Driver Wanted. Driver Found.

If you know me, you know my love of VW's Beetle. I have all kinds of "bug" paraphernalia that has been gifted to me over the years - from Christmas tree ornaments to a cookie cutter.

I bought my first Beetle in 2002. It was yellow and it was my dream car. I had wanted a yellow Beetle since I was a little girl. Finally, it was mine. I loved that car. It really became a part of me - I became synonymous with yellow Beetles, and Beetles in general.

I was heartbroken in 2009 when I was rear ended. I quickly transitioned into my silver Beetle, although it was never quite the same. I had become accustomed to the control panel, heated seats and flower vase. And the silver car had a sunroof!

As we know, everything has a season. And the season of my love bug has now ended. It had a good run - 14 years! We knew that after we were married and settled in, we'd look at getting a more family-friendly vehicle. Two doors and zero trunk space was wearing on me and I was ready for a change.

After being listed just two weeks, I found a buyer. It was comforting to me that my little bug was going to a girl that reminded me of me. I wanted the new driver to enjoy it as much as I had! Devin later commented that when she arrived, she looked like a young Janice. Indeed...we were wearing the same shoes. LOL.

And just like that, it's gone. One last drive into Ingersoll to get the paperwork and I've closed that chapter. OK, there were a few tears, I'll admit. But, the new chapter is just beginning and I can't wait to see what's in store.

I thought I'd include my Kijiji ad here :)

Driver Wanted.

Punchbuggy! Love Bug. Beetle. It has many names and is loved around the world. Picture yourself cruising your neighbourhood while your neighbours stop and slug each other! 

VW’s Beetle has been my daily driver since 2002 and has not disappointed me. German engineering coupled with the awesome service at Autobahn Motors has kept me safe on the road. Rest assured, I lovingly took care of her by having regular service from Chris and his team.

This Beetle came into my life when her older sister met an untimely demise in 2009. She has been a great companion on many road trips! But, don’t fret. VW has a reputation for going the distance.

VW’s Beetle has been my “dream car” for as long as I can remember. It’s now time for my dream to become your reality. My days of being single and footloose and fancy free have matured into family life and a 2 door car is impractical for us. I’m returning to my roots and have shifted into a pick up truck.

Check out her awesome features:

• Heated seats – quickly became my favourite feature, especially in the winter
• Sunroof – for those awesome sunny days
• Impeccably clean interior – very few back seat passengers for the duration
• Flower vase – throwback to the 60s!
• Membership into the VW family

Yolkswagen

I love breakfast food. Really. It's my favourite meal as far as selection goes. Bacon. Eggs. Pancakes. Waffles. Fruit. Coffee. Juice. What's not to love about ALL of those things?

I also love VW's Beetle. I think that is obvious. It has been my favourite car since I was a wee girl and I've been driving a Beetle for 12 years now.

This photo popped up in my twitter feed today and I had to share. How cute?

Beetle Beatles

So, this just happened:

I'm not sure what is cooler, the Beetle Beatles? Or the fact that VW tweeted to me. Ya, pretty freaking cool I'd say.

I'm thinking I should really print/hang this up. The only way it could be better is if the yellow one was "Paul" and if they were classic bugs.

Anniversaries

It's interesting that we usually mark the "anniversaries" of certain events in our life. These can be things we celebrate like birthdays and wedding anniversaries or remembering first dates. Or they may be more somber. Perhaps remembering the day that someone close to you passed away or when you got bad news.

For some reason, I tend to always remember anniversaries. It might be my penchant for reflecting on the past, I'm not sure. I always remember on February 25 that I met my best friend Karla Ann. On June 6th, I remember that as the day my grandma passed away when I was six. June 23 marks my company anniversary. And of course we always think of where we were on September 11.

This reflection came as a result of today being the "anniversary" of my car accident one year ago. Of course I am not comparing it to any of the previous examples in regards to impact or severity. Just observing.

I'm still sad whenever I see a yellow beetle drive past. I know to most, a car is just a car. And when your car, which is 11 years old, is considered useless by the insurance company, most people would jump at the chance to get a new one. I did not want a new one. I had such an emotional attachment to that car.  As you probably know if you're reading this blog, my dream car since I was small was a yellow beetle.

Anyway, those are my reflections as I pass this "anniversary" which were stirred up this afternoon when I drove through the intersection.

The Yellow Effect

Why does yellow make me blue? Good question. I'll give you a hint... the beetle.

Each time I see a yellow beetle on the street, I feel a pang of melancholy. Seems silly, I know. To most people, a car is a means of getting from point A to point B. But to me, my yellow beetle became a part of me. It was an extension of my personality and I loved driving it.

Even before Volkswagen introduced the "new" beetle, it was my dream car...especially in yellow! Buying my yellow bug was a dream come true. It was also a step in declaring my independence. Knowing that my "domestic car" family wouldn't like a foreigner joining the ranks, I researched, test-drove and purchased that car all on my own.

So, when my partnership with my beetle ended abruptly last summer it had more impact (no pun intended) on me than someone that was in an average car accident. I had to make a quick decision to replace my car.

At the time, I made the decision based on my emotional attachment to the yellow bug, and I bought a silver bug. It was newer, less kilometers and even had a sunroof. It had my mechanic's stamp of approval and he gave me a really great price, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. The interior was basically the same, so all the buttons and controls were already familiar.

All went well...until I saw my first yellow beetle. I dare say it was a bit of jealousy! My new beetle is boring old silver. Silver. Ninety percent of the cars out there are silver! OK, if not it seems like it. In my yellow car, I stood out in the crowd. In the silver car, I blend in. It's been an adjustment that I'm still getting used to.

Friends Like Family

On Sunday I had lunch with some good friends. I have worked with Duane and Debby since I started at /A\ almost 11 years ago. They have been like family ever since.

After Debby came back from maternity leave, she worked a lot of weekends and different shifts than myself and has since moved on to other pursuits. So, I have worked a lot more with Mr. Duane. I consider him to be like my brother. He is not, in fact, like my actual brother John. They are very different. But, I relate to him like he's my brother.

Anyway...on Sunday I went to their church and we all went for lunch after at Tiger Jacks. What a fun experience with the kiddies - Emma (8) and Colton (6). Colton was pretty excited to see that I drive a beetle and got to ride with me to the restaurant. He didn't stop talking the entire trip. We became fast friends. The jibber-jabber didn't let up even when our food arrived. Hilarious!

On the way back it was Emma's turn for a ride. She was considerably less talkative, but I did manage to find out that she plays hockey and her team party was that afternoon. Once we arrived home, we took a few snaps with the camera. Ironically, we have a very similar photo of me & Emma on the day I got my yellow beetle. I picked up the car, learned how to drive it (it was a standard and I needed lessons!) and stopped by to show Debby who was home with a pretty new baby Emma. She took these photos. And eight years later...see how we've grown. Even my car has matured...it's gone gray!

2009 Year In Review

2009 started off with me deciding to take a daily photo of myself for the entire year. Well, it is the end of the year and I can say (more or less) I succeeded! I'm not sure what to do with these photos but it's been kinda fun. Each month I would compile them and post on Facebook and here on my blog.



Winter is not my favourite season, so January & February were spent trying to get through the snow :) (my way of saying nothing special stands out in my memory) But March was something to look forward to. Not only was it my birthday, but I also went to see Art Garfunkel in concert! Overall the concert was disappointing.... it's just not the same without his sidekick Paul. But, we were treated with a couple of numbers from his unusual son James. If you have a chance, look him up on youtube. That boy is odd.

Also in March, 48 of my coworkers were affected by a massive layoff at work. It was a devastating blow and caused much turmoil. These were people I had spent much of my last 10 years with and it was really upsetting. However, it was a working layoff meaning most of them would be employed until the end of August. As the roller coaster ride continued, most of these people had their layoff notice retracted and are still working here! What a ride.

In April my sister Jo-Anne was diagnosed with colon cancer. It seemed unreal to think that MY sister had cancer. It was just too close to home. It was an emotional journey as she waited for surgery and even after the tumour was removed and she was in hospital. However, I'm glad to report that she had a follow up colonoscopy and it was clear. She has made major changes to her diet and looks healthier than ever!

Because of Jo-Anne's diagnosis, each member of my family had to have a colonoscopy. Mine was in June. It wasn't something to look forward to but a relief to have over. I had 2 polyps removed and will need to have a follow up in the new year.



July was a busy month. Jason & I both took a week of vacation at the beginning of the month and went to see Tony Bennett and the Proclaimers (not together, of course. that would be a strange show!) We also fit in a trip to Canada's Wonderland and The Jersey Boys. It was a busy but fun week. Did I mention I got Tony Bennett's autograph?? On the Saturday night, my friend Sue had us over for a fire in the back yard and toast some marshmallows. It was fun, but on our way home a pick up truck slammed into my poor little beetle as it was stopped at a red light.



I have never been in a car accident before and the whole experience was overwhelming. From riding in the back of an ambulance covered in blood to seeing my car the next day with it's rear end all crunched in - it was scary. The next few weeks were spent filling out forms, going to appointments and looking for a car. I had no idea what I wanted as I was planning on driving my car for at least another couple of years. New? Used? VW? Ford? I settled on replacing my beetle with another beetle. After LOTS of searching, I bought an 03 silver Beetle. I wasn't sold on the colour right away and scoured Ontario for a super-cool orange one, but to no avail. My buddy Chris at Autobahn gave me a great deal, so I ended up with the more subdued version. I'm still going for massage therapy and chiropractic treatments but overall, I came out relatively unscathed. My broken nose healed nicely with only a slight bump right where my glasses sit. (so really, kind of handy!)

The end of August saw the end of my friend Murray working at /A\. I was very sad to see him go. Murray has been my confidante, sounding board, support network and general go-to guy. We still get together for regular lunch and coffee gossip sessions but it's just not the same. We miss ya Murray!



September brought the 2009 Film Festival. Wow...it was a good one. The first autograph I got was Matt Damon followed by George Clooney! It was a star-studded 4 days in Toronto but by the end I was totally exhausted!

Soon enough it was October, Thanksgiving and my favourite season: autumn. Although, it always passes too quickly. A few short weeks of sunny days, crisp nights and colourful trees turns into colder, greyer days, leaves slowly falling to reveal naked trees and the need to pull out the winter coat.

It was during the fall, I decided to go back to school! For several years, I have been contemplating what to do, as the uncertainty at work continues. After thinking about every career imaginable, it was my coworker Scrappy that suggested Corporate Communications and Public Relations. I'm pretty excited about it, as it seems to be a really good fit for me. I am starting with a couple of courses in January which I will transfer to a full time program in September. I hope to do 2 more in May - August and when it comes time to be working and schooling full time, I will have lessened my load. We'll see how this all pans out :)

And, without getting too personal, Jason & I have decided to part ways. It has been an emotional time as we both still care very much for each other. This was a very difficult decision, but we are slowly working through the process.

So, as 2009 draws to a close, I look forward to all that 2010 has in store.

The End of the Beetle Era

The impact of being rear-ended goes far beyond the shattering glass and mangled metal. It takes over a little space in your mind and is like a movie on a loop. This can get emotionally exhausting.

On Saturday night, Jason & I were on our way home from my friend Sue's house. We were stopped at a red light when a pick up truck slammed into the back of us. But, there was no warning! No headlights in my mirror, no tires squealing, horn blaring... I had no idea what happened. In fact, I thought some type of explosion had gone off behind us. The first thing I remember was the exploding sound and my face planted in the steering wheel. The next thing I remember, the car was down the street on the opposing side and Jason was telling me to stop the car. I still had no idea what was happening. Neither of us had ever been in an accident before and were in shock.

I remember a girl appearing at the door, insisting I get out before the air bag went off. Jason was hesitant to move me in case I had injuries, but she seemed to think it might go off any time and it would injure me more. So, I was helped out of the car and onto the sidewalk. It was then that I realized we were hit by something...someone and that I had blood all over me. The "airbag" girl gave me her jacket to stop the bleeding. She was convinced that I had broken my nose. I think she was in an accident herself...she seemed to be quite helpful.

Very soon the ambulance, police & fire arrived. During this time I was still confused as to what had happened. Jason confirmed that the truck that hit us was still there, but back at the intersection, so I never did see the driver or the truck. In fact, I didn't see the damage to my car until the next day. (probably a good thing) Jason & I were both strapped to boards and loaded into 2 ambulances.

It was such a surreal experience going in the ambulance. I always assumed it would be a smooth trip, but it was really jostly and seemed to take forever. It's really strange when you can't see anything peripherally...just the ceiling. Especially once we got to the hospital. We were wheeled into a curtained corner and waited for a while. (seemed like a long time, but maybe it wasn't) When you're the one that is in the crisis...it is a totally different experience. I was wondering where all the people were that were going to help me??? I could just hear voices of people that were putting in a regular night at work, talking about vacation, kids, etc. We were just a number.

We were finally checked out by a doctor. Jason had a few stitches in his head and I had a broken nose and a black eye. I was a little surprised when the nurse gave me a package of warm wet wipes and said I could clean myself up. I knew we weren't at the spa, but come on? She couldn't even clean the blood off my face for me? I had no mirror and no idea what I looked like. It was strange. In the process of treating me, my shirt was cut off. When it was time to leave...I realized I had no shirt to wear home!! I ended up zipping my hoodie up to the top. Ironically, our cabbie for the ride home had seen the accident! Strange.



So, the last few days have been filled with phone calls, faxes, appointments, etc. My car, unfortunately, is a goner. I have to admit I got a little teary-eyed when I saw it on Sunday. I hadn't seen the crunched-in side on Saturday night. It was strange to see my little bug all twisted up like that. The truly annoying thing is that I just had it detailed - inside & out - ONE WEEK before the crash. It was a strange contrast to see the freshly shampooed seats & floor mats covered in glass and a little of my blood!

I will finish this post for now as I have so many things still to take care of. Thanks to all of you for your encouraging notes & phone calls.

I Love My Mechanic!

My friend Sue says, that as you make your way through life, it is important to find yourself a good hair stylist and a good mechanic. If you can put complete trust in these two people...you are set.

I found my stylist about 5 years ago. The mechanic was a bit trickier. Since my brother is a Class A Mechanic at a Ford dealership, I originally took my Ford Tempo to him for repairs. Then I bought a VW. I faithfully took it to the dealership for oil changes and repairs while it was under warranty. However, I always felt like I was being taken for a ride...and not in my car. Their customer service was less than ideal and their prices were outrageous.

A little place called "Autobahn Motors" caught my eye while driving past. It had a classic Beetle in its showroom, so it was worth checking out :) What I discovered inside was a small operation with excellent service and decent prices. I have come to put complete trust in my mechanic Chris.

Even though he knows I have no idea how a car works, he always takes the time to show me the problem, the parts, etc. and explain what is wrong. If he thinks I can drive it for a while before it needs to be fixed, he'll tell me that. If he thinks it is unsafe for me to drive it, he'll give me a loaner until it is repaired.

Yesterday I was in the area and decided to pop in and get him to check a noise that my car had been making for a few days. Even though I didn't have an appointment, he took about 20 minutes to take it for a drive and find out what was making the noise. He assured me it is nothing to worry about and sent me on my way without charging me a cent.

I think this kind of customer service is awesome. So, if you're in the London area and drive a VW, I suggest taking your car to Chris to be seviced.

Punchbuggy

Since I can remember I have loved the Volkswagen Beetle. Of course, it was the classic Beetle I first fell in love with and for many years, it was my dream car. When Volkswagen came out with the new Beetle, at first I scoffed at it. How could they think of changing such a good thing? And, I thought they were ugly.

Well, as time passed, they kind of grew on me. Of course, it would be much more practical to drive a new car than one that has had a longer life than me! In 2002 I purchased my yellow Beetle (I like to call her Beatrice) At that time, the bugs were a novelty car and it got lots of attention. Now they're everywhere!

In fact, about a year after I bought mine, my friend Karla Ann bought a green one. It's always fun to park them beside each other and we've had lots of lemon/lime jokes.

Of course, driving a Beetle you get to see lots of people punching each other as they see you on the street. Not because this car incites violence, but because of the old "punch buggy" game. Jason and I have become avid players, developing a sort of "beetle radar". We each have our weakness...he never gets the silver ones and I often miss the green ones. It gets a little intense as there are FOUR punch buggies between my place & his. We both know where they park and strive to be the first to see it.

I thought everyone knew the punch buggy game. However, I recently punched my Grammie in the arm as I called out "PUNCH BUGGY" and she thought I had lost my mind! I've had similar experiences with my mom, friend Robbyn and my niece Abby. Abigail thought it was great fun and a few weeks later informed me she plays with her brother Josh, but she always wins. 'atta Girl!