(no subject)

I intended to wax poetic about the beauty of winter mornings with cold white sunlight, the ripple pattern of frost on my windshield, the joy of driving my car and listening to my music. I really did have a pleasant drive to work. I came in early to help with a backlog of internet reports.

Then in the space of ten minutes after I got here my car alarm went off three times.

I called the dealership and I'm going to take my car back up there around lunch. They had better have a rental car for me. I told them I absolutely could not go without a car for days again.

Car problems are hardwired to make me instantly upset. But I'm crushed over this, because I had planned to take road trips this weekend and I wanted to drive in my car with the sunroof open. I know, this is a really petty problem in comparison to many other lives. This is a petty problem even for me. I remain foolishly sad.

rental car, but nicer

Today I spent two hours at the dealership, hanging out in their clubby fake leather chairs reading Details magazine and drinking mediocre coffee. To be fair, that's probably better than being at work. The people working at the dealership are extremely nice, which makes it easier. Everyone seems fascinated to figure out what is going on with my car. The new theory is bad wires. They were still poking through it's metal intestines when I left.

Looking forlorn and being polite will make people help you. They got me a rental car very quickly this time around, and they upgraded it to something much nicer than that Kia. I'm driving a Saturn VUE, genuine suburban war machine. Well, for an SUV it has crazy good gas mileage and is very easy to drive. I actually like it and don't feel freaked out the way I have driving Ford Explorers or Jeeps in the past. At least with it being a Saturn, I know how the buttons are supposed to work.

So I drove back to the office with the window down. It was 58 degrees outside, and I was glad to be wearing a tank top for the brilliant sunny afternoon.

we will make you better, faster, stronger

My car's robot brain was replaced, and then they replaced some of its nerves and veins. Apparently the real problem was in the wiring. Somehow, I am not suprised. The poor rental car guy thought I didn't like the car when I walked in to return it. He was sweet and offered to cut me a deal on a fancy weekend car sometime.

When I drove back to the office, the car felt better. It didn't do anything weird. It was all mine, sun roof included. Gods above but I am glad to have my car.

The VUE was really nice though. If I ever need to have a big car again, I think that might be the way to go. Plus, they are putting out Hybrid VUEs this year.