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New Wheels!

There has been much rejoicing in the last 18 hours at Casa de heidikins.  You see, I have recently acquired a new-to-me car that has completely revolutionized the way I feel about driving.  Now, before you get any awesome ideas–and believe me, I’ve been dreaming them for months–I am not driving this:

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No, my new-to-me vehicle is not shiny, or sporty, or particularly zippy, or even cute.  In fact, it’s hardly even photo-worthy.  But this is what it is not:

Mallard has served me well the last several months…actually, that may be a bit of an overstatement.  Mallard served me well for a little while, and then everything began to break.  There was an oil leak, and then the AC went out, and may I remind you the driver’s side window doesn’t roll down…and then the passenger door wouldn’t open so people were literally climbing through the window for the pleasure of allowing me to chauffeur them around town.  And lately the “Check Engine Soon” light has been blinking and it’s been sputtering and shaking to a spectacular degree.  Add to all of that some awesome peeling teal paint, a side-mirror that just won’t stay straight, one missing hubcap, and rust on the inside of the car (I’m convinced the floor will fall out soon).  In short, Mallard is ready to die.

My new-to-me-vehicle is an older black Mazda, but let me tell you all the things about it I already love.

• I love that it is a stick shift–goodness, I forgot how much I missed having a clutch!
• I love that it has power locks AND power windows.  I don’t have to crank down on a handle while leaning half-way across the vehicle (remember the driver’s side window is permanently stuck in the “up” position) in order to get a little breeze!  Parking garages, drive-through banking and the To-Go window at Starbucks are now easy-peasy!!
• I love the smooth ride–no shakes, no sputters, no worrying that the engine will fall right out of the body at the next stoplight.
• I love the air conditioning!  Now that the summer is ending I finally have AC that works–but hey, I’m not complaining!  September and August can still get 90 degree days!
• After a good scrub inside and out, a “New Car” scented air freshener, and removal of a parking sticker from my rival university, this baby will be perfect for me, for now.

I have yet to name the new car–I just picked it up last night and I think I need to settle into it a bit, learn it’s quirks and personality.  Not that I expect it to have real personality, as far as cars go it’s is more Actuary and less Rockstar, more Tax Accountant than Hipster.  Not that there is anything wrong with Actuary’s or Tax Accountants–I love and respect both my Actuary and my Tax Accountant–they are honest, straight-forward, no gimmicks, respectable, conservative and dependable.  Yes, after the wheezing and shaking and near-death experiences of Mallard (who could probably be described as having the personality of a meth addict) I am very much looking forward to something dependable.  And with air conditioning.

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