print_r();

print_r($newStuff);

Array
(
[RAndoMness]=> 29Mar08
[JPsDocs] => 27Jan06
[JPics] => 09Mar08
[frontpage]
[FeedBack]
)

ShowCal(date('my'));

August 2008

archives(all);

print_r($background);

Array
(
[today]=>

[past]=>backgrounds
)

print_r($good_things);

All new england Winter Extravaganza (AWE)

Mon, March 14, 2005

echo $new;

added Sat March 29 2008 at 10:09 PM
10 comments

I actually wasn't meaning to keep it a secret - just haven't been in a writing mood lately. I really had planned on writing more soon after I got it, so sorry that I didn't.

So my car decided that it didn't want to start anymore. I'd been having troubles with the battery (I had jump-started it three times in the previous couple of weeks). Basically, the battery didn't seem to hold a charge for more than a few hours at a time. I had a choice to make - I could replace the battery and hope that was the only problem with it, or I could get a new car. Originally, I was hoping to wait until June to buy a new car. That's when I get the second half of my signing bonus. Not to mention that I'm not really in a state of mind to be making large decisions like that.

After deciding that I should probably just get a new car, I had to decide what to get. I'd been talking about getting a MINI Cooper for quite a while. However, half the fun of MINI Coopers is getting one that's customized the way you want it. Unfortunately, it would take about 3 months to get that from the factory.

I went to the Mazda dealership to test drive a Miata, but also because a friend recommended I check out the Mazda3. The Miata was fun, but ultimately completely impractical - somewhat more expensive than what I wanted to put down at the moment and barely had enough room for a few groceries (I shop like my mother). The Mazda3, however, felt like a perfect compromise between my practical side and having a nice car. I got the sSport trim so that it feels like it has a little bit of a nicer touch, but it's also reasonably priced. And it just feels comfortable to drive - the arm rests are in the right location, the steering wheel adjusts just right so that I can sit how I'd like. I chickened out and got an automatic instead of a manual like I'd originally planned, but it's the semi-automatic kind that lets you manually shift up and down when you want to - it's fun to play around with but doesn't really do too much for you otherwise.

There's more to read. Read the extended entry.

echo $new;