New Rig

 I bought a truck. I got it about a week ago. I've already taken it to the dump. It worked great.

It's a 2007 Nissan Titan. It has 160,000 miles on it but it seems to be in pretty good condition. I ended up paying about $12,000 with tax and license, which was a little more than I wanted to spend. But, I'm mostly happy.

I've named it BTM. That stands for "Black Trucks Matter".

Passwords & the Idiot Fee

The current cost of an Idiot Fee is $71.82. That is what it cost me to get back in my computer. 

I decided to add a password at start up just in case this computer ever got stolen. There is lots of information in here that I would rather not fall into the hands of evil doers or terrorists.

I came up with something completely different than any of my other passwords. I wrote it down.

A couple of weeks went by and I used the password when required. Then, after leaving the computer alone for a couple of days, I could not open the computer. I had forgotten the password and thrown away the paper I wrote it on.

Hence, the Idiot Fee. 

I shall add another password. It will M@lifluou$!    

Mother's Day and KFC

It's Mother's Day!

We went to church this morning. Upon returning, I ran back over to a local car lot to look at another truck. I did take Susan over yesterday and we drove the Durango. We also drove a nice Ford F-150 that's over my budget.

From driving the vehicles I've driven, I have nailed down my list of features I require for a truck.

It needs to be four wheel drive. Trucks are light in the back and notoriously bad in the snow. I don't want to fight a truck when it snows so, FWD. 

I want an extended cab. The larger the better but it can't be a standard cab. Too small.

I've decided I want an automatic. I drove a really nice Subaru Forrester yesterday. It was really deluxe but a five speed. I didn't have any trouble driving it but since I have the luxury of making a list, no manual transmission.

It seems I'm going to have to push my budget up to $15,000.00 That  means I'm going to have to withdraw $20,000 from my 401K account in order to cover the taxes they remove, which is four grand. I think I'll get most of that back next April.

We're leaving shortly to go see Mom and bring her dinner, Kentucky Fried Colonel.  

Time for a New Car

Due to issues with my car, I have decided it is time for something else.

I bought my 2003 GMC Envoy in December of 2019. It had 170,000 miles on it but seemed to be in pretty good shape. I soon learned the passenger side window didn't work. The sun roof was iffy so I never opened it, and the suspension was shot.

But, it got me to and from work. I later put about $600.00 into brakes.

I noticed earlier in the week that it was not starting right up like it usually did. It took a couple of tries to get it started. Yesterday, on my way to work, it began sputtering and choking when I gave it any gas.

If I just took my foot off the brake and let the natural idle of the engine take over, the car would move. But as soon as I gave it any gas, it sputtered and choked. 

I managed to limp it back home, drove Susan to work and borrowed her car for the day.

When I got home from work, I idled it over to a repair shop on Monroe. They are two weeks out for any repairs, so I got myself an appointment and will take it over in a week and a half.

This morning, Susan drove me over to Mom's so I could borrow her car. I drove around to a few used car lots and looked at what they had.

I found a nice 2003 Dodge Durango with 90,000 miles on it for $9,000.00. I'm trying to keep my budget below ten grand. They also had a nice Ford F-150 extended cab for about $14,000.00. It was pretty deluxe although it was a 2 wheel drive. Two wheel drive pick ups are not great in the snow unless you put a bunch of weight in the back.

I don't feel the pressure to buy something RIGHT NOW so I'm going to look some more. I might take Susan over to see the Durango a little later.

    

April BP