Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Not Double Nickels On The Dime (or, "I didn't drive 55")
Hey everyone! By this time tomorrow, the site will have had 1000 visits! Pretty cool! I never thought so many people would read (or pretend to read) my blog! Thanks to everyone who visits, and I hope I can look forward to another 1000 visits!
Yesterday I had a good day. I am trying to spend my time as structured as possible, yet have as much fun as I can squeeze into this week. Pharmacy School begins for me next Monday with a week of Orientation. The days last from 8 AM to 5 PM, which is going to be taxing on someone who has spent all summer reading manga and golfing. So this week is all about fun.
In the midst of my fun yesterday, I found myself driving the 93 Saturn I call "my car" at speeds over 80 miles per hour. I was driving on I-80, and when I looked down I was shocked to see how fast I was going. First of all, it was way over the speed limit. Second, cars were still passing me. Third, I didn't think the old Saturn could go so fast!
I immediately slowed down, but I was proud of my car. It is falling apart, and I have had nothing but nervous thoughts about it lately. I bought this car a few years ago, before I even considered pursuing pharmacy. As I began to look into Pharmacy School, I said to myself "this car will have to last through my schooling." Then my plans were delayed two consecutive years. The first time they were delayed because I didn't realize I couldn't finish up my pre-req's as fast as I had imagined (sort of hard to take chemistry and organic chemistry in one year). The second time was because I was not accepted.
Now the car is 11 years old and has 103,000 miles on it. I worry about it. It was never built to be a durable car. It is an economy car, which means Saturn cut a lot of corners. The engine is not made to be a work horse... all four cylinders are becoming tired. The transmission is starting to protest when it needs to shift. It loses oil, and overheats easy. The interior is falling apart, literally. Even my seat is retiring... if I dare press back with any weight against it at all, it collapses (if I get into a wreck I am in trouble). My tires don't keep air very well, the speakers rattle if a hint of bass is broadcast through them, and let's just say that the exterior has seen better days (it took a beating one year when we had a bad hail storm, followed my an icy winter).
But the car runs. It is good to know that it always starts, even on the coldest day. The air conditioner and heater work better than any of the three cars I have owned. I hope I can squeeze 4 years out of this car without putting too much money into it. It has sort of become my friend... as much as an inanimate object can. I'll miss it when I get rid of it.
It's been there for me in so many good and bad times. It has hauled me to visit friends, sporting events, concerts, and movies. It has been to Denver. It served as a makeshift phone booth, mobile restaurant, a bed on a few nasty occasions, and as a changing room on others. It has hauled my mountain bike to trails, and my golf clubs to courses. It's been hit by other cars, grocery carts, a ladder, bottle rockets, hail, tree limbs, and other assorted debris. I have listened to countless CDs at full blast in my car, often singing along. I have even listened to Japanese language teaching CDs in it.
It was with me when I took courses at Iowa Western, Creighton, Iowa Western again, and now Creighton again. I knew my car before I knew any of my friends at work and school. Old friends I haven't seen in years sat in my car at one time.
So there you have it. My attachment to my car. The car that shocked me when it drove over 80 miles an hour. The thing that I pour money into in the form of gas, oil, licensing, taxes, and insurance. The thing I hate to use, and wish I could find a way around owning. But it is my car, and it is a good car. So please, don't laugh at it if you see me driving it!
See ya!
Yesterday I had a good day. I am trying to spend my time as structured as possible, yet have as much fun as I can squeeze into this week. Pharmacy School begins for me next Monday with a week of Orientation. The days last from 8 AM to 5 PM, which is going to be taxing on someone who has spent all summer reading manga and golfing. So this week is all about fun.
In the midst of my fun yesterday, I found myself driving the 93 Saturn I call "my car" at speeds over 80 miles per hour. I was driving on I-80, and when I looked down I was shocked to see how fast I was going. First of all, it was way over the speed limit. Second, cars were still passing me. Third, I didn't think the old Saturn could go so fast!
I immediately slowed down, but I was proud of my car. It is falling apart, and I have had nothing but nervous thoughts about it lately. I bought this car a few years ago, before I even considered pursuing pharmacy. As I began to look into Pharmacy School, I said to myself "this car will have to last through my schooling." Then my plans were delayed two consecutive years. The first time they were delayed because I didn't realize I couldn't finish up my pre-req's as fast as I had imagined (sort of hard to take chemistry and organic chemistry in one year). The second time was because I was not accepted.
Now the car is 11 years old and has 103,000 miles on it. I worry about it. It was never built to be a durable car. It is an economy car, which means Saturn cut a lot of corners. The engine is not made to be a work horse... all four cylinders are becoming tired. The transmission is starting to protest when it needs to shift. It loses oil, and overheats easy. The interior is falling apart, literally. Even my seat is retiring... if I dare press back with any weight against it at all, it collapses (if I get into a wreck I am in trouble). My tires don't keep air very well, the speakers rattle if a hint of bass is broadcast through them, and let's just say that the exterior has seen better days (it took a beating one year when we had a bad hail storm, followed my an icy winter).
But the car runs. It is good to know that it always starts, even on the coldest day. The air conditioner and heater work better than any of the three cars I have owned. I hope I can squeeze 4 years out of this car without putting too much money into it. It has sort of become my friend... as much as an inanimate object can. I'll miss it when I get rid of it.
It's been there for me in so many good and bad times. It has hauled me to visit friends, sporting events, concerts, and movies. It has been to Denver. It served as a makeshift phone booth, mobile restaurant, a bed on a few nasty occasions, and as a changing room on others. It has hauled my mountain bike to trails, and my golf clubs to courses. It's been hit by other cars, grocery carts, a ladder, bottle rockets, hail, tree limbs, and other assorted debris. I have listened to countless CDs at full blast in my car, often singing along. I have even listened to Japanese language teaching CDs in it.
It was with me when I took courses at Iowa Western, Creighton, Iowa Western again, and now Creighton again. I knew my car before I knew any of my friends at work and school. Old friends I haven't seen in years sat in my car at one time.
So there you have it. My attachment to my car. The car that shocked me when it drove over 80 miles an hour. The thing that I pour money into in the form of gas, oil, licensing, taxes, and insurance. The thing I hate to use, and wish I could find a way around owning. But it is my car, and it is a good car. So please, don't laugh at it if you see me driving it!
See ya!
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