Mine All Mine

I'm now the proud owner of a BMW 328i.

Don't we make a nice couple?

I was awake this morning early because it was warm in my room, but also probably because I was excited and had 1,000 things running through my head. So at 5 I got up, made coffee, and generally putzted around until after 9. My appointment wasn't until 10:45, but I wanted to run a couple errands on the base next to the dealership first.

I got there at 10:30 and another woman was there picking up her car too--a Mini Cooper. We both went with separate BMW salesmen. I rode with Nate to the Mainz BMW dealership. It was HUGE and all the cars were shiny and pretty and sparkly. All the cars to be picked up were on the ground level inside. We started walking around and I spotted mine right away--a mother knows her own child, right? (Okay that was a weird statement.) Another mechancial guy got the key and drove it outside under the overhang. It was kind of a tight squeeze, so I'm thinking, "please don't scratch it."

Nate showed me the fancy key and how it worked, he showed me the trunk, the engine, then sat inside to see how all the gadgets work. I'm really going to have to study up on this stuff. The only bad thing is that my GPS isn't loaded with the European roads, just the American ones. So we checked to see if that could be done today. Unfortunately, it can't be loaded without deleting the American ones, but there is a code to prevent that from happening and Munich has approved that to happen starting next week. Bummer. I was hoping to have the GPS, so I could go drive around this weekend and not get lost.

For whatever reason, BMW only gave me about 1/8 of a tank of gas. You'd think that after paying that much money for a car, the least they could do would be to spring for a tank. Whatever. So afterwards, I was trying to get gas on base, but needed a gas card, which can only be registered certain places on base. Not the base I was on of course and they wouldn't make an exception at all, even though I had my ID, my registration, and the funds with which to pay. I found my way back to the other base close to my hotel, got what I needed, had lunch, filled the tank, and came back home.

Unfortunately, it's been raining all day and right now it's terribly windy and raining. I'm worried about the car, so I think I'm gonna go sit in it, read up on the iDrive system, and get to know each other. I'll make sure to post some more pictures once I smear the license number from the picture and maybe, if the sun ever decides to come out, you can see how purdy she truly is.

The Long Day is Over

Up and at 'em this morning to catch a ride to base at 7 to be at the driver's class and to take my test for my license. I could have fallen asleep I was so tired during the class, but knew he was giving us information that was on the test, so I made sure I paid attention. The test was 100 questions and there were a few I guessed on. I didn't want to be that person who failed the test, so I made sure I went over it twice. I was watching when he checked my answers, but I don't know how many I got wrong. The bottom line is that I PASSED!! Whew, what a relief! My official license should be mailed to me within 30 days.

Next order of business was to register and tag the car I have yet to see or smell for that matter. I went right next door, gave them my paperwork. The only thing missing was the horsepower of my car. Seriously?? The horsepower?? And she wouldn't finish the registration without it. So I call my BMW agent--no answer. (Insert swearing here.) Next, I called my sponsor's husband Ryan, who was going to pick me up afterward. He got on the internet and guessed it at 230. I know you guys are saying, "why the hell wouldn't she know the horsepower?" Honestly, the color matters to me more than the horsepower. Well, that and that I look good driving it. Duh! I mean, when you consider I was driving an 8 year old Saturn running on gerbils, ANYTHING is going to feel like it has more horsepower than my trusty Saturn.

Got my plates, Ryan picked me up, and we went over to the other base. Right outside is where my BMW dealer is located, so I stopped in to talk to him. Unfortunately, my car wasn't there yet. I guess it's sitting at a Mainz BMW dealer, but I can pick it up TOMORROW!! I'm supposed to be there at 10:45 and you can bet I'll be early. So what if I have to sit waiting amongst new, shiny, BMWs in the showroom sipping coffee and inhaling the sweet smell of new cars and leather?

I also got a cellphone today. Now I don't feel so naked or helpless. If you would like to have my number, just let me know.

So I got lots of stuuuffff accomplished today, including my load of laundry I currently have going in the basement. The weights are slowly being lifted...now maybe I should try lifting some of my own and get back into shape.