2008 Subaru Impreza. I like it very much, thanks for asking.
A note to any car enthusiasts reading this: Most technical questions you have will be met with a response such as "hyuk, ain't it purdy?" You have been warned.
A further note to any armchair economists who would like to tell me all about why "buying a new car is bad!": Your comments will be met with a response such as "snore wha? Hyuk, ain't it purdy?" You have also been warned.
So then there I was with this shiny new vehicle. Whatever would I do with it? Oh hey, I know. I could put that brand new cargo space to use by purchasing new furniture! I'm smart. My old entertainment center was pretty lacking. Time to upgrade. I will also include this second photo only because it features a surprise appearance by a rather perplexed feline. And here is a gratuitous shot of the big map on my wall just because I like it (the map, not the picture).
So then there I was with this shiny new entertainment center. Whatever would I do with it? Oh hey, I know. I could put that brand new central space to use by purchasing a new television! Damn, I'm smart.
Hyuk, ain't it purdy?