Have I Got A Deal For You!

A perfect storm for car buying.  After a couple postcards and a recorded phone message from the auto dealer where we got Kathy's car , including a 40% off sticker "teaser", I went to look over their inventory.  

You see, we were nearing the end of owning the Expedition.  We put money into the Expedition last spring just to keep it running and safe.  And we were sure we would need to put in more.  So it seemed a good time to trade for something newer.  And auto dealers were offering what seemed to be unbeatable deals, both domestic and foreign.

After meeting with our salesman at Serra Cadillac-Buick-GMC-Pontiac, I came home with the 40% news.  Available were 5 of the same model GMC Envoy, a size we were looking at since it is a bit smaller than the Expedition, in four colors I could live with.  Kathy looked at the colors on the Internet and made her first and second choices, then called the Casey with our choice.  The next morning we met with Casey, took the vehicle for a test drive, decided to buy it and trade in the Expedition, signed the papers, and drove it home.  We now have a new workhorse vehicle and can keep Kathy's Caddy for "pleasure".

So for 10 years the maroon Expedition was our workhorse.  It hauled 4 x 8 sheets of drywall and rolls of insulation for finishing the garage and basement, groceries and softener salts from Sam's Club, bags of fertilizer and plants for our gardens,  hundreds of day lilies from Don and Marietta,  and friends and relatives downtown for theater, concerts, and sports.  It took us up north with our tools and supplies, west to MC when James and Amy were there with Spencer (who loved "Grandpa's Car"), to airports and train stations with our luggage and travel plans, and around the state for consulting work.  And for a short time it took me to work during my last months before retirement.

I Can't Hear You.

For many airplane trips I had tried to listen to music and podcast downloads through regular headphones or earbuds but could not hear clearly enough for my satisfaction. So Kathy bought me a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones. They worked great at home. While reading on the living room couch, I could play music throught them and nullify the television audio from Kathy's television program. Then on our most recent trip to Seattle I used them on the plane. I could clearly hear my Old Time Radio programs downloaded to my portable XM satellite receiver and podcasts downloaded to my Ipod Shuffle. Then as I worked on some writing I listened to music and the drone of the engines filtered out. Clearly a phenomenal gift. Thank you, Kathy.

Tuesday on the Road

We went to Detroit Tuesday for a shopping trip. Our first stop was Ford Field to pick up some new Lions gear. While making our choices, Jason Hanson (who passed Eddie Murray in career scoring and take over the number ten spot) walked in with his wife and preschool-aged son. After a manager finished helping Jason, Kathy inquired of him whether it would be proper to approach Jason for an autograph. He said Jason is qujite approachable and is very accomodating to fans so Kathy asked him for his autograph. Luckily she had something in her purse for him to sign--our tickets from Sunday's game which she had with her because we would get two Buddy's pizzas later in the day since the Lions scored over 24 points. He signed them for us and exchanged small talk. We made our purchases then walked over to the Tigers Shop where we found little--no clearance items yet (unless you want a Monroe jersey) so we may make another trip later.

We also wanted to pick up tickets at the Gem Theatre just south of Ford Field for Escanaba in Love, the prequel to Escanaba in the Moonlight, but found out it is closing this weekend, about 6 weeks earlier than their scheduled run through December. And how about the DSO gospel concert. At that box office we were told it is canceled. Along with seeing the attendance at Meadowbrook Theatre last week, these cancellations seem to indicate the economy here is significantly impacting performing arts.

Over to Farmers Market for beef and to Wigley's Market for our corn beef and a ham for Pat who we were to see on our way home. Lunch was at Buddy's and if I had remembered the plan sooner we would have had our pizza at the original Buddy's restaurant on Conant and Six Mile Road.

We boxed up some leftovers and drove to Pat's house where Kathy helped make applesuace, I tried to find the problem with her furnace (I think it is a fan problem, but she was to have service today from a professional), went grocery shopping while Pat and Kathy cooked, and had Chinese carry out for dinner. We had a good visit with Pat and are glad to help in any way we can.

Cold, windy, rainy, and snowy weather can't slow us down.