Getting Closer

Realizing that I have only 44 days until I return to the States, I decided that I had better start getting some things into place. I sold my Ford F-350 truck when I came to Iraq and have been looking on and off for a replacement vehicle. I loved my F-350 but it just didn't get enough miles per gallon. I will probably still have to work outside the farm for a while and being that the farm is in the middle of nowhere, I will have to travel 30 to 50 miles to work, if I can't find anything closer.

Now, I am one who likes a bargain. Some people would call it cheap, I prefer thrifty. I have been searching Craigslist Bloomington for a small truck. I found a beauty a couple of months ago but it was really to early to buy something, since it would be a long time before I could pick it up. Last Friday, I decided to check out Ebay. I found this sweet little red truck, a Ford Ranger. It was close to the end of the auction with a very low bid. I thought about it all day, checking the values of a truck of that year, features and mileage and finally decided I would really like to have the truck. I emailed a friend, who only lives about 10 miles from the seller. I asked him if he could pick it up and store it until I got back, if I won the auction. He assured me it would be no problem. That was my green light to bid.

I am no stranger to Ebay and tend to wait until the end to bid. No sense getting other bidders all excited. I set my price and go for it. Since I am in Iraq and the hours are set in Pacific time, that meant the auction wouldn't be over until 3:00 am. Should I stay up waiting or go to sleep hoping to hear the alarm. Knowing my sleep patterns, I chose sleeping on and off with an alarm. It wasn't very restful but I was ready at 2:50 am for my first bid. It was at my low limit. There were three other people, who had bid and maybe one had automatic bids to go higher than mine. I typed in my number, hit enter and waited. A few seconds later, it showed me to be the highest bidder. There were still about five more minutes to the auction. Because the bid was so low, yet, I was sure someone would bid again.I decided to wait a few more minutes and put in another bid about two minutes from the end. Normally, I would wait til there were only seconds left and then put in a bid, but the internet here is pretty slow and sometimes stops all together. I didn't want to take the chance that someone would outbid me. I really wanted this truck. I put in my final bid and waited until the auction had ended. The web page declared me the winner. I would have jumped up and down but I didn't want to wake my roommate...

So, here she is, my 2004 Ford Ranger XLT 4X4 Fx4. Not as good as a sheep or goat but more necessary.

 

Now, I just need to locate a tractor and a trailer...