Neat Little Booklets about Cars

We might be ready to look for a "new" heap that can take me on the freeway! And then maybe we will pass mine down to our son, since a putt-putt car is better than no car, and can be driven to the store or to the subway. But how we go about that gets tricky as far as title transfer...or not, vehicle inspection certification on my ailing heap...or not, maybe we just let him use it, but then there's the insurance and they want to insure him for Ed's car, too, which has comprehensive coverage. So there's a lot of "homework" to do here. But first things first, and the first thing is to find the "right car" for me for a very little bit of money.

So Ed suggested we buy these little books he heard about on the radio. As I was reading them, I knew I had to share these little gems with you! They ARE "little", only a little over twenty pages each, even though each book costs $4.75. But when I think of what we might save, it definitely seems worth it. And who wants to spend hours poring over long books about the mechanics and economics of a car, when you can get it in nuggets?

Even if you're not in the market for a heap (or any other new-to-you car), you might benefit from Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It! The Click and Clack brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, say that they named the book first; then they made a list of fifteen items. By paying attention, we may be able to add years to the lives of our cars. (Now we just need to fix our diets so we can live as long as the car. This, by the way, is my humor, not theirs; although their books are filled with humor.)

The next book is Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car? (Incidentally, they don't even address the stealing idea. It's just part of their humor and a catchy title. And if you can't shrug off an occasional in-law joke, these books aren't for you. I never had a problem with my in-laws but I know it's a common area for jokes.) The sub-heading of this book is "How to Save Tens of Thousands of Dollars On Your Cars Over the Next 20 Years". If you drive a heap, like I do, the previous book might be more helpful for saving money. But even if you're a cheapskate like me, you might want to share the information in this book with your children and others. I like that they explain car leasing (which seems so shrouded in mystery to many people...not a recommended option, by the way). I especially like that they give options for different possible strategies that you can use in buying a car, depending on how old or new a car you want, and that they have charts showing how much you can save by using one option over another.

How to Buy a Great Used Car: Secrets Only Your Mechanic Knows is the next book. In addition to the usual tips, this book has a chart you can copy and give to your mechanic to check out a potential used car before you make an offer.

I'd just like to add that I don't make a penny if you buy these books. I am only sharing them because:
A) I want to have something to write about every day. (I'm too honest this morning.)
B) I think they are enlightening and helpful! (I even wonder if I could still be driving my 14 year old car on the freeway today, if I had read the Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car... years ago.)
C) And I would like to ask you to please say a prayer that we make the best decisions regarding the cars, insurance, and so forth. Thank you!

Remember the Time Change

We're setting our clocks ahead early this year. Remember to set them one hour ahead tonight! And yes, those cars on the clock are my Corvettes! Vroom, vrooom. I also have a few model cars. Couple years ago, while on a break at my part-time job, I was making a list of decorations and memorabilia to keep if we moved. I wrote at the top, "Stuff to keep" and under it I had: '63 Thunderbird, '57 Corvette. I didn't mean anyone to see my list, but my young friend, the 18 yr. old stock boy, saw it and got big eyes. Of course I explained that they were models and we laughed together at what he thought I had meant... (and no, I don't have Corvettes in my garage or parking lot, either; only images of Corvettes in my home).

Red Light, Green Light

Do kids still play Red Light, Green Light? Do you even know what I'm talking about, or does this game go back too far for some of you? (If you're interested, the game is described here.) I played it as a child, and our older kids used to play it when there were enough kids around (or maybe that was just our family, making "enough kids"). All you need is a field or large yard; you don't even need a ball or any equipment.

Well, a variation of Red Light, Green Light is what my internet connection has been playing with me. My computer guy tells me it's not my computer, that it's interference from cordless phones...not necessarily ours. We share space (living in an apartment), so it could be anyone or anything wireless.

So...last night I ordered a 100' cable to connect our computer to the router in my son's room. I wanted to share with you this source for cables (whatever kind of cables you might ever need). We used this company before to get a cable for our monitor, and the prices are unbelievable compared to some "regular" markets. It's called Cables for Less. And no, I don't get a cut for advertising. Just wanted to share with you, as I was amazed at the difference in price.

Now if I can stay online long enough, I'll send this post...

Back Online

Woo hoo! Our computer guy is GREAT! Thanks, Max! Now we shouldn't be going on and off line all the time. Since I don't like to give negative reviews, I won't mention who first set us up...

Two Headaches + News

Two headaches going on here: The one inside my head, and the one inside my computer (or wherever it is that causes my computer to not get online). I'm on my son's computer at the moment, and our friendly computer-fixer is coming on Thursday. Now I have a riddle for you. Why would any mother link her son's computer directly to the internet service and make her own computer be the one that is wireless?? The answer is: temporary insanity. Naw, actually, I didn't want to put my computer next to the t.v. and in front of the fireplace, nor to have cords draped across the balcony door and all of the living room. Hence, wireless was "the only way to go". Or so I thought...

Maybe by Friday I will think wireless is great. Here's hoping.

In the meantime, did you see all the news about the annual March for Life in WA D.C. on January 22? What news, huh? I don't watch the news on t.v, but I look at it on the internet and I didn't see any from the media. Don't know where the media is when the good guys are out there. There were tons of people marching and from what I hear half or more of them were young people. If you'd like to read what some of those young people were thinking and feeling, visit Maureen's blog.

"My Putt-Putt Car"

This is my "putt-putt car". Isn't it beautiful? Each day that I drive it, I thank God for giving it to me for another day. It's a 1993 model, which we bought in 1998. It now has over 164,000 miles.

The reason I call it my "putt-putt car" is because I am "supposed" to drive it at or below 40 m.p.h. Obviously, I don't generally take it on the freeway. I don't generally take it too far away, because last time I did, it began to huff and puff (putting it in human terms). But most of the time - with the current driving - it purrs like a kitten.