Car

Oh, and an update on the van. Honda USA is going to 'help us' with the expense. So far, no firm amount has been offered - but they have indicated a willingness to work with us on splitting the cost somehow. We did a lot of research on the Internet (love the Internet) and were able to confirm that the Odyssey transmissions have been problems going many years back - and even model years such as ours which are outside the 'prime problem years' have a pattern of going out at far fewer miles than is expected for a Honda. A few mentions of various postings illustrating Honda has been covering some of the expenses for other Odyssey owners and wa-la (viola, but I don't know how to to the ' thing over the 'a') - they will help us a bit with the expense. The dealership called to say it's ready today - and we have told them we're not picking it up until we know what Honda USA is offering. Once we pick it up and pay for it, we'll never get a reimbursement (also a web-site tip) so we are sticking firm and refusing to pick it up until this is all hammered out. The dealership isn't exactly the most helpful, cooperative place we've been to (no surprise) and at the moment, it's both parties pointing the finger saying 'I haven't reached him yet' while the guy says 'I have no messages from the guy'. Yeah, right. They'll figure it out. In the mean time, we have a black Pontiac rental in the driveway which has been driven very little - but we would rather have it if we need it than go back to only two cars. How spoiled is that? Now we can't be a two car family again - always 3. But routine is paramount and it's too hard to adjust drop off and pickup schedules for the kids - so we left a car allocated to B. since he helps with all that.