I'll backtrack a couple of entries tomorrow - this evening I've done other than read Mudcat - I researched vehicles because, alas, in the university parking lot as I planned to go out a different exit than usual I put a big crimp in the front of my pickup.

I was making a loop from where I usually park that involved going around a row of parked cars (the lines are painted so alternate rows were parked diagonally pointed in different directions) and with the sunset in my eyes I was looking to the left and missed seeing a handicapped parking stanchion at the head of the row in front of me. I wasn't moving fast but I nailed it with my bumper and put a crease in the grill and nose of the hood. Enough to require body work - and enough to mean the truck would probably be totalled by the insurance company. The high price on the Kelly Blue Book is almost $5000 but with a crease like this, only a couple of thousand. I may call the insurance company to ask about this, but I may also simply speak to the used car folks at the nearby dealer.

I've looked online at the vehicles for sale there - they have a standard transmission Toyota that would work for me, so I'll see if I can work out an exchange as a substantial down payment. I will eventually end up with a pickup truck, but for now a car will work in a pinch.

Thursday just became this week's Friday. And a long (but possibly expensive) weekend looms. I'll keep you all posted.

SRS