Vale Greg...

So: our '98 Saturn SL2, Greg, started to die a couple of months ago and about three weeks ago the thing just died on me a Monday afternoon when I tried to leave work. Two days and half a paycheck later...(OUCH!) we came to terms with the sad facts: Greg had to be replaced.
I love Greg. Greg has leather seats, sun roof, hugging seats, new stereo system we put in a year ago, spacious trunk, forgiving steering...On the con side, Greg's acceleration SUCKS donkey, he is a boat, lately the gas mileage was not the best, and oh, did I mention that last time it cost us half a paycheck to fix him up and Ron at the dealership already knew what will go next?
So: On Monday the 27th Boxing Alcibiades and I called our Saturn dealership, told them our problem, and a couple of hours and two test drives later we were owners of Squishy.
Therefore the title. He was the downpayment for our new Saturn. You can't argue with 0% down 0% interest now, can you? :-)
So, Squishy. He is named Squishy because he is that particular Electric Lime color some would title as gooses^&*(. It is not. Trust me. Seen the original. He was the last '04 car on the lot, and our salesperson, hearing what The Hubby would use the car for, recommended that instead of a 4-door sedan, we try the new Quad Coupe. And, after test driving the 04 and the 05 models, and discussing various finance options, we chose Squishy. Squishy has sunroof, black leather seats, a small steering wheel, lots of bells and whistles (ABS, traction control, 3-way adjustable seats,MP3-player/6-disc CD changer being only some of them...), accelerates really good, and, after driving it safely in the pouring rain last night, the Husband really likes it. So I got to drive the Jeep Cherokee which has bad mileage but hauls stuff; it makes more sense that I drive it on my 13-minute commute to work than B. A. to downtown Dallas, unless he has to transport lots of people or lots of stuff.
And our salesperson told us when we went to pick up our registration and license plate that Greg was sold the next day we brought him in. Yay--I am glad he has a new home...

Merry Christmas!

To all my Gentle Readers: may your Christmas be bright and happy...keep warm and remember the joy of the world that was born this day!

We are here in the DFW Metroplex this season instead of our customary visit to my family in Hungary--if you want to see us, drop us a line and I'll bake an extra batch of cookies (twist my arm!) for your visit.

Almost there...

A few updates from the Bunnyhousehold:
1. One day left until
a. The Return of the King Extended Edition DVD comes out
b. My brother-in-law and his fiancee visits us for a week-yay! Happiness!
2. Christmas tree is UP, UP, UP...with LIGHTS this time...small, but cute.
3. Got the Christmas shopping DONE...unless I see something really NEAT and SHINY...in which case I'll either be strong and resolute and turn my head away like poor Soviet soliders when marching on Budapest's main shopping stre in the late 80s in front of the bloody capitalist Ostermann clothing store (not kidding, I was there for it...) OR
I will be poinging up and down and rush at The Thing like a mad little ferret (insert happy poinging SQEEEE! noises) and buy it FAST before The Dour Scottishwoman living inside me (just ask The Husband, he will tell you)steps in and makes me want to cry and run away and feel BAD...

Anyways, I am listening to my random playlist on the computer, browsing through various Internet music stores for hard-to-find pieces (you know, JUST in case...), being mildly under te weather, but in a GREAT mood.

Really, 'Tis The Season...

I am saying this, because last night, as The Husband and I trotted around on our spontaneous Christmas shopping again, were treated to EXCELLENT customer service TEN minutes before Home Depot closed. Yes, The Husband had another of those gift ideas that require parts from The Despot...plus 'since we go, we may as well pick up some C-clamps'...because y'know one cannot live without those...in THREE different sizes...! And yes, I was evil, and EVER so gently tethered him towards the Dremel tool attachments where he picked TWO bits that are really needed for cutting wood for various and sundry projects...But that's not why I am telling this story.
I am telling this story because after The Despot, we decided to hop over to Wallyworld (aka Wal-mart)...Well, y'see some gifties could ony be found there, so...So we ventured in, well expecting crowds, rude people and totally obnoxious and ignorant customer service (like during our previous visits).
Wow. People, go to Walmart around 0930 pm or later. I think they have shift change or something (maybe they bring in the specially bred vampire assistants for the night shift, I don't know). We had to ask for locating merchandise THREE times (well, we do not go to Walmart that often, I confess, I, for one, am a Target girl)--and all three times, the sales assistants KNEW exactly where the stuff was (and once, they knew exactly what the stuff we asked FOR was, which it something to say because it was a bit complicated, specific item...), SMILED, and TOOK us there. It was so pleasant...
I noticed it during my first shopping season here in the DFW metroplex that people are So nice compared to what I was used to back in Hungary...
Now maybe I am just a bloody elitist and I was in for a surprise...but based on my past experiences and the various horror stories one hears about Wallyworld, this was really nifty.

So: yes, 'tis definitely The Season...La-la-la...

Ah. I am putting uop the tree this weekend: my brother-in-law and his fiancee are coming to town for a week next Tuesday, so I am getting into the spirit early.

And Home Despot carries rooted real Christmas trees in containers for those of my Gentle Readers who wish to decorate with real trees but do not want to kill them in the process. Me, I do the fake tree and burn my aromalamp with the fir and pine oil in it for the scent. Maybe getting a few branches for decoration...

Oh joy!

I can't wait to see this...

Yayness!

More Christmas

Yes, I put up the Christmas door decor last week...hopefully the lights go up this week after a WAY too busy weekend havy on shopping. Hey, we actually CAN do Christmas shopping with The Husband...it was fun. Well, as long as we know exactly what to get, we do fabulously. His shopping style is...let's just say, slightly different than mine.
We have a few names left but we're about 80% done. Whee!
I created a really nice Christmas holiday aromalamp scent that is also good as a room spray. Here it is:

4 drops of Silver Pine needle essential oil
4 drops of Balsam Fir esentail oil
3 drops of Mandarin essential oil
2 drops of Grapefruit essential oil
1 drop of Cinnamon essential oil

Into a full bowl of the aromalamp or a full spritz bottle of room spray.
M-m-m.