Another week jets by with no discernable checkpoints. Things simply happen, then more things happen, and then something different happens, and then it's next week. And then, of course, we just simply stand around stunned and say "what happened??".

So anyway, now it's next week. I got my car back at the quoted price, and it's working great. I spent lots of quality time with friends of quality. I did a whole whack of research, and headed out on the first car-shopping adventure.

The thing is, my car is working great, but it's already got 225,000km on the clock. Since I've recently done to it all the major work I can foresee for the next few years, I believe it really is time to move on up. My requirements for the new vehicle are simple: must have rear defrost; must have cup holders; must fit 3 or more people; must require minimal maintenance; must be at least quasi-sportific.

The first 3 of those criteria are due to the fact that my current 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse is sadly lacking in those areas. The fourth criterion is for my piece of mind, and the fifth is in case I am accidentally castrated and require a penis-surrogate.

I have a budget, a plan, and a list of cars to test drive. This past weekend's trip up-island, to check out the newly-arrived Mitsubishi dealership and its stock of Eclipsii, was mainly merely to satisfy a curiousity. The prices of the Eclipse in its various trim-types is nigh on prohibitive, and the superiour handling and soupy engine (that purred happily at 70km/h in a 50km/h zone) would probably cost me more in speeding tickets than the original sticker price!

Anyway, I don't want to reveal too much of my strategy and aims at this juncture, however you'll probably know as soon as I make a purchase.

The excitement of car-shopping is occupying an almost-disturbing amount of my brain at any given moment, the only hope: self-gratification. (I mean 'auto purchase', you pervs!)

That does segue nicely into some non-car-related memories from this weekend - a 3-hour discussion of "theories", in and around philosophy and regarding the state of the world and human kind. It was a conversation such as of old, during my salad days at university. A conversation of the type I dearly miss and hope to have more of in the near future.

But I digress; the relevant point was that there are two opposite paths to a "wantless" state: self-denial and self-gratification.

I guess I'm firmly a man of the West.