Peppy's Dream Moving Adventure Blog

I was very excited when I woke up this morning, because I knew I was getting my new PT Cruiser today!  We were waiting for a call from ENTERPRISE, letting us know our car had arrived.  In the meantime, we wanted to run some errands, so we went out in the KIA RIO.  The first stop we made was at JAVANICAN, the little coffee shop on Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach.  We saw our new friend, Durae.  She is SO sweet.  She actually came out from behind the counter to give me a hug – just from talking to us once before!  There was another lovely girl working there, too (we didn’t catch her name).

Eric got a breakfast burrito and I got a salad.  Their food is so fresh, organic and natural, you feel healthier just eating there!  Durae told us about the Swap Meet, which is a great place to get furnishings for our apartment.  She also told us about BIG LOTS, which is also a great place to get stuff like towels, bedding, etc.  We’re going shopping tomorrow and now we know exactly where to go!

After brunch, we went to CVS to pick up a few necessities.  Then, we went back to the RV to wait for “the call.”  They called at 2:00pm and I told them I’d call the insurance company, get everything set up, and see them at 4:00pm.  I spoke to our insurance company, gave them ALL the information and asked them to fax the insurance cards and other information to ENTERPRISE. 

The insurance company was closing at 3:00pm, and we weren’t picking up the car until 4:00pm, so I told them to PLEASE make sure they faxed the information before they closed and Steven assured me that he would.

We got to ENTERPRISE and Mark took me around to the back to check out the car.  I was told it was “purple,” which I assumed was the same color I had in New York (which was actually more of a burgundy or eggplant).  It wasn’t the same at ALL.  It’s more lavender or very light purple.  I LOVE it!  I was so happy and I knew Eric would be happy, too, because he didn’t like how the white primer underneath showed, when you got a tiny chip from a rock hitting the car (I had a million on the PT in New York from riding on the L.I.E.).  The lighter the color, the less it will show.

This 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Touring Sport 4 Door Wagon has lots of options that my 2001 didn’t have, including a digital compass, mileage per gallon calculator, and a console with two storage compartments that doubles as an arm-rest!  I am going to take pictures tomorrow (if I can get my camera to cooperate), so I hope to show it to everyone on the blog!  In the meantime, these are pictures I got off the internet, so you can see the color (which they call “Opal” online) and the cute gray interior.  The dashboard isn’t red like in the picture – it’s the same light purple color!

After Eric and I took it for a test drive (I drove!), we came back to the office and Eric started cleaning the windows and dashboard (who is surprised by this?) while I went inside to do the paperwork with John.  The first thing I found out is that he never received the insurance info from the insurance company.  This led to a lot of phone calls and on-line investigations, but we finally were able to resolve the problem.  Next, we had to discuss what type of extended warrantee I wanted.  This involved a lot of complicated math that completely overwhelmed me, but I think I made the right decision (an additional 36,000 miles or 5 years -- whichever comes first).

Finally, it was time to sign all the paperwork.  I swear, I never signed my name so many times (well, maybe that’s not true – after all, we did just sell a house!).  Anyway, it seemed like a LOT of paper and a lot of signatures!

So, while I was doing all this writing of checks, signing of papers, calling insurance companies, etc., I realized that I didn’t have my keys with me.  Eric and I each have a complete set of keys to the RV.  When we both go to take a shower at the same time (which we did this morning) we both take our keys, so that whoever gets back first can get back inside.  Unfortunately, Eric and I met outside (we had perfect timing!).  He let me back in the RV, so I did not realize I didn’t put my keys back in my purse.

I panicked, but there was nothing I could do.  I was pretty sure I had left them in the bathroom, but I had to wait until we were done before I could head back to the campground to try to find them.

We finally got out of there, and drove off into the sunset in our new PT Cruiser!  I drove as fast as I could back to the campground and rushed into the office to ask if anyone had turned in a set of keys.  No one had.  I then asked the guards at the gate if anyone had turned in a set of keys.  No one had.  I was REALLY panicking now.  I rushed into the ladies’ room and checked the shower, where I thought I had left the keys, and all the counters in the bathroom, to see if someone had found them and left them there for me.  They were nowhere to be found.

I got back in the car and was ready to cry.  I was so upset.  It wasn't just the keys, which would be a huge inconvenience.  It was also a key ring I had on there that had a heart-shaped medallion hanging from it.  My sister-in-law, Robin, gave it to me about 24 years ago.  It said:

                      I ♥ ERIC

I have had it all these years and the thought of losing that made me so sad.  I always say that I never lose ANYTHING.  I’m really super-responsible and very careful about stuff, so I was so mad at myself.  Eric said not to be upset and said he was sure they were in the RV, in the little green plastic basket where I keep all my bathroom stuff – the shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc.  So, we rushed back to the RV, I ran to check and he was right – they were there!  I was SO happy and relieved.  I TOLD you I never lose anything!

We left the RV to go out to dinner.  We decided to head to our favorite sushi place (on Garnet – where else?) – HAIKU SUSHI.  We love their food so much.

It was only about 7:00pm and it was not yet very crowded.  We sat at a table not far from the sushi bar and the two sushi chefs started talking to us.  There was a girl sitting at the sushi bar by herself and we all started talking.  One chef, Jin, is SO funny.  He was telling us about the dreams he was having while napping before his Thanksgiving dinner.  We talked about a restaurant in France where you eat in total darkness.  Some people say it enhances the experience, because your senses are heightened and you really enjoy the food.  Others say it is not fun at all, because you can’t tell what you are eating and it’s messy and scary to put something in your mouth when you don’t even know what it is.

I said I didn’t think I’d enjoy it, because I’m really into presentation.  Sushi is one of those foods that is presented in such an artistic way that it makes the entire experience more enjoyable.  I said I like to look at my food while I’m eating it.  Jin said he likes to look at himself while he’s eating, but he doesn’t always have a mirror around!  He’s very cute and funny.

We had a delicious meal (as usual).  Their sushi is the best.  We were saying how sorry we are that our friends and family aren't here, so we could take them to HAIKU SUSHI, because a lot of them love sushi as much as we do.  I know they'd all enjoy it a lot.

Tonight, we started with seaweed salad, shumai and edamame and then had two rolls: a Volcano and a Special Haiku Roll.  I can’t remember all the ingredients in these rolls, but they were both fabulous.

We decided not to get our usual Fried Green Tea Ice Cream and went to 7/11, so we could play California Lotto (for the first time) and get some Ben & Jerry’s “Lighten Up” frozen yogurt.

We headed back to the RV, had dessert and watched DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS, which Eric and I both really enjoy!  We love seeing if we can remember the lyrics to popular songs and are sometimes surprised when we thought we knew them, but were wrong!  It’s a fun show.

Tomorrow, we’re going shopping (or should I say I’m going shopping, while Eric waxes the PT Cruiser in the parking lot).  I want to go to BIG LOTS to buy new sheets for our beautiful new bed.  I also want to hit the Swap Meet to find a small dresser for our bedroom.  We need a place to put the TV!  Going shopping for our new apartment – it’s very exciting!