Originally Posted By avromark I work for a University and statistics show that kids working more than 10 hours a week have a significantly lower graduation rate than those who don't. In winter my car has 16" Nokian Hakkapeliita's, in the spring-summer it runs on MX4's It had Uniroyal Tiger Paw Nail Gards on from the factory (self sealing tires, but with the tire pressure monitor and a spare in the back I don't see the point) Aside from grants and a scholarship I put myself through college. I graduated, then did a 2-year diploma program. Did a few industry certs. Still have my food handler cert lol. I did 2 jobs in college, I sold Appliances (everyone's done retail right) and worked for Campus Athletics, as a "Controller" great job, let me do work on my projects too heh. (Just don't tell them). My first car was a beast wagon, my dad had it for 7 years, it towed a trailer. Need I say more? He was getting rid of it because it had a head gasket leak, needed new shocks, tires etc. Agreed if I could get it to pass safety he'd give it to me. In high-school I worked since gr 9. I bought a jalopy in college after that died for less then a thousand from a nurse(my favourite car, took me and my friends on road trips, went home (2 1/2) hour commute every weekend, etc.) Never buy a wagon in college you'll end up being recruited as the "driver". I drove that car till it died. I'm taking a step back working 1 f/t and 1p/t hours instead of what I was doing before. But I may step up again. I bought a car based on what other people said was good (Ok and at the time I thought I met my love, but anyways) it was inexpensive for a used Camry (keeping its value is a bad thing for the person who purchases it used), it died with only 168k on its odo. My current car I paid cash, cost a third the Camry, has not been in the shop as much, is on it's original tranny and is well over 168k. She's actually 17 months older then the car she replaced. The great thing about it is I can go to bad parts of time and since it's "America's favourite rental car" I can park in bad areas and not worry about having my car disappear on me. Who's gonna steal a Taurus? Best of all she has all the features I didn't get on the Camry (leather wheel, electronic climate control, 2 sunvisors per side, traction control, heated mirrors, power pedals/seat/lumbar etc) and my seat is no longer reclined too far back. (I was asked to play Football in high school, decided hockey and Rugby were to my liking)
Originally Posted By cape cod joe Dave--I'm glad my wife doesn't read or know about LP as she keeps on complaining about running our business, the house, kids, etc. Your wife is lucky to have you and it was very nice of her to chime in and give you moral support for your tv appearance today. We have our 5 bucks in for tomorrow's megamillions> so 52 mill after taxes> I give away 50% so with 26 mill Dave maybe I can pay your DW to show my DW the ways of the D goddess.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe av--Dave had mentioned in post 18 about his DW being a DG. So I was fantasizing that someday my dw could be trained by his dw to be a dg? Follow that? You will be tested.
Originally Posted By avromark oops, guess that's the problem when just reading the most recent posts.
Originally Posted By Ursula Wow, what a great gift for your daughter!!!!! She's very lucky!!!! I wonder if cars are geographically related? I bought my first car at 15.5 years of age. I paid with my own money. I needed a car so that I'd stop hounding my parents and my sister for rides and the bus was becoming more and more unsafe to get back and forth to the beach, school, and to babysit. We didn't have a school bus (who did?). At one point growing up, we had five cars, a motorhome, a motorcycle, a dune buggy, and an ATC for four people.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess That's fantastic, Road Trip! You sound like an amazing father. Your daughter is blessed! Interestingly enough, I dropped out of college after just one semester because I wanted to work full-time and buy myself.... you guessed it.... a NEW CAR. My mother told me no one would hire me without a degree (I guess that was supposed to be my big deterrent); I was hired by a computer science company two days later. Here I am, 38 years old, and I never did complete even my A.A. degree. I guess I could've, but somehow I managed to work my way up as a civil servant enough that it wasn't really worth it to me to go back. I do still regret it to some extent, though. Anyway, I think you did the right thing. I hope my children are as goal-oriented as Rachel and that I, too, can someday surprise them with something as exciting.
