epiphany

Elementary Principles

In one of the most panicked days of my life, yesterday I sold my old car and bought a new one. As I mentioned a week or two ago, my 96 Intrepid was not doing well. I started looking at cars and had narrowed my choices down by the end of this past week. I was interested in the Honda Element and the new Honda Civic. I had test driven both and couldn't decide which I liked more, since their advantages are significantly different. The Element is quite utilitarian, is easy to clean, has lots of storage room (storage room is big for nomadic types), and gives a high view of the road. But the Civic is sporty, handles well, and gets amazing mileage.

On Friday, I was at the Honda dealer discussing finances. They, of course, were quite eager for me to buy a car. Their Elements were slightly too expensive for me, but I could afford a Civic LX (the medium grade of Civic). However, I had walked to the dealership from work and didn't have the Intrepid with me. From my description, they told me that they might be able to give me $200 of trade in value. I was hoping for at least $500, so that was a disappointment. They recommended I try to sell it.

Friday night, I took some photos of the car and posted an ad on craigslist.org, asking $1,000 or best offer.

Ten minutes later, I was getting calls. Saturday morning at 8:30, I sold it to a guy for $800.

I hardly slept Friday night because of all the math and comparisons and planning going on in my head. Saturday morning was full of selling the car, projects at church, and running to the bank and department of licensing.

I had also been looking at Nissans at a dealer up north that some friends had recommended. Burt, the rep I had been working with, called while I was at the Honda dealer the previous day. When I last went to their website, I noticed a used 03 Honda Element for sale. I called him back Saturday morning (in the midst of all my other stuff) and asked him about the Element. The price was still too much, but I thought I would see if he would haggle. (Honda dealers can't charge less than MSRP, so they won't haggle at all on new cars.) I fully expected that he wouldn't take my price, which was quite low for what I'd seen Elements going for.

I went. I test drove. I got my price.

So now I have the first car payments of my life. I'm also alternating between contentment/enjoyment of my new(ish) car and the panic that comes from thinking I should have offered less or gotten the other, having settled into that expectation during the night on Friday. I hate the struggle of deciding between two good choices. Yet I'm good at clinging to that struggle well after the choice is made. So here we are, my nice little car and its overwhelmed owner. Here's to a quiet and contented future.

Hospice for Cars

Last night my car's check engine light came on. Within half a block or so, it started flashing. I nervously drove to my friend's boat without incident, other than not have as much acceleration as usual. I checked the driver's manual and discovered that a flashing light indicates high potential of damage to the catalytic converter and imminent loss of power. When I headed home a couple hours later, the check engine light was still on, but it had stopped flashing.

I took it to a local shop this morning before work and told them what happened, along with some of the symptoms I had noticed over the past few months. I didn't know how much catalytic converters cost, but I figure they're pretty expensive. I figured I might have to drop a thousand dollars to fix my car.

The shop called me late morning and faxed over their list of recommendations. I still don't know what a catalytic converter costs, and at this rate, I'm not going to find out soon. But I do know what it'll take to make my car "safe."

$5,700.

Including tax, if that makes it better.

That's for a 1996 Intrepid. I love my car, but even if it were in top-notch shape, the Kelly Blue Book says a dealer would only ask $4,700. I don't suppose anyone ever really wants to buy a new car, but I most certainly had no intention of getting one right now.

Trying to look at it positively, at least I found out about all the problems at once instead of paying two thousand here and a thousand there over the next two or three years.

Still, I'm kind of wishing it had just been the catalytic converter.

Star Wars ROTS

This Friday, my church is showing Star Wars ROTS (Revenge of the Sith) for film and theology. From the flyer:

"Yoda: 'Twisted by the Dark Side, young Skywalker has become. The boy you trained, gone he is... Consumed by Darth Vader.'

"Come watch Anakin Skywalker destroy himself (and the Star Wars franchise?). Discussion to follow. Where did it go wrong?!"

;-D

Thankful

I've had several really good days (more on the reason for that some other time), ending with a fun after-church gathering at a local sushi bar. I've gotten involved with a men's community group at church and am beginning to feel much more connected to Seattle. It's amazing what adding a few friends will do for the hominess of a spot.

Something I've thought about quite a bit over the past few months is the idea of thankfulness. It's absolutely everywhere in the Bible and is a primary response of believers. There are warnings about those who are unthankful, instructions not to let people hold you in contempt for what you're thankful for--even the New Testament version of sacrifice is praise and thanksgiving to God. I've never heard a whole lot of teaching about being thankful other than the counterproductive "be thankful or else" kind of thing. ;-) It's really neat to start seeing the prolific references to it and then to see how it comes out in my own life. It's that response of gratitude and joy for the good things God gives you. Thankfulness is that gentle warm spring inside that eventually stirs up and overflows into praise.

It's getting late for me, so I can't really get into more depth on the topic. But I did want to say again how thankful I am for these good days and for the friends God has given me.

Desperate

I have been in desperate need of a haircut.

While it didn't look too bad on its own,

with very little effort, I could've fit in with any local band.

A little bit of trimming eliminated my punk tendencies.

And yes, as a matter of fact, I do have four eyes.

The Drinking Song

I've been fiddling with this song for quite a while and finally recorded it today. (Special thanks to Mom for the new mic and preamp.) It's something of a maritime tune in the call and response style. For examples, check out Great Big Sea's recordings of "Excursion around the Bay" and "General Taylor."

Enjoy. :-)

***************
The Drinking Song

Response:

Those walking in darkness have seen a great light,
The cracking of dawn and the breaking of night;
In the valley of shadows the daystar descends:
The kingdom of death dies away, and the morning begins!

Call:

Come weak, and come weary, come lonely and sad,
Come drink of my ale; let my wine make you glad;
Come, drown all your sorrows and no longer weep:
The drinks are on me, so drink hard and drink deep!

All you who are fainting I fain would entice:
Buy milk without money; buy bread without price.
I’ve honey and lamb for my comrades to eat,
And never you’ve tasted such glorious meat.

Come, you who would hunger for righteousness sake,
Come join in my meal, of my body partake.
My blood is the wine, and the wine—it tastes good;
My flesh is the bread, and it’s heavenly food!

Come you who would protest, who feed upon strife:
Lay down empty rage, even lay down your life.
Come, lay down your weapons and join in the feast;
Find room at the table with those who make peace.

Give ear all you blind men, who claim to be just:
The works of your hands are but sewage and rust.
And you who would labor your ranking to raise:
The work I require is a heart filled with praise.

You fools who would mock me, despising my kin,
Your proud unbelief is unpardonable sin.
But blessed are they who your cruelty have borne:
They’ll drink with me while you in agony mourn!