Kathy, that sounds sensible. I hope things go smoothly with the insurance and with the car shopping. Having just had to buy a car under duress, I know how not-fun that can be.

Yikes, glad you're OK, Kathy. May it all work out the way you want it with the insurance, finding a new car, etc.

I am so sorry, Maria.

That sucks, Kathy. I'm glad you're okay. Clark Howard says that the first offer from an insurance company is always way low and you should look up its actual value on Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book [link] and make a counter offer. Sadly, that's never enough money to get another paid-for car.

Car accidents are bad. I am really glad that you are okay, Kathy.

State Farm was amazing when I needed them. Their first offer on a totaled car was more than fair. The good end of Kelley Blue Book, no attempt to screw me and paid for about 97% of a new car. It was a one year newer model and had ammuch better stereo for my needs. So I was okay paying for that upgrade.

Not to say that all insurance agents or companies are good, but we hear so many horror stories, I feel compelled to say my experience was good. And totally know the value of a totaled car before you accept an offer, of course.

Kathy, I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt, but I'm sorry about the car. It does sound like you already have a good plan in process, though. So best luck with all of that.

So many vibes and prayers and good thoughts to you, Maria. There are absolutely no words for the awfulness of what you've been staggering through, and also no words adequate to the goodwill and love you have on tap, from all over the planet. I just wish it was enough to shield you from the bad shit. But please, please keep checking in, love.

And I'm so tremendously glad you're okay, Kathy. And many sympathy car-woes-SUCK vibes to you, and to Allyson, too.

Not to say that all insurance agents or companies are good, but we hear so many horror stories, I feel compelled to say my experience was good.

When my mother's car was totaled, their insurance bought her a new car too, without any hassle. I think they have Allstate?

And it's raining like crazy here again. ugh

Yeah. And while my salon in Ellicott City faired pretty well in the flash flood (they are reopening tomorrow), at their other site in Havre de Grace, they're watching the Susquehanna creep into the lot behind the salon.

I am so annoyed with the New York Times, which has a zillion stories up about 9/11 but is barely covering the massive flooding that is occurring NOW quite nearby.

Oh fer chrissakes, the universe needs to KNOCK IT THE FUCK OFF. I am so tired of this shit. Kathy, I'm so glad you're OK, but I'm sorry about the car. Can you give me the details? Year, make, model, trim level, and mileage? I can look up wholesale, which should then give you a good idea of what you should pay retail.

Yeah, Agnes is on everyone's lips. If the Susquehanna crests at 28.5 ft in Harrisburg, it will be the third biggest flood ever. Agnes in '72, then the flood of '36, and 2011. You can't really see it, but the restaurant is at the far end of the field of vision in the pic accompanying this article: [link]

I have a feeling we're going to need a bucket and shovel brigade to clean out the muck. Both basements and the wine cellar will need to be cleaned, and then the main floor which will include coolers, kitchen prep areas, and customer seating. I'm ready to cry just thinking about it; I cannot imagine what my sister is feeling. And not to mention people in the region who are losing everything they own, including their houses. It's unfathomable.

My mom lives in southern NJ, in the Pinelands area just east of Cherry Hill, and she was saying that they've been okay with the flooding there (all of the houses in her retirement community are all built on slabs, so there are no basements to be flooded), but the flooding in PA is just horrible.