We finally picked up the MINI on Friday. We drove all over town, gave dozens of rides and got to know the new car. In case you were wondering, it was soooooo worth the wait. Four months and six days from order to delivery. The car literally brings a smile to your face. Wait 'till you see it, just try and hold back a smile.

Minutes after arriving home from the dealer, Tim and Annie Keel drove up to see if the car had arrived. They were lucky enough to get the first rides. We weren't a block up the street when Annie states from the back seat, "Dad, I like this car. Can our next car be one of these?"

Thursday afternoon Deanne came home and was shocked to find me cleaning out and organizing the garage. She asked me what I was doing and I replied, "getting the baby's room ready." She was amused and, I think, slightly creeped out but happy because hey, at least the garage is clean.

During a trip to Lawrence today, we stopped to get gas at an Amoco on 23rd Sreet. A lady filling up her Honda CRV kept looking at the car and finally blurted out, "That is one cute car! Is it fun?" I answered with an emphatic, "More fun than you can imagine."

Yes, it's just a car, but why not have some fun getting from point "A" to point "B". I will say this too. I'll be getting more excercise because I've turned into one of "those" people who park their cars way out in the parking lot away from the shopping carts and door dinging SUVs of the asphalt jungle.

Here's a link to a cool news video about the MINI.

As the MINI marketing says - Let's build bigger parks and smaller parking lots. Motor On!