Memorial Day Weekend Reprise - Saturday
Got up early and attempted to go to the bank. Since we had the rallycar, Kris had to shuttle me around on my “errands.” There was a woman taking forever with the bank manager, who I needed to see, so we had to leave for my eyebrow waxing. I came out of the salon, expecting Kris to be waiting for me…no Kris and an unlocked, totally open rallycar. About ten minutes later he comes out of an automotive parts store with two quarts of oil. “She was low,” he says to me. I freaked out when he wasn’t there, then was worried about the car. Luckily Kris knows to check these things I wouldn’t even think about, and fixed it before there was a problem.
Half an hour later, we’re back at the bank. I go to open a checking account at the only bank I’d used for 18 years of my life, and for some reason still had a savings account at. This works out well; I can close my account in MA, but still be able to pay my bills and get direct deposit. “Good thing you left and came back. That other woman just left five minutes ago. Her purse and wallet were stolen, with everything in it,” the manager tells me when I step in her office.
Opened the account and headed home. Called Lynn, who invited us over. I finally got to meet her husband, Frank. They got married the first year I worked at the library, but I didn’t attend the wedding because I didn’t know her very well back then. That was just about 10 years ago! 
We got to see Frank’s Maserati - a pretty cool car. I quickly realized Kris and Frank could have talked for hours about car stuff. Lynn and I caught up on life, and they took a look a the rallycar. “What’s that red button for?” Frank asked. “It’s the NOS,” both Kris and I reply. “Really?” “No, but push it.” “Right now?” “Yes.” I’m sure Frank and Lynn expected something other than the sound of a water-filled horn.
Headed back home, and got in touch with Ray. Started some laundry, and headed out to his house. “Ray, there’s a racecar in the driveway.” His mom came out to take a look, and then the 3 of us headed out for the Mini test drive.
I’m so proud of myself. I test drove the Mini Cooper S 6-speed. I really liked it, and I haven’t been excited about a car in years. I have been yearning for a convertible BMW, but they are so expensive. Kris told me that Minis are also BMWs, and I still wasn’t convinced it was cool until I actually drove it. We also found out that the convertible Mini is coming out for 2005. I am seriously considering trading in the Malibu in a couple years, after driving the Mini, and Ray’s test drive in the Bimmer, which was almost too big for me. I loved the “zippiness” of the Mini, but I was a little disappointed when I realized I would need to put premium in the tank. Regardless, the Minis get better gas mileage than the Malibu, and considering what gas prices already are in California, even the Cooper would be ok.
Next we headed up to West Orange for a BBQ with Linda and Art. It was nice to see them, and get caught up. Saw some pictures and heard the stories from Val’s graduation. I wish we could have seen her and Bill too, but alas, they were not around. Marisa’s looking better than she did at this time last year. The last time I saw her was at Val’s play last summer, and she’d gained some weight - although it was hard to tell since she hid behind Gregg the entire time we “saw” them. Kris and I got home early enough to do some more laundry. Whoo.
