Bitter Sweet (The 1/2 Ultimate Post)

So, I am writing this post in pink. And, if you don't know what that means, then I will tell you. Pink is my favorite color. And, so the rule is (new rule, obviously since this is my fifth post ever) whatever I write in pink is a MUST READ(my opinion) because it is one of my most favorite things to write about.

Today's most favorite thing is about cars. I know, I don't seem like the type of girl who would actually devote a post on cars. But, if you know us...you will soon realize that we own three cars. So, yes...we love cars.

Back in 1999 (I won't disclose my age, I don't want to give it away), I had a dream car. Don't you remember that game you used to play in the car on the looong road trips with your siblings? If you drove past a big 18-passenger van you would quickly yell, "Krista, that's your dream car!" Thinking you really "zingged" her with that big insult. Well, anybody who knew me post-1999 knew that anytime a Volkswagen Beetle would drive past me, I would suddenly lose all control. I wouldn't even have to say anything, my knees would just go weak, and I would start to slur my words....and then, you knew there was a VW Beetle somewhere on the road.

Fast forward to 2006 (you there?): I was just nonchalantly telling Brandon about my dream car. Well, once the cat was out of the bag (we had been dating for a year), I felt it was necessary to let my squeamish girl tendencies resurface from 1999. So, by doing that, Brandon would realize just HOW much I loved this car. Well, since my (wonderful) dad bought me a RAV 4, I pretty much felt like the RAV and I would be buddies.....for life. But, once Brandon and I got engaged, he started taking me to VW dealerships for me to look around. (Probably because he didn't want his wife driving the RAV :-). So, a couple of months before we got married, he got me thinking we were going to make this big "dream car" purchase. Girls, you know what that'll do. And if you don't know what that'll do, well...it's okay. I just thought it sounded good.

So, anyway...about two months before we got married, we just suddenly stopped talking about the amazing Beetle. You know how hard that was for me? It was still on my mind, but I didn't want Brandon to know I was stuck-up until after we got married (:-), so I couldn't just say, "Sweetie, remember how we were looking for a Beetle?" "Uhm...did you want to go back to the dealership to look around?"

Well, I pretty much dropped the idea of car-shopping, and we were off to our amazing honeymoon to Florida. We drove around all week in a rental PT Cruiser (no, we are not over 40). Brandon had told me that since he didn't think we would have enough funds, we would have to go back home earlier than he had expected. Yeah, I was bummed. So, we were on our way to the airport to return the rental car, and to talk to our "travel agent". We took a shuttle bus to where our travel agent was. Brandon had me wait in the lobby, while he discussed "going home" plans with our agent. (sidenote: While I was waiting, I seriously sat in the lobby counting all of the coins I had in my purse. Who does that?) Well, he came out and got me so that I could meet our agent, and then he handed me a letter he had written and in the letter it said, "Enjoy being the owner of a Volkswagen Beetle!" Yeah, that sentence is pretty straight-forward, but I was confused. Then, we walked through a glass door onto the airplane hangar and there was a BEAUTIFUL 2002 Black Volkswagen Beetle-Sport with a big pink bow tied around it. Are you serious? Yes, very. So, he handed me the keys and said, "This is your car". And, I said, "Is this a rental car?" (I am a bright person, just not under strenuous circumstances), and he said, "No, it's your car!" (Well, I won't belabor the point, but it took about five days to sink in that it was acutally my car). I was in absolute shock. I couldn't believe it (refer to previous parenthese). So, I just walked around the car for a good twenty minutes saying "Oh my goodness", and a handful of "Are you kidding me's?" Honestly, this car was PERFECT! And, who gets a car on their honeymoon? Let alone their DREAM car since 1999. So, yes....I was absolutely floored. And, my wonderful husband had actually been planning this since even before we were engaged (brave man). He was on eBay and found this car, and the owner of the car (a.k.a. Travel Agent), lived in Sarasota Springs, Florida. So, luckily she was an amazing woman who held the car until July, just so that we could fly out to Florida and surprise ME with the dream car.



Yes...it was right out of a fairy tale. Absolutely amazing. And perfect. And dreamy. This is picture of my HOT husband putting the bow on. He had his mom send a box to Florida with "Princess" keychains, a Princess seat-cover, a Princess crown, and a long pink ribbon to tie around the car. He is adorable. I know.





So, we spent the last five days of our honeymoon driving home from Florida. The best and not-long-enough road trip I have ever been on!








This is the happy couple, and the very SHOCKED new bride. Yeah, I don't think Brandon got the "Sweepstakes" reaction that he thought he would get. Seriously, who gets the dream car on their honeymoon? Yeah, I couldn't speak. Only smile. Just call me mute.










And, this is us somewhere in Alabama. Note, the KFC restaurant. This was the provider of the deliciously BONED chicken mentioned in the aforementioned post.





So...after freakishly trying to take care of precious little Princess (nickname for the Beauty), in October of '07 (dark month of my life), I took my first snowstorm-stroll down our annoyingly-steep driveway, and ran right into our rock-retaining wall. The consequence? Devastation. A broken c-v something, tire something, and wheel something. And an eternal-hatred for steep driveways. So, ever since my sledding-fiasco, I have been driving our third car (bless the third car). And poor little PLP (Precious little Princess) has been sitting, and I'd like to think CRYING in our garage for the last five months. Seriously, if you ever even brought up the "accident" to me, it would ruin my day, and probably yours too


Well, a couple of weeks ago (sorry...remember how we've been working with Tyranosaurus Laptop?), we were on our way to get some ice cream and Brandon went outside to "fix the hose" while I stayed inside to probably stay warm. And, when I came outside he was about to walk me around to the truck, but then he kept me walking around to the BEETLE! Yes, he fixed it!!!! And it was even cleaner than I have ever seen it. All thanks to my wonderful husband! I felt like we were on our honeymoon all over again....all the way to Iceberg Drive-Inn. We have never been so in love.


Sidenote: If you're wondering how I classify an "ultimate" post= more than three actual pictures of myself in one post.