This week I got a new car, a black 2005 Toyota Prius, a hybrid. First let me tell the story. Last week, on tuesday, I called my mom to talk about my plans for this summer. If you don't already know, I'm going to be at an internship in Atlanta. I was talking about how I was going to manage to get down there with all my stuff, and how I will commute to the job. My mom suggested that it might be about time that I get a car. This was the first I had thought about it in a while, and the first time I thought about it seriously. It was something she said that got me looking at hybrids. I did some comparison online, of all the existing hybrids as well as several conventional cars. I just kept coming back to the Prius as one I really liked. It had the best gas milage of any I'd see, it was competetively priced, and had the coolest technology. I'm a fan of high tech gadgets. If you read about when I got to drive a fully electric car a year ago, then you'd already know that I like the idea of electric.

I thought that a Prius would be unatainable. From what I'd heard there was a 2-6 month waiting list for a new one. A used one would most likely be a 2003 or earlier, before the great set of improvements in 2004. I thought I was going to have to make the difficult choice to wait, either with no car or with a less desireable used car, or else buy a car that may have been a second choice. As luck would have it, when I was considering used Priuses, I discovered a little secret. Although the dealerships have long waiting lists, sometimes they get in extra cars that are not reserved or someone withdraws from the waiting list. This leaves the dealerships with new cars they can sell. Of course I was limited with the options and colors I could choose as no dealership had more than 1 or 2 of these. After some calling around I found a close dealership with a black package #2. I went in for a test drive, and decide to buy it. This was less than a week from when I started thinking about getting a car. From what I expected the car buying process to be, it felt a little impulsive, but fun.

After sorting out insurance, I finally managed to pick up the car on Wednesday. I really like the car and all it's features. I can already feel the freedom, but also responsibility, that comes with owning a car. Oh, thanks to my mom for helping me with the purchase. I'm lucky to have sucessful parents who can do things like this for me.

Another thing I haven't written much about yet is that a friend of mine from my undergrad fraternity is getting married this weekend. A year ago when he got engaged he called me up and asked me to be in the wedding party, a groomsman. I was flattered that he considered me so close a friend. Today was the rehersal. The weddding is up near the bride's home town, about a hour and a half north west of Pittsburgh. On my first day with the car I had a need for it. Another friend and I drove up there, stopping a bit out of the way to pick up our tuxes, and later drove home. I'm sure there will be more about the wedding after it happens. Beginning of next week I'll pack up my stuff and be off to Atlanta. Could this car have come at a better time? I might not ordinarily drive more than a few thousand miles a year, but coincidentally about 1000 in the first week of having the car.