Buying a New Car: Brainstorming, Research, Test Drives

Hank was a great car, for a single, apartment-dwelling, man, and it was ok for a newly married, apartment-dwelling couple, but with only two doors, it wasn’t really practical for more than 2 people, and while the huge hatch space and 1100lb payload was great—I carried 18 bags of mulch, twice, and a ¼ cord of wood in the hatch—I really needed something bigger for both family outings and for home improvement-type tasks, something with 4 doors, a decent payload capacity, and a roof rack, and something that wasn’t too much of a departure from the comfort and quality of Hank, that also looked good.

That’s not so much to ask, is it? Continue reading “Buying a New Car: Brainstorming, Research, Test Drives”

Buying a New Car: Intro

Shopping for and buying a new car is huge pain. I’ve bought three cars in my adult life: Hank the Golf, over which I hemmed and hawed for about 9 months before suddenly pulling the trigger one Saturday morning; my darling, adorable wife’s Volvo, which was also a total spur-of-the-moment Saturday thing; and this new one, which was a considerably different, deliberate, long and drawn out affair.

I really wish it had been more similar to previous car-buying events, and I hope to never experience something like this again.

What made it so bad? Well…[READ MORE] Continue reading “Buying a New Car: Intro”

Reminders

Today, I’m thankful for reminders.

I’m thankful for general reminders, of the sort captured by an iPhone app of the same name. I’m prone to forgetting and in need of gentle nudges to action.

I’m thankful for more metaphysical reminders, reminders of my great fortune and health, reminders of my humanity, my frailty, my incapacity, my lack. Truly, all have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God, and truly, Allah alone is perfect and without error. All praise and thanks be to Him.

I’m especially thankful of reminders of Allah, Himself, of His power, His majesty, His mercy, His guidance, His plan. And I’m grateful for His constant reminders to all of us, whether we notice and take heed or not, as we are human, imperfect, and in need of gentle nudges to action. Indeed, we are in constant need of Him. La ilaha il Allah!