The Curb Killer

 

 

It's time to face the facts. I married a curb killer. My husband, love him to death but he just can't seem to stay away from the curbs. Don't let me get too ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning...

When we first met he use to drive a Challenger. That is no small car. It's long, it's low to the ground and it's a heavy car with bigger wheels. I personally was never a fan of that car, it was so low to the ground, you felt like you had to crawl out of it. The doors were so heavy they would always swing back and try to close on me just as my legs were swinging out and it was a major gas guzzler. It felt like you had to put gas in it twice a week just to get to and from. 

When and if he hit the curb, I'd kind of give him a pass. I figured the car was so long to the ground and front end of the car so long, he probably couldn't see the curb to even know he was hitting it. Then last summer we traded in his Challenger for a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The SUV is higher off the ground so you can see the curbs and street pretty well. That's when I realized it, I married a curb killer. My husband can drive down the road all day long but if it's time to turn the corner, he just nails those curbs. He won't full on go up on the curb but he'll give them a little "love tap" or a "nudge". When there's room and he can pull into a parallel parking space, you just know he's going to hit the curb. I've even started referring to him as the curb killer. Thankfully he hasn't popped a tire or killed one of the rims.

Now when we drive together (which is 99.9% of the time because I hate driving), I point it out before he goes to turn. I'll make a joke of it and yell out CURB KILLER and he'll make a point to not take the turn too close to the concrete. It's actually helping some. No matter what, I'll always love my curb killer and pay the AAA bill on time....

Riding In Style

Elvis was famously known for his on stage performances and his lavish lifestyle. He worked hard so he could play hard. He would splurge on fancy clothing, shiny jewelry and sweet rides. What comes with a lavish lifestyle? Automobiles! Let's look at some of Elvis' most famous cars and get a glimpse into those sweet rides.

In 1955, Elvis bought a Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60. The car was originally blue but he had a neighbor paint it pink with a white top. He gifted this car to his mother and it is widely known and probably his most famous vehicle. He was very quick to point out that this was his mother's car.

The most surprising car in Elvis' collection was a three wheeled car called the Messerschmitt. The car was German built and had a bubble. He kept this car for a few years and later traded it to the famous Lansky brothers for a shopping spree in their clothing store. He was allowed to shop in the store alone for a few hours and take whatever he liked.

The 1969 Mercedes Benz Pullman is one of the few cars that Elvis bought and kept. This car can currently be seen on display at Graceland. Elvis rode around this car and could fit multiple people inside it with him.

 

In 1961, Elvis celebrated a 5 year contract in the motion picture business by going out and buying a Rolls Royce. He was in Beverly Hills and had the car shipped back to Graceland. The glossy paint distracted his chickens on the Graceland grounds and the chickens pecked at the paint. Elvis had to have the car repainted several times.

 

The last car that Elvis was photographed in was his 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III. He had owned three different Stutz vehicles before owning this one. One was in a wreck and then just placed into storage. This 1973 car was one that Elvis kept for years and loved. It is also the last car that he was ever seen driving before his death in 1977.

In addition to cars Elvis bought motorcycles, ski mobiles, golf carts and bikes. He loved to ride around the grounds of Graceland in style. He also owned two airplanes: the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog. The Lisa Marie was a cross country plane that could hold a large group of people. This plane became a great investment to Elvis when he started touring across the country in concerts.

 

The Hound Dog is smaller but very colorful on the inside.

 

That's just a sampling of Elvis' car collection but you can get an idea of how much he loved his toys!

The Good, Bad & Ugly

 

The Good...

Incase you missed the awesome news on Instagram (follow me: jmomiller), I got an early Birthday gift from my mother...

 

I got the Schwinn Catalina Cruiser! This my exact bicycle and I love it! I've already rode it twice. I'm going to get a wicker basket to put on it and it'll be complete. It's perfect for the California weather. Plus it goes with my emergency plan that if anything ever happens, I can always ride my bike back across America! lol

 

The Bad...

Beezy and I were out grocery shopping last weekend. He took me to a WinCo. I had never been in one before. We were tired because we had already made two other stops and one of them being Costco. I don't know what it is about that place but that place drains me. By the time we got to WinCo I was pooped. In the blazing, hot sun and the heat waves coming off the asphalt of the parking lot, we were at least 500 feet way from his car and I hear him say,
"What is that on my car?" So I'm like OH NO someone has hit his car and my tired eyes just can't see it. We start getting closer to the car and I'm looking for a dented door, a ripped off bumper etc. I'm seeing nothing wrong.

 

That's when he goes up to the front of the drivers wheel area and leans over the car to inspect it. To me it just looks normal. The regular paint, air in the tire etc. So I ask him, "What is it? What's wrong?" And he goes...

 

"Don't you see this scratch?!"

 

Folks this was the scratch...

See it? Right there in the middle of the photo.

 

So I go over to where he's standing and he points out that tiny little scratch. I mean it could have happened by a tiny rock hitting it, a car wash... who knows! So let's get some perspective on this scratch shall we?

Oh can't see it? Yeah I couldn't either. I swear when it comes to his car he can tell if someone just looks at it. If I didn't know him any better I'd bet that he sits at home and rubs it with a diaper but I know he doesn't. Word from the wise... don't mess with a man and his car.

 



The Ugly...

It's summer and Sacramento is already experiencing triple degree temperatures. The other day when it was 107 outside, my air conditioning unit was on for a solid three hours. I had it set at 80. I mean come on! It's too early in the summer to be experiencing that high of a temperature.

 

Not to mention the fact that we are coming out of a drought so my poor grass is dying. Here's to no fires on starting on my lawn and no forest fires coming down from the valley.

Paid In Full

August was my last car payment.

(The day I bought my car)

 



I paid my car off 15 months early. It wasn't always easy but I did it. It's not like that was the only bill I had due each month. I've got a mortgage, credit card bills, utilities, etc. So a lot of people want to know, How did I pay it off early?

Small extra payments.

When I first got my car, I would pay as much as I could afford to spare. I would send in 50.00-100.00 extra each month towards the principle. In the beginning of a car loan the interest is at it's highest. There was some months that I could only afford to send 20.00 extra dollars a month but at least that was something. As time went on, the interest started to get lower because of the economic times, etc and the fact that I was paying down the principle. I would call the bank that carried my loan about every 6 months and ask for what the final payout amount would be. That would give me an idea of how much I still owed.

This past year I really started to see the progress and knew exactly how much I needed to send in as extra to pay it off before the end of the year. I wanted to try to pay it off earlier so I did the math and kept sending in an extra payment every pay day. That's how I was able to pay it off so early. If you have a car payment and you're trying to get it paid off before the pay off cards don't get discouraged. Even if you send in 5.00-10.00 dollars extra a month at least that's something. It helps in the end and it does save you money. Plus it gets you to that goal of being debt free from a car loan and frees up your money monthly that was going to your payment. So my advice is DO NOT get discouraged. I use to feel like I'd never get it paid off but I kept sending the money in.

Be warned.... my loan agency did it and I'm sure yours will too... once they realize that you keep sending in extra towards the principle and that you're going to  have your car paid off early, they will start to send you letters in the mail offering you to skip a months payment. They love to do this around the holidays and the start of summer. Don't go for it! They want to be able to charge you an entire extra month of interest. Keep making the payments and extra. Trust me!

Weekend Review

This weekend was a relaxing one. It was also a HOT one. The weather in Sacramento has been heating up and this weekend was proof of that.

I of course treated myself to some In-N-Out. Yum! I never get tired of that place.

I went to Bev-Mo this weekend and guess what I found? Um... bacon soda/pop! I am a huge fan of bacon so this was a definite win for me. They had other flavors like Peanut butter and Jelly, sweet corn and turkey. I went with the bacon but maybe next time I go back I'll try out some of the other ones. A lot of people want to know how it was... it was actually pretty tasty. It left an after taste though which wasn't great. It was kinda like a cream soda but bacon. I'd buy it again but it's like $1.79 a bottle. 

I got my car back from the repair shop! They had it for eight days and and got it looking brand new again. I'm so glad to have my car back. I really liked the rental I had and miss all the high end gadgets it had, however I do not miss the gas guzzling it did. I was really surprised that the Fusion ate so much gas. It made me appreciate the awesome gas mileage that my Kia Spectra gets. 

It's as good as new! They even detailed the inside of my car and gave it that new car smell. They were suppose to tint my windows (I had been wanting to have it done since the California sun can be brutal) but they didn't have enough time so I have to tae it back in another day. When they detailed the inside of my car... I guess they forgot to put my protective mats back on top of my nice mats cause they weren't in my car! Oh well! I have my car back and it's good!

I also got to Skype with my mom! I'm so excited because she'll be here in a month! We are trying to get all of our plans lined up for while she's here! It's going to be a great time! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. 

Weekend Review

Last weekend while I was out shopping some blowhole hit my car. It was parked and they sideswiped it. Didn't even leave a sorry note! I mean really?!? Who does that? How rude! I have insurance of course but the damage was over $2,500.00. It was really noticeable too because my car is black and clearly their car was white...

Now I'm cruising around town in this sweet rental for the next week while my car gets repaired. It's a pretty sweet ride. It's the brand new Ford Focus and it's fully loaded. They gave it to me with only 750 miles on it, leather seats, xm radio, the works. I kinda don't want to give it up because it's that nice. It makes me really want a new car even though I'm just getting done paying mine off. 

 And of course, I had to jam out in this sweet ride...

I also tried out another Sacramento food place, Buckhorn Grill. 

I would definitely go back for seconds. The food was pretty good and the wait time wasn't that long. I had also got invited to a BBQ Bash/Pool Party. It was a lot of fun and I'm really thankful for the group of friends that I've made in Sacramento. 

Now I just have to make it through another week of hard work. Then hopefully, another weekend of fun times! Have a great Monday!

Social Sunday

1. What was your first car?

It was an early 1990's black Pontiac Grand Am 2 door.

2. Who was your favorite childhood teacher?

2nd grade, Miss Arrowood. She was always so fun!

3. Were you involved in any sports/extracurricular activities?

high school

I was a majorette. It all started in the 5th grade! I competitively twirled in middle school and then I was a majorette in high school and in college as well. 

college

4. What was your favorite birthday party?

I had a bowling party when I was young and I remember a lot of it!

5. Who was your teen celebrity crush?

Keanu Reeves and he still is!!! Love him!

6. What show/movie did your parents not allow you to watch?

You have to remember, The Simpsons was new when I was a kid. Parents were upset with how Bart talked to his parents. How Homer drank around his kids, etc. To this day I think I've only seen one episode ever. Probably because I never watched it as a kid! lol