Just need to talk to my friends (192)

Hi,

Well, I spent three hours at the car dealership. Looked at several and we test drove three, I think.

I also had them check the antifreeze, batteries, etc. on the PU. Of course, they found things. There was a huge rat's nest in the box which prevented air from going wherever it's supposed to. Have to get two new batteries. I can't remember when I last got them but they are $340 each and I have to have two. They were still working on things when I was ready to go so asked the manager if I could just drive the car home and come back im the morning to get the PU. So, I did.

I think I may have found the car I want to buy - that is if the mechanic in the morning says everything's okay. It only has 10,000 miles on it and is still under full factory warranty. It's a local, one owner but he says the privacy act prevents him from telling me their name. Drives really quietly and has get up and go. No play in the steering wheel so will have to get used to that. It's a four door sedan - just about the last of the breed.

You should have seen Sheena and Stormy when I drove up - they couldn't figure out who in the world it was. I checked and Stormy got right in - Sheena got her feet up on the seat but that was it. Even tried putting a piece of board om a concrete block so she could walk up it - no way was she going to do that. Maybe Mike has an idea.

It's more than I wanted to pay but it's money not being used so guess I should enjoy it. Forgot to ask if he would accept a personal check. The couple in town bought it a year ago May - traded in a PU. Kept it just a few months, traded it back in for a new PU. All the cars are so small - google a picture of 2022 Dodge Charger - really pretty. This one is dark blue - just like the PU.

Hate to have to pay that excise tax. If I financed it they could add it to the amount I borrowed but would still have to pay it. I had heard years ago that if you were 100% SC permanent and total you didn't have to pay excise tax but guess that's changed - might have only been for the veteran but I do think it applied to wife or husband for one time. I do get a discount on the tag.

Does really well on the gravel/dirt road - about the same distance off the ground as the Mercury was. Hope it checks out okay in the morning. Hate to go back into town but needed to get home before dark.

The salesman, Todd in fact, said all of the techy stuff didn't have to be used. I do need to find out about the AC and heat. It has a push button start which I'm not wild about but all of them did. If I can get him down $3,000 and it checks out I may buy it. He may not go down but doesn't hurt to try. Wish mother was here - she was soooo good at getting them to go down in price.

Look at the car and see what you all think. When I left home I went another way so I wouldn't have to go by the pasture where Samson was. It's the road directly east of us and Mike says it's really, really bad. Came home the highway except for the last three miles.

I'm tired - hate doing this sort of thing.Almost backed out on going this morning but, thanks, Marie, for the little push. The weather is going to get bad tomorrow evening. I wore my mask all the time but no one else did. I have worried about being in a car with someone not masked but maybe it'll be okay. Back later.

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Hi again, Thanks Jerilynn for the recipe for thre haystacks. I thought that was how they were made. I've never made them but remember them from a long time ago.

I get too attached - maybe -to all of our animals. We've raised all of "ours" from the time they were born - now I'm getting attached to the heifers and their babies. So, it does hurt that we've lost Samson. He was a big boy, quiet, easygoing - such a shame to lose him when he was in his prime. On Dr. Pol's show they had a calf with a broken leg and put a cast on and he got well. Would never work with Samson, Mike said, because he's too big. This evening when I got home I saw the cows over where he was again. I went out a while ago and heard a wolf - not a coyote - he was a lone wolf and he was moving. Probably the one me and others have seen - kind of eerie. I hear lots of coyotes and occasionally this wolf.

Sheena and Stormy have been sound asleep for at least four hours. I bet they didn't sleep a wink while I was gone.

Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice - first day of winter and it's going to be at least 60. Our weatherman said the first day of spring this year was 60 or 62. Wouldn't it be nice if the winter wouldn't be so cold. Feel so bad for the people in the NE with all the rain and flooding - now the same thing is happening in California. Iris and Jo, hope you all aren't in the area that's flooding.

Beth, hope the oncology report is a good one. Please let us know.

See you all tomorrow. Sleep well.

Hi,

Ron, how nice that the people in your Church will bring good food to you and Lou. Sounds like a good Church home. Just relax and let them pamper you all. Someone once told that people like to help because at some time they may need help. I try to remember that but so hate to ask for help. Darwin or his daughters usually bring me a plate and some nice desserts.

Jerilynn, sorry you all will have to travel in the rain. I never really liked to drive in rain - even liked to drive in fog better. Be careful - there will be lots of people on the roads. Retirement - best thing in the world. I've really enjoyed mine - that's been 29 years. I think I've worked harder since retirement - just a different kind of work.

Judith - no new car - yet. Joe and I just could not get together on the price. I don't feel like paying $34,000 for a two year old car. I did have it checked by a mechanic and he said it was in perfect condition. I just don't consider myself a muscle car driver - did that 50 years ago. It is pretty. The place I had it checked has new ownership and they were oohing and aching over how pretty it is. I did drive a 2023 Jeep Compass for about $2,000 less - 70 miles on it. It's really better for where I live, however, it is a bit higher off the ground but if Sheena won't get into the car, there you go. I'm just going to have to sit on her to trim her nails, I guess.

Kind of hard to walk away from that car but he's had it on the lot for eight months months and the brand new cost of it was only $4,000 more than he's asking now.

They're just showing Dick Van *$%& - such a good actor. I loved the Mary Tyler Show. They're showing clips of Mary Poppins. I need to try to watch that. How old is he - 93? Just heard - 98. There's going to be a two hour show about him on December 31.

Never heard that about red beans and rice and never have fixed them. Do you cook the rice and beans separately. Dried beans or canned?

I'm glad to be home - don't plan on leaving again for a while except to get Gator gas. Girls on both sides of the driveway have been looking for green grass and are laying down now. Judith, we never sold cattle for slaughter. We never sold cows, only calves to go to new homes. In fact, we sent five or six to the sale in Tulsa years ago and changed our minds - called them and luckily a trucker had just brought in a load and he brought them home. They hit the ground running when he opened the tailgate. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet when Mike sells some. I don't worry so much about calves, even bigger ones - just the cows. One friend told me, since I am a vegetarian, that we were in the wrong business. I don't think so - if we can control it. Guess those days are gone. I'm still in the cattle business - Billy the Bull is still mine.

Stopped at the Dollar Store and bought some weekly and monthly planners - a few other things and one of those long lighters. Do you know you have to give them your birth date when you buy tho

se? Joe may come down some on that car after a while. I told him it had been on his lot eight months and he said "it'll go fast". We'll see. Won't break my heart if it does. I asked Todd if he was hard to deal with and he said he was sometimes. I did read a bad review about him on their website but it's gone now. Someone else couldn't deal with him. Guess I'm not alone. Gotta go and get some lunch.

Forgot to mention after they got rid of the rat's nest that was in the box preventing air from getting wherever it wss supposed yo go, the PU ran fine. Came home on the highway at 55-60 mph, the speed limit, without cutting out. Hope that took care of it.

Hi Shirley, I asked about the Chrysler 300 and they didn't have kne. He said they sell them as soon as they come. That was a really good price you paid. I would have paid 29 or 30 thousand for the Dodge. I will check back or try their auto group in another town.

Sorry about you daughter in law. How hard that must have been for her but she was right - no more suffering. I hope that both you and Bill are doing okay. Will you all be in F!orida for Christmas probably so. Have a good one. Good to hear from you.

Do you still like your car?

Hi again, Just had a call from Joe. Sounds like he's going to "try" to come down to $32,000 out the door on the Charger. He has a brand new , white one for 35,000 with rear wheel drive. I told him he had only come down a thousand and I would have to go up $3000. I like the Jeep but seems really narrow inside. Wanted me to come in today to drive the 2023 but told him it was too muddy to go anywhere today. We'll see what shakes out. My luck would be someone comes in and buys it after eight months!