Desert Magnolia

A lot of my recent posts have focused on vehicles, something I have historically taken for granted. Not anymore. Today I'm in Olive, our aged olive green Nissan Altima who proudly bears scars of a poorly sealed paintjob prior to our ownership that has resulted in a 100% oxidized olive metallic finish now which more closely resembles ...dusty bronze than a shimmery green olive anymore. And whose odometer shows 148689 miles as of today's date. But she's been rode hard, our Olive. She currently smells musty, making me think wet things were left inside her while she was sitting in the sun. A towel perhaps? A spilled water bottle that soaked the carpet? Golf socks left under the seat for the weekend? Or, perhaps, and more likely, a combination thereof. Her leather seats are now split in places, and have been haphazardly covered with AutoZone's own seatcovers du jour...which are flimsy and have pulled up, elastic blown long ago. One lies abandoned in the back seat,...

So the whole car thing? Where Daughter is taking the olive green car that we got tuned up and ready for the trip? Has changed a little. New scenario involves the olive green car staying here. And my car going to Providence. And me driving the cranberry red pickup. And hubby driving the olive green car which works fine around town, but isn't the greatest choice for a cross country jaunt followed by a winter in New England followed by another cross country jaunt. I knew this. Hubby just took longer to accept it. So there you have it. The really funny part? Is hubby thinks we can loan the girl my car for a year and expect her to actually return it after she graduates from college. He actually made a point of letting our girl know that we'll need it back when she's done with school. Really?

As I was working this afternoon I came across a pop up ad that made me click to see what the heck was going on. They got me. I'm fine with that. What is really odd, though, is they admit to the random basis for the design of this vehicle: If I'm understanding the super cool Kia website correctly, they've based the design of this vehicle on wild African boars. In fact, during the jazzy demo they show a comic drawing of a backpack 'strapped' to the top of a wild boar to emphasize the deliberate approach they took to this vehicle. Two words: butt ugly. Or maybe boar ugly? Either way, they've been priced to move, and I have already seen several of them on the streets of Albuquerque. Where oh where has our sense of style gone is all I want to know. Is that snarky of me?

I, Stevie, have Volvo lust. I've had it for over 25 years. They represent all that is safe, comfy, reliable..in car form. They signify stability and a modicum of economic stability and they hardly ever break down, I'm told. I still don't own one, which makes this unrequited lust, I suppose. But it turns out I may be fickle. I know! Really? But Stevie you've always always always said you wanted a Volvo. Always. See above for reasons. Until I saw the new Honda Crosstour. OMG! It is: sexy, sturdy, sleek, shiny, and it's a Honda. I love Hondas. I had a Honda Accord for 15 years...and only gave it up after delivering Baby #2 and realizing the risk of permanently throwing out my lower back hauling said Baby out of the carseat in the back of the Honda was only moments away. But I didn't want to give it up, it had been an awesome car. Awesome. The Crosstour: I am in l.o.v.e. Sorry Volvo. I've just relegated you to Old Lady Car status.