Guess What?

I bought a car. :-D Did I mention I was looking for one? I have been thinking for a while that I wanted a British car, for several convenience and safety reasons. Any drive-up service is on the right side, and when you want to pass a tractor or lorry (semi truck) on a two-lane road, you have to wait until the road curves enough to see around it because you're on the wrong side of the car to look around it (otherwise you risk pulling out into oncoming traffic). Plus, living as far from base as I do, if something ever happened to the Cabrio, it would be a pain to get rides back and forth. So... what kind of car to get? After plenty of online research and reading reviews, I had almost decided on a nice MG convertible. But then, yesterday morning, I drove by the base resale lot and experienced love at first sight. Are you ready for this? (you have probably already cheated and looked at the picture...) So here is my new baby:

Is that not the cutest thing you have ever seen in your life?!?!? It's a restored 1979 Austin Mini 1000, and it is beautiful and shiny and MINE. I called the seller immediately and set up a time to meet them, see the inside, and take a test ride last night. (Small technicality = I can't drive stick yet, but I have been meaning to learn and MSgt B agreed to teach me next week.) Then of course, as with all car issues, I emailed my dad (would have called him, but it was 3am ET). I had to go back to base in the afternoon for commander's call, and as I was excitedly telling MSgt B (who I'm going to refer to as Greg from now on, because it's easier to type) about my date with the yellow Mini, he asked if I knew what to check it for. I said that I had emailed my dad but hadn't gotten a response yet. He then offered to go over to the resale lot with me to check it out while it was still daylight. I felt a little guilty about him taking the time to do that, but he insisted so we went over and he looked it over, pointing out some rust spots underneath and telling me about a few things to look for when the engine was running.

I finally got to talk to my dad later that afternoon, and filled him in on talking to the seller and Greg's assessment of the car. Daddy liked the idea of the Mini, which did not surprise me, since he and my mom had one when they lived here. Plus, it is very comparable to how a VW Beetle is valued in the US, sort of like an icon or collector's item. So I met the sellers last night, got a ride in it, checked all the things I was supposed to check, asked a lot of questions... and I was still in love with it, so I bought it. Well, technically, we are not exchanging the money and keys until Monday, but it is as good as mine. I'm so excited. How much more British can you get than a Mini?

Okay, on to other news: Jose is not deploying to Turkey. Neither am I. There is a Maj somewhere in USAFE who is going instead. So that is very good news for Jose and his family. This week was definitely a lesson for me in how fast and how many times things can change in this business, though. I'm done with my training (yay for no more mid shifts), and my checkride is on Mon and Tues. On Monday, I get to do something else cool: A bunch of our jets are deploying to Turkey, and Greg and I are coming in at 3am to do several mass briefings for them. That should be interesting, as I have not done anything like that yet.

As you may remember, this is weekend #2 of my self-imposed ban on traveling in an attempt to unpack my house. Weekend #1 turned into a hang-out-with-the-weather-flight weekend, which I enjoyed, but it means I have more to do this weekend. Today I made significant progress in the kitchen. It is not done, but getting close. Next week, I really need to get over to Feltwell to request my loaner furniture, because it will be hard to unpack upstairs without a couple wardrobes (you may remember I only have one miniscule closet, in the guest room). I also need to go bed shopping, and put together my twin bed's loft and my computer desk. And buy a TV, get a phone line, get TV and internet service... yeah, that's not all getting done this weekend.

So I am off to do laundry now, what an exciting Saturday night. :) I will just daydream about my Mini...