My New Ride!

I know I've mentioned before that I was recently involved in a very traumatic car accident a little over a month ago.  Well, I'm not going to go into details about that but I have learned a few things about my experience thus far:

• I know it's not the first thing on your mind when you get into an accident, but TAKE PICTURES! If I took a picture of the street light that was out on the road when I crashed, THAT alone would have saved me tons of letters and wrinkles.
• GET CAR & HEALTH INSURANCE - REALLY.  Who drives without insurance? Isn't that asking for an accident to happen? The guy I got into an accident didn't have Health OR Medical Insurance...UGH!
• Fight for your right.  I know the accident was BOTH of our faults.  That's what accidents are.  BUT, if the other party tries to blame you for things that just aren't true, fight your case.  
• A silver lining to this all: A NEW CAR!  Believe me, the timing wasn't ideal with wedding season and all - but I guess when life hands you lemons, the best thing to do is make lemonade...so here we go!

And that's as much as I'm going to say about my accident.  Now on to the good stuff:

On December 24, 2010 I had to officially say "goodbye" to a dear old friend of mine - The Coug.  She was a great little car, and we had some great times together ever since I got her for a college graduation present in 2007.  I loved my Coug.  She really was a great car, and treated me nicely...we had a bond, and I knew I was going to drive her until she literally wouldn't drive any longer.  Well, I guess you can say that's what I did.  Here's the end of a great chapter to my life: Saying Goodbye to The Coug:

I was SO upset to see her like this!

Cleaning everything out...look at those airbags... :(

You can tell how emotional of a day this was for me.  On the other hand, the thought of getting a new car gave me more emotions - UTTER JOY for getting to finally pick out a car that I WANTED but also FEAR that I wasn't going to be able to make the right decision or be able to pay for the one I wanted.  Well, to make a LOOOOONG story short - here's what happened.

Looking at the used cars...not quite sure what we want yet!

Mr. Hess and I spent a few days car shopping, not to mention endless hours on the Internet - researching, pricing, and creating cars that I think would fit me.  Well, I ALWAYS have known what my absolute dream car would be, and has been that way ever since high school.  The beautiful, classy Lexus IS 250.  Now, right away, I knew she would be way out of my price range - let's be real.  So, I didn't pursue that dream very long and went to look at the more practical choices in front of me.  So there Mr. Hess and I went - from dealership to dealership we test drove and looked at just about everything the lot had to offer.  We found a few cars that would "do", but I always had the same thought in my mind... Fortunately, I have never had to have a car payment, so this concept alone is going to be an entire new ball game for me.  Needless to say, I kept justifying what I wanted by this - I could pay a decent amount and get a decent car, OR, I can splurge a little - work an extra shift a month - and get the car of my dreams.  Well, I think you can tell by the pictures below what I ended up getting.  And let me just say one more thing before you look: I got her for an AMAZING deal - literally better than what our dealer himself pays for his wife's car, which is the same exact one.  Don't ask me how - but we have been blessed by some great friends who know people in high places.  Mr. Hess and I both feel very fortunate for what we are "hooked up" with from time to time...but this absolutely takes the cake.

Introducing the beautiful, lovely, classy LILY LEXUS!!!!!!

Isn't she GORGEOUS?!?!?!

I'm a tad bit obsessed...and I knew from the moment I test drove her that she had to be MINE!  Yeah, it's going to have to be a concious effort to put away a car payment per month for me, but HEY - I work 2 jobs, and I work HARD! Shouldn't I deserve something I will truly work HARD for?  That's what I thought anyways...

Check out my excitement when Mr. Hess comes up to me getting the keys handed to me:

And, HERE WE GO! Ready for our first ride! :)

So, you can obviously tell I'm IN LOVE.  She took over a month to get here, but she was well worth the wait.  Can't wait to embark on the new journeys with her for years to come.  Thanks Mr. Hess for supporting us, and welcoming Miss Lily Lexus into our family!

Until next time,

Presh