I survived. The driving instructor survived. I was called scatenata (meaning "hog-wild" at WordReference.com) because I drove at breakneck speed around rotaries. The thing is if I hadn't step on the gas, the silly fella would've kept doing it for me. And I hate that. I have my own gas pedal and I'd like to use it now, thank you. 
However, it is also true that when I stepped out of the car, I thought I was going to break into diarrhea in the middle of the sidewalk. Talk about major paunch-ache. Hee. Woke up this morning still rather pukey from the experience.
Was also called assassina twice, lazzarona thrice. Both, when I was told to park near an island. For some strange reason, I decided to change into first gear in the meantime, going lah-dee-dah in my mind, and forgot to —erm— use the brake pedal. The driving instructor was rather forgiving about it since, he said, I hadn't driven in quite some time and he actually expected things to be much worse.
I went: OH.
Yesterday's practice concentrated on rotaries, the rules on entering and leaving them. I seem to be getting the hang of it. At least, I don't fumble too long with the signal lights anymore and forget I should be going round the rotary, not through it. I can now flick the signal light on and off, left and right, without blacking out into one of my confusional states. Yay!
9th driving lesson scheduled on Friday. At 8:45 AM.
What the postman brought in:
• A small packet from Michi containing: Jasper Fforde's The Well of Lost Plots and a 1.5" x 1.5" notepad with a timely note saying: "for mini-poems or horrible-instructor curses!"
• A personalized rejection slip from Conduit:
Mailing date: 15 February 2006
Reply date: 23 August 2006
30:30 update:
Survived Day 2.
However, it is also true that when I stepped out of the car, I thought I was going to break into diarrhea in the middle of the sidewalk. Talk about major paunch-ache. Hee. Woke up this morning still rather pukey from the experience.
Was also called assassina twice, lazzarona thrice. Both, when I was told to park near an island. For some strange reason, I decided to change into first gear in the meantime, going lah-dee-dah in my mind, and forgot to —erm— use the brake pedal. The driving instructor was rather forgiving about it since, he said, I hadn't driven in quite some time and he actually expected things to be much worse.
I went: OH.
Yesterday's practice concentrated on rotaries, the rules on entering and leaving them. I seem to be getting the hang of it. At least, I don't fumble too long with the signal lights anymore and forget I should be going round the rotary, not through it. I can now flick the signal light on and off, left and right, without blacking out into one of my confusional states. Yay!
9th driving lesson scheduled on Friday. At 8:45 AM.
What the postman brought in:
• A small packet from Michi containing: Jasper Fforde's The Well of Lost Plots and a 1.5" x 1.5" notepad with a timely note saying: "for mini-poems or horrible-instructor curses!"
• A personalized rejection slip from Conduit:
Dear Arlene,
We enjoyed these and "Inventory of Goodbye" came close. Thank you.
Mailing date: 15 February 2006
Reply date: 23 August 2006
30:30 update:
Survived Day 2.
6 comments:
Hey Arlene, it sounds like you're making progress - hooray!! Are rotaries those circular kinds of intersections, where you have to go round and figure out where to get on and off? We don't really have those much around here (thank goodness). I'm planning on jumping back into 30:30 on the 1st, provided I survive my current 30 flashes in 30 days exercise. Hope to see you there!
I love the little face that says "Oh..." Hysterical! And good luck with the continued driving...always a challenge. I have my license and some days I wonder if that's a wise idea!
Arlene, the thought of driving in Italy scares the hell out of me! Good luck! (Ellen, fearsome and a woman of the XXIst Century, loved it!) Chuck
That Stoppard quote rather rocks.
It's a well known fact that poets don't drive. I'm afraid you've got a difficult choice to make here but I hope you choose poetry. it's safer, anyway.
yep. they are those circular intersections, sharon. i hate them personally and prefer traffic lights. but it's become quite a fad here... as in, no self-respecting town can exist without at least one. i'll see you in 30:30 in september! (if i last that long)
thanks cheryl! have you heard from ITWS? it usually takes only a few days to process the new members.
chuck!!! it's been ages! are you still using your old e-mail addy?
thanks for dropping by, jonathan. are you a fan, i mean, really avid fan, too? would you like to become one? hee.
poets don't drive, hugh? naaaaah. bukowski drove, didn't he? anyway, i've already paid the fees so i've got learn or lose them all. bleah.
a.
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