it always happens like this

Looks like a beautiful day for the beach eh?  That's what I thought too.  In fact, I started preparing for my beautiful Saturday off as early as Friday evening when I unwrapped the roadster and got it all cleaned up.

You can imagine my displeasure sitting in the beach parking lot where the view out my passenger side was the one above, and the view out of my drivers side was this:

In that Florida style, the rolling thunderheads were nowhere to be seen on my entire drive to the beach. As soon as I parked, however, they blocked out the sun and brought that cold wind that often heralds the impending storm.

After some consideration I decided there would be other days for the beach and I gave up on my grand plan.  I instead spent the day cleaning.  The good news is that I have clothes to wear to work now!  The  bad news is I didn't get the golden tan I was hoping for.  When I travel to other places how will people know I live in South Florida?!

I guess it only takes a brief conversation to figure out somebody is an insane Floridian.  And sometimes, it doesn't even take conversation, as this man learned recently.  Since I'm not tan I'll have to use that as my topic of conversation with strangers I may meet in the coming days.

It's either that or talk about the weather.

this is fun

Last weekend they were supposed to be fixing the dings and scratches on my car but thanks to torrential rains they weren't able to.  I picked up my car on monday with a we owe for the things they couldn't do.

Which brings us to today, when they will be doing those things, and I will be driving this loaner.  It reminds me of this last summer.  Except in a lot of ways the 3 series was an upgrade from the roadster while this benz is a definite downgrade from mine.  I'm actually enjoying it because it's making me love my car even more.

The weirdest thing is that the interior is almost exactly the same as mine except smaller.  I feel like the roof is so close to my head, it makes me uncomfortable.  I like the color though!  It makes me feel like this:




Except for the fact that I am definitely not rolling in an SLS.  It's still cool though, and I will say the handling is better than on my glk.  But I love how comfortable my suv is, and when I want handling I can always take out the roadster.  If I ever get it back from Elliot, though to be honest I've been enjoying that he's been joyriding in it.  It's how that car was meant to be enjoyed, not commuting to the mall.  That's what ostentatious suvs are for!

Yes Andrew, I know, I'm that guy.  Shut up.

so much for my vintage roadster

Well Andrew, you're off the hook, now there are two people that have done worse damage to my car than you.

So there I was, cruising down the scenic winding road, just about to turn off to be home safe and sound. The breeze was blowing, "I Want You" was playing on my ipod, life was good.

Suddenly I noticed that the traffic coming in the opposite direction was stopped and I seemed to be seeing brake lights up ahead of me.  I can't really see a lot as the car in front of me is some large obnoxious SUV, but they are certainly not slowing down or stopping, though they did seem to weave just a bit for a moment.  I didn't have long to wonder why as out from underneath their car emerged the largest snapping turtle I have ever seen in my life.  I swear it looked me right in the eye as it reared it's ugly head, daring me to hit him.

I was too afraid.  I slammed on my breaks coming to a stop just inches away from him, not unlike in some BMW commercial or something.  Of course in the BMW commercial the shiny black convertible doesn't get rear ended...twice...

The car immediately behind me slammed on their breaks and swerved to the right, hitting the back right corner of my car before jumping the curb.  The car behind them swerved to the left, missing the Jetta, but clipping the back left corner of my car.

You also might not have noticed that he managed to snag the back tire, pulling it out of alignment.  Here's a better picture:

Of course, initially we are all walking around our cars making sure everyone is ok and trying to avoid the snapping turtle who is STILL THERE SNARLING AND SNAPPING AT US.  I mean come on, I just saved your life at the cost of my car having all original parts, the least you can do is chill out.  He did eventually crawl to safety and we were all left to deal with the repercussions.  Both of the other drivers were able to drive away while I had to watch my car get loaded on to the back of a flatbed.  I did feel bad though when the girl who owned the Jetta said, "it's my birthday".

I would say the worst part was actually when the flatbed truck passed me later in traffic and I saw my car yet again, completely perfect and beautiful in the front, and totally mangled in the back.

I'm crying.