Wednesday, August 13, 2008

It's a love/hate thing

How did this happen? How did I go out yesterday morning to run to Home Depot and Target, and come home with this?

True. We have been having tons of problems with that Jeep Cherokee we bought a couple of months back. (Note to hubs: No more buying cars from friends, k?) Anyway, problems with the Jeep. Pretty to look at, but that thing was a piece. Not to mention, it was not friends with the gas pump. It cost a fortune to fill up, and the tank ran dry so quickly. We wanted something new. We wanted a Prius. Yeah. Seen the waiting list for one of those? We'd be waiting until next year. And, we couldn't have that. So, what was the next best thing? A Yaris or a Matrix. The Matrix was prettier, and a little roomier. But, Toyota can't keep these freakin' cars on the lot. Not with gas prices the way they are. There were only 4 left on the lot. One 2009 that didn't qualify for any incentives, and 3 new 2008's. Only one of those was an automatic. And, of course, the automatic came with every other option known to man. WAY out of our price range. Bryan convinced me to get the stick-shift.

Do I know how to drive a stick? Negative. Bryan insists that he can teach me. "So simple," he tells me. Of the 3 driving lessons I have had so far, 2 have ended with me in a pile of nerves, crying. The 3rd lesson, I kicked Bryan out of the car (it's okay...we were in our cul-de-sac), and drove around our neighborhood. That was much better. I'm still not comfortable, and nowhere near ready to get on the highway. I swear that if someone tried to teach me how to first drive a car on a stick, I never would have gotten my license. So, here I am with this pretty new car and I can't drive it. Boo. But, I'm not a quitter. I'll get it...if it kills me.

Oh, were you waiting for me to announce something? I suppose that I could go ahead and let you know that the trusty random integer generator came up with (drumroll, please):

Here are your random numbers:
17
Timestamp: 2008-08-13 20:30:08 UTC

somebody's nobody said...
Yay for blogiversarys!!! From a loyal reader in South Dakota!

Yay! E-mail me your address at charmedgirlnc@gmail.com, and I'll mail out your goodies on the 15th. I have to wait until then because that's when the Label Tulip kits go live. I can't be giving any kit goodies away ahead of their time. ;0)

So, the car about sums up my excitement for the week. I have a to-do list a mile long of everything from cleaning to scrapping to cheerleader uniform fitting to fundraising yard sale to get on top of. And, I have not an ounce of motivation to do any of it. But, I had better get my rear in gear because nothing on that list is going to do itself. Check back tomorrow for some more Label Tulip sneaks, a peek at my first LO for the Say It In Scrap DT, and a glimpse of this week's challenge at Lotus Paperie. Until then, my friends...

14 comments:

Somebody's Nobody said...

YAY for WINNING!!! Thanks SO much! Looking forward to a pretty package soon!!!! And the car is so cute. I can't drive a stick either....

Dana said...

Sorry about the dust and grime where you live now.. sounds like it's time for a vacation to Seattle :)

Anonymous said...

You can come to Seattle anytime, just call ahead so I can get the guest room ready!! =o)

And good luck with the new car... I can't drive a stick either.

Congrats to the winner.

mushroommeadows said...

lucky ducky, somebody's nobody! :)

I love the car! woo-hoo!!!

Melonie said...

Oh Hol...I feel for you. Me + a clutch=no comprendo. I'm cheering for you. I think the best thing to do IS to learn on your own in a driveway or something. That's how DH said he learned. Wishing you lots of luck with that. Congrats on the new ride. I know you'll be driving it in no time.

~just me said...

ooh aww...its all pretty & new & shiny! good luck with learning the stick shift, hope you do better than me!
~k

Jamie Ko said...

omg, I was the exact same way when my Dad tried to teach me stick. We only had one car at the time that was automatic and there was no way my parents were going to let me take the Benz to school. so stick shift and the 1985 Toyota Corolla station wagon it was.

my dad tried to teach me via one method that left me screaming and about to get out of the car giving up, and then next we tried another method. worked way better. and now, I won't go back. I think you'll like it more power and guts to go when you want. if we lived closer I could've helped teach you....

Jennifer said...

Congrats to the winner! And Congrats for your new car! Working for Toyota of 10 years, I know what you mean about keeping vehicles in stock =) But I know that you'll love it!

Jennifer

laverneboese said...

I love the new car. I have faith in you. I taught myself how to drive my dad's car so I didn't have to take the bus to school. I cried and got frustrated for about a week...but finally got it. Good luck!

KhrisW said...

It's.... a new car! Well, that's going to be a power move for the Hanks clan. I told you I can't drive a stick either. Good luck! I know you'll figure it out with some time and perhaps someone patient like that guy I had when I was learning to drive.

Laverneboese reminded me of that song called 'Bit@#en Camaro'. The lines went something like "All the kids just spit and cuss because they have to ride the bus but I've got me a bit@#en Camaro..." Funny song and good for her!!! Man, yes, I was one of those losers that had to ride the bus until I had a buddy that was nice enough to pick me up and take me with her!

Take a picture of you learning how to drive the new rig! That would be a fun layout.

kilismom said...

hang in there!! i give you credit for trying to learn how to drive a stick!

Amy said...

Okay, my first car was stick so the only advice I can offer you is ask someone how it works and then take it out on your own. Trust me, I stalled in many intersections the only ones I sat through more than one light were the ones when other people were in the car.

dani said...

Ohhhh I would love to get a prius. And maybe in like, 5 years I finally can. But for now... used cars it is! Heh.
I have no idea to drive stick. I know back in HS someone tried to teach me once and it seemed like a pretty lost cause. If my husband tried to teach me I'm almost sure it would end in divorce, it really feels that foreign to me.
BUT you can do it! You will do it! and you will rock at it!

danijohnston.typepad.com/dj

Michelle said...

WOW! Now that wasn't something I was expecting you to get while running errands. Talk about real motivation to learn how to drive a stick! I bet you are a fast learner and will have it under control in no time.

Dan found out I didn't know how to drive a stick and used that to pick me up. Promised he'd teach me how. I tried once and that was it. I really need to learn. More power to you for forcing yourself. Its a good thing to know how to do!