The one with no Eclipse but lots of light

About a year ago, our new life began.  We were just walking into the amusement park named Section 2.  We bought our tickets, we milled around for several months trying to find just the right ride, scoping out all our options, fighting through the crowd, finally deciding on a roller coaster.  We stood in line for a while and I guess about the middle of last fall we finally made our way to the front of the line, hopped into our seats, belted ourselves in and sat waiting, patiently, for the coaster to move.  Toward the end of 2008 the coaster lurched forward and started creeping slowly out of the gate.  We’ve been inching forward ever since and around the beginning of March I think we started to feel a slight change in angle as the roller coaster changed position from a completely horizontal rail to an incline.  Now we find ourselves creeping up this incline, knowing that soon … soon … we will reach the peak, change direction again and fly down the rails with incredible speed and excitement.  If only I knew how long this incline will be!

The latest movement toward our new life that I’d like to document so that I actually remember this transition years from now is the sale of the Clippy.  John’s grandmother purchased him the smallest white car (Mitsubishi Eclipse) they could find when he finally earned the right to keep a car on base at the Academy.  He loved that car and it’s been with us for the last 11 years, everywhere we went.  Colorado to California to Louisiana to Texas to New Mexico to Arizona from here to there ….it was always ready to go.  Over the years the Clippy started to show its age but it still ran well and served its purpose day after day.  Well, now that Carrie seems to be running fine (we think the previous owners simply used the wrong type of oil because we have had zero problems since filling her up with some nice thick lubricant!) there’s no need for three cars.  It was bound to happen someday, unless the tiny white Eclipse could somehow morph itself into a vehicle capable of carrying an RV behind it.  So, onto Craigslist she went.  Last night we took her to her new owner … he seems like a very nice guy.  He’s probably in his mid-20s and has the smarts to realize that he didn’t really need the other car he had … he still owned $10K on it.  What he did need and what he did want was a reliable car, completely paid off.  He actually sold off a liability that was fancier for a little financial freedom.  The Clippy is still cute as can be, in my opinion, but it is 11 years old, not brand new.  It’s got a few dings and scratches, not a brand new paint job.  It’s interior is a little worn and ragged not brand new leather.  It’s still a very nice car but not a car that one might use to keep up with the Jones’ and impress others around town.  However, as of today, that incredibly smart guy in his mid-20s no longer has a car payment.  I applaud him!  He has a great car and no payment.  Good job!

It’s sad to lose the Clippy.  Maybe it’s fitting that both the Mustang and the Clippy are gone.  I love the “extreme” relationship John has with his automobiles though.  He started with the smallest white car he could find.  Now, he drives around town in the largest black truck you can get.  Maybe it’s another outward representation of what we’re trying to achieve on the inside.  Switching from a tiny white life to a big black life is exactly what Section 2 is all about.

On a happier note, half of our lighting order came in!!  The new lighting will really accent the “bones” of our house much better than the old brass stuff we had.  John already put up two of the flush mounts and the 2 light pendant in the informal dining.  If our remodeling helper comes by this weekend with a really tall ladder we’ll also install our 12 light chandelier but even if we can’t get to that I’m just thrilled as can be with the new lighting.  It’s so pretty!

Plus, our counter tops will be measured next week for the new granite replacements: Verde Butterfly in the kitchen, Caledonia in the master bath and New Venetian Standard in the guest bathroom.  Plus, I also ordered new sinks to go around.  Yin Yang for the guest bathroom and glass trapezoidal vessels in the master!  So much is starting to come together all at once.  Our remodeling helper has also finished texturing and painting the half bath down stairs, he’s fixed all the wall imperfections that “grew” over the years and soon he’ll start on our canned lighting in the kitchen.  It’s gonna be a whole new house, soon!  We still have a way to go but at least we’re creeping up the incline!

Out with the old …

In with the new ….

This entry was posted on Fri, Apr 17 2009 at 14:04 and is filed under Vanessa's Ramblings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.