It's black on black on black. Don't get many choices around here, as it was the only one within 100 miles and more. Glad it was the base model as that keeps the price down. Don't really need a mail slot-sized moonroof, ya know?

It came with the "All-Season" tires instead of the summer meats, but they're all-season in name-only. We'll keep it out of the snow this year and then maybe get a second set of wheels and snow tires for next winter.

When the kids get bigger and only need a booster seat, there's your chance to snatch one up. ; )

Yesterday, i must have done exceptionally well at the exams i sit. Results will be available new year's, though... On my way home, i even got a short glimpse of an ex of mine i really wished to see again, since a long time ago, one i was pretty fond of, yet she was the most painful backstabber that ever crossed me, damaged me and scarred me... I saw her again and i realized that even if i become the world's owner, i could never forget her or let our memories rest in peace; i am haunted by her and i needed her to be my one, special other (not the kickboxer, an older affair)... Somehow, seeing her pretty face made me happy, somewhat...

I totally understand. A sunroof is something I considered myself. But with my car, the available packages stacked. So the only way to get one with a sunroof would have been to buy them all. Would have upped the price of my car by more than a third.

The dealer offered to instead install a sunroof there at the dealership, and somehow I was able to decline politely without giggling.

Typically, I want something small that goes reasonably well. The rest of my family is a bunch of car nuts. My brother visited this morning and was trying to get me to trade up for a Focus RS. Fun to think about, but nothing I need.

For us the deal-breaker is the lack of a clutch pedal, no matter what vehicle we're looking at. Often, that usually relegates the buyer to the lowest trim levels for any given model. In our case, that almost always leaves out the one option that we really want to have: heated seats. Oh well - in this day and age, we should feel lucky to find a manual transmission at all, let alone in cars that we can afford and enjoy. The seats heat up eventually from body warmth. ; )

Focus RS... yeah, that'll be a hell of a car. Not for me and her, though. I have a feeling that it's going to cross over the threshold into "too much of a good thing" territory; the Focus ST is already quick and a bit rough, and more of that would just make it harder to live with. For us, anyway. Besides, at some point driving skill comes into the equation and it makes little sense to buy too far beyond one's ability; I want to enjoy a car, not be intimidated by it. Hence, our love of the pocket rocket.

Car nut family - I completely understand that. haha

Wonderful meeting day with clients from all kind of care institutions and 3 politicians from city/community council as a guest to speak with us. I was chairman of the meeting and am proud of my performance, as it was very casual, relaxed, informative and humorous, the way I did it. You're not supposed to brag about how well you perform so well, but I'm so ultimately happy with how it went and also with the good atmosphere of the day: everyone was very open, engaged, active. Something good to look back to on days that are less well mentally.

So, after 5 days (since last Friday), my heating system is finally repaired. After some nights where the outside temperature was around zero, sleeping tonight will be quite a relief instead of trying to not freeze to death ^o^

I'm curious, because Belgium has a lot of coastline (which is meaningless if you don't live near that coast :P) but what would you guess is the average winter temp there?

In general, it's not freezing at the coast but the strong winds (like today) will increase the "perceived/felt" coldness. That reminds me when I was a kid: I had just taken a shower then went outside for a walk on the coastline and my hair got icy (for real) in 5-10 minutes :o)

I received my son's ridiculous school report card yesterday.

My favorite part is his lower case middle initial, n. All his official school documents feature it. I'd always imagined someone wrote "none" somewhere and nobody noticed or cared. Today, mostly out of curiosity, I asked them to fix it. As it turns out, one particular statewide system [supposedly] chokes if the middle initial field is left empty. Of course, instead of handling that particular case with a script or angry phone call, the school instead blankets its own database with the middle name "none". Made me smile to think of hundreds of report cards sent home with a daft n. in kids' names. SIlly.

the tree is up and no one died


yet

Had to tear down a machine and ship it before the holiday hit. Was worried that we wouldn't have enough time; given the holiday Thursday, if we weren't done by Wednesday that would really have screwed up couple schedules.

Well, the customer actually read my "Make these preparations when moving a machine" guide. Brought ALL the stuff I recommended, and sent along two guys who were easy to work with and busted ass. My other customer, who sold the machine to these guys, was also quite helpful.

Anyway, actually got it done today, loaded onto the truck, and everyone is back home a day early.

After a week without power, I flipped the switch and there be power! Sweet relief :)

Oh boy, i can't wait to see what the manliest man in the world with that *pair of titan balls of steel* down there, will do to take revenge for the brutality of those savage *gypsies*...

And that shit colored idiot who is hallucinating about being planet ruler, or that we are his lapdogs or as he calls us, allies... Oh goodie, what fun and laughs we are going to have over this one...

Who is the real terrorist now, huh? Those who funded them by buying their petrol oil and peddled goods, armed and trained men supposedly against terrorists but those ended up joining them, instead and even defend backstabs and backstabbers!

Butchers of the people, your time is limited!

That is a long time, you must be delighted:)