Thanks to all of you for sending your love my way last night and today. It made such a difference, as always, I’m always so grateful that you continue to check in on me.
This family of mine is out of sync. I blame it on school starting and both of the kids being gone ALL DAY LONG for the first time ever and now I’d like to take a moment and blame our van because the transmission went out yesterday.
It’s not worth fixing.
Which means one thing: we must buy a new vehicle.
Brian took off of work today and he and I searched all day long while the kids were in school, and then again after they got home. We haven’t purchased anything but we are close. Today was frustrating and mind boggling and completely exhausting. Fortunately, we starting looking about a month ago, so we have a lot of looking and comparing under our belts. Unfortunately, we are sick of looking.
I’m actually feeling quite badly about not giving the kids any downtime today. They got home from school, did their homework and after twenty minutes, we drove ourselves to the south side of Chicago, which was…INTERESTING. One of the cars that we were most excited about was situated in a very strange, very scary location. I may or may not have thought we were going to be mugged TWICE while looking at cars.
It was fun. No really. it was.
We’ve narrowed it down to three vans.
The first had a full cigarette sitting in the back of the car.
The second had a notebook with a child’s writing on it that had “I will not play with fire. I will not play with fire.” written over and over and over again tucked inside the glove compartment.
And the third not only smelled like dirty socks, but happened to have dirty socks underneath the stow and go seats.
Which would you choose?
Stupid used cars.
Oh. My God.
Oh my God.
Heh. My thoughts exactly.
I would totally go with the socks. Because I’d feel at home.
The smoke one will stink forever and the fire one has bad ju-ju written ALL over it.
Wow, you can’t make that shit up.
Nice breakdown, A. It’s funny because Brian really wants the stinky sock one. (by far the best deal) But SO STANKY.
Oh my gosh, Kristen, I am totally LMAO at your comment. And honestly, I have been gentle with my descriptions. SO GENTLE.
A few weeks ago, the kids actually found FOOD in a car. It was disgusting.
And disturbing.
After weighing the options, I would go with the fire notebook. That way, if Anna and Noah *should* happen to be playing with matches in the backseat, you don’t even have to verbally reprimand them. Just throw the notebook at them and go on with your business.
Now, if someone buys the fire notebook van before you get back to it, I would go with the cigarette. Since you won’t be able to use the notebook to teach Anna and Noah not to play with fire, you can at least have them light you a cigarette while they’re at it.
You’re welcome.
Brilliance. And my kids better not EVER PLAY WITH FIRE.
Oh no! I can’t imagine having to make the choice! You’ll have to let us know which one you choose.
It sounds like you have checked everywhere, but just in case you haven’t, we bought our last car from Carmax and LOVE them.
Okay, Debbie Downer. Let’s look at the positives, shall we?
Van #1: taxes are higher on cigarettes, so if you get one with a lit cigarette, that’s one less cigarette you’ll have to buy. Duh…you’re saving money.
Van #2: the kids knew how to write. Vans from educated families are like a gajillion times nicer than vans from families whose kids can’t write. Look at us…Emma can’t write. Clearly, we suck.
Van #3: when you’ve had the van long enough to stink it up with your stinky selves, you can still blame it on the previous owners.
I think you should buy all three and rotate them out. It’s a win-win-win.
Normally when I sell a car, I detail it first. WTF? People have no class.
This post could’ve been written by me 4 years ago when we purchased our (very used) van. We had just bought it a couple of weekends before our 2nd child was born. We spent an entire morning/afternoon cleaning it out. The things we found… I am still in shock. The only good thing about vans with previous experience? You don’t have to panic the next time something spills. Life is too short for spotless minivans.
So be ‘used’, what you really mean is ‘repossessed’. This is awesome. I vote for the fire one.
I’m going to miss your old van. We have good memories with it. I guess just pick the one that you can picture me running down the street next to… Um your welcome.
You crack me up!
totally cracking up as usual, and then laughed really hard at sarah’s comment.
um, my dad sells used fords if you need. i really don’t think they have the things described here in them. =)
if these were the only three left in the whole world? fire notebook.
I’m with “To Think is to Create”-too many bad vibes coming from that fire notebook. I think I’d have to go with smelly socks, drive home with the windows open, then Febreze the crap out of that thing!
And I love Keli’s optimistic view of the whole thing! Very glass half-full!
Sock van, hands down!
My husband was looking at a used car a couple years ago, one that I particularly didn’t like because it seemed so big; almost like an old man car. Anywho…I was sitting in the driver’s seat and reached my hand into the pocket on the front of the seat and pulled out a condom. Nice. It was the perfect “out” for me to explain that this wasn’t an old man car, no! It was a pimp’s car and we are leaving. Furthermore dear salesman, perhaps you should CLEAN your cars before you try to sell them.
Dirty socks, we can work with that.
Good luck!!!
Oh my…you seriously could not make this stuff up if you tried! Quite the experience (on the south side of Chicago, no less). You guys will pick the right one for you…and you’ll clean it out well, make it your own with your own scent and all
Beth:
Car shopping the worst. I would go with a Honda or Toyota..They are so reliable and hopefully they will last a long time. Not sure if these are a choice or not.
Love you girl!!! Hope you have a great day!!
Ok, the fire one is SERIOUSLY creeping me out. On an unrelated note, your posts are suddenly partial feeds on my blog reader and it makes me super sad cause half the time I am way to lazy to click over. Is that intentional?
Jilly, I will check into it.
Shantel, we are so head over heels in love with Honda and Toyotas, but we are having such a hard time fitting it into our price range. Which is why this process is taking so long. Certainly we’ll find one, even if it smells like dirty, moist socks that have been sealed in a hot car for a week. *shudder*
ah, sounds like my house hunting experiences, good times.
good. times.
best wishes, I’d go with the fire one as long as there’s no fire damage to the van, you should be good to go.
Wow, that’s a tough choice. ; ) I say go with the van that had the notebook in it. Save it from the little pyromaniac. Good luck girl!
N-O-T the fire one! Talk about bad vibes.
Which makes me think hmmm…. maybe not the cigarette one either.
But for either the cigarette one or the dirty socks one (is it really that bad? who doesn’t have dirty socks
) – THAT’s WHY THEY MADE FEBREZE!
Well…unless the child played with fire inside the van I would go with that one. A full cig in the back means they may have smoked in it. And a smelly sock…really. That is just plain nasty.
Good luck Beth!!
I would find a place that has used cars and warranties or you may end up paying for more than you think. None of these seem like very good choices. If those issues are evident, imagine what you can’t see.
Interestingly enough, Dawn, two out of the three vehicles were at big name dealerships, with warranties! Isn’t that crazy?
I vote for socks. But it’s possible that my nasal passages have been so seared by the smell of dirty stinky boys that I consider “dirty sock” to be a comfort smell. So take my suggestion for what it’s worth, which probably isn’t much.
You seriously cannot make that sh*t up.
Um, eeeeewwwww. I guess Teresa from Real Housewives of New Jersey was kinda right (as much as I hate to admit it) when she said that she couldn’t buy a used house or car because of the other people’s dirt. Because, really, doesn’t life always come back to reality TV?
Never play with fire is actually a very good life lesson. Just sayin.
Gosh, I have to choose just one? They all sound so appealing. And who in their right mind sells a vehicle that’s nasty?
If the car is gross on the inside, makes you wonder if they did maintenance as needed. Better get an extended warranty. Fo’ sho’!
Oh crap!! I’d go with the socks, personally…I’ve yet to find an odor Febreeze can’t fix, and the stow and go is soooo awesome (had it in our vacation rental), even if it stinks. We are probably one major repair away from going on a similar adventure…..hoping not to raise the roof on the southside though. Ugh. Hope the planets all start aligning soon…
Okay, I’m pretty sure I’d go with the one from the ghetto. I used to live in Memphis and let me tell you…outside of Beale Street, there’s a whole lot of ghetto. I would go with that one because if it is in the ghetto and it is still there, chances are it won’t get stolen (remember the tire incident) where you live or if you ever happen to visit the ghetto again (sometimes some incredible pictures can be found in the ghetto, right?) Plus, if it’s the one with the cigarette, dang sometimes you could just use a cigarette. I quit smoking 3 years ago and I’m so thankful and glad that I did, but sometimes I really miss standing outside in the fall with a big cup of coffee and a cigarette.
Best of luck to you my friend!