35 Before 25 Completed: Fix Up the Car

When I originally envisioned this goal, it seemed like one of the easiest ones to accomplish. After changing the oil and touching up some dents, I'd be on my way to fielding a revitalized smooth-mobile. The reality is that I should have been grateful to have had my car this long without any problems. Since the initial posting, here's what's drained my purse:
- Headlight went out, which for some reason can only be replaced at the dealer. For $600. Ye gods.
- After cramming too much stuff (possibly laundry and/or my wii) into my trunk, I punched a hole into my subwoofer. That should set me back about $200.
- Estimates into taking care of the cosmetic dents came back at $700+, as few places are willing to do "paint-less" dent removal. I'm not interested in re-painting the car.
Other minor issues have come up, but the ultimate result is the same. There's a good reason that cars devalue so quickly. Not even the most paternal of car owners can protect their car from the elements or the riff-raff that call this town their home. Or my own stupidity, for that matter. In fact if I lived in a place like this, I probably wouldn't care what it looked like. So for now, I'm shelving the vanity, getting some style, and putting my money towards my freaking passport. Fucking feds.

I'll chalk this first goal up as complete, but I'm going to be unsettled if each of these has a stupid motivational poster life lesson attached as opposed to a funny picture.

35 Before 25: Fix Up the Car

It feels strange to say that I've had my car for five years already, but it is so. I should be more grateful than I am that I've had it this long without a major peep or problem. The only hiccup that's bugged me about it all this time is the dings and scratches it's accumulated. What's worse is that every single one (save one by the trunk) has been at the hand of someone else, usually while my car was parked and I was away helping blind orphans teach golden retriever puppies to become guide dogs. It's happened so often that I've rehearsed a face that I use when I come back to my car and find a new blemish. It's kind of like seeing that your four-year-old has crapped all over the sofa: you're angry for a few moments before defeat sinks in. After you've had your sofa crapped on so many times, it's not worth even complaining about any more.

So here's the plan: get some estimates from body shops, get a reasonable quote to patch up on the nooks and crannies and get the outside of the car to look as new as possible. Money is the only major obstacle here, but if it can be done under $300, then there's nothing standing in the way. Mr. Data, make it so.

Updated: here.