I haven't had a car payment for two years. I paid off my phat, pimped-out '98 Geo Metro (that's right, ladies... I know you feelin' me) in '04. Yeah, it was the envy of the road... almost as cool as this Metro right here. Getting it paid off, actually owning it... well, it was a nice feeling. I was glad to make one less payment every month from then until today.

Today, I bit the bullet and bought the car that our family has needed for some time now.

This isn't a picture of the one I bought... I found this pic on the internet, and it is absolutely indistinguishable from the one we actually bought. It's a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country.

It's really a nice van for the money. It's got a lot of the bells and whistles that make a van fun to drive, and I was able to get a really good deal on it.

I'm trying not to think about the four year loan I got on it. I HATE being in debt... but buying a house or a car without taking out a loan isn't practical unless you're Bill Gates. Just ask Jerry about that. He's experiencing the whole house-buying thing now, and I have felt his pain.

So, anyway, I'm now officially a fat old white guy with a minivan full of kids.

Sorry, ladies.