Wet Carpet

Yeah, wet carpet! And not the good kind (*wink wink*). Although not a huge fan of excessive carpeting, if you know what I mean. But I digress.....

My new car has wet carpeting on the floor of the back seat. Some sort of leak that I think is coming up from below. Its going in Thursday for them to look at it.

Not even 300 miles on the car and already......

Dammit I HATE when brand new things aren't perfect.

Newest Edition

We needed something bigger (especially since our family is potentially growing again) So I chose this! Plus I can tow with it. I miss being able to tow.

OCW

OCW not OCD. Since I'm an Obsessive Car Washer. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm insane. Its not at all uncommon for me to be washing the car in 38 degree weather. Furthermore, I've spent many, many lunch hours cleaning my car. Therefore, it was no big surprise to find me outside yesterday washing Mrs. Nouveau's new car (I did mine on Saturday).

And one of her fog lights is cracked. Bummer! New cars suck in that one worries so much about every little thing to happen to them. Plus, she had a new chip on the hood from a tiny rock no doubt.

After cleaning it all shiny I went inside and dropped the news about the fog light to her but secretly decided the poor woman could only take so much, so I neglected to mention the hood chip. She bummed upon my news and mentioned the hood chip which I admitted I noticed too. But then she did a curious thing: she never checked the fog light. Later in the day we used the car and she never checked it out. Perhaps she repressed the memory already.

I would have jumped up and smashed through the front door to check the damage, assess the amount of work to fix it, thrown the appropriate 4-year-old tantrum and schemed how I was going to make it all right. I'm sure I'll take care of this issue too, but if she's not urgent about it, I'm going to be.

Next, we took her car to spend the afternoon at my niece's play. It was cute and pretty well done, but definitely underlines exactly how talented young actresses such as Abigail Breslin and Dakota Fanning truly are. That's all I will say about that.

Anyway we stopped at the grocery store on the way home and upon returning to the car I noticed a door scuff/ding obviously created by the piece of shit van parked next to us. And next to us is about 6 miles across the parking lot, where I always park precisely to avoid fucking door dings from idiots! Mrs. N. saw me lick a finger and rub it. "What are you rubbing?" she asked (and that's not the first time I've heard that - ba da dum!). Man was she pissed.

She stormed back into the grocery store to page the plate number while The Little One and I waited by the car wolfing down American Cheese because we were beyond starving. The guy showed up at the van from a different store I would guess and I asked him about it and we tested his door and it lined up exactly with the scratch. After we tracked down Mrs. N. we got the insurance information and she later began an insurance claim.

He was appropriately apologetic and I'm sure we'll sort it out.

New cars. Yet another worry. We haven't even made the first payment yet!

Addition to the Family

Come On Down!!!

If negotiations go well tonight, I think the Mrs. will be driving home in new car. I even have a HUGE wad of cash to wave in front of them in case they think we're not serious.

Having said that, she really, really wants the car. Who am I kidding? Even if negotiations don't go well, she'll be driving home a new car. I can never say no to her, lol.

Another Car

My household is in the market for another new car. This time for Mrs. N. Her car's really getting up there in miles and part of the reason I took the casino job was to be able to buy things we need and not have to really crimp to get by.

Anyway, we'll use our tax refund to help as well, so perhaps we're a month off.

Last night I came home to find a few boxes in the kitchen. They were from her trunk and she was sorting through it to throw out some stuff and put other stuff in a more appropriate location. My little pack-rat has issues chucking stuff at times.

Since we had been looking at new cars earlier in the day, and seem to like a particular one for her, I asked if her cleaning out her old car was a form of "nesting".

She said it wasn't. I have my doubts.

No Joke

You ever had something happen to you where you just stood there for long moments on end and wondered, "What do I do now? What. Do. I. Do? I don't fucking believe this!" I vocalized all to no one but the cold, dark night.

Saturday night I worked at the casino. On my drive home at 3:30 a.m. I noticed two cars with flashers on parked at the side of the road and a few people standing outside their cars. In a safety move I began to move from the rightmost lane to the passing lane so as to give berth to the cars and people. And that's when I saw why they must have stopped.

At that moment, I slammed, straight on, at 75 miles per hour, into the body of a dead deer. No joke. My mind had plenty of time to process, but physically there was nothing I could do. In an instant I decided it was best not to hit the body with my car's wheels, so I squared it up with the nose. That was all the reaction time I had.

The force of the impact literally lifted my car into the air yet it stayed true to the course and at no point did I lose control of my vehicle. My 2008, still shiny new, vehicle. Thank God my airbags didn't inflate or I would have been in an even worse predicament.

The car kept on running fine with no apparent handling issues or engine sounds or anything along those terms. Soon enough, I pulled over to inspect and as I came to a stop I saw smoke.

Upon my review, I saw that I damaged my front air dam and loosened a few plastic protection plates. The smoking wasn't the radiator or engine. It was animal parts on the manifold and muffler. And without much more detail, parts of the animal were scattered all over the under carriage of my car, in my wheel wells and back-sprayed onto the rear of the car.

That's when I stood there, exasperated, and wondering what to do talking to nobody in particular.

I tried pulling the front plastic piece off only to notice my hands covered in blood and hair. That disgusted me and further bewildered me. I used my golf towel to clean myself. I simply didn't know what to do next. Call the police? Triple A? To what end?

So I drove. I was dragging the plastic pieces I couldn't remove and began thinking about where the nearest car wash might be. I remembered where one was and found an all-night CVS and purchased paper towels. During the transaction, I hid my hands best I could while paying so as not to alarm the lady or have her think I just murdered someone. Everything at that point was so surreal.

Next, I pressure-washed the "parts" out of my undercarriage but there was no way I could get it all. I sincerely hope the drain took care of what I was able to wash off, but I fear it didn't. I started driving again. I was about 20 miles from home and I knew of a 24 hour touchless wash with a good underbody spray. I went there and did that too. It didn't complete the job by any stretch.

By the time I got home it was 4:30. My wife woke and I told her all about it. She is the most compassionate person about such matters and I love the support and sympathy she has for such things. She has a knack and never says the wrong things. I'm lucky there.

Yesterday morning I woke with a jolt remembering the events of the night before. I probably had 4 hours sleep. My daytime inspection was not good. Grimly, I put my car up on jackstands, put a plastic painter's tarp under the car, donned some surgical gloves, an old sweatshirt and safety goggles and really got into the necessary task. To say it was gross would be an understatement but at some point it became more of a chore that just had to get done. I did the best I could including a stiff brush and bleach solution.

I noticed some of the damage underneath as well. The radiator was out of position and a heat sheild was missing. I cleaned everything up, threw away the mess and all my clothes and went back to the regular chore of yard leaves.

Today, I called my insurance company and they recommended I bring it in to a Honda body shop where they had a rental car waiting. I'm very pleased with GEICO! Props to them.

So, my car's in the shop now and I have a nice Honda Accord loaner. The extremely pleasant guy at the shop just called to mention some things that will need replacing (front fairing, radiator, tie rod) but said he couldn't continue the estimate until their detailing department could finish power washing out the remains. Eww!

It could have been worse. I'm fine. My car will be fine. Cosmetically, it looks almost perfect so I just need to pay the $500 deductible and I should be okay once its all safely checked out.

I suppose its all part of life, even when you don't know what to do next. What can you do, really, except keep plugging along. Things tend to work themselves out. And all things are replaceable.

But man! What a friggin' night.

Weird part as well? This is the second deer I've hit in my lifetime. The other was alive and smashed through my windshield. I think I've met my lifetime quota, don't you?

New Car Photos

As promised, pictures of my new car. My 5-year-old aspiring photographer took the last one.

Oh Grow Up!

o the car I bought is a "young person's" car. Its inexpensive enough that 20-something's can afford it and cool/quick enough that enthusiasts are attracted to it. Also, its easily customizable so those that are into that sect (I'm not) can get their thrill that way.

Me? I just liked the looks when I saw it the first time. After researching it I found the perfect blend of performance, reliability and gas mileage that I thought fit me at the time. And still think so.

Also, in my research I found numerous threads dedicated to extolling its virtues and more than a few wherein "rival" car owners proclaimed where their car was the best car ever and mine was a piece of shit. And vice versa.

One of the cars mentioned time and again was the Volkswagen GTI. It seems a nice enough car but I found the reliability history of that brand wasn't up to snuff with Honda's. And again, I liked how my car looked better. No offense. The VW just wasn't for me.

While on the highway last night, a silver GTI came speeding up from behind passed me slightly and then slowed to my pace (about 75mph). I can only imagine he was sizing me up? I couldn't see though as his windows were tinted.

He hung by my side for a few minutes and while I didn't completely ignore him I wasn't staring at him either.

Then he revved forward of me and slowed back to my pace before lingering a second and taking off at perhaps 90 plus miles per hour.

I'm a 41 year old father, husband and homeowner. Does he really think I'm looking to race him down the highway in some macho, testosterone-driven quest to prove who's tougher based on the car they purchased?

I don't know, but that just seems ridiculous. I like to think I'm a little more mature than that. I let him have his "victory" and watched as he drove out of my sight. What a tool!

Plus. He barely saw me coming when I zipped by him on that curve 10 miles later!

Take that Mr. VW GTI!

Two Old Ladies Walk Into a Restaurant....

I was in Wendy's enjoying how well I'm sticking to my diet (NOT!) and reading the manual for my new car because I HAVE to know everything there is to know about cool stuff I buy (stereos, TVs, cell phones, cars).

There were two incredibly cute elderly women at the table next to me. One leaned over and asked if I had bought a new car. Of course I said yes and told them what kind in answer to their next question. They were very happy for me and very sweet in their congratulations.

The one that asked me turned to the other and remarked, "See? That's why young people know so much about things. Because they read."

As if being young was a prerequisite for reading manuals and learning how things work.

The second sweet old lady leaned over and told me, "My husband died 2 years ago right after we bought a new car. I just figured out that the button on the key unlocks the door!!! I've been putting the key in and turning it."

Not sure one need the manual to explain that, but they were just so adorable I just had to smile.

Guilty Conscious

Now I feel guilty about fooling Radioactive Girl yesterday. She's so nice she was trying to think if there was anything she could do. Sorry R-girl, I simply couldn't resist!

What I didn't let on was that as I was posting I texted my wife that I dented my car as well. She then told all the ladies in her office before being able to call me back and they all collectively "awwwwww, no'd" the whole ordeal.

Then she called me, in the middle of her horrible and busy day, to specifically extend her condolences and I said "April Fools". So I feel badly about that as well, plus her staff hates me too!

Is it right to fool two very compassionate and trusting people? No. But I'm still laughing about it and no harm was done, right?

I wonder who will remember next year.

SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!

Sorry for my bad language, but at Dunkin' Donuts this morning, getting my coffee in my new and sporty car (the one with a few blindspots I'm not quite used to) I backed into a wooden retaining wall thingy that holds their stupid Dunkin' Donuts sign!!!

The damage isn't horrible, but I already need body work on it???? WHAT AN IDIOT!!!

Busy Guy

I haven't had much time to post lately. Busy at work and not much going on......

Except late last week I finally bought a new car. My brother thinks its a midlife crisis, but he's just jealous. I bought a 2008 Honda Civic SI Coupe. Very sporty and quick and cool. Of course I got it loaded and haven't even figured out all the intricacies of the sound system and voice activated navigation.

My weekends have been busy with dealing. I've worked 8pm to 4am every Friday and Saturday for a month now. The Saturday shift can be tough if I haven't slept much but I'm falling into a nice groove and have enjoyed that direct deposit every Friday which comes in handy since now I have a car payment.