In Pursuit of a New Car

I love to shop for shoes, for clothes, make-up, gifts, etc. Shopping for a car is a different story. Having to do the research, find the right financing, negotiate the best deal...too much work. I'm into instant gratification, and the path to finding a new car is obviously a very long process.

When I purchased my current car, a 2000 Eclipse, I was in and out of the dealership in a relatively short period of time. Mitsubishi had a $0 down, 0% interest for a year deal that I was itching to take advantage of at the time so it was essentially a no-brainer for me. I was still able to negotiate a decent interest rate and reasonable payments despite the hook, and I knew I could find alternative financing later too that would be in my favor. When I bought that car, I simply needed a compact car to drive around town and to get me to and from work. Everything was standard, and I wasn't looking for anything fancy, so the Eclipse was perfect.

That was nearly 10 years ago, so my taste and requirements have since changed. Sure, functionality geared to my personal standards is important, but do I compromise style and luxury for it? Without hesitation, the answer is yes. While a decade ago I envisioned myself driving a cushy ride in my 30's, I've realized that acquiring such assets translates into debt. This contradicts my 30-something lifestyle, when all I really want to do now is invest in the intangibles - travel, leisure - and instead have disposable income to enjoy the world. Screw this ownership thing! It irritates me to think that in the past few years, I've poured thousands of dollars into repairing the Eclipse in an effort to keep it running. Now it's brought me to a level of distress that I'm having to deal with. Car payments? Ugh. Having to repeat this car ownership cycle again? Blah. I may turn to leasing as my ideal solution, but still have to do my homework in the meantime. Wish me luck!

T-shirts For All Seasons

I'm not much of a t-shirt person, but here are some t-shirt graphics I wouldn't mind sporting. These novelty tees are always freaking hilarious.

Another Camera To Destroy

In a previous post, I mentioned my broken camera woes. Well this morning I receive an email update from the retailer stating that I must contact them to proceed with my service order. As it turns out, the repairs assessed would be greater than the value of the camera, which meant I would have to come in and pick up a replacement. Boo-hoo. This is the news I'm dreading. I am pretty certain that the new one would be a less than adequate replacement for my favorite camera.

When I arrive at the store I am instructed to have a rep from the digital camera department find out if by some miraculous chance they still carry the exact same model camera to swap out for my broken one. Sadly, and not surprisingly, they did not. With the previous camera, I had purchased the 4-year replacement warranty, which entitled me to receive a camera with the same or similar specs as my previous one. According to the camera expert, this meant I would likely have to accept another 8 megapixel point-and-shoot, even if its value is less than the price I paid for my old camera. I anticipate the worst as the camera guy browses the inventory for a suitable substitute. To my delight, he suggests I try to make a case for the 10.1 megapixel camera, the newest successor to my irreparable gadget. Mostly the same features, some upgrades, but definitely same size touchscreen, he says. I am elated.

I return to the exchange desk, while the camera saint states my case for the upgrade. After a quick debate between the two associates, I get the thumbs up. As the customer service rep is processing the trade, I ask him about my 4-year warranty and how the remaining 3 years 2 months roll over to my new camera. No such luck. I would have to buy a new protection plan for this one. Rather than submit to my impulse to buy the warranty, I take the advice of the service rep and opt to ride out the 14 day window they offer to make a decision. As I exit the store, I start calculating the warranty depreciation and arrive at the conclusion that with 38 months left on my original 4-year warranty, I had lost about $76. Furthermore, if I end up buying another 2-year warranty for accident insurance (which surely I will need), that would mean another $49. I am essentially out of pocket $125 for warranties, but walk away with a brand-spanking new camera valued at more than 3 times that. Considering I have broken two other cameras prior to this last one, I've come out a winner!

Adults only, please

Today's adventure led me to the illustrious Adult Superstore, a Vegas legend encapsulated within four walls. And oh, if those walls could talk, they would tell some interesting stories I'm sure.

For those of you unfamiliar with this establishment, the superstore is the ultimate toy store for adults, with items for sale of the sexual persuasion. Truly, if you are a local and don't know about this place, you are either so completely pure of mind (impossible, considering you reside in Sin City) or you have probably lived under a rock.

This was my third trip here. The first time was a few years ago following my 21st birthday. On our way home from a night of drinking, my boyfriend at the time and our roommates decide to make a stop there on our way home. We were there for hours, as the boys decided to peruse through each aisle and either review or speculate on the content of various DVDs on display. We went home empty-handed, since the guys couldn't justify buying porn when they regularly stole cable.

The second trip was a few months ago with some of my gal pals on our way home from a night of drinking in the wee late hours of the morning (again!). That experience was fun because while we were pointing and laughing at movies and toys, we noticed another patron nervously pacing in front of the AS theater. He couldn't bring himself to enter the theater for some reason, and eventually left after several minutes. We suspected it was his first time, and might have just been embarassed. Either that or our unbridled laughter scared him off.

Today, I went to the AS on a mission: to buy a birthday present for a friend. (Seriously, I know some of you are snickering and/or commenting that I went to stock up on stuff. Think what you want, pervs. The little black plastic bag here says otherwise!)

This afternoon's visit was a whole different experience because 1)I was actually going there with the intention of buying something specific, 2)it was midday, and 3)I had not been drinking prior to traveling there. Seeing that place in the day through sober eyes was more fun than I imagined. First off, the parking lot was not sparsely occupied as I had expected. There were some seemingly normal-looking people there, in fact, I think I may have spotted a former neighbor in the DVD section. The staff on duty were far more friendly and helpful than I previously remembered. But it was the multitude of toys on every wall of the first floor that was the main attraction. If you name it, they have it - no matter how obscene or obscure the contraption.

The sex industry is definitely not short on creativity, although seeing all of these "props" has led me to believe that artistry of sex is quickly fading into oblivion. Sex is becoming less intimate, far less sacred, and more of a hobby than a bonding expression. The toys leave nothing to the imagination.

Some of the more notable items for sale include "The Destroyer", clearly a marketing failure - why purchase something that sounds like it could potentially annihilate your orifices? Another phallic faux pas is "The Ultimate Challenge" which nearly matched the length and circumference of a human male arm - and not a male midget...I mean a full-grown normal sized man. The Ultimate Challenge must have weighed 20 lbs. Absurd.

So if you're looking for a place to find great gifts for friends or a stop between the club and home on a late night, I would recommend the landmark Adult Superstore. It's where you can share laughs, be disgusted, and be entertained in one trip. I look forward to going back!