Show me the Carfax

I was up by 520am and quickly downstairs going about my usual business. It was a push-up day so exercise took a few minutes longer. Meanwhile, it was a cool, clear start to the day, only 29 degrees.

Fooled around online until roughly 6am when I headed upstairs to wake Mindy with coffee in hand. Back downstairs, I spent about 20 minutes between meditation and stretching. I dressed warmly for my run wearing both hand and ear covers.

I ran the full 4.1 miles against a stunningly beautiful autumn sunrise. A familiar site this past week, Mindy already had the Pilot warming in the drive. I headed inside long enough to corral the pug then headed back out for a brief walk. She was quick to take care of business, probably gone no more than five minutes.

Mindy was already on her way out as we were heading in. She shared that Jacob wanted me to make scrambled eggs. I reminded Mindy to have Lindsey try the new spare key to her apartment and then tell me if it works. I planned to use my key later that morning to move her furniture in.

I asked Bella if she wanted scrambled eggs too. Nope. She wanted Pop-Tarts instead. I whipped up a bowl of 4 eggs for scrambling. I set some aside for Eiknarf, then served Jacob, and lastly myself. They were good.

I was off to the shower at 730am. I expected a call from Mindy confirming the key thing but the call never came. While showering, I figured worst case, I could drive by to test my key myself. Lindsey didn’t need a ride to work, Her caseworker, Tristan was giving her a ride after first taking her to pick out furniture.

The kids and I had what amounted to the first ‘normal’ morning prep in quite a while. I was gonna pack my iTouch but found the battery completely dead. I didn’t pack much of a lunch, plus we were out of bananas. Figured I’d survive on the tuna fish already stashed in my office. I called Lindsey as soon as I was downstairs from a shower. She said the key worked fine. I reminded her to get an ETA on the furniture delivery and to give them my cell number for a call ahead. If all went well, Tommy planned to meet me there to help carry it in. The kids and I headed to the bus stop at 810am.

Met Chrissy and the girls at the bus stop. Both Bella and Jacob were wearing light jackets more appropriate for warmer weather. Bella clung close to my side until the bus arrived. It was chilly! The bus was on time – 815am. Chrissy asked if I’ve said anything to Lindsey about the car I planned to test drive later that day. No. Don’t need any pressure from her.

I was off to the office by 820am. Aside from the chilly temps, it was a gorgeous morning. Arrived at the office by 835am – the earliest I’ve been in several days. I was just getting settled into my day when Lindsey called to let me know that she picked out her furniture and wanted to once again confirm that Chrissy had two twin box springs for her to use. Geesh, yes. I confirmed that she gave them my cell number for a call ahead. She said that they only guaranteed that it would be sometime before 4pm, but that it would more than likely be before noon.  Said they’d call 30 minutes ahead too. In other words, I couldn’t plan much of anything. I only added that my help, brother Tommy, would only be able to help if it were prior to 2pm. Oh boy!

I had hung up the phone for maybe 5 minutes when the phone rang again. It was the furniture bank guy calling ahead. Said he’d be there in 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes - already? I scrambled to temporarily log off my PC and then quickly called Tommy. He answered but hadn’t yet showered or anything. I shared my dilemma and that I was heading there directly. Would wait for his arrival. He agreed to hustle. I thanked him for his flexibility.

Despite my hurrying, the furniture bank was already there when I arrived. He already had a bunch of stuff unloaded from his truck and in the apartment breezeway. I’m guessing he was either just around the corner or already there when he called. No biggie. I told him I would carry in everything I could, and then asked if he could help with the big stuff. As Lindsey already shared, he couldn’t. Not permitted to do so. No problem. I explained that I had help on the way. He unloaded everything to the sidewalk then departed.

I carried everything up to Lindsey’s apartment that I could including all three bed frames and mattresses, dresser drawers, sofa cushions, etc. All that remained was a sofa, dresser, desk, and armoire. Most of the stuff was nice, too. In fact, the sofa was much nicer than ours. Of course that doesn’t take much. And we’re OK with that. With a little TLC, her apartment is going to look really nice.

Tommy arrived about 45 minutes later. I thanked him again for being so helpful. We carried in the four remaining items then chatted briefly. I headed back to the office around 1130am. I stopped briefly at home to see if the guy with the Hyundai responded to my email and meeting time. He did. Good thing I stopped to check. Couldn’t meet me at lunch, but instead after he gets off work around 430pm. I figured I would call him once back at the office to make the formal arrangements.

Talked with Mindy and Lindsey via text or phone through the afternoon. Let Lindsey know that all of her stuff was moved inside but not really set-up. Mindy wondered how the car thing went. Told her that I hadn’t yet hooked up with the guy. I called Tom around 4pm to see if we could arrange a meeting in Hilliard much like he suggested earlier. I got his VM. He called me back right after 430pm – his stated quitting time. He asked if we could meet at Britton and Davidson Rd. Sure. That’s very close to my office I shared. I hurriedly packed up my stuff and headed out for the weekend and to meet Tom and test drive the Hyundai.

Tom was there waiting when I pulled in, he and a buddy. At first glance the car looked as clean as described – a 2001 Hyundai Accent. After a little idle chit-chat he and I took it on a drive. He insisted he go along, which I pretty much expected.

Turns out, he drives a school bus for Hilliard. We know some of the same folks, including Ms Vanorder, the kids bus driver. Gave me the history of the vehicle (2^nd owner) and what he’s done to it. Seemed to run fine, although the brakes a tad spongy. The interior and exterior are both well maintained, although it doesn’t look it’s had a bath or detailing in a while. Only 77K miles, too, which is really low for a 2001. After our drive I shared that I was encouraged by the condition but that I would be taking down the VIN number and running a carfax before making any type of decision or offer.  He understood. I agreed to circle back with him on Saturday.

I headed towards home encouraged with the prospect of the car, but also tempered any excitement until after seeing the carfax report and then the blue book value. Nephew Joe’s car was out front when I pulled up. He, Mindy, and his roommate Ryan were gathered in the kitchen enjoying some wine and beer.

I greeted everyone while also tending to my after work ritual. After some fun banter, I headed to my PC to do a little preliminary work on the Hyundai’s value. I also went out to carfax.com to see how much a carfax would cost me.  I haven’t needed one since I bought my BM’er way back in ’04. Back then they were something like $10 each or unlimited for a month for $29.95. A lot’s changed .They’re now $34.95 for one, or 5 for $44.95. Before proceeding further, I visited Edmunds.com & Kelleybluebook.com to assess the car’s value. Turns out, Tom’s asking more than the private party value for a similar Hyundai in good condition. He’s asking $3400. KBB.com has it at just under $3100 and  Edmunds has it at just under $2700.

I did no more with the car. Instead, I figured I would think it through and possibly buy the carfax in the morning. I’ll almost certainly buy the 5 pack just in case I need to check on others if this doesn’t work out. I rejoined the others in the kitchen. Soon, another one of Joe’s friends, Chris, stopped by.

We hung out for another hour before Mindy and I headed off to Barnes & Noble and Barley’s. Those guys headed off to Marshall’s in Grandview. Mindy had a book on reserve at the Tremont Center Barnes & Noble. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was for her teacher friend, Phyllis, who was meeting us at Barley’s.

Mindy was in Barnes & Noble much longer than she thought. Said she’d be in and out. It was more like 10 minutes. I joked that they must be in there writing the dang book.  Finally, she appeared. We headed down Northwest Blvd to 5^th avenue and then Grandview avenue to Barley’s. I’m thinking that it was near 730pm when we parked in the crowded main lot.

We greeted Phyllis just inside the bar’s entrance. Of course a few of the other regulars were already there too. I ordered a beer fairly quickly. Honestly, can’t recall what it was I ordered. I know I had a Fortune Teller at some point. Soon Keri & Kevin arrived. And probably after we’d been there for an hour brother Tommy showed up. I visited with Barley peeps for quite a while choosing to stand as opposed to taking a seat in the nearby booth that Mindy and her school peeps garnered.

I eventually ordered some K.C. wings. Not only was I really hungry, but knew I needed to eat something or else risk feeling like crap come Saturday morning. Spent quite a while chatting with Rick C. near the bar. We ended up sticking around until almost 11pm. And as you might expect, lots of familiar faces came and went during our 3+ hour visit. I ended up ordering a 4^th beer after Mindy shared that she would drive home. Having started prior to me arriving home, she’d stopped drinking much earlier. I paid the tab.

Mindy headed right for bed while I took Eiknarf out for a walk. She took care of business in short order then she and I headed up to bed too. She was very excited to get to sleep with Mindy & me, something she hasn’t gotten to do a whole lot of lately.