After reading my last post, it was pretty clear to me that I needed to buy a new car. But, my dad's influence of lifelong cheapness (sorry, Dad) was still giving me little doubts. Thankfully, a phone call from my Dad last night eliminated all room for doubt . The final repair estimates were revealed and they were astronomical:
Knock sensor - $800 Struts - $1400 ($600/parts, $800/labor)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CV boots - $100 (labor tossed in for free...oh gee, thanks) Front end brakes and rotors rotated - $269
These repairs of course equal TOO DAMN MUCH!
Like a dummy, I gave the mechanic the go ahead to install the new front end brakes and rotate the rotors BEFORE getting the total estimate, so I'm out $269. But in the long run, I guess I got off cheap. I'll continue to drive my beloved 1998 Mazda Millenia for the next couple of months (so I can save for a down payment). Then it will go the way of my previously beloved Mazda MX3 (or Champagne Charmagne as I liked to call her) and be someone else's problem or in someone's junk yard...sniff sniff... 'cause I'm trading it in for something new.
Now if only I knew what that something new is going to be...
First it was my laptop giving me problems, and now it's my 1998 Mazda Millenia. My car didn't pass inspection last month, so I was told to take it to a mechanic to fix the issue (the knock sensor...whatever that is). Anyway, my father took it to his highly skilled and trustworthy mechanic yesterday and besides needing to replace the knock sensor, the mechanic told me I needed new front end brakes, the rotors rotated, new struts (???), and new CV boots. My car is freaking 8 years old and needs about $2,000 worth of work!!! Everyone but my dad is telling me to junk it and get a new car. I love him, but my dad is the king of cheapness. He believes in nursing a car until it dies, and wants me to do the same. He's currently driving a 1990-something Lexus LS400 that still runs pretty well with 212,000+ miles on it but is in dire need of a paint job and its interior cleaned. Oh, and did I mention the torn leather upholstery on the seats??? My dad treats this car (a Lexus!) like crap. I was actually embarrassed to drive his car yesterday when he took mine to the mechanic. I used to love driving this car. It's such a shame. Ugh!!! Now, I think even he's embarrassed. He's actually considering getting the upholstery replaced on a car with 212,000+ miles!!!
Love him though...
Unfortunately, I really don't have the money right now for a new car, so I'm actually considering getting some of these repairs done to my old car. I went ahead and got the new brakes, but the other repairs are pretty costly. If you're reading this and you have a valid argument for why I shouldn't do this, please, please, please forward your comments my way. I need all the advice I can get right now.
When my previous job went out of business, I was given a parting gift: a free laptop. It was the same laptop that I had been using exclusively while I worked for the company. Unfortunately, this laptop is now on its last legs. I've been trying to nurse it for a while, but today I discovered that the hinge of the laptop is not working properly, and I believe this is effecting the color on the screen. I keep getting this bluish tint, which should definitely NOT be there.
If it's not one thing, it's another. First it was a frayed power cord, which I attempted to fix myself by putting electrical tape over the exposed wires much to Derrick's chagrin (sorry honey). It's also crashed a couple of times although with a little IT help, it was revived. It's just seen better days and now with this hinge issue, it's clear to me (and Derrick) that it's time for a new laptop.
So, I think Derrick will finally get his wish. Me with a new laptop. Only this time, it won't be a PC. I've been wanting a Mac for a while, especially since I want to focus more on graphic design. Plus I've been totally sucked in by Macs new commercials with one young guy portraying a Mac and another older guy portraying a PC. The ads are so creative, and seem to clearly show that Macs offer much more than PCs. I just hope for the extra expense a Mac is worth it because one thing it isn't is cheap.
Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. Two weeks ago I was under a lot of stress trying to put out a bunch of fires at work before taking time off for vacation, so I didn't really have the time or energy to blog. Before leaving for vacation, I finally completed a document that I've been working on for a client for almost 2 years . While in the midst of trying to finalize the document, I learned (just days before a scheduled deadline and before my vacation) that another project that I am responsible for was not going to be completed by the deadline. I had to quicky jump in and bring in more staff to help get the work completed. Thankfully the client granted us a few days past the deadline to get the work done, but it was pretty hairy there for a while. This experience has both shaken and strengthened my confidence in people because the person I trusted to get the work done didn't and my good friend Kelli who I always knew was a great person, stepped in when called and did a fantastic job. Thanks again, Kel!
Anyway, the vacation has been nice. Derrick and I took the time off together to spend with Jamal during his last week with us (he's been with us for the past month for his summer visit). Even though we didn't go out of town like I would have liked, we did spend the time visiting with Derrick's family and mine, and spending time at a wedding and 3 cookouts (Weight Watchers who?). The time away from work has been nice and I'm a little sad that it all ends tomorrow when I go back, but I can say that the time away has been rejuvenating.
