Not sure what year, probably a 2000 or 2002; it's only got 26,000 miles on it.

Very strange driving again. Felt very cautious at first, though by the evening I was getting comfortable being behind the wheel. I drove on Rt 3 so I got the highway part out of the way. It's a big car, which will take some getting used to. Soft breaks, less acceleration than my Civic (not surporising; it's probably got the same engine and 50% more weight).

I remember, years ago, hearing about an accident a friend of my father's was in. Bad accident, the car was totaled, he was seriously hurt. Months down the line he was physically ready to drive again, but emotionally it was s truggle fort him because of the accident. Not that I'm in as bad a situation as he was, but it really has shaken me, and made me very desfensive on the road. On the one hand it's a good thing to be a safer driver, but not to the point of paranoia.

Elsewhere, Liberty Mutal is already lubing up for the ass-raping. Firstly, they do not go by blue book value (supposedly is a NJ law; figures). they have an appraiser come in, look over the damage, then inspect the car for other flaws and ammenities, look up some undoubtedly bullshit figures about the general value of Hona Civics in my area, throw it all in a blender and then give me a figure for the car's value. The guy I spoke with is 90% certain they'll want to scrap the car.

But here'sd where the fun begins. Because according to the owner of the shop where my car currently is, the damage appears mainly cosmetic. The sticking points will be the windshield and the airbags, but the front-end damage is easily fixed (easily, not cheaply). And I'd much rather keep my car than get a new one. So I'll have to fight it out with my insurance. the good news is I can easily get an edge: if they're going by the value of the cars in my area, I can dig up prices on what a '98 Honda Civic is selling for, which will undoubtedly be higher than what my insurance will offer. Add in the amenities I've got--sun roof, 10-CD changer, $80 rims, under 60,000 miles on a five/six year old car--and I should have room to bargin.

It's going to be an interesting time, that's for sure.