I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated my journal. I'm so sorry.
I haven't been around here much lately except to check in here and there. I've been in such a funk. The long winter didn't help matters. I hope it's finally over...it is near the end April after all. The sun finally showed itself after much gloominess and rain. The flower bulbs I planted last fall were floating in the water, I don't think they will be blooming for me.

Anyway....the last time you all heard from me my husbands car had died and he was driving my van everyday, leaving me stuck at home. Not that I go out everyday or anything it's just that I couldn't go if I wanted to. (public transportation is not available where I live) I had to put new brakes and rotors on the van during that time too.
After much web research we bought him a brand new 2008 Toyota Matrix on March 22! He loves it! The gas mileage is fantastic. The dealership we went to sucked BIGTIME anyone in the Chicagoland area...STAY AWAY from OAKBROOK TOYOTA!!! High pressure, pushy salesmen and a horrid, rude man in the finance department.
March 23rd, the engine light came on in my van. I took it over to the repair center only to be told that I needed a new exhaust and transmission (you might remember the transmission overheating last summer in California). The darn thing also had a mind of its own when it came to where I wanted the heat/air conditioning to blow from too. There was a vacuum leak somewhere in the system that made a horrible hissing sound. So we decided that it was time to say goodbye to my van. I was a little sad but it was 10 years old with 116,670 miles on it. Back to the web and classifieds for me. Looking for something reliable with not too many miles. Sad to say but what I was looking for just wasn't out there at a decent price. So I started shopping the sale ads, with tax time so near I knew there were deals to be had. I test drove several vehicles, not falling in love with anything...until I went to a different Toyota dealer on April 3rd. I met a very nice salesman, he let me look at the cars I was interested in, answered all my questions and took me on a couple test drives. It was while I was waiting for him to get the keys for a Rav4 that I sat down in a car in the showroom. I looked around and said "hey this isn't half bad." After I drove the Rav 4 I decided it wasn't for me. It was a little pricey too. On the way back into the showroom I asked if I could drive one of "those" cars I had been sitting in...and guess what.....
I loved it!!!!!!
They let me drive a demo model over to hubby's office to see what he thought, he couldn't believe I was actually considering this car, but after he got in and rode around, then drove a bit, he liked it too. He didn't like the color of the demo, I didn't either.
I went back to the dealer.....and....Bought a new car!!!! The first brand new car I've ever owned.
I did everything by myself too, basically the only thing I had to negotiate was the price of my trade in. I bickered just a bit but I ended up getting $300 more than my bottom line so I did good!
They had to order the color I wanted so I had to wait a few days, I hardly slept at all, wondering if I made a mistake, all sorts of stuff running through my head. On April 7th I got the call saying I could come pick up my new car. Hubby was in the middle of something at work and could not leave, I was anxious to get my new car! After a couple of hours he finally came home and drove me over to pick it up.
I ordered some extra things, like a security system and a rear spoiler but one thing I splurged on was totally friviolous….underdash lighting with cupholder illumination! I can toggle through 4 colors, green, red, blue and amber. I like blue the best. It’s so cool! I can’t believe it Normally I would never spend money on such things but Hubby said “if you want light up cupholders then get them” so I did.

I’ve taken a few pictures recently, maybe one or two I can post. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some spring flower pictures soon. I’ll be going down to southern Indiana (in my new car) in a few days, my sister tells me they have a lot of blooming things down there. It will be nice to see my nieces and nephews again. I haven’t seen them since Christmas.
It’s always so hard living so far away.
I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I’ve seen my daughter.
Good news is we’ll be taking a vacation to California again this summer so I’ll get to see her.
Of course that means I’ll be away from dA even more. I always think about you guys. I look through my inbox and see all your beautiful images. I just wish I could comment on them all. I miss the fun we used to have. Hopefully I’ll be able to reconnect here and get back into the fun. Thank you all for hanging in there with me.

Oh….here’s a picture of my new car!


It's a 2008 Scion xB! Not as boxy as the previous models. I love it!!!

Take care! And HAPPY SPRING! (to the midwest US)...finally.


Andrea

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Clubs
My Husband ~Traveling-David
My Daughter =KatTheGrrreat ~KatTheGrrreat-photo
Her husband Joe ~Gandora

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