Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Keep on truckin' for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate

It's contest day at the 7MSN, and here's your chance to win a $100 gift certificate at csn|stores, the sponsor of today's merriment. All you have to do is correctly guess the mileage on my truck.



I. Love. My. Truck. It's reliable and well-built. It allows me to follow my own path, wherever that may lead. It doesn't leave me stranded on the side of the road. No wonder it's one of the longest relationships I've ever had.

Here are a few fun facts about my truck which may or may not help you form an educated guess about how far we've traveled together.

Fact #1:
I bought my truck when it was new in June 2001. It is a Chevy Silverado 2500HD.

Fact #2:
I change the oil every time the "change oil" light comes on, and if my record-keeping is correct, it has had 24 oil changes.


Fact #3:
I recently purchased its fourth set of tires. But take note that I have lived in the middle of nowhere for almost five years, and the road to the highway eats tires for breakfast.


Fact #4: My mechanic's name is Jeff, and he's kind of cute.


Fact #5: My truck has a very wide dash that I like to decorate with found objects, like this hawk feather and dried weed thingys.

Fact #6: I am on my second cowgirl air-freshener, not because the scent faded but because the color did. (And thank goodness the scent faded quickly because "campfire ashes" smells just like "stinky tennis shoes" IMHO.)

Have fun with this and leave your best guess in the comments. If you sign on as "anonymous," be sure to leave a name or way I can contact you if you're the winner.

Here's one more hint...I'm thinking of a number between 100,000 and 200,000. To recap...

The prize: A $100 gift certificate at csn|stores.

To enter: Guess the mileage on my truck. If no one guesses the exact number, she or he who comes the closest wins. In the event of a tie, the winner will be selected by George or Alan in a random drawing. One entry per person, please.

Contest closes: Friday, July 2, 7:00pm Mountain time. The winner will be announced Saturday morning.

Number of winners: One.
Posted by at

106 comments:

  1. Pat in east TN6/30/10, 4:11 AM

    You gave us quite a history on your truck, although I really missed a picture of your co-pilot, Smooch, but so it goes ...

    I'm guess 127,500.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lynette6/30/10, 4:12 AM

    I'll guess 133,133, and Chevrolet says thanks for the great testimonial!

    ReplyDelete
  3. lytha6/30/10, 4:13 AM

    Best truck I ever had: a 2000 model Chevy Silverado 3500 crew cab. Since it was just me most of the time, having 4 doors was superfluous, but I loved it! I washed it every week.

    My Silverado was 7.3 meters long. I try to tell that to German people and they cannot visualize a personal vehicle that long. It had a matching canopy which was a nice upgrade from sleeping in a tent!

    I'll never have such a nice truck again, probably, *sigh* cuz they just simply don't exist here.

    I bet your truck has 130K.

    Enjoy it! And please, wash it!

    ~lytha

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cedar View Paint Horses6/30/10, 4:27 AM

    I'll guess 162,114. And you reeeeeally should change yer oil more often than when that idiot light comes on, especially with driving in all that dirt/sand/mud.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Leah Fry6/30/10, 4:42 AM

    173,000 miles. How's that for random?

    ReplyDelete
  6. June6/30/10, 4:53 AM

    123,991.2

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brenda6/30/10, 4:53 AM

    127,777 is my educated guess.
    I multiplied the number of oil changes by the years divided the tire number and calculated the attitude factor and the distance of Walmart......
    Or maybe I just guessed.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kathy6/30/10, 4:56 AM

    I'm going to guess 135,000 miles

    ReplyDelete
  9. Marge6/30/10, 5:03 AM

    158,387...it's just getting broken in!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Brigitte6/30/10, 5:27 AM

    What i really want to know is if there's a tie, is the winner the one that is EATEN by George or Allan or the one that's left behind???

    X Brigitte

    ReplyDelete
  11. Laurie6/30/10, 5:37 AM

    My guess is 188,775

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cheryl6/30/10, 5:37 AM

    I've done my research and now know more than I ever wanted to about your truck! My guess, 165,353 miles. I love the photos.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tina6/30/10, 5:45 AM

    I am guess 192,345 miles....but you know we don't do miles up here in Canada. lol..so this really is a wild guess for me :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. tjnjtown6/30/10, 6:07 AM

    ........192,480

    ReplyDelete
  15. Alison6/30/10, 6:13 AM

    173,898. It's a long way to the mailbox for you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous6/30/10, 6:20 AM

    hmmmm, lets see now....I say 189,123 miles.
    Signed
    Theresa in Alberta

    ReplyDelete
  17. Grey Horse Matters6/30/10, 6:22 AM

    I have no idea. After seeing your truck I miss mine, I sold it a while ago because I just didn't need it anymore. I'll hazard a guess at 198,000. I put lots of miles on my vehicles and I'm sure you have too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Cyndi and Stumpy6/30/10, 6:38 AM

    123,001.3

    ReplyDelete
  19. Carla6/30/10, 6:38 AM

    Good morning Linda,
    I'm actually going to guess lower, just based on the oil changes----152,899. This is like the Price is Right.

    The weed thingys on your dash are Devil's Claws. When we first moved here, I found some on the property and thought they were soooo cool.

    ReplyDelete
  20. CTG Ponies6/30/10, 6:41 AM

    I'm going to say 172,000 miles.

    Gina at CTG Ponies

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous6/30/10, 6:45 AM

    I'm gonna say 194,216.
    lilnecklady@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. clairz6/30/10, 6:48 AM

    I'm choosing 176,890. What fun things you think up!

    By the way, I'm sure we all worried about you yesterday with no post, until we saw the tweet thing. However, then I worried about Pat in TN, because I'm used to "hearing" what she has to say every morning, too!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Peppermint Ph.D.6/30/10, 6:56 AM

    195,000...just a wild guess from a gal who's never owned a truck.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Colleen G6/30/10, 6:59 AM

    My guess is 118,000

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wendy W6/30/10, 7:06 AM

    I'm guessing 125,000. And note to self, do not buy a "campfire ashes" air-freshener. ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Nancy in NC6/30/10, 7:06 AM

    146,823 - totally random...My other half has a '99 & an '86 - He LOVES them both... and they're still runnin'! Missed you yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Julie6/30/10, 7:17 AM

    Well, let's see...

    I'm too lazy to try to form an educated guess, so we'll go with the time my infant daughter woke up today (5:42 AM) and work that into mileage somehow.

    I'll go with 154,200 miles.

    Our family has a Toyota Tacoma that we L*O*V*E!

    ReplyDelete
  28. ojgirl6/30/10, 7:27 AM

    122,358.7 - kinda like the lottery and I might add, I'm lousy at pickin' those numbers too.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous6/30/10, 7:37 AM

    I'm thinking 129,505? carlyt@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Carol Lane6/30/10, 7:37 AM

    I would say 120k on that tough Silverado. We have one too.

    Your weed thing is called a Devil's Claw. The dang things like to attach to the hooves and feet of animals. We have them in Colorado too.

    ReplyDelete
  31. penni6/30/10, 7:42 AM

    152,490 miles -- 'bout time for another oil change.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous6/30/10, 7:45 AM

    How about 132,648.
    beckyclaytor@usa.net

    ReplyDelete
  33. Auntie Em6/30/10, 7:45 AM

    Hubby's current truck is a favorite, naturally a Silverado!
    I should wait for him, but I can't. My guess is so random...lol...but I'll try:

    184,972

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous6/30/10, 7:46 AM

    184,596 miles

    KarenTX
    bringkar@co.fort-bend.tx.us

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous6/30/10, 7:49 AM

    how fun.. as usual.... I love your posts!!!
    My guess is 175,000.

    beadmeup@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous6/30/10, 7:55 AM

    My guess is 144,000

    wpg_cowgirl@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. hg6/30/10, 7:55 AM

    120,000

    Good luck to all!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Celeste6/30/10, 7:57 AM

    My guess is 151,164, what a fun competition!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Tina6/30/10, 7:58 AM

    De-lurking to guess 150,475 miles.
    There is nothing better than a dependable truck - my 4 Runner has 175,000 miles and has been a wonderful vehicle!
    Hugs to all your 4 leggeds -

    ReplyDelete
  40. KathyB6/30/10, 8:02 AM

    No oil changes until it screams in pain? Sorry, couldn't resist. If you had changed every 3000 miles you would only have 72,000 on there. Definitely drive in extreme conditions.

    I say this knowing my car has had one oil change and is over 8000 miles now.

    189,000

    wants more fresh oil sooner rather than later :>)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Judy6/30/10, 8:02 AM

    105,875 is my guess...

    ReplyDelete
  42. janaARIES6/30/10, 8:06 AM

    144,000

    jana.phillips@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Steph6/30/10, 8:21 AM

    111,523

    ReplyDelete
  44. strivingforsavvy6/30/10, 8:29 AM

    OK I guess 148,987

    ReplyDelete
  45. Cam McCarthy6/30/10, 8:35 AM

    168,000

    ReplyDelete
  46. mark_thomas6/30/10, 8:38 AM

    Mark's "WAG" is 144,311 miles.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Lilla6/30/10, 8:40 AM

    185,123

    ReplyDelete
  48. WoofWhinnyWhisper6/30/10, 8:53 AM

    I think I am going to go with 143,000...

    ReplyDelete
  49. Anonymous6/30/10, 9:06 AM

    120,042. How cool is it that someone identified your weed thingys. Oh, and I'm really glad that I've never actually smelled your air freshener now knowing that it smells like stinky tennis shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  50. EvenSong6/30/10, 9:11 AM

    I was taught in grad school that research is our friend, so upon further investigation, I discovered that in 1999 GM began installing a oil change calculation system, which is what signals that little light to come on, based on air temperature (particularly extremes, like in NM), rpm's (low on back country roads), length of trips (long steady trips to town are better than short, high load trips around town), etc.

    The theory was that one could conserve oil (and therefore $$'s) if one didn't depend solely upon the "3 months or 3000 miles" premise. The indicated mileage change distances ranged from 4000-15,000 between changes!

    Given all this, my guess, based on how good that truck looks for a 2001 (mine's a 2003 GMC version of the same model) is:
    147,650 miles

    ReplyDelete
  51. Nuzzling Muzzles6/30/10, 9:11 AM

    I got my truck in 2001 also, so I was just going to go look at my mileage and guess that, but I'm sure I haven't reached 100,000 miles yet. So, I'll guess a crazy number like 111,111. That sounds like a number to get excited about.

    ReplyDelete
  52. EvenSong6/30/10, 9:11 AM

    Wait. WAIT! I miscalculated!
    147,651!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Anonymous6/30/10, 9:13 AM

    I'll go with 140,050 miles. I'm Katie.
    katkthms@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  54. Donatella6/30/10, 9:19 AM

    I'm guessing 156,012. Skritches to Deets, Smooch and all the boys.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Anonymous6/30/10, 9:56 AM

    I will guess 146,452.

    adargo1980@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. kadfoto6/30/10, 9:59 AM

    Hmm, well, I put a lot of miles on my vehicle. It's a 2005 and I already have nearly 110k. If I still have in four years, I should have about 198k. I need new tires, but this is only the second time I've had to purchase. You've bought a lot of new tires, but you note specifically rough roads. Hmm, okay, my somewhat-wild guess: 164,302.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Anonymous6/30/10, 9:59 AM

    I guess that you have driven that your truck 14,272 miles. Keep up the good work

    ReplyDelete
  58. Mami2jcn6/30/10, 10:06 AM

    My guess is 168,000.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Laughing Orca Ranch6/30/10, 10:16 AM

    But the fact you haven't mentioned is of how many of those miles has Smooch been your 'Co-Pilot'.

    My guess:
    148,256

    Here's to another (double the mileage) with that old truck of yours.

    ~Lisa


    word verification: gotbus

    An alternative to got truck

    ReplyDelete
  60. Dreaming6/30/10, 10:29 AM

    I think the change oil light comes on after 5000 miles. So 24 X 5,000 = 120,000. I know that you live about 40 miles from any place that would change oil, and you probably aren't in town just as the mileage changes. So we need to add some extra miles. I'm guessing an average of 250 per oil change. So, 24 X 250 = 6,000. Add another 1% error factor of 1,200.
    Since I like palindromes, I'm adding a few more miles to make your odometer reading: 127,721.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Anonymous6/30/10, 10:38 AM

    I tried to be scientific but since that's not my natural state I'm gonna go ahead and guess 123,456.7 miles.
    On a different note, thanks to you my daddy reads my blog every day. Of course he only reads mine to reach the link to yours. If a bearded gentleman with a red-head in leather show up at 7MSN on a construction yellow Goldwing, don't be afraid. It's just my mama and daddy.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Sandy6/30/10, 10:41 AM

    let's see...i'll guess 123,456. oh, and my change oil light is on in my car...does that mean i am supposed to have the oil changed? would you mind taking that in for me? =o)

    ReplyDelete
  63. Sandra6/30/10, 10:47 AM

    Here's my guess Carson since I know the distance in NM is far really far and you do live out in the middle of now where....so here goes....197589 miles. As they say keep on truckin'
    Best always, Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  64. Karen6/30/10, 10:54 AM

    176,603!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Rosanne6/30/10, 10:55 AM

    Well, you've had your truck twice as long as we've had ours. We live kinda far from town, but not as remote as you. So, I figure given where you live I'm gonna guess 149,070 miles.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Susan6/30/10, 11:22 AM

    164,547 ...and there was no thought put into that answer. What is Alan's guess? I love the critters!

    ReplyDelete
  67. DogpackMOMMA6/30/10, 11:42 AM

    Thanks for asking - based on the tires I'm figurin' 120,000.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Reddunappy6/30/10, 11:44 AM

    LOL those weed thingys look like dried lizards LOLLOL

    I will guess 178,920, no one else has gone there LOL Our 2000 Ford has about 120,000 on it, but we dont drive very far. Hubby drives about 6 miles to work!When we bought it 2 years ago it was just under 100,000.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Anonymous6/30/10, 11:49 AM

    189,726 miles.
    Once had a baby pucky yellow Volvo that passed 300,000 before I gave it away

    gramps

    ReplyDelete
  70. Kathy6/30/10, 12:34 PM

    I'm going to guess 122,222. Love all of your critters!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Anonymous6/30/10, 1:30 PM

    I am guessing 153,500. Hopefully I am somewhat close. :)

    millergirls847@cs.com

    ReplyDelete
  72. Anonymous6/30/10, 1:33 PM

    OK I just did a really dumb thing - I read all the previous comments and now my head is swimming with numbers - aaargh. I'll just have to make a SWAG (scientific wild ass guess)and say:

    173,862 miles.

    BTW - I drive a 2000 Chevy S10 P/U that I bought new in December 1999, and I absolutely love my little truck! Not too big for the suburbs but big enough for all the gardening stuff and furniture I've thrown in her over the years :)

    ReplyDelete
  73. Sandy ~~~6/30/10, 1:35 PM

    102,000. Hey folks, it isn't an "idiot" light that tells Linda when to change the oil...it's GM's Oil Monitoring System which allows folks to save precious resources by only changing the oil when it's needed, instead of doing it on a prescribed schedule.

    ReplyDelete
  74. cdncowgirl6/30/10, 1:40 PM

    174,653
    Random enough? lol

    ReplyDelete
  75. gtyyup6/30/10, 1:47 PM

    I have no scientific method...so the number that comes into my head is 139,857.

    ReplyDelete
  76. mj6/30/10, 1:50 PM

    Here's my guess ... 145,031. Sorta random!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Gaina6/30/10, 2:02 PM

    Have you tried the 'Yankee Candle Company' Car Jars? They are scrummy! Fresh cut roses is my favourite but you can get them in a mad range of scents including 'Leather' which smells like a new car :).

    What, you tell us about your cute mechanic and don't think to take a photograph!? No fair! :D

    ReplyDelete
  78. JaneK6/30/10, 3:42 PM

    "Campfire ashes"?????? who came up with that! haha. glad it fades quickly.

    my guess is 123,572

    ReplyDelete
  79. janitabean6/30/10, 3:54 PM

    I was going to say 125,000 but than I figured in your kinda cute mechanic and I'll have to go with 129,000.

    ReplyDelete
  80. sphinx636/30/10, 4:04 PM

    186,017
    I have to agree with Gaina...where's the photo of your mechanic?!

    sphinxcw at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  81. Anonymous6/30/10, 4:20 PM

    I'll say 156,721.
    Anna AlleyOoop@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  82. MAYBELLINE6/30/10, 5:24 PM

    123,456.7

    ReplyDelete
  83. Carolynn Anctil6/30/10, 5:36 PM

    I'm going to go with 150,000 Alex...er...Linda. Final Answer.

    Love the dried weed thingies on the dashboard. *smile*

    ReplyDelete
  84. MitMoi6/30/10, 6:58 PM

    I say 197,462 ....
    Because "normal tires" (depending on quality) are 40k-80k tires.

    You say you've changed them 4 times. But the pickup came with an original set. And usually the put the cheep ones on. So

    40k = 30k - because your location is harsh on tires.
    Since you're under 200k, I say you never bought 80k tires - because it would be a waste of $

    So I'm going with 197,462. Because hopefully it's not time to (quite yet) to replace this set.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Ruth6/30/10, 9:49 PM

    A totally wild guess, shot in the dark and random selection: 187,349

    ReplyDelete
  86. Mecha6/30/10, 9:51 PM

    172,382. I like two's......I made my own snake pole today...I like in tucson but in an apartment. My cats just want to play with the string.

    xomecha at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  87. mrscravitz6/30/10, 10:53 PM

    All very good guess's, but after consulting with my mechanic, (hubby), and we put our two heads together, his common sense, and my female intuition, I take a stab at:
    135,000.

    ReplyDelete
  88. colleen from nc7/1/10, 7:41 AM

    gosh this is a tough one. i put so many miles on my car close to 30,000 every year. and with you living in the middle of nowhere and sometimes have to go somewhere i'm quessing your odometer reads 147,890.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Bernard, Ellsworth, Fergus and Nigel's Dad7/1/10, 7:55 AM

    105,610.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Shirley7/1/10, 8:23 AM

    My guess is 114,597. And it's probably time for you to visit that cute mechanic again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  91. kb7/1/10, 9:22 AM

    I'm going to guess...

    151,130

    ReplyDelete
  92. Anonymous7/1/10, 9:54 AM

    My guess would be 120,555. miles. Gotta love a good truck. I could not live without mine. Love your pictures and your animals.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Anonymous7/1/10, 11:42 AM

    145,209 miles. or not.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Nelly Frittata7/1/10, 1:04 PM

    I guess 144,444. Not likely, I know, but I like the number 4. It's lucky!

    ReplyDelete
  95. Brenda7/1/10, 1:28 PM

    112,500 cuz that's what my little car has on it right now.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Unknown7/1/10, 1:56 PM

    171,234

    And not a smidge more. :)

    ReplyDelete
  97. Suzanne7/1/10, 4:32 PM

    I had a glitch and I don't think my comment came through -- this may be a duplicate.

    I was saying 154,000.

    Thanks, Linda.

    ReplyDelete
  98. photo_chick7/1/10, 6:19 PM

    99,842

    ReplyDelete
  99. A New England Life7/1/10, 8:10 PM

    I'm going to sneak in at the last moment and guess 123,000. Seems a little low for a truck of that age but it sounds right from the tips you've given.

    Hope it was a good day on the 7MSN Ranch!

    Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  100. Melanie7/1/10, 8:23 PM

    Okay, I feel like a stalker now...lol.

    We have the exact same truck (same year and color)except ours is a 4-door, crew cab.

    Our truck has 128,610 miles on it, how about yours??? ; )

    ReplyDelete
  101. C in WI7/2/10, 5:41 AM

    I'm truly not a good guesser at these things. Way over estimated the hay bale contest.

    Anywhoo, it must have a LOT of miles on it for you to post this post. Is LOTS a guess?

    Okay, how about 181,930?

    ReplyDelete
  102. Java's Mom7/2/10, 6:02 AM

    OK, adding this late: guessing 165,000.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Laura ~Peach~7/2/10, 6:13 AM

    am guessing 123,456 just cause its a cool number and in the correct range for 24 oil changes if your light comes on near the time ours does LOL...

    ReplyDelete
  104. MeMaw147/2/10, 6:39 AM

    I would say approximately 135,500??? Happy spending to the winner! :)

    ReplyDelete
  105. Marianne7/2/10, 12:20 PM

    My guess....122,088

    ReplyDelete
  106. Anonymous7/2/10, 3:45 PM

    199,500 Thats my guess. Thinking a big mileage turnover about to happen and maybe thats how you thought of the contest.. :)
    slfenner@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete

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