Tuesday, April 10, 2007

What season is this anyway?

It's gorgeous outside today. Deceivingly chilly, but beautiful nonetheless. It's in the fifties, which isn't nearly as warm as I'd like, but it's a far cry better than the twenties we experienced this weekend. I just don't get it. I think the weather has a split personality. Of course, now that it's turning warm again, our attention turns to the grasslands we're cultivating. Our lawnmower was in the shop during the last warm spell when the entire neighborhood mowed their lawns. We quite seriously appear to be the neighbors no one would want. Ordinarily, we are great about keeping our lawn mowed...the pesky maintenance people just wouldn't give the lawnmower back. M has been very distraught. I fear, however, that our lawnmower won't be up to the task it will face upon its return home. Anyone got a bush-hog lying around? If so, swing by our house.

I think I'm going to take baby girl on a walk this afternoon. It'll be the first one in over a week because of the weather. Otis will have to sit it out, though. His cough is nasty, and I know he'd exacerbate the situation by pulling on the walk. He's getting a super-duper cough suppressant tomorrow. The vet called it in for us. The poor little guy is coughing so hard that I fear for the safety of his ribs. He'll get better...

Beyond that, we're just chilling. Oh, I would like some opinions...

M and I are toying with the idea that we need a bigger vehicle. S and I filled the Matrix to capacity on our little road trip last week, and we didn't even take that much stuff (nor did we take her father, who tends to occupy a lot of space). I long ago declared that we would not buy another car unless it was a hybrid, though, and therein lies the rub. There are only a handful of autos bigger than the Matrix that are available as hybrids. We are most interested in the Saturn Vue. Anyone heard anything about it or know someone who drives a hybrid Vue? Our other option is to break my no-hybrid rule and go for a CR-V or RAV4, both of which get comparable gas mileage to the Vue. My head is spinning trying to decide what to do. Any suggestions?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can give you a pretty good round-up on the Rav-4, although to be fair, the one I know is a 1999, I believe the new ones are bigger. My mom has a Rav and we are currently driving it while she lives in St. Thomas and it is pretty small on the inside. Our other car is a Nissan Altima and has a lot more interior and trunk space than the Rav - very deceptive since the Rav is a mini SUV. Also, to make the gas affordable you have to buy a 4-cylinder instead of a 6 (my mom's is the 4), but it's frankly not enough power for the car so it really lags on hills. But like I said, the new style might be a little bigger, but that's my experience on the '99 style. Good luck though, I know the whole experience can be quite trying.

monkeymama said...

hey- who am I to judge? I am driving exactly what I said that I never would...a minivan(at least it is a Honda and it is kinda fun that it has automatic doors). I try to justify it by saying that I also need it for delivering flowers for weddings and whatnot. 15 years ago I wasn't getting married, definitley not having kids, and wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan...oh wasn't I smug and idealistic. I know that Em Strick has a Vue and really likes it. They have 2 kids and lots of junk to lug around.

Good luck-

Anonymous said...

Before we added Jackson to the family, I drove a CRV and really loved it. It was very roomy and the new ones appear to be even more so. We're Honda people, so that's all I really know about. I've driven their Odyssey minivan (very nice, but I will never be a minivan person. But, hey, at least I can say that I tried!) and now the Pilot, which I absolutely love. Its amazing how much stuff kids have, even when you try to keep it to a minimum. Good Luck in your search!

Anonymous said...

Look at a Ford Escape hybrid...34 mpg city...looks very sporty.