Welcome back! My vacation was all about finding a used car. I put myself under so much stress; I may have learned another one of life's lessons and that is - take it easy. As I'm writing this I'm listening to the Motley Crue Live CD, oh my, is this great stuff! Here's a list of cars I test drove and my thoughts on that car:

'99 Saturn (4 door)
I didn't like it. It felt like an econo box. For the price they were asking it should have been a little more solid.

'99 Ford Contour
Nope. There was just something odd about it. It had a v6 but came off like an old man's car.

'99 Dodge Neon
uk. The automatic transmission is only a 3 speed! You get up to highway speed and you're waiting for it to kick in but it can't because again, only 3 gears.

'99 Honda Civic
was close to getting this car but with 5 years of payments staring me in the face and knowing it's going to get damaged on the Hoboken streets, I couldn't do it.

'01 Kia Rio
I really liked this car. It was cute and it drove well. I probably would have bought it because it was brand new. But again, a new car in these parts isn't such a good idea.

All of these cars had something mine doesn't - air conditioning. Oh how I miss the sweet, sweet feel of conditioned air. Now, I'm on the hunt for something mechanically reliable and cosmetically challenged. I stopped worrying about cars long enough to enjoy 4th of July. I hung out with my nephews all day. I love them but damn if they don't make me tired. My brother George bought fireworks. I didn't feel like lighting them. I thought I out grew it. Then I lit a pack of firecrackers. I ended up lighting all of my brother's stuff. It was great! Our yard was solid smoke. OK, that's enough for the first day back.

Have a great day and take it easy.