Zoom, car, ZOOOM!

I must say, this whole car-buying process brought out some of the worst in me. I got things all settled with the dealers, and I was happy about that. Then I was waiting for the title to arrive, via snailmail, from home. This meant that each day, around 2PM, I'd start thinking about how the title could be in my mailbox right now, and how if I got home early I could go get my car and get the insurance transferred in one efficient swoop. So I'd be manically excited all day, panic on the bus home--what if it wasn't there? Surely it would be TODAY--and then open the mailbox only to see junk mail or nothing at all. So each evening would be filled with a depressive episode. I hated not knowing where the darn thing was. I couldn't tell if it would ever get here.

Saturday morning I sat sipping my coffee and watching the bird feeder. Today could be the day the title would show up (excited!). It might not show up today, and on Monday you'll have to tell your parents to go to the DMV on their busy schedule and file for acopy (depressed.). I finally stomped down, in my lobster pajamas, to the mailbox, opened the door to it and there inside was the hand-addressed letter from home I'd been imagining every day this week. I HAD MY TITLE! I COULD GET MY CAR!

And so I did :)

It was weird turning in my first car, the Honda Civic. The dealership made it easy: they took my keys, transferred my license plates to the CR-V . . . I never even looked for the car as I drove away in my shiny newish car. I had been a little bummed about leaving the Civic, but then again, I cried alot in that car. When things were bad, I'd be in a parking lot somewhere and I'd just scream and cry and hit the steering wheel until I was tired of it. Then I could drive away. That car got me to Home and back to Madison many times. It was a good car, but it's another layer I can drop away from my first year here.

My new car is awesome: power windows, cruise control, and it's much easier to get friends in and out of it. If we rent cross-country skis, they will fit on or in this car. I like to imagine that some day if we get a dog, it can ride in the back. More presently, I can see us making the long drive home in less than two weeks! Eeek!

So in theory I'll be in WV by December 17th, then off to NY around December 26th! I'm really excited to show off my hometown to Andy, even if there isn't much to do on a regular basis. Somehow, with all the wedding stuff, I think we'll keep busy.