So, how do you like the new car?

People keep asking me that.

I keep saying that so far I haven't done anything with it but go to and from work.

I wish it were bigger. It's not big enough to take both dogs AND stop at Walgreens AND K-Mart AND the grocery store all in one trip.

I wish it were a different color. Silver shows dirt almost as much as white. Friday I noticed it looked like someone had dripped syrup all over one side of it, so I had to spray cleaner-polisher on it yesterday. I suppose that reaction may wear off after a year or so. I have a friend who has hers "detailed" (and how did cleaning a car come to be called "detailing," anyway?) once a month or so, but I can't afford that; any "detailing" done to this car will have to be done by Yours Truly. Also the black carpeting shows dirt like crazy. I haven't vacuumed it but I am going to have to get different floor mats. Maybe rubber ones.

I still wish the sound was better. I like having the CD player in it--I had to install one in the van--but for a car with 8 speakers the sound is disappointing.

I do like the sunglasses holder over the rearview mirror. I keep reading glasses in it. I like the sunroof (although I don't so much like trying to reach it to keep it clean). I like the way it smells (not a new-car smell; it's a different scent, and I like it).

I also like that the windows aren't tinted because--other people can see the dogs when I have them with me. *lol* Yesterday we drove through Wendy's and the servers at the window oohed and ahhed over them. Then when we were at a stoplight, the guy in the next lane honked to get my attention, then shouted "Beautiful dogs! We have three!"

While I was cleaning off the car yesterday I took a look at the license plates and worried that they might chip the paint. The van had a sort of built-in plate frame/holder, so I'm thinking I may need to get a couple for the Kia. GSD ones, of course. I need a couple of bumper stickers, too.

I finished the vest last night; now I need another project! I don't know that I'll wear it, but it was fun to make, and I recommend it as a project. It's in the Fall 1997 issue of Knitters (and that's exactly why I don't toss my knitting magazines out!), the Rib-Warming Trio, p. 80.

I used two skeins of hand-painted rayon boucle I got in a grab-bag sale. The colorways are related but not identical; as you can see above, the back and sides have green and the front has red, but the pink and lavender holds it together. Sort of.

I'd like to make something for my 2-year-old nephew, but I'm not sure what. I've been thinking of making one of the way-cute dinosaur sweaters from the Winter 1993 Knitters (p. 16), but I need to check the stash and see what colors in worsted weight I have. I'm also thinking of doing an Aran for him. He's very fair with very blue eyes, so a light blue would be pretty for him and still show off the stitches.