Unfortunate back to back commercials:
Match.com, Vagisil.
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Why do expensive things go kablooey all at once? The car, the dog, the computer….
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The new antenna for the Jetta was $14. It took 4 seconds to install. $14. 4 seconds. For cryin' out loud, I lived with that pathetic melted, broken thing for years and years!
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I've been itching for a new car. Which is crazy, I can't afford a new car! And besides, the Jetta has only 73k miles on it! Itch Itch Itch anyway. Longer, warmer days bring a desire for new leather, speedier speed, open sunroofs, etc…I feel like this every year.
I know exactly the car I want—and precisely just how much I can't afford it yet. I've looked at a few "bridge" cars; good used deals that would be perhaps more reliable and certainly affordable, but they are poor substitutes, compromises. If I'm going to compromise, I'll compromise without a car payment. So, after much thoughtful mature consideration (!), I've decided to "Re-Love My V-Dub".
No matter how much I spend to fix up and spruce up the Jetta, it will always be less than buying a new car. Roughly 50% of what I don't like about the Jetta is the inside half–it is, well, trashed. Ripped seams, missing head rests, broken cup holders, an armrest that pops up at will like a Jack in the Box, missing adjustment knobs, dog hair crumbs and now salt in every nook and cranny. Did I mention the cassette player? CASSETTE player.
But, I've already invested in a new water pump, timing belt, tensioner, brakes and rotors…she's actually running pretty well. Now that I know how often to add oil.
So, here is my list of fix's for my little car:
-get it detailed!
-have the seats reupholstered
-replace melted antenna
-replace taped-together key lock fob thingy
-replace the radio CASSETTE deck with something that will play my ipod, bluetooth both my iphone and blackberry, charge them all–does this exist yet? I can't find it online–suggestions?
-push that hanging-down under bumper bit back in
-have dings and scratches bigger than a breadbox buffed out
-find 2 rear seat headrests
-replace latch in armrest
-get floor mats
-hardwire the Garmin
-replace mirror adjustment knob
-find out why it locks and unlocks itself randomly
-find out why the power windows erratically stop and then reverse when trying to power up
-get remote start
-figure out what that hunk of trim rolling around in the truck is supposed to be attached to
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LIfe is full of simple treats; like having the cord replaced on your trusty vacuum, getting it home and finding that the repair shop doubled the length of the cord!
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Lake Michigan early this morning
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You know it's cold out when the poop bag in your pocket is welcome warmth…
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You can't do my refill until tomorrow? Because of some "30 in 24 days" insurance rule? No exceptions, even if I'm traveling the entire next week, including the day I will run out of medication that very clearly states on the actual bottle not to miss a day?
Ok, fine, I'll just pay for it then. Yes, I can get it if I just pay for it….how bad can that be? It is a generic. $140. You've got to be kidding me, for a generic?!? Ok, can you just give me a week's worth then? No? Because that's not what the prescription is for and then the insurance wouldn't cover the remainder when I get back….and so on and so in circles.
And I'm a lucky one, I have "health insurance"…or as I like to call it "Expensive, Systematic Roadblock to Actual Care Organization".
I wonder what my medication would cost if it were truly on an open market with fair competition, and not dictated by what amounts to a racketeering monopoly? Probably twenty bucks.
