Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
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-juice
Work, family, the house, etc. The house turns 7 this summer, and it seemed like each week some aspect of it (especially appliances) went into breakdown mode. The little one has allergies developing into asthma, the big one has pre-teen angst & other 'issues'. Parents and wife having medical problems again, job is driving me to drink. Other than that, all is well!
A few weeks ago the Honda Ody needed brakes. I started searching for parts when Beth stopped me with a simple but true question: "And when do you actually think you will get time to do the job?" A few days later it went in to the dealer, and I parted with $500.... My OBW turns 5 years old this month, with 43k on the clock.
We leave for Japan in less than 2 weeks. Kind of wish we could push it off for a few months until life settles a bit, but so it goes.
Yet we must put it all into perspective. September 11th remembered. No matter how tough things get for us, it could always be a lot worse. Hope all is well with the rest of the crew!
Steve
Bob
She's almost broken in, then.
-juice
I wasn't planning on buying a new car that year, but in the days after the attack, with the economy looking like it might go into the toilet, we decided to accelerate our plans. The best way to beat them was to live life like normal. Two days later (9/13), I stopped by my Subi dealer, and took a Legacy L for a drive. Eventually worked my way up to the OBW, and penned the deal.
Steve
The weekend after 9/11 that year, we went ahead and met up for the Fun Run in the Pine Barrens. I met with paisan, bluesubie, and lark6, and had a great time.
-juice
Craig
she is in early 60's and is now retired ... when I asked about her life in retirement ... her answers made me rethink any "problems" that I may believe I have ..
her daughter was murdered last October by her child's father who then committed suicide ...
how absolutely 'horrific' an experience to have to endure ...
she and her husband are now "parenting" a toddler ...
my life is good ....
Bob
Only 43k miles!?! My Legacy turns 7 next month and it's somewhere around 143k!
Take care and have a great and safe trip to Japan. Don't forget all the tips that Ken has given you!
Jim
I cannot even imagine the pain that she has endured. I'm a little crazed right now, and had to back off on luxuries, like this board, but we are hopeful that the problems at home (especially the health related ones) will work out.
Steve
Jim
This is what I can remember from the past few weeks off the top of my head:
Refrigerator died - compressor fan gummed up with bearing oil and dog hair, while we were away for a few days. It ran intermittantly, so the compressor itself did not fry, but the food got quite warm - about $300-$400 worth in a 25.5 cuft side by side. I got the fan running, but had a local guy replace it. While pulling the unit out, the copper coil for the ice/water sprung multiple leaks. Went down stairs and got showered when the saddle valve failed in my hands. So now I had to become the plummer and replace the whole thing.
The oil burner nozzle clogged, and spewed black soot all over about half the basement. Still cleaning up weeks later...
Washing machine died. Coupling between the motor and tranny. Thanks to an appliance forum, I got enough info to disassemble & replace it, but it took a few days....
Had to add a radon abaitment system. Thinking about finishing part of the downstairs. Test kit indicated 15-18 (forget the units), but about 4x the recommended limit. Installing it meant moving the Elecrolux central vac (another pain in the xxx).
Ants, ants, ants - everywhere!!!!
Chimney leak - two metal pipes in a boxed-in chase, and the roof pan is dripping.
Monster tree along side house got hit by lightening (I think...) and died. Needs to be taken down.
Driveway has a bad sag due to odd settling.
Soil erosion along ravine edge continues. May need some serious engineering help soon.
Welcome to home ownership!!!
Steve
Crocodile Hunter! Actually a lot more complicated than that. Steve Irwin was an extraordinary Australian. Almost a caricature of the tough Aussie bloke and very lovable for it. He was a genuinely dedicated conservationist and passionately fond of reptiles, especially crocodiles. He has been much mourned here, because what you saw is what you got. Absolutely no spin because he was genuinely that full on, all of the time. He was also a natural entertainer.
I saw him and his wife in an interview with Andrew Denton, probably the most open interviewee ever http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/video/default.htm?clip=steveirwin1
You need to hang around for the description of his wedding night. The interview is also fascinating to watch his love affair with the TV camera particularly when he leaps out of shot and calls to the cameraman to "Stay with me, mate".
The reaction of many of the locals to his on-screen antics was mixed; something between admiration for his braveness and incredulity at his stupidity. It was obvious to most that he would not die of old age. Mind you, being stabbed through the heart by a stingray is up there with the really wierd ways to die. Current estimates suggest he is only the third or fourth Australian to die this way in 200 years.
One of the hazards of showing Australian wildlife in the way Irwin did, as Television fodder, is a tendency to assume that the animals are not as dangerous as he says. The reality is that we have something like the top 14 most dangerous venomous snakes (There is some discomfort that we did not get all 15 but the last one on the list is, I think African), the top ten venomous sea snakes, some ripper venomous spiders and a whole raft of very dangerous beasties in our great outdoors. Even the animal closest to filling the otter's niche in Australia, the platypus, comes equipped with poisonous spurs.
If poison isn't your bag, we also do a very good line in crocodiles, sharks and other things that bite and maul.
Bizarrely, you can even be killed by a kangaroo - they sport very powerful hind legs that are used to disembowel attackers.
Irwin had a genuine knack for capturing dangerous animals and rehousing them. Have a look at the website for Australia Zoo http://www.crocodilehunter.com/
Less obviously, Irwin acquired about 90,000 acres of land to be set aside for wildlife protection. He also kicked off similar projects in Asia and Africa.
Locally, his direct action in talking to government ministers quickly scotched plans to permit safari type crocodile hunting. Crocoldiles in Australia were hunted extensively and numbers fell, probably to about 5000 animals, Irwin effectively prevented a reintroduction of such hunting.
Australians are, in general conservatinist in nature, and Irwin has left a signifcnat legacy.
Mind you, having survived the Princess Dianna mourning at too close a quarter (we lived in the twon where she and Prince Charles had lived and survived the gruesome interest of journalists and television for too long), I can see the similarities. I do hope his family can mourn in peace. It's easy to asume that someone in the public eye is public property. We are however all private people at heart.
Not so cheers
Graham
I think one of the reasons for his appeal was the fact that he truly was a human WYSIWYG. He was about as honest, straightforward, warm and caring as you can get—almost childlike—and unfortunately that hurt him sometimes. It was hard not to like him, or at least I think so...
In addition, I think he was arguably the best goodwill ambassador Australia ever had. He really put Australia on the map for many who may have known little or nothing about the place. He will truly be missed. I think the Princess Diana analogy is not too far of a stretch for many...
Bob
Remember that we spent 19 years restoring an 1889 farmhouse from "handyman's special" to quite nice before building a new house. It even had 'lectricity, heat and running hot & cold water when we were done. We left the outhouse standing as a reminder! So yes, I have experienced both sides.... Home ownership is truly a mixed bag of joy and tears, especially when you do much of the work yourself.
Steve
RIP Steve Irwin.
-juice
Would have moved there in a heartbeat, but for mine and husband's specialties there are no many job opportunities there.
We're looking forward to travel extensively in AU and NZ when we retire. That should be fun.
If poison isn't your bag, we also do a very good line in crocodiles, sharks and other things that bite and maul.
Bizarrely, you can even be killed by a kangaroo - they sport very powerful hind legs that are used to disembowel attackers."
I'm glad I live where I do. Not too much to worry about on an amble through the forest here. Maybe you could get injured slipping on a slug or something.
I'd love to visit, though. I think the "rugged frontier" aspect of Australia appeals to many Americans who are feeling uncomfortable with urbanization and the domestication of our "wild" West. Much of Canada holds the same appeal.
While the old house appreciated in value, when you factor in the sweat equity & $50k in materials & hired help, the gain was marginal. On the other hand, the new house was worth more on move in day than the contracted price agreed to half a year before by probably 10% or more, and the place has practically doubled in value in the past 7 years with only a $10k driveway added. I'm not sure that the old house has done that well even with the major infusion of cash the new owners have thrown at it. Maybe very long term the old house might be a better investment. I doubt that most new houses will even be standing 100 years into the future, but who knows.
Most of my labor (until the past few months...) has been in landscaping, rather than trying to save 40 ft tall old chimneys from collapsing! Much of what I take on now is on my schedule, rather than driven by a crisis. I have far more time for the kids now. One of our worst moments was when ice dams opened up a seam between the 1920's extension and the main house, and the ceiling fell in on the newly remodeled kitchen! We had to live with it that way until the spring thaw....
And there are health aspects. Too much lead and strippers in the old house. Too much new carpet, glue and the like in the new place. Not sure which gave me the nervous tick, or prompted me to buy a Subaru (only kidding about both), but neither exposure is good for you.
So why do both my wife and I still wake up from dreams that we were back in the old place? Why do we drive by (3 miles away), and still occasionally talk warmly with the current owners? I'd never want to move back to that house (too many mixed emotions), but someday, I could see us in a grand old Victorian. Somehow, all of our turn-of-the-century (as in the 19th to the 20th for you young kids...) oak furniture just looks out of place here. There is no room in the kitchen for the Sellers Hoosier Cabinet! Heck, I still have restored pan fixtures and other lighting supplies in boxes for just such an occasion! Maybe when we retire?
Steve
We tried having guests over last weekend, 8 of us (plus a dog). You had to step outside to change your mind.
-juice
LOL... good one.
Fast-forward a few decades - and I'm still looking forward to car trips and long drives, especially on the scenic roads.
But my daughter hates driving!
Neither of my brothers are into cars, it's like we're not even related.
-juice
-juice
Maybe that's why I enjoyed driving a local cab in NYC for 10 years? And going on the 48hrs runs that Paisan organizes each year?
Mark
Speaking of long drives - SIA anyone?
I'm game
-Dave
Maybe in spring?
-juice
Brenda who is probably closer (or just as close) to SIA as anyone here
-Brian
Cheers Pat.
Craig
-juice
juice Brenda is right, between morning and afternoon car wash's, personal wash's are once a week.
Cheers Pat.
The heat has been tolerable and is just starting to abate so no complaints about the weather. However, I took a quick trip up to the Grand Canyon a few days ago and the temp was 30 degrees cooler!
Oh, drove thru Flagstaff on the way to the GC and saw tons of Subarus. Not nearly as many in Phoenix (but then it doesn't get the snow). However, there is a Subaru dealer within walking distance of work!
-Frank
I have a cousin, a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, who moved to Wickenburg (NW of Phoenix) a few years back. He loves it there, as he is a real outdoorsy kind of guy. I hope you enjoy it there as much as he has.
Bob
It is slow as molasses as it only has the 64MB memory card that came with it back in the dark ages ...
I use the machine for IEP meetings, and have found information that it could be upgraded to 512 MB memory by using two 256 cards. I found the cards online for $56 each. It also says that one memory card slot is user serviceable, and one is accessible by 'technician'. Would it be worth it to upgrade this machine that way?
Anyone know anything about this?
I am so frustrated with trying to work with this machine ...
Brenda
It's not right for teachers to have slow machines. Here in Broward County, we all have MAC G4s with wireless cards for the T1 lines...we can roam around school and most of us take our laptops to meetings no matter where they are...makes things very easy.
Serge
P.S. Friday, we got rid of one of our real baddies...not ESE, just bad...off to an alternative center...all the teachers were contemplating getting him a going-away present to thank him for leaving (j/k).