The one that had more damage than we anticipated when it was towed to the shop.
The one the insurance company totaled.
😥
My husband was not pleased, he loved that car.
And so began the Christmas nightmare.
First step? An insurance paid rental.
.
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They gave him a Volkswagen Atlas. I’d never heard of the model, but it was a full size SUV.
Plus side? The interior was extremely roomy with lots more space than we’re used to.
Down side? Annoying road noise from a 4 cylinder turbo that’s too small for the vehicle. The engine sounded like it was straining and you couldn’t pass a gas station because that thing had a thirst like a camel who just crossed the Sahara.
Humorous side? It had the smallest shifter I’d ever seen.
.
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I mean really, really small.
.
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It was basically a nub.
🤣
I’ll spare you the blow by blow of a week’s worth of shopping for gently used replacement cars with my husband, aka Goldilocks. He wanted another BMW X series but none of them were quite right. Wrong year, wrong color, wrong options, wrong mileage. He was never satisfied…. and after test driving an even dozen of basically the same vehicle? I’d had enough.
.
.
I found him this snazzy one…
.
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But he hated the seats. No, not the color… the shape.
It was then I pointed him in another direction.
.
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We’ve never owned an Audi…
But after test driving a few, my oh so picky husband was satisfied.
.
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Finding one that had comfortable seats, acceptable options, a smooth ride and had just been given new tires, battery and brakes, we had a winner. After fierce negotiation which resulted in a $2,000 price drop, an extra 1,250 mile warranty and of all things a $100 gift card to TJ Maxx/Marshalls…
You can’t use it, but you can laugh along with me reading it.
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Whaaaat?
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I will never look at a penguin the same way again.
.
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But…
But, they always seemed so sweet.
😳
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Proof positive it’s always the last place you look.
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I figured it would be kale and was ready to rant, but oddly enough it turns out to be watercress. Does anyone even eat that anymore?
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I’ve never understood why people use online password managers … which can be hacked…to store their passwords. My password manager can’t be hacked as it’s a little black book with entries written by hand that I keep in my desk.
Disclaimer – maps are posted for entertainment purposes only. Author of this blog does not guarantee their veracity.
😉
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Maine is a gloriously wild and scenic state. We have rugged coastlines, charming villages, ski worthy mountains, pastoral farmlands, peaceful lakes and thick virgin forests.
We’re more than L.L. Beans.
Trust me on this.
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What the Hell Italy?
😳
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I live for these things.
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Is there a poisonous Finnish frog of which I’m unaware?
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Maine is definitely blueberry country.
The barrens are gorgeous in the fall.
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So nobody has to be present to get married in Montana?
Or at least I did, until yesterday’s rain melted it all.
😫
I do not love the fact that the New York Times locked me out of the mini crossword and the tiles game I’d been playing for free until I updated my mobile app.
.
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Boo to that.
On a happier note, there was a new bird sighting at Casa River.
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Not a great picture, but he flew off too quickly for more than one.
Evening Grosbeak.
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This sounds like my perfect retirement plan.
.
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Sign me up!
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Oh, hell no.
I’ve never fired a gun, but that abomination might make me reach for one.
.
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This.
This is why I never begrudge our grey squirrels a meal.
💕
And finally, just in time for Christmas… an epic gingerbread house fail from my pickle algorithm.
Because there’s at least one of you who looks forward to these.
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This is the story of my life.
For 23 years we’ve lived in the country and loved it…. but we never had high speed internet. No streaming, lots of buffering, too many dropped connections. But this year? A miracle.
Fidium was hooked up and I can finally watch what everyone else does on something other than a 5 inch cell phone screen.
Yay!
So naturally now that I can stream? Maine is going to tax it.
The rat bastards.
Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Paramount Plus, HBO Max and Netflix. So my answer is 5… though the Amazon is free with my Prime shipping membership and the HBO comes with our Direct TV subscription.
River's world..... 