Mystery solved

Sayre was first to guess correctly. A 2005 Hyundai Sonata, to be exact.

Yep, Another year, another car. LOL! Actually, we had looked at this car, but decided against buying right now. But stuff happens, knowwhutImeanVern? DS got an old junker a while back and it died on him a few months later. So he's been depending on the kindness of strangers his parents for transportation. Anyhow, this deal kinda fell into our laps and it was just too good to pass up. I really liked the Sonata they loaned me last year, so it moved onto my short list for next ride. I'd have preferred a 2006 (XM became standard equipment then), but this will definitely do. The only thing I'll regret later is the black interior. OK, I'm not wild about the headlights but I rarely see those. 8-}

So, we're now a 2 Hyundai family. DS was to take my car, but he prefers Duller's Cobalt. Duller is considering it.

Back to reality

Yesterday afternoon, after 10 days with the loaner, I picked up my car. It's amazing how quickly we get spoilt. When I drove off the lot, my first thought was, 'I liked this car? It's awful!' By now, I'm getting used to it and even starting to like it again. Just a little. 8-] But I do kinda miss the power seat adjustment and the great suspension. And it was so quiet, I had to be careful not to grind the starter after sitting for a few minutes. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted.

I finally got all the antique/classic car pics - and a few of some of the big machines - loaded on PhotoBucket. Duller has been drooling over the 69 Camaro, his idea of the most perfect ride ever made. DS's favourite was the VW bus. For me, it was the 1970 AMX. Or the Studebaker Golden Hawk. Or the Jaguar that was really a VW. Or the Excalibur Phaeton - the real deal, not a kit. Or... or... or...

Pictures from the Florida Forest Festival

On a completely different subject... Peggy, if you're reading today, there were 6 spoonbills at Bottoms Road this afternoon. Just when I was starting to think they'd all moved on. I'll ask DS tomorrow if anyone else has reported any sightings.

Yesterday's highlight, for me, was a clear, if distant, shot at two Northern Harriers. The Harrier is one of my favourite hawks. Like the Belted Kingfishers, they've been nearly impossible to capture. I don't think I've ever seen one sitting still before. It didn't last long, but I managed to snap a few times before they both went back to the hunt.

.

How long does a 1-day job take?

On Saturday, Duller took my car back to the Hyundai dealer to get the timing belt replaced. This was supposed to have been done already, so they're not charging us. 'The book' says it's an 8-hour job. They were also supposed to fix a spot where the paint was chipped. Actually, it was a small place where someone had bumped the side trim strip. When we bought it, the service department was closed, so we had to take it back the following weekend so they could clean off the gunk from the stickers. They also washed and vacuumed it. Oddly enough, according to Duller, they used a push broom to clean the exterior. This made the small paint-damage spot about 6 times larger.

Anyroad, since Duller wouldn't be here on Monday, we left it over the weekend so they could get right on it first thing Monday AM. They even gave me a loaner... this 2008 Sonata.

Around half past noon on Monday, they called and said it was all done. (So much for 8+ hours.) Duller asked if they had fixed the paint and there was a pause. OOPS! Forgot about that. We'll get back to you. It should still be done today. End of day came and went and no word. Tuesday came and went.. nothing. Duller left a message or 3, but nobody called back. Now Wednesday is well done and still not a peep.

Not that I'm complaining. I really like this loaner. Hyundai is no longer just cheap, shoddy little imports. This is a really nice car. The only thing I don't like about it is the steering is a bit loose. I'm getting used to that.

And it has XM radio. I could definitely get used to this.


DS keeps changing it back to the classical station. (What's wrong with that picture?) That's cool , though. Yesterday, we cruised to the entirety of Grand Canyone Suite. The day before, it was Dvorak's New World Symphony. Two of my all-time favourites.

So, how long are they going to work on my car? Do I look concerned? 8-]
I'll hang on to this baby as long as they need. It even seems to be getting just as good mileage as my little Accent. Hey, possession is 9/10 of the law, right? ;]

Meanwhile, I'm pricing satellite radios, comparing Sirius and XM. Never thought I'd see the day! 8-} Either service is only $12.95 a month. I can handle that.

I borrowed this shot from Edmund's,
coz I didn't think to take a pic of this feature.
Automatic w/manual shift capability.

Sophie's bloomers - leg 2

False Foxglove
Agalinis sp.

Blue Anise Sage

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

Crape Myrtle
(Lagerstroemia indica)

Mexican Petunia
Ruellia brittoniana


Mexican False Heather
Cuphea hyssopifolia


and last, but certainly not least, the famous...

Blue Curls
Trichostema dichotomum

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Well, I finally did it. My yellow truck is no longer sitting in our driveway. *sniffffffff* With no relief in sight of the gas pumps, I really need something that does better than 20mpg. The last weekend of the month is the perfect time for car trading and everything fell into place so perfctly, it just had to be. We stopped first at the Chevy dealer, where a snooty salesman informed us that he had nothing in our price range. Well, I can take a hint. Far be it from me to waste a used car salesman's precious time. So we bopped down the road to the Hyundai lot. There were two definite possibilities. One had already been marked down about $1000 and rode a lot nicer than the other. And its much plainer stereo system worked better. (Dud music can be a deal-breaker.) We told the very nice salesman exactly what we wanted for the truck and how much we wanted to pay for the car. Their counter offer would have required around $1790 from us. We countered their counter and their next CO involved our paying only TTT, a total of about $872. Hmmm... make it an even $500 OOP and we have a deal. OK? Done! In the end, we had to shell out an extra $40, coz the state no longer sends you a title when you pay off your car loan. It's all online now. So the dealer has to do a little extra 'legwork''to get the truck title. Memo to us.... request that piece of paper next time.

Here's the really cool part. Duller has been doing a lot of traveling this month and is about to get a 'reimbursement' of just about the exact amount we just spent. He never spends the entire per diem, and his car gets great mileage, so most of that is 'gravy'. Plus, we got a refund today for the GAP insurance we were forced to acquire with the truck loan. That alone covers more than half. Ain't God good?!

So, I came home with a smaller car, one year younger, with half the miles and fairly close to twice the fuel efficiency. Reckon I'll get over losing Ol' Yeller after a few fill-ups. 8-]