I so want some of those. But yeah, unfortunate timing.

I want a pneumatic tube!

I have a student who is about 53, married, with kids, etc. She has had ups and downs in her life. She wants to give me a car she has sitting in her driveay that she is trying to get rid of, and I don't know what to do. I mean, it is nice, and I really need a car. She has said she will take $500 or $1000, or not (I could give Her $500 this week, and $500 in two weeks). But-- I am sort of liking the carlessness (even though I can see how it will get old real fast!), and the whole point of not having a car is to save money to have a more reliable car. This is the same kind of car I had before-- old.

I feel like it would be nice to take the bus on weekdays and keep the car for weekends and emergencies, but then I still have to have insurance, etc, which eats away at the savings of not having a car. I also feel that other people deserve to have the car more, if she is trying to help people out. I mean, it isn't going to drastically alter my life circumstances or anything, it is just going to make things more convenient.

She does all this talk about "living angels", and she really, really believes in helping people, but I don't have a car because a) I don't have and am not ambitious enough to want a job that makes more money and b) I prefer to spend my money on DVD's and books-- it isn't like I just dragged myself up out of the gutter-- it is completely my fault that I am financially unable to buy a car.

I want a pneumatic tube AND the blood puddle pillows. But yes, kinda unfortunate timing on the blood puddle pillows.

Sophia, can you thank her for her generous thought but explain to her that saving for a car for yourself is part of the goals (this one financial) that you've set for yourself?

Sophia, that doesn't sound like a great idea to me, as generously as I'm sure it's meant.

I know, I am just not sure how to tell her without hurting her feelings!

I am off to catch the bus, however, with my bus pass! That is way less than gas!

Sophia, explain that while you could afford the car itself, between gas and insurance, you couldn't afford to use it.

You could claim to be car-free as an environmental stance?

Oh, also -- do they have Zipcar or similar where you are? That could be a good weekend alternative for you, so you aren't spending half the day waiting for the bus! My dad got rid of his car, and is loving the Zipcar. He can walk or take the subway most places, but sometimes you do need to drive.

In other news, I have a post-work dilemma. I'm going to a friend's birthday party, but not til later. I wish I had a funny little gift for her, but maybe not enough to go in the opposite direction to my favorite funny gift store. Although that would fill up the time. But would I end up spending too much money? Probably. Is buying anything completely unnecessary anyway? Yes. Hmmm.