I got a new car!!! -Psych!

The silence has been broken. I have finally decided to post again. It isn’t that I haven’t had anything exciting happen lately. It’s quite the opposite actually. I’ve been extremely busy with a lot of very cool things. But what has finally made me post again is something that has me so angry and frustrated that I really don’t know what else to do.

After 8 long years of sticking true to the marvel of modern engineering that is my car, I’ve decided to see other cars. I even found one I like too. This new car in my life is shiny, and exciting, and not a 12 year old beater car. After days of going back and fourth, I finally decided to do what any self-respecting American would do, frivolously throw my savings towards something that I in no way need (granted I do need a new car, but I don’t need a car with all ridiculously awesome stuff this car has). I went to the dealer after work today with the assumption that I would ride home in style. I was wrong.

The experience started off with talk of numbers and minimal paperwork. I gave my payment method some thought and finally decided on putting 60% down and paying the remaining 40% over the next 36 months. For some strange reason, I figured that I would be in good shape for a loan seeing as I was putting down a huge down payment, and have excellent credit. So the paperwork was sent off and I sat and waited. Twenty minutes pass and the loan officer walks up and starts talking to me about how I am not an attractive offer to the credit bureaus, and that the bureaus had rejected me. However, they will offer me a loan with a relatively high interest rate through the dealership. Obviously I was a bit taken back at the thought.



Let me get this straight: credit bureaus don’t want to assume the risk of loaning me money. I know people that are over 60k in debt, make late payments, etc that were offered a loan. But apparently the guy that has worked for the past 11 years to avoid going into debt and paying off college, who makes payments on time, who is obviously completely awesome, is too risky for the banks to loan to. How the freak does this make sense? No wonder the banking/loan/mortgage business is in the effing crapper. They would rather throw money at idiots who can’t handle their money than take a low-risk opportunity.

Now instead of wanting a freaking sweet car, I want to spit in that loan officer’s coffee.


gg guys, gg.

EDIT: Someone who wears big-boy pants over at the dealership called and apologized at the ridiculous interest rate they offered me. They are now offering 5%. New car here I come!

The Snuggie

Sweatshirts and blankets are for suckers! That’s right, I said it. Every item you can think of; sweaters, wool socks, blankets, fireplaces. They all fail in comparison to the greatest invention ever. I’m sure most of you know, and don’t need to be told. But bear with me. Someone out there on the internet right now is cold, and deep down they know that no matter of clothes will fix their dilemma. Well here is the solution: the Snuggie!

I strongly recommend going to their website and watching the video. The product is explained in such better detail there. There really is nothing quite like taking something as simple as being warm and comfortable, and turning it into a freak show like this.

So I ask you, why would you wear a sweatshirt when you can have fun alienating your friends by wearing a snuggie in your choice of three fantastic colors?

Have a Safe Drive Home

Last weekend I took a trip up to Lutsen, MN for three days of snowboarding with some friends. Every time I go boarding I have a new story to tell, and this time is no different. There are actually a few stories to share, but I figure I’ll first post about the story relating to my Multiple Choice question.


On the third day of our trip, my friends Mike, Joe, Jamie, and I decided to forgo boarding and drive home early on the already-plowed roads. It was a sunny day out, but frigid (single digit temps with an estimated -30 degree wind chill). We left our hotel and began our ill-fated journey towards Minneapolis. About 30 minutes into our trip, the Mike pulled over to the side of the road to clear some ice from his windshield. Our car pulled up behind the first. Both cars put hazard lights on and were well off the side of the road, to avoid traffic. The cold temperature was causing steam to rise off Lake Superior, creating water spouts. We decided to take the opportunity and snap some pictures. Mike, Joe, and I walked down the road maybe 100 yards to get a better view while Jamie stayed in the second car. We finished taking pictures just as a plow rounded the corner.


As the plow passed us, I watched as the driver lowered the plow and started drifting towards the shoulder and our cars. I remember saying aloud “I hope the plow doesn’t hit our cars.” Just as I finished my sentence we heard the sickening crunch as the plow collided with the cars. At first the three of us stood in disbelief at what had just happened. Joe pretty much summed up our thoughts as he outstretched his arms and uttered “What the F***”. As it began to sink in all at once we realized that Jamie had been in the second car (the now wrecked car) and we began sprinting over to the accident. Luckily she was not seriously injured. She emerged scared, but OK.

The next few hours involved dealing with the plow driver/police/etc. Mike's car wasn't too damaged and we were able to fit our gear and ourselves into his car and drive home. Looking back, I’m not sure why this accident happened. I don’t know if the plow driver was tired, not paying attention, whatever. I do know that we are extremely lucky. If the plow had been further over, Jamie may have been severely injured, and both cars would have most definitely been totaled. But in the same respect, how hard is it to miss two cars with flashing lights on an open, straight, snow-free road in broad daylight?

Multiple Choice

If you were driving a snowplow weighing 50,000lbs (22.32 Tons) and saw two vehicles on the shoulder of the road with hazard lights on, would you:

A) Lower the plow
B) Aim for the vehicles
C) Hit the vehicles
D) All of the above

If you answered “D” then chances are you are a plow operator for Lake County, MN.