A long fun day

Ok so I didn’t blog yesterday… sue me! It was such an adventurous day, well adventurous in the world of me. I got up super early early and talked to my sister in New York!!! Ok saying that just gives me goosebumps *smile* I think if I could have any wish in the whole world, I would use them all up on her and my family!

Ok so she calls me and I manage to squawk out a hello ( I have lost most of my voice). She tells me she has been doing all kinds of stuff, like she saw a casting director – who gave her oodles of compliments on her voice ( I need a moment to jump up and down in excitement here… her voice is phenomenal, and to have that reiterated by a New York casting director… talk about an ego boost!!!!) Then she told me she saw a few shows, one which she told me I would absolutely love – she also told me that they attended the same night as Ben Stiller and his wife. Hannah told me the funniest thing; she said “He has an unusually large head!” I just laughed and laughed… I mean who sees a movie star and then comments on his head, down to earth opinions like that just make me miss my sister so much more! She is having a great time, and that makes hearing from her all the better.

After talking to my sister, I get ready to go see the Chiropractor… this man is merciless when it comes to cracking… I wanna cry when I am anticipating the sound of that “craaaaaaaaaack” or “pop pop pop” but I always leave feeling a little sore, but better, not quite sure how that works, but hey I am doing much better now than a month ago!

Hmmm oh yes, after the chiropractor – I decide it is time to go take on the world of Car Lots…. *smile* besides I was in an mischievous mood anyway, why not right? The Car Lot world is a man’s world, and I really looked forward to see what they were going to try and pull over on me… I am not a mechanic by any means – but I know money and prices and that is where they like to play. So I pull up, and get out – it is amazing the attention you get a car lot… if any of you are looking for a little attention in your life, go to a car lot – they will give you free soda, snacks, and oodles of attention! I didn’t play it that way though… down to business. I find the rookie, weeding through the others and the introductions along the way then walk up to him and introduce myself. I tell him what I am looking for, and we walk inside. While inside some other sales guys start making comments, “she is looking for a car, but she came in here because she thinks were good looking….” I took the opportunity, how could I not?! I smiled and said in my awful squawky voice “ yeah you guys are so smoking I just couldn’t stay away!” Needless to say they were stunned, and we bantered for a little bit ending with me saying “If your going to be a smart alek, be a grown up enough to take it as well as you give…”

So then me and rookie were on our way, we looked at a bunch of cars, I had him take me to the very back, I am not even going to play like I can afford the cars in the front – I am not interested in financing anything until after my education is completed. I find about 5 cars I am interested in, I found out later they just were not going to work. He takes me back inside and tells me he wants to see if there is anything else… Waiting at a car dealership is like waiting at the doctors office… ANNOYING! Well he tells me he has a Chrysler Concord, well I have an aunt who has one, and they love it… so I say “sure, I’ll look – but not really a Chrysler girl….” He pulls up in a Ford Contour! Ok so correct me if I am wrong but WHAT?!? What part of Chrysler and Concord did he get wrong??? I told him, there were only two cars my mechanic ever mentioned NOT buying and that was half the list right there… After refusing I had nearly 4 sales guys trying to convince me…. *cracking knuckles* so I wanted to show off a little…. Hey c’mon, they had been treating me like a helpless female all day – why not? Take em on one at a time, they said stuff like “That is a great car, low miles, you can’t beat the deal! You cannot find anyone selling this late model for this price anywhere else, this car is mechanically sound, its clean, the color is maroon – don’t you like maroon?” You can see where this was going… ha ha ha, so I start with, “ I buy my cars when they are fully depreciated, which means that there is approximately 70-80K miles on it, the car I want is going to have to mechanically sound, because I travel quite a bit – and I use it until it just doesn’t go anymore so I am going to be putting about 60K miles on this baby myself. Now a Ford Contour usually runs into a lot of mechanical problems about 75K miles… and things just fall apart from there – and that is if I take really good care of the car, I drive like a granny, and even I wouldn’t touch that. Besides if in about a year I want to sell this car, the resale value is way below what I am looking for. Besides for the price you are asking, you are trying to rip me off… but if any of you would buy your daughter a Ford Contour and send her traveling 1400 miles every few months in it, then stick around and tell me why…”

They were ready to rebuttle everything, well until the last line… I pretty much got no argument, because on their desk, most of them had pictures of little children ( I still think it is a sales tactic to do that… but hey, I’d do it if it worked) None of them wanted to send anyone but me off in that little Ford Contour… So now we talk turkey about another vehicle I drove, that when I got in ( I kid you not) there was a dirty diaper on the floorboard! Hey, I will use it to get my price in the end, so bring on the dirty diapers!

We talked and talked, he told me his price, I told him it was too high try again, he asked what I could afford, and I told him, “something lower than that” so he tried again and missed, and again and again and again.. until BINGO he hit the price I was looking for, but I waited to see if he would go a little lower, and he did… I took that price, with the extra money I could pay taxes on the car. He went in to negotiate with the boss, which meant more waiting for me… its funny when you watch them through the window ( I know you are suppose to sit, but I wanted to see what was going on…) Well the rookie came back and said $5000 is the first price I gave to you and that was rock bottom. I looked at him and said, “well I can’t accept that so I will leave you alone” I mean I was not in love with this car… so no big. Well he was like what about $4000, I said… dude you know my price, I am not budging unless the price goes lower that that. So he got up and said, well let me tell my boss your leaving so he doesn’t ask why I let you go.

His boss, who is endearingly called “Kiwi” (he is from New Zealand) came to see me. Now his accent is adorable, but not incredible enough for me to lay a few thousand extra down for. Well he told me that the repairs to the car would cost too much and that is why it cost $5000, what about financing. I told him no (the car needed the mirrors, cruise control, exhaust work, and was in need of a super detailing, the interior was brown with dirt) He said, “what would it take for me to have you drive that car home today?” I laughed… only because I have heard this line so many times in the last month…. I looked him straight in the eye and said, “Give me the price I want, and the things I want, and I will write you a check for the entire amount right now.” He said, but we cant do that, what about $500 more… I said well have a good day, and I got up. I looked at the rookie, said “sorry, and I will call you about the suburu later, and good luck with the big sale tomorrow.” Shook his hand, and he followed me out, gave me his cell number and told me to call him later about the car and he will see what he can do.

Now I know I sounded like a brat, but seriously it was all a good time, the guys and I laughed ( I mean they get paid to) but we bantered quite a bit. I was off to the mall!

I met Erin and her friend Rachel at the mall, we were on a mission to find Erin some “girl” clothes… I never know why they bring me… maybe just cuz I like to shop, I dunno…. I just love to shop! I know with Erin we are on a time limit, she can only handle the mall for a few hours before wanting to go…. So I get started… let’s just say there was a lot of whining, a lot of lecturing, and some truth’s being revealed… very “authentic community” shall we say. Erin did end up leaving with 3 tops and 2 bottoms… and I was pooped!

Later than night I met Jona, Amy, and Melody at Cheddar’s for some “girl” time! We had fun, and Melody showed up in clothes that Amy made her wear, and she looked AWESOME! Not usually Melody fashion, so hey I gotta comment… we hung out at Cheddar’s had fun, then went downtown and walked around, and then back to my house to watch movies…

All in all a fun fun day, and very little money had to be spent by me! Yay for a fun day! As for the car, I am not too worried, I wasn’t married to it – and was definitely not in love… but I have had two calls already from the rookie at the car lot about the car… I wonder how interesting today may be?

Here is pictures from part of the day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95145968@N00/?deleted=31170334

I Heart You All!