The time has come.

[xp_daytripper]

After messing about with the finding receipts to account for use of the company car, the train service the Salem Center and one never-to-be-repeated borrowing of the Boss Lady's motorbike, I've come to a decision.

I need a car of my own.

I have money saved - combination of the Istanbul interest and what I'm earning - and it's enough for something small and second hand. Unfortunately I know sod-all about cars and engines apart from making them go places without killing them, so this is where I call on the experts. Luckily ones my boyfriend, so I can guilt him into helping, but yeah - Forge? I need your brain. Care to come look at used car lots with me and Ange at some stage?

Comments

[x-icarus.livejournal.com]

I would help but I think I would just push you towards buying a truck.

[xp_daytripper]

Fuck no. I have to park in New York and the mini-bus is bad enough with the handling like a pregnant whale. ;)

[x-icarus.livejournal.com]

Buy a mini, go into debt and be content with that? We'll play tag on the highway with my truck.

[xp_daytripper]

No debt if I can help it - I've got enough for something reasonable, and Forge and Ange will help me find something that isn't a complete rust-bucket.

[x-icarus.livejournal.com]

Wow. I didn't even know you HAD an icon like that. ALl conversation stops with that.

[xp_daytripper]

The icon's work is done, then. *grins* That one's from Christmas year before last. What happens when you have a quarantine in a building with lots of booze and a bunch of very scary people living in close quarters. I nicked one of Pete's suits and an old pair of Doug's glasses - I think I was being the evil alternate universe version of me or something, the one who's an account in Milton Keynes. ;)

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

If only to keep you from investing your hard "earned" money into a broken-down rusted-out shitbox, I suppose I can go slumming in the used-car districts.

[xp_daytripper]

:P I'll have you know I earn every cent of my research assistant's paycheque, thank you very much. If I wanted gifts or handouts, I'd be making puppy eyes at Pete or mentioning it as a birthday present or something. This is going to be my car, paid for with my actual wages and the interest I got for helping retrieve stolen property in Istanbul.

[x-cypher.livejournal.com]

As opposed to my "hard earned" money which is made teaching frat boys not to draw to inside straights and so forth.

[x-tarot.livejournal.com]

Hooray! More people to drive me places when I need to leave Manhattan!

I am not sure what Doug did when he bought his. One day he did not have a car, the next day he did.

[xp_daytripper]

See, I like driving. I even like the company car. I just don't like having to account for every trip from Her Upstairs. Tho' I guess it's Her In The Corner Office Now, yeah?

[x-tarot.livejournal.com]

I do not like driving. And driving does not like me. So I think my continued plan of bribing with food or a tank of gas works out well.

I like the subway! I can have a coffee and a magazine and text message Mark to be catty about bad shoes.

[x-jubilee.livejournal.com]

Speaking of fashion - I need your help with some interior design if you're up for it.

[x-tarot.livejournal.com]

Interior design meaning your apartment and the "furniture" that came from the trash bin at Ikea?

[x-jubilee.livejournal.com]

Hey! That funiture was nice and cheap. I'm not exactly swimming in dosh right now. But yes, interior design meaning my apartment.

[x-tarot.livejournal.com]

Cheap is a good word to describe it. Nice is not.

There are several used-furniture stores that carry the necessities, deal in cash, and do not have anything made of pressed wood or aluminium. You could replace a piece a paycheck at a time, depending on your budget.

What would you like to do to your apartment?

[x-jubilee.livejournal.com]

I'm not really sure. Make it look less like a crackhouse? It's pretty grim and ugly at the moment. And where are these funiture stores?

[x-tarot.livejournal.com]

I can come over after work and look at what we can do to it that isn't unreasonably expensive. Getting some nice curtains and opening your windows will help for now. I suspect that more lights will be necessary. You really can never ever have too many if you are trying to avoid the 'crackhouse' style of decor.

[x-jubilee.livejournal.com]

Thanks. You got any paperwork for me, by the by? I'm just about to head downtown for Pete.

[x-cypher.livejournal.com]

I got my chair at one of those used-furniture stores!

(no, I'm not telling you which one. You'll try and find a way to carpetbomb it or something.)

[x-cypher.livejournal.com]

I'm not complaining about the food, either. :)

[x-pressive.livejournal.com]

*sigh* You'll never be a proper New Yorker.

[xp_daytripper]

Not when I'm heading over to Salem Center at least once a week. *wry* I don't mind the subway in the city itself, but you try using that bloody train regular. :P

[x-wasp.livejournal.com]

I don't know what I'd do without my car!

[xp_daytripper]

Well, like I was saying to Mark, New York's fine for the subway and walking and the rest. But since I'm coming to the school at least once a week for the bus run, plus visiting people I know and the rest, it's getting to be a bit of a pain in the arse now I can't just help myself to the company car without justifying it expense-wise. So, car for me.

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

I would and will, but Firebug's making noises about Texas again.

It might have to be next week?

[xp_daytripper]

After the surprise you hit me with yesterday, you get a free pass for pretty much anything. :) I could get used to this anniversary thing.

Let me know when works for you?

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

Thought you'd enjoy that.

Will do, as soon as I know.

[xp_daytripper]

Boyfriend brownie points for you. *grins* I can't believe there's a Brighton Beach in New York and I'd never been there.

If you and John-Boy get arrested, I'm not bailing you out, you know. Jail's character building - just ask Mark. ;)

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

You have now!

It's okay. Nate'll do it.

[xp_daytripper]

That I have. :)

And I can't wait to see what he says when he sees that. Tho'... what's the date again? Yeah, I don't think he's likely to be around online much today, is he?

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

Last I saw, he was drinking beer with Cain.

[xp_daytripper]

Drinking with Cain? Oh, that can never end not-painfully.

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

....yeah.

And today he's probably gone to Arlington.

[xp_daytripper]

*nods* Probably.

[x-scarletwitch.livejournal.com]

We shall never talk about the motorcycle incident again. Now I know how you lot feel when I get behind the wheel of a car.