I am feeling an uproar coming on...

""Partner needed for mission from God," read the classified ad I spied online. "I'm driving across the country in a banana-yellow 1979 Cadillac Seville with a Lionel Richie photo dangling from the rearview mirror and the thousand-page manuscript of my autobiography piled in the trunk. The mission is driving to Mexico to find my biological father, a rancher. Swimming pools will be peed in, convenience stores trashed, and large sunglasses worn. If you accompany me, I'll pay you $1,000." In calling this to your attention, Libra, I'm not necessarily suggesting you take the guy up on his offer. However, I do hope you'll be alert for comparable proposals that would reward you for helping interesting characters carry out edgy, inspirational quests."

But my daily guidance may be what I keep in the front of mind today: "April 30, 2008 -- It is important that you stay cool in all situations, but especially those where there is money at stake. With Venus, your ruler, joining the Sun in the wealth area of your chart you will either win big or lose big - there is no in-between."

Whether it is my cosmic guidance for the week ahead or the following from my car buying "advisor" (versus salesperson to make it more do-able for me to even talk to him...) as I asked for information on new or used between $12,000-15,000 - do you see anything on the lower end? I guess there are no safe, fuel efficient used or new cars under $15,000. I also do not know what the "*" means...I had purposefully asked him to give me the best price the first time out - no going back to the backroom to the manager to "see what he can do". I include my response to him.

"Once again I am sorry about the delay caused by my
office PC trashing my fully typed email just before I
sent it.

Below I will list seven possible choices or paths to
your next vehicle. The first four will be if you went
with a new 2008 model car. The last three will be
pre-owned alternatives.

1. The 2008 Toyota Yaris Sedan. This is a nice little
sedan about the size of the last year's Corolla. This
car with a power package will give you the power
windows and locks you are used to in your previous
autos. This car equipped as stated with standard A/C
sells for $15,900.00*. This is a nice small sedan with
all the basic convenience options and nothing over the
top.

2. The 2008 Toyota Yaris Three Door. This is a little
two door wagon with a rear hatch. This is a little
smaller than the Toyota Matrix. This car with a power
package will give you the power windows and locks you
are used to in your previous autos. This car is also
equipped with standard A/C. We have this car equipped
with the optional alloy wheels, keyless entry and
remote vehicle starter. It sells for $16,449.00*
(without the extras about $15,900). This is a cute
little versatile wagon that get great fuel mileage.

3. The 2008 Scion xD. This is a nice little five door.
This car offers the convenience of a wagon and the
practicality of a sedan. It fall into the small
"Cross-Over" class. These are very useful cars whose
owners often come back to buy the same style car
again. You sit a little higher in this style car than
in a traditional sedan. This gives extra visibility
when driving on busy streets. This car has standard
A/C, power windows and locks. This basic car sells for
$15,970.00*. These are nice multipurpose vehicles.

4. The 2008 Scion xB. This is a little bigger five
door than the xD. This car is about the size of a
Corolla yet it offers interior room like a small SUV.
It too offers the convenience of a wagon and the
practicality of a sedan. It also falls into the small
"Cross-Over" class. These also have a incidence high
repeat buyers. In this car you sit a little higher
than in the xD. This gives extra visibility when
driving. his car has standard A/C, power windows and
locks. This basic car sells for $17,220.00*. These are
real nice multipurpose vehicles with a lot of storage
capacity.

5. We have a used 2007 Toyota Corolla S. This is a
Sport Package model. This is a real sharp little
pre-owned car that can be Toyota Certified giving it
extended factory warranty. This car has an automatic
transmission, power window, power locks and keyless
entry. The car has 27,436 miles and has an internet
sale price of $16,995.00. The car has a special sale
price of $15,800.00* This car can be looked up on our
website under stock number UT16447P. I remember you
said you were not into a red vehicle and this car is a
beautiful metallic red (almost candy apple red) with a
black cloth interior.


6. We have a used 2007 Toyota Corolla LE. This is a
nice sedate clean silver metallic LE model. This
pre-owned car can also be Toyota Certified. This car
has an automatic transmission, power window, power
locks. I need to check if it has keyless entry. The
car has 27,461 miles and has an internet sale price of
$15,995.00. The car has a special sale price of
$14,950.00* This car can be looked up on our website
under stock number UT16466P. .

7. The last vehicle I am going to visit is the
pre-owned RAV4. This vehicle was pointed out to me by
one off our Toyota general managers. This RAV4 is a
front wheel drive small SUV. This vehicle offers great
storage room and is a very versatile for an active
person. The front drive system offers better fuel
mileage than the all wheel drive configuration. This
RAV4 came into us as a owner trade. This vehicle can
also be seen on our website. The stock number is
UT294101 and it has 53,273 miles. I am going to double
check tomorrow on if this vehicle is eligible for
Toyota Certification."

Me to him: "A bit discouraging that there is nothing below my upper limit - I may have to re-frame my wish list. I guess the program car/used car or 2007 market
is not as strong as I thought it would be. I also thought that there was a
new car out there that started for less than $15,000 - but I guess they are
not ones that are fuel efficient and/or safe. If you can think of a way for
me to get under the $15,000 figure please let me know. Maybe that is why I
have been led to Mazdas in the past - I guess they are a cheaper car than
the ones your dealerships work with. I knew it sounded too easy in your
earlier emails...I had hoped to find a car by just a few emails back and
forth - oh well, it was a good thought.

Thank you for your research and I will get back to you after I check with a
Mazda dealer and CARMAX. I had hoped to avoid that, but I guess I was not
being realistic. Thank you."

I also HAD to shoot off an email to my boss that referred to one of the management level people as pathetic and voiced my disdain for another. It just irks me to no end when time, money and resources are wasted for no good reason - or no reason that is clear to the worker ant level.

Everyone is buzzing about their economic stimulus $ arriving. It is lucky I do not have the email addresses of the President or Cheney. But I guess I should also see how my legislators voted. It just seems so ridiculous.

I am also concerned about my son having to go through the process of renewing his license in NYC. I hate DMV and any other large bureaucratic bodies of our government. My son has inherited a short fuse approach from both his parents so I always wish I could figure out a way to assist him in getting those types of things done...but he is 25 now...so he will have to develop his own style with dealing with difficult people. It is not exactly that I have gotten that down at 55 - but I always hope for him that it is not a life long affliction as it is for me and his dad.

Here we go with my Wednesday. Keep a good thought for me.