You've Got the Wrong Fish!

My Prius, which I've had since 2008, made a funny noise last week.  That's all it took to make me decide I needed a new car.  Well, that and it had 75,000 miles on it, and my kids like the idea of my keeping a newer car.

I have enjoyed my Prius very much--felt very smug getting that fantastic gas mileage.  So I headed for the local Prius dealership which shall remain nameless.  (Starts with a "V".)  I wanted to begin by just getting an idea how much a new vehicle would cost, how much mine was worth as a trade-in, and how much a lease might be.  Ridiculous idea.  That doesn't happen in a reasonable time.  You've got to go through all this foolishness first.

I can't remember how in the world this older salesman killed 2 hours, but he did.  For instance, he couldn't just look on his computer to see if they had the vehicle I wanted.  We had to go drive around the back lot and look.  They didn't have what I wanted, so I just picked out the closest thing and asked for some figures.  Then he was gone forever having my car appraised.  Really?  At the dealership where it has always been serviced?

Now what he didn't know is that Ken Mitchell is my faithful car consultant.  He traded his Prius (same model as mine) in this year, and he told me how much his trade figure was.  So...this little lady would recognize a fair ballpark figure--or an unfair one as it turns out.

After my reaching the point of complete exasperation, Mr. Salesman finally came back with some figures.  The sales price to me for a car with fewer features than Ken's was $13,500 more than Ken's!  I was completely flabbergasted and said, "Does that include some kind of financing, or did you not take into account my trade-in?"  He stuttered around a bit and then said no, that it was kind of like fishing--you just throw out the bait and see if it will be taken.

So...this fish does have a new car.  It is a shiny black Infiniti G25.  It has everything I required, that being: Number 1--keyless ignition so I don't have to dig in my purse for my key.  And at Number 2-- a back up camera because nothing behind me is safe when I'm in reverse.  Let's not talk about gas mileage, o.k.?

I'll show you a picture of it tomorrow.

I like the back.......

I like the front.......

I love the clock.....

You Had What in That Bag?

In case you haven't heard, I am home from a cruise, but my clothes are not.  It's been 48 hours now, and no sign of my bag.

I have the American Airlines/Bag Status number memorized now.  I call often.  Sometimes I get someone very nice, and sometimes I get someone who is patronizing and patiently annoyed.  One of the former, a lovely lady, decided to go over the information they had to be sure all bases were covered.  I didn't know the brand of my bag when I was filing the original claim, so she added that--Travelpro.  I told her the size and that the color was not really brown as I had stated, but copper.

Then she said, "Tell me a couple of very specific things that are in the bag by which we might identify it.  Well.  You just wouldn't believe how easy that was.  I said, "Bathroom scales on top wrapped in a white Holland America robe with my initials on it.  Also a large plastic tray."  I am still chuckling over the fact that she actually asked me to describe the tray!  As if anyone else would have a tray--or especially the combination of a tray and bathroom scales!

I'm sure you can guess why the scales.  I have thought of taking them before, but the situation was right this time--so I did.  I weighed each and every morning, keeping track of the harm done.  And the tray?  I like to eat in my cabin or on my balcony.  Several years ago the ships stopped furnishing trays in the buffet eating area.  So I decided to carry my own.  I could step a short distance to the elevator, shoot up to the 12th floor, get my food and drink (I carried my lidded Starbucks cup for that), and get back almost as quickly as going to the kitchen at home!  My tray got a few stares, but they were probably jealous ones!   I just know I started a trend.

I am so thankful that there is nothing sentimentally irreplaceable in the bag, except the tray.  I bought it on my first visit to my cousin Sarah's home in Alpine, Arizona.  The shop where I got it is no longer there--it was gone even before the wildfires.  I loved the tray and used it every day, but I have another which is equally beautiful and serves the purpose.

On my last call I found out that I can file another claim after 5 days have elapsed.  (If I had told you it would be months, I was wrong.)   Will I be filing?  Will I receive back a mangled and mutilated bag?  Will I receive back my bag in perfect shape?  Will I receive no bag at all?  I know you all will be standing by with bated breath!  ...To be continued!