Jana's Radical Weblog 3

I can hardly type this

I'm in the market for a (gulp) new(ish?) car. Current car has a cracked head gasket. And no, we're not talking about That Car that always gives me trouble. Now I'm talking about my old standard, practical mom car that fits in my garage. I so loathe car shopping I'm considering fixing it. But let's not talk about it anymore.

At this point it is comical

I locked my key parts in my car at work today. Yep. Luckily my mother-in-law was watching the kids today and didn't mind staying a bit late so Andy could pick me up from work. We enjoyed our ride home together. It was probably the closest we've come to a "date night" in a long time. How's that for attempting to make lemonade out of lemons?

The cutest Mom Car ever!

I caught the last few seconds of Super Nanny tonight, just as what's her face was driving away in a cute mini van-esque car. I browsed to the Super Nanny site and they didn't mention the car. Ah ha, it was time to check out Askville.com and see if they had any ideas. Within minutes I had my reply. My dream Mom Car is a London taxi. Check it out and drool. I said to Andy, "wouldn't your windsurfing boards look cute strapped to the top for our Gorge trips?" Unfortunately according to Kermit11 "There are 2 of them on standby for the show depending on where the show is being taped. It has been modified to operate in the U.S. by having emission control standards installed. Base price is about $50,000.00...then, you have to get it to the USA." RATS! Maybe if they left the "taxi" sign on I could use it as a business write off and become a taxi driver.

The no-frills vehicle

Between taking care of my rebellious elderly dog with a post-surgery cone on his head; my rebellious 2 year old and my rebellious 5 year old; I'm tired. We still haven't replaced the keys to our car. The upside: the junk drawer that hasn't been cleaned out in 6 years is spotless. The toy room is re-arranged. Doors that haven't seen the light of day have had a glance. No keys. I've been driving my dad's 1980s (?) Ford F150 XL bed truck to get around in. At work I couldn't park the beast in the parking garage as it is too big. In fact they wouldn't even let me park in the upper outdoor lot, I had to park it in the bottom lot. I calculate it costs me $10 to drive to and from work in that thing. Aside from the economical hit, I love it. I was horrified when Andy insisted that I had to drive it. My dad told me "be sure to lock it up." I asked him "why?" because I figured it would be a blessing if that thing was taken off of his hands. My mom agreed. But back to the fact that I love it. The kids ride up front with me and it is so much more fun than being their chauffer. Karsten was able to adjust the radio (we found a Cure song to dance around to) and Britta can kick the gear shift into whatever her foot happens upon. The kids are having fun. I like barreling UP the freeway perched above everyone in this redneck truck. I feel like this truck is a bit out of character for me. Since I've been buying my own cars in for the last 11 years I've been able to select cars that are pre-approved aesthetically by me. In high school I wasn't so lucky. One day I came home and a rust colored 1971 Ford Maverick (which I later renamed "The 'Ick") was parked in the driveway. When my mom told me they had bought that car for me I laughed. Then I cried when I found out they were serious. I didn't drive it for a few weeks until one night Brenda had the lead on a party on greek row at the UW. (Sorry if you're just learning this now, Mom.) Anyway, driving that ugly ass car built up some character. I knew no one was ever befriending me because of my car. I'm thinking no one will be befriending me just to ride in this Ford F150 either. Do you think your car tells people who you are?

More car talk

I should be in bed but instead I'm deliriously wondering (again) what happens to cool concept cars. I like the look of this new Ford concept car but am wondering if by the time it hits the stores it will turn out like the ugly, new Ford Thunderbirds that I had such high hopes for. So....... do the manufacturers hire designers to dream up cool cars and then they are too expensive to produce? Do they think consumers will never buy these cars? Do the manufacturers start cutting features? What happens? Check out this car that Volvo will never develop. I think the women are right on: who ever looks under the hood? "Not I", said the woman driver (and I even took a year of auto shop class in high school.) Go girls. Darn you manufacturers for not making these cool cars. I should also mention that I tend to whine about ugly cars but my cheap self would never buy a really cool car anyway. I should just go to bed. Good night. No more car talk.