GATHER 'ROUND KIDS, I GOT A STORY TO TELL YOU TODAY.

I went out to the dentist today with both my parents, with the plan being that after the dentist was done (and my dad got his hair cut), we would drive out to one of the car dealerships I wrote down to start bargaining for my new car. The dentist and the haircut both went fine (yay no cavities!) so we sped over to the car dealership further north.

We were going with the intent of replacing Falcon Peak, and since I really enjoyed that car, we figured we'd go for another Ford Focus. I test drove two, they both felt fine and I would have been happy with either. Both used cars; we have always bought used cars. I think the salesman thought I was a teenager or something, 'cause he kept complimenting me on how good I was driving, and asked if I was under 18. Maybe he was just being flattering or something, but dude...I've been driving for almost nine years. I know how to brake properly. 8| Anyways, we intended to try and buy the Focus with less miles on it (only 17,000, wow!) Dad explained how we were replacing the car that got totaled, so most of the payment would be the insurance money, plus a little extra from savings. We already have two car payments in the works, plus both my brothers in college, so the intent was to pay in cash right there instead of financing. In dad's experience, you can bargain down a used car about 20-25% of the listed price and it will still turn a profit for the dealership while being much easier on the buyer. So dad gave the salesman a price that we were willing to pay (about 25% off the listed price), and the salesman went to talk to the finance boss.

Now, before I go any further, there are a few things you need to understand about my dad.

Anyone who has met my dad in real life (and I know there's a few of you on here!) will know that he is not an intimidating man. He is a short, very small, very scholarly-looking guy. Glasses, graying beard, nice shirts, the whole "elder book nerd" deal. He is generally soft-spoken and compromising. He doesn't lose his temper. He doesn't raise his voice. When he is angry, he is usually pretty quiet, and I very rarely see him get angry. That's just not how he rolls.

Got that? Cool. So anyway, after fifteen minutes of waiting at the desk (a rather long time for this, really) the salesman comes back out after talking to the finance guys. He shows us the price that they are willing to go for, which is...nothing at all different from their original price. In fact, with the necessary taxes, licensing and other fees, it was more money than the window price. There was no bargaining here.

And holy crap, dad got ANGRY. His face and neck kind of tightened up and his face started to change color a bit. He leaned forward like he was preparing for an epic tableflip. He raised his voice to just a couple of levels below yelling, and was all "No, I am not willing to play this game with you." There was just a little bit of banter between the salesman and dad, but he wasn't willing to back off and talk to the finance guys about going down, so dad basically went NO, GTFO and we got up and left. I have not seen him get that angry in years. My mom and I were sitting there with these O_O looks on our faces the whole time. DAYUM.

So, I did not get a replacement for Falcon today. But I did get to see what happens when small-and-quiet Lynxdad feels he's being cheated on a car. And that is not something you'll see every day...or any day, for that matter!

For today's movie month movie...

( Day 3 - Blazing Saddles )

ONE MOOOOOOORE THING. There are two new Lunargyros pages today. Not only that, but for this month, Lunargyros will have DOUBLE UPDATES. So expect a new update this Friday, too!

Drawing: LG today

Writing: Still treatments

Days until BBS release: 35

Uuugh more yuckiness this week...I have a dentist's appointment tomorrow, a physical on Thursday, and somewhere in between that I need to get a new car. @_@ My rental had to be returned, so now it's time to hunt for something new, and it has to be done before dad leaves since he's the one in the family who can manage to bargain on price really well.

At least the painting for church yesterday went well! A little nerve-wracking since I had to paint fast, but I managed, and people seemed to really like it. So, I'm glad I agreed to do it.

IN THE MEANWHILE. I have started movie month! Some random thoughts follow, but since there's spoilers (does it really count? IDK) I'll put them behind a cut.

( Day 1 - The Lives of Others (Das Leben Der Anderen) )

( Day 2 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind )

Drawing: Finished that fanart, and some thumbnails

Writing: Treatments

Days until BBS release: 36

First things first: two new Lunargyros pages, you can read 'em here.

Well, I have sent purapea on her way today, so the room is empty of friends once again. THANK YOU FOR VISITING, PURA, YOU WERE TOTALLY AWESOME TO HAVE AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN ANYTIME ♥♥♥ *huuuugs* Also gonna hang with yamikonumber7 and rebmakash today while she's still in Cali, so more funness tonight!

I've decided what movies I'm going to watch through the month of August. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Tried to go with what is cheapest; couldn't find everything on YouTube, but we'll see. I may or may not do random thoughts on them while I'm watching throughout the month.

( Full list here )

Also, the verdict is in, and apparently my car is completely totaled...it's not worth the cost to repair it. :( Which means I'm going to have to say goodbye to Falcon, and when the time/insurance money is available, go shopping for a new car...

I will miss Falcon Peak greatly. It's never given me much grief, and has been faithful through the rest of my schooling at Gnomon, many trips to Disneyland and other cons, and late-night food and airport runs. Great engine gummis gave it a lot of pep for such a small car. We planned so much of Daisychain, especially lots of the endgame, while in Falcon Peak. It was a source of all sorts of creative brainstorming, and was patient through my constant motormouth syndrome. I'm sorry it had to end this way, Falcon...you will be missed. :(


Drawing: Lots of LG for sure, we'll see what else

Writing: Still writing some stuff up...

Days until BBS release: 41

Yes, two posts one right after the other, but I don't have much else to do right now so I'm posting anyway.

OKAY SO, in the month of August (so a couple of weeks from now) I think that I am going to hold off on any video games until BBS comes out, and instead focus on movies. For how much I want to, y'know, work in entertainment, I don't think that my movie literacy is up to snuff. So in the month of August, I will make it a point to watch one movie that I haven't seen yet every day of the month. 30 new movies should help me a bunch!

Flist, I want YOU to recommend me movies to watch! It can be anything you can think of, but since I am specifically looking to expand my movie literacy, I am looking for classics and/or landmarks in film. The sort of things people go "what, you haven't seen that?!" when you mention not having seen it.
- Black and white films are a-o-kay, even encouraged. Any time period is fine.
- Comedy, drama, action, don't care what it is, as long as it's good. I am not a fan of horror/slasher and would rather avoid horror recs (unless it's a classic/landmark film, like 'Alien.')
- No classically bad films, please! I get plenty of my bad-film dosage from MST3K! Would prefer good films for this.
- I love animated films the most, but just FYI, you will be VERY hard-pressed to find a Disney film that I haven't seen.
- If I've already seen it, I'll let you know!

EXTRA CREDIT: If you can link me to your movie rec on YouTube, Hulu, iTunes or any other place online, in return I will give you a free sketch request! (Something small and non-complicated, please.)

THANK YOU FLIST! And in return, I'll offer up a few movies that are pretty classic that other dudes may not have seen yet:

Wait Until Dark (Thriller/Suspense, 1967)
It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World (Comedy, 1963)