My "I Hit a Cow" Story, Part IV: The Search Continues

[Be FOREWARNED, this one's a whiner]

Well, since October 29th, I've been online, searching each day for a replacement car, which I haven't yet found. For the kind of car I want (another Matrix, thanx!), the MSRP/Kelley Blue Book value runs around $18K, but dealership prices seem to run between $15-16K. Yes, this is a great thing, but there aren't many used ones in Vegas - most are in California, which makes my purchase effort a bit tricky. We'd been hoping to score a Matrix from the local LV auctions, priced seriously below not only MSRP, but going prices at the dealership. [BACKGROUND INFO: I bought my Matrix last year for $12.1K. It'd been listed for $14K at the time, but I was able to have the price knocked down.] The auction list came out today and there's a 2004 listed, but it has 44K miles on it = higher than I want; although not too high above average mileage for a 2004 model. Problem with a 2004 is most I come across, they were purchased in 2003, so the warranty is about to expire, even if it has low miles. Anywhoo...

The rest of the update is this:

I don't have a new car yet (yeah, I probably made that clear already, I know). I hope to buy something this coming weekend.

No news as to who's liable for the accident... I've been told this could take some time, which translates into "not until sometime next year." BUHHT, my insurance co. did finally send/mail the lien payoff amount of $9.9K, just today. And they gave me $11.8K for my car - - only $300 less than what I paid for it a year ago. Toyota sure holds it's value, although the KBB on mine, pre-accident of course, is $13K. BUHHT, after the payoff, minus my $500 deductible, that leaves me $1.2K towards the purchase of a replacement car... even though the Matrix now averages $3K more in price than it did a year ago, BUHHT somethin' is better than nothing, right?

A bit bummed, to be honest... The money I'd managed to save over the past 6 months, living with my aunt Radeane, saving for my move to California, will all be spent and then some, in order to buy a new car. [SEMI-RELATED TANGENT: Speaking of Cali, to continue the update here... No, I still have NO IDEA when I'll finally move to CA, especially now. And no, I have ZERO hopeful California job prospects right now. END OF TANGENT.] Yeah, really bummed out about all that... BUHHT at least I have the money to buy a new car, right? And we're all ohhhkay! Rather buy a new car than pay for a funeral, right?

My Grams is finally feeling much better. Of us all, she had been having the hardest time, physically. One of her shoulders is still acting up, but her energy is finally up and her swelling has subsided.

Oh, another thing re: my insurance: They will not cover the replacement costs for Brianna's aunt's damaged portable DVD player or the cost of a new baby car seat, nor my aunt's wool-cashmere blend peacoat... "only items physically installed as part of the vehicle, itself."

Also, my living situation must change: Without going into details (absolutely nothing went wrong at all between us or anything like that), I've been staying at my aunt's for 6 months now (THANK YOU, RA!), and after Thanksgiving, I need to move out. Not wanting to get tied up in a lease, considering I'm TRYING TO LEAVE LAS VEGAS, I'll be looking for a room rental situation. Not terribly thrilled - I feel like I'm living in my early 20's again -very transient- and I do not like it at all.

Winter is just about here. We still enjoy some 70s weather, but the nights are definitely cooler and the days will only lower in temperature from here on out. Typical. Problem is this: All of my winter clothes are deeply packed away in my very packed storage unit and I don't know where.

...BUHHT, we're allll OK!

[TRANSLATION: Tryin' to stay positive, although it hurts like hell.]