Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Hooray! Exaltation! Accomplishment! I did it! I got a cheaper car! Only $100 a month cheaper, but that's helpful anyway, and I feel ever so much better. Insurance should drop a tad as well. Funny thing, though--I drove in with a 2001 Ranger, and drove out with.. a 2001 Ranger. But a different one! This one is white, pretty no-frills--4-cylinder, AM/FM only, no tilt or cruise, no bucket seats. But again, it's cheaper, will get better gas mileage, should cost less for insurance, and it's cheaper. Did I mention that it's cheaper? That was really the most important thing for me. I'm just thrilled because I really didn't expect to be able to get out of the lease on my Radley. And I'll miss Radley a lot, but at least this isn't much of a change! And it seems pretty sprightly for a 4-cylinder anyway--maybe even better than the little 6-cylinder Radley had. Must be geared differently. Anyway, there's a lot of work to be done on it--I miss the bucket seats, and I definitely need a cd player, asap. But it's hopefully a good start in getting my financial straits straightened out once more.

A picture of the new truck. Since it's a 5-speed, and doesn't seem like a lesbian to me, as Radley did, I figure this one is a boy. Good thing, because I'm not too fond of lesbians these days. Ahem. Anyway, anyone out there have any ideas for a name?