Stuff White People Like; Mable; Foo Fighters

I'm going to combine a few totally unrelated items into one blog. I can do that, right? Of course I can.

Let's start with this great new blog I found called Stuff White People Like. It's basically a social commentary on...well, the title says it all. Here's an excerpt from #71 Being the Only White Person Around:

Many white people will look into the window of an ethnic restaurant to see if there are other white people in there. It is determined to be an acceptable restaurant if the white people in there are accompanied by ethnic friends. But if there is a table occupied entirely by white people, it is deemed unacceptable.

How true is that?

Moving on...

Mable is fast approaching 300,000 miles. Logically, her end is near, but realistically, she's running as good as she did years ago. I'm going in for a tuneup in a week and fully expect everything to check out fine. Thing is, I need to hedge the risk and prepare myself for the day she moves on to rustier pastures. I've briefly entertained the thought of buying the exact same car. I searched cars.com and the closest 1995 Grand Prixses (?) for sale is 548 miles away. That's pretty amazing considering the population in Southern California. Kind of sad, too. 131,000 miles for $2400. Not bad?

Sure, I want a newer better car as much as the next person. But I'm trying to make the most financially sound choice. No, I probably wouldn't drive 548 miles to pick up an old car with who knows how much life left in it. It would be pretty adventurous though.

Let's say that I get a newer car, though. The average car payment is what? $300? So if I spend $2400 on a used 1995 Grand Prix, it's only got to last me eight months to make it worth it. Anything longer than that is cake. That may be a pretty big risk, though. I have to assume those other Prixs haven't been taken as good of care of as mine.

The more likely plan is to put $5000 down on a $10,000 car. Likely a Toyota. Even likelier a Toyota Yaris. Yes, it's the cheapest car they make, yes I could probably afford better, but I really don't want to. I want to have that thing paid off in 6 months. Plus, it's a Toyota; it will last me a long time. I intend on it being the last economy car I buy.

Sorry folks. I don't want a car payment. I had two new cars before I was 21. I'm so over that.

Finally...

I got an email from the pastor of my church today talking about the weekend services and what not. He mentioned how one of our worship team drummers, Drew Hester won a Grammy a couple of weeks ago. So I'm thinking, that is pretty awesome. Then he goes onto say that Drew ALSO is the drummer for the FOO FIGHTERS who won a Grammy for Rock Album of the Year. So, apparently the drummer at the church I go to has been moonlighting with the Foo Fighters this whole time and won two Grammys and I had no idea. Okay, if you know me and you know the Foo Fighters, that is pretty stinkin' cool. I just watched them on Letterman the other night, so B.A.

I'm leaving for Birmingham, Alabama tomorrow where I'll be working until Friday. I hope to blog at least once while I'm there, but if not, I hope this ties/tides you over. You choose.