The New Addition

Well ... we went sort of a new direction!

We got a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara this evening ... it only had 34K miles on it. Silver with gray leather interior. Moonroof, nice radio, fully loaded, not a scratch on it. One car owner, with a 7 year, 100,000 mile warranty ... I am VERY pleased.

My payment has dropped $175 a month and I'm welcome to pay it off at any time and I just might ... in the next few days I'll take pics and post them here. I'm so proud!

It drives like a dream ... and it was a very pleasant buying experience. I work with a lady who's husband is a fleet manager. I found the car online today- went in, drove it and bought it ... it seemed to take forever, but other than that, a very nice experience ...

I think it's a good car, it will hold it's value and Toyota's are great cars. I'm happy.

Big thanks to Conrad for the help, the support, going with me, etc ... couldn't have done it without you!

I am so glad to have this out of the way. I felt so unsettled with the rent car in the driveway and no car of my own ... and trying so hard to never get a scratch on it. All the worry. I'm hoping this purchase goes a long way to getting things back to normal around here.

Karyn

Decisions

It's not been that easy to think of a new car to get. I sort of was happy with the one I had - but I'm not in the market for another $30K truck.

I've narrowed it down to the Mitsibishi Lancer or Galant. We test drove them yesterday and a dealership in Houston has a lot of 2008 and 2009's in inventory - the only thing I need to do is add leather. I don't think any of the ones in inventory have it and since I have a messy dog, I sort of need it.

Anyway I lean towards the Lancer. Check them out! Pretty cute little sporty things. I haven't heard back yet from the total loss department at Allstate, but I'm sure they will want me out of the rental car this week sometime ... so time is a tickin' ...

This happening during Christmas and New Year's has not helped. So many people on vacation, it's hard to get anything done ...

Kah

Wear Your Seat Belts, Kids

Allstate called yesterday after nine days- they had finally looked at my truck ...

The first thing the guy asked was everyone ok? And I said yes and he said well because when I looked at the truck my first thought was something bad had happened to the people who were in it and I said oh no- I walked away from it- I went to the hospital and I hurt, but I'm ok and he was like hmmmm.... I had no idea what he meant until I got to the storage yard yesterday to sign it over to the insurance. WOW, It was really pretty bad. The last time I saw it was the morning of the accident and I was in shock and hurt and I didn't pay much attention. I knew it had some damage, some major damage and I was PRETTY sure it was totalled - but I had no idea ...

The good news is they gave me within $40 of what I owe on it ... which if you know me, you know I've had all kinds of cars and trucks in my short driving life and I always roll the balance of one into the other - and now that I'm older I know that's a stupid thing to do. Makes no money sense at ALL ... but I figured I was way upside down on the truck, but since I've had this one the longest- five years almost, I had gotten to the point where I owed what it was worth. WHAT A RELIEF! I thought I was going to owe some residual to the bank.

I looked for the other car out there and I didn't see it- so I'm hoping they took it to a shop to fix. It was a Range Rover and it was pretty much like hitting a tank. I'm hoping his isn't totalled and we still don't know who's fault it was yet - so waiting for that ... BUT at least I know the truck isn't going to cost me any money, I signed it over and can look for a new car next week when everyone is out wheeling and dealing ...

The moral of this story is: Wear Your Seat Belts Kids! I am positive it saved my life.

Here ya go .... pictures peppered in this post of what I walked away from ...

Kah

Recovering

Hey All ...

So sorry. I've been hopped up on pain killers and muscle relaxers. I haven't felt much like posting or even logging on. The bumps and bruises are healing, but my head is not. It's been EIGHT days and Allstate has STILL not looked at my vehicle or the other guys ... and I am SO worried ...

He says it was my fault and I say it was his, the investigation has not yet begun - they have to wait ten days for the police report to come out. The police report says it was my fault, but Allstate has assured me they do not take that at face value, they investigate.

So with being in pain, I have also had to deal with daily phone calls to them checking on status. So far, nothing and Christmas is two days away - I bet nothing will be done until at least Monday ...

Today I had a bit of a scare. I was driving to work (in my rental) and I started seeing stars and halos around the lights of other cars. I got into work and turned on the computer and it was like being drunk. I called my dad and since he works at a hospital he went to get a doctor and it was determined I am VERY sensitive to the muscle relaxers. I took one at nine PM last night and I think it finally wore off sometime this afternoon. Apparently Norflex has a half life. So when you take the second dose the first one is still in there working. I thought I was going to be ill this morning but all seems to be going well.

Then on the way home, Enterprise Rentals calls and tells me I have to return the car, Allstate will no longer pay for it. UM, WHAT?! So I have to pull over and gain control of myself and we got to the bottom of it. Apparently, every four days Allstate has to renew it with the rental company or they make you bring it back.So they renewed it for me, but I am still suffering the heartburn that call caused me.

AH, the things I am learning.

I am ok, I am alive- but I am frustrated beyond belief and worried about the outcome of the investigation- and yes, Conrad is being a dear. He listens when I cry, he cheers me up when I get down, he speaks sense to me, cooks when I just can't seem to make myself do it - and all manner of other things. He's a prince. It's good to be part of a team.

Kah

Aftershock

I'm not doing too good. Every time I close my eyes I see his truck coming at me and I feel all over again the impact. Every part of my body hurts - being sore is an understatement. The only thing that wasn't hurt is my face - everything else is killing me.

I am so upset and so depressed and I feel so stupid. I have no idea yet who's fault the wreck was or how much this is going to cost me. I called today and upped my liability because apparently I only carried what is necessary in Texas ... and um, he had a Land Rover. So if his car it totalled and it's my fault- I have no idea what I'm going to do. I am hoping hoping that's it not and it just needs a lot of work ... my truck, I have a feeling is a goner. The entire front is smashed in - and with the age and milage, they may just total it out. What a pain to have to find a new car.

Oh and speaking of a new car, getting into the rental and driving to work is almost more than I can stand. I just sat in the bedroom sobbing this evening because it took everything I had to get back into a car this morning ... I honestly think I am going to have an anxiety attack when I even see it. I drove white knuckled into work and breathing heavy all the way home. Getting up tomorrow and leaving is almost more than I can think about.

I have some serious post traumatic stress ...

Kah

Wreck

Hey All ...

I totalled my truck this morning- won't know for sure until I heard from the adjuster, but from the looks of it, I'd say it was a goner. The entire front is torn off, it was leaking, heaadlights on the ground ... quite a site.

I was t-boned in an intersection this morning on the way to work. Pretty much a head on hit. We spent five hours in the ER this morning and now I'm at home, resting.

Pretty banged up- they were checking for internal damage, but I appear to be ok, My first CAT Scan was today! My left leg is a mess, my right foot is hurt - skin on my left arm was taken off by the airbag, fingernails broken, a big bruise on my belly and chest from the seat belt and a nice big purple bruise on my neck, chest and collar bone from the airbag. I feel like I'm 100 years old. The only thing spared was my face.

Oh well I am ok- the other guy is ok - and now maybe I will go ahead and get that fuel efficient car I've been thinking I need. I don't know if the truck will be paid off or not, I owe more than it's worth- like everyone else ... but at least I'm alive.

I saw my life flash before my eyes and I will never forget the sound the cars made when they met or the jarring my body got or the smoke and the powder (from the airbag) and the feeling I had when I thought the other guy wasn't ok and wasn't getting out of his truck. I really thought he was dead for a minute or two. But he was fine- he walked away and I think went into the office . I took 80% of the brunt force of it.

Please pray for us both that we recover quick, that both our cars are maybe not totalled and that everything will be ok. Pretty wild day.

Oh but hey- I got some morphine! It's NICE ...

Kah

Happy Birthday Conrad

Yesterday was our Conrad's birthday!

He's the big 34.

I took a half day and came home to get the house set up for his birthday. Decemeber has to be the WORST birthday month EVER - so I try to make his birthday day all about the birthday. Blanca and I hung signs on his mirror so he could see them when he woke up. I came home and did the cake thing- and got his present wrapped. We then we out to dinner. YUM-O!!!! AND I am pleased to report that I cooked for FIVE STRAIGHT DAYS before the birthday dinner. So I was good and ready to get out and get waited on - and it was a fabulous dinner ... we found this place a few months ago and this was only our second time there ever. I didn't even turn the Christmas tree on it was ALL about the birthday yesterday. Ok well- I DID buy Santa cupcakes at the store, but that's ok.

We had a nice time - and this weekend have no real concrete plans so that's good. Probably just wrap presents all weekend- drink hot chocolate and eggnog, gain about 10 pounds and watch Dallas Cowboy football on Sunday night. YAY!

Kah