One of my neighbors is riding in style! This older-model (but well maintained) Rolls Royce was parked near the hazardous neighborhood traffic jam spot.
Some of my neighbors clearly have very fancy tastes, and I’m here for it. ✨
One of my neighbors is riding in style! This older-model (but well maintained) Rolls Royce was parked near the hazardous neighborhood traffic jam spot.
Some of my neighbors clearly have very fancy tastes, and I’m here for it. ✨
It’s Saturday, it’s muggy, and I am at a sketchy public auto auction house in an unfamiliar part of Washington D.C.
There’s a bizarre cast of characters, and (obviously) a ton of cars. An older gentleman is walking around with a cane, cursing because I couldn’t sell him my car.
What in the hell did I get myself into?
My third Samsung Galaxy bit the dust last night. The screen was already cracked from Chicago, but this morning my phone couldn’t muster anything beyond glitchy green lines.
I suspect that the combination of tight jean pockets and last night’s dancing was too much for the Galaxy to bear. It’s dead. Adieu.
Another phone is en route to my house.
I felt particularly downtrodden this morning because not only was my phone dead, but the -15 temperatures zapped my car battery.
So, I had no phone, a dead car battery… and oh, I was also locked out of my email because Google decided to text a security login code to my non-functioning phone. I felt stranded in my own home.
Good thing my friend Naomi stayed over after our night out. She eventually woke up and let me borrow her phone to call roadside assistance. The jump took all of 5 minutes, and then I was off to Valvoline for a new battery.
After getting a new battery, I was prepared to drop a month’s rent at Sprint for a new phone, but the overly tall sales guy reminded me that I have phone insurance. $100 was all that it took to get another phone shipped my way. Woop!
The phone might arrive as early as tomorrow. I’m excited to get my phone and my gmail access back. Good things ahead.
So one of my neighbors used a bungee cord to hold up his bumper for the longest time. Now the bumper is riding inside the car:
I went to Wal-Mart1 after work, so I left my backpack in the car to bring my Wal-Mart bags upstairs. I left my backpack, with my school laptop in it, was in the front passenger seat of the car.
After tossing the bags in the apartment and chucking the milk in the fridge, I got the dog for the evening walk. I left my backpack in my car because the car was going to be within eyesight during the walk.2
Harley and I were about a block away when two teenage girls passed us. The girls reeked of pot and shot me the stank eye.
This past week was hilarious for all the wrong reasons.
The week started with me randomly getting a car. I have never bought a car by myself before, so I didn’t know how long the financing process would take. I thought it would take a few weeks. It took about 10 minutes.
The gist:
Me: “Hi. I’m a law student who just got a job in the suburbs. Busing won’t cut it anymore, and I haven’t learned how to fly…”
Banker: “Got any cars in mind?”
Me: “Yep! I am eying a car at BigChain car dealership. It’s an Altima.”
Banker: “Do you have a number for the dealership?”
Me: “Yep. I filled out a form and Rick Salesman sent me an email, the number is 612-000-0000.”
Banker: “Please hold.”
Banker: “Okay. I’ve cleared everything with the car dealership. You’re approved for the loan. Just login to your online account and check “yes.” There is an e-check you can print out to get your car tonight.”
Me: “Wait, what? Tonight? Really?”
Banker: “Yep. Let me know if you have any problems.”
Click. I didn’t even have time to call mom before the car dealership called:
Salesman: “Hey, this is Rick Salesman from BigChain. We’ve emailed. I just talked to your bank.”
Me: “Uh…yeah…hi. Sorry about that. I didn’t think they were going to call you immediately…or even approve the loan that quickly.”
Salesman: “Yep. BigBank works quick.”
Me: “They sure do.”
Salesman: “So when are you coming to test drive?”
Me: “Well the problem is that I don’t have a car. So I have to find a ride…maybe tomorrow...”
Salesman: “Oh don’t worry about that. I’ll pick you up. You can test drive it back to the dealership. I’ll be there in 25 minutes.”
Yikes! I guess there isn’t a recession going on! Or, maybe so few people are buying that they are eager to sell to any non-sketchy person they can find. Hm. I really wanted the car, but I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly…
So I enjoyed the wonders of winter-car-ownership this week. Miami didn’t prepare me for any of this:
The city of Minneapolis and I had a fight yesterday, to the amusement of my entire neighborhood…
The city plowed my street while I was at Big Box. I returned to find my driveway blocked by a wall of snow. I underestimated the amount of snow because when I tried to drive over the wall I got stuck!
After a few minutes of colorful language and a odd-burning smell, I decided I had to shovel. So I climbed over the mound of snow and fetched a shovel from the house.
I spent the next 15 minutes extricating my car: shoveling some, trying to reverse, getting back out to shovel some more, trying again…ugh.
I finally got the car back onto the street like “Oh Sweet Glory!” But I didn’t want to get stuck again, so I left my car in the street to frantically clear my driveway.
As people pulled up behind my car I signaled them to pass while mouthing the word “SORRY!” When my neighbors saw what was going on, and a few pointed and laughed. I’m here to entertain. Welcome to the Jansen show.
Minneapolis had a snowstorm today! According to the news, may get as much 10 inches. Oy Vey!
We were already at school when the snow started. I interviewed my housemate throughout the day:
The snow made her want to cry apparently.
You can follow the latest Minneapolis snow storm tweets at #snowpocalypse and #snowmageddon.
One sees the strangest thing while walking to the library…
This is my last summer with a car, so I’m enjoying myself for $4.15 a gallon.
