Rental Cars, New Cameras, and Cuteness

We had a rental car while the Hybrid was in the shop getting a new rear bumper. Why was it getting a new rear bumper? That would be because some jerk ran into the car in a parking lot and did not leave a note or wait around for me to come out of the store. Why are people so rude and inconsiderate? I was so upset over this whole situation, it really made me mad. I would like to think that if I was the hitter versus the hit-ee that I would have done the responsible thing. It is over and done with at this point so there is no use getting angry about it again.

Back to the rental. I asked for a full size since we have a kid and a dog we kinda need a car with a backseat and some room. The rental places idea of a full size was a Jetta. Really!? There was no backseat to this car. It had the same amount of room that Craig's Mazda has and that is pretty much none. Craig got to drive the rental while I drove the Mazda because at that point who really wanted to transfer kid crap into a car the same size as the one that the crap was already inside. (For the record, for how short a period of time that we had the rental I should have just gotten the luxury! At least then I know I would have had something to fit all my stuff into.) After driving the rental Craig decided that 1) his next car was going to be an automatic and 2) he would not be buying a Jetta. (For the record it was the rental model and did not have the good engine.)

I only got to drive the rental once, and it made me realize a couple things. 1) I am really used to a car that does not shift gears. I am really loving that feature in the Altima (CVT). Nice and smooth, the only time you feel a shift is when it will transfer for electric to gas or after you slam on the gas and let off. 2) Turn signal indicators on the side mirrors is distracting. I found myself looking at them and also thinking I was really close to an imaginary car. 3) I like big cars, or at least cars that have backseats. I do not like to feel closed in while I am in a car.

Now on to fun stuff! I got my new camera and I LOVE it. Yes! Capital L-O-V-E! The picture quality is great. It does HD video. And a whole lot of other stuff that I do not know about yet. I need to read the book AND learn to take pictures. So far I am only using the auto mode. I mean really, who understands all the other stuff on it ... not me!

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Jackson that I have taken so far. I love his smirk and the fact that he is trying so hard to crawl! He is at such a fun stage right now. I can honestly say while I loved the newborn stage, this is a way more fun time!