Moderate owie

[cjsmith]

As expected, I feel kinda crappy. Neck to hip -- all the sideways stuff went directly to the spine. Glad I'm not flying an airplane. Not too awful though; I've certainly had far worse, and I'm firmly aware that I am very fortunate. I'll be surprised if it's not noticeably improved by tomorrow.

Heading out in a few minutes to drop my car off for an estimate (needed to determine whether it'll be totaled), pick up a rental, and start SHOPPIN'.

Comments

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Eep! I've been out of it a couple of days. Sorry about the accident. I hope the soreness doesn't last long.

Duchess needs to take care of her kittymom now! ;)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yes! Duchess, c'mon over here and sit on my back and purr. :-)

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

As expected, I feel kinda crappy.

=very gentle hug=

Not too awful though; I've certainly had far worse, and I'm firmly aware that I am very fortunate.

YAY!

to drop my car off for an estimate

=sympathetic hug=

and start SHOPPIN'

YAY! Buying a new car is a nuisance, but it's exciting, too ... so many possibilities...!

On balance it sounds like you're rolling with the punch really well. I have a friend who has such a positive attitude that when she was hit by a teenager running a light, totaling her 1-year-old Camry (!) and injuring her (not seriously, thank goodness, but she's in her mid-70s, and healing is much slower at that age), her reaction was, "Oh, goody! Now I get to pick out a 'new' car!"

That's a bit extreme, but your positive attitude tempered with just the right amount of realism is very healthy! I hope you heal quickly and have fun shoppin' for your new car! What are you planning to look for?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the hug! Now I need to figure out just what car I want.

Yikes. I don't think I want to see the kind of accident that can total a 1-year-old Camry.

[bigredpaul.livejournal.com]

A massage therapist who works with soft tissue injuries could very likely help. I'd ask my chiropractor for a referral, were I you. I hope you feel better soon!

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

I second this, and also: take a long hot bath! (Plus any of your usual stretches should be helpful.)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

HOT TUB! Woohoo! Chiro suggested following that with ice, first coupla days.

Once more, with new userpic

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I think I know a good one already. Now to see if she has any time. :) Thanks!

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

hope you feel better soon! *gentle hug*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *hugback*

[jtidwell.livejournal.com]

Ouchie indeed! So sorry to hear this happened. Do take care of yourself -- as you know, sometimes whiplash-type injuries can take a few days to get really painful. Here's hoping you feel just fine.

(BTW, you still up for lunch/dinner/whatever on Monday or Tuesday?)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Annoying, yes. Well, it'll all be over soon.

...This is THAT week? I thought there was one more week...! Somehow I had you pegged as "coming into town the same week of the office move" -- guess I got that wrong. OK, yes, I'm up for lunch/dinner/whatever on Monday, or lunch on Tuesday, but I don't have a terribly useful car. The body shop wouldn't even take mine so I'm still driving it. The driver's side doors don't open.

Whereabouts are you / will you be?

[jtidwell.livejournal.com]

I'll be at my cousin's in San Jose during the first part of the week. I'll send you email with my cell phone #, but I should also have net access if that fails...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

OK, great! If you're willing to get in and out of the car every time I do :) I can come pick you up. Life is never dull!

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

I'm just catching up on posts.. Sorry about the accident. That sucks. However, I am glad you're in good (relative) health.

Hmm... new car time?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Today's no worse than yesterday, which is a great sign; I think it has peaked.

New car time! Just need to decide what I really want. New or used? Corolla or (do I feel rich) Prius?

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Lotus Elise. 48mpg!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that's not too expensive!

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

it's well under $50k How long do you keep a car, about 10 years, right? So, really, it's not that bad at all!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I kept this last one seventeen years and it cost me just a tad under $10K. I guess I'm frugal :-)

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Even better.. in 17 years, I spend more money on venti skim hot cocoas in Starbucks than I would on a Lotus ;-)

Actually, in cars, I tend to be practical as well. Sure, I *could* spend the money and get a BMW M5, but the idea of spending 80K on an automobile is insane. The best kind of car is the one that's paid for (and has good MPG).

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Mmm. The venti skim hot cocoas taste much better. ;-)

I hear ya on the practicality. It'd be nice to have, say, a BMW 3-series convertible, but it wouldn't be forty thousand dollars' worth of nice.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

That's why you get one that's come off a 3 or 4 year lease. It'll be in perfect condition and cost only about $28k!

I am a vile tempter, sometimes.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

And it'll have 60k miles on it, warranties all expired, and it'll require premium gas. :)

Still...

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

no, that's just it, it won't... With a lease, the miles are super-constrained, as it costs $$ if you go past the yearly milage limit, and they usually have extended warranties (the original warranty is 5 years anyway). also, according to the lease contract, they have had all their suggested tune-ups *at the dealership* so they're all covered as well.

This is markedly different from a used non-lease car.... avoid those ;-)

Of course, I am not trying to get you to buy a convertible BMW, but as someone who drives one on occasion (Bill owns one), it's not too bad ;-) Yes, you have to buy premium petrol, but that's *maybe* an extra $2.00 at each fill-up, at least around here.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Aren't lease limits something like 15kmi / yr? I know very little about leases, never having looked into it.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

No, they're much less than that, often between 7-10k/yr. In the industry, it's considered "normal" to drive about 10k miles/year. With leases, I'd rather have the asset. It's like renting a house. Don't bother, if you can afford to buy. After 3 years of leasing, you've given the car company most of the cost of the car, and you don't have anything to show for it.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. That is surprising to me. I drive 8K/yr at most, and most friends who look at their own odometers and do a little quick math consider me pretty odd for that.

I'd rather have the asset.

Ayep - that's why I never looked into leasing. If I leased in 1989 I'd have been driving my fifth car instead of my first!

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

Yes, please take care of your health.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Will do! Thanks. More hot tubbing and ice tonight! What a great excuse to lounge about in a hot tub!