Learners Permit--Two Times at the DMV, First Son Edition

It is 12 noon on a Thursday and I have arrived back from the Dept of Motor Vehicles with my 15 year old and I just told Hubs in all seriousness that I needed a Bloody Mary.

And this was only for the learner's permit.  I have not even taken him in the vehicle yet in a deserted parking lot.  Let's backtrack 30 days ago.

Thirty days ago school had finished and it was Memorial Weekend and we parents were busy buying and preparing for last minute shopping and packing for the 3-week road trip starting June 1st.  Eldest was supposed to be preparing for the learner's permit test, to be taken the morning they left for the road trip.  On the Tuesday after Memorial Day I found out I was being laid off and the next day was going to be his permit test day and then the road trip would begin (learner's permit test is taken on the day you turn 15 or later).  

I think Eldest thought since his peers passed it (for some it took two tries) that he could wing it.

Eldest did not pass. 

Hubs was grumbling that he thought Eldest would be able to help him drive on the road trip.  I am not sure what planet Hubs was on, because the only practice driving Eldest has done was around the neighborhood two months ago (without a learners permit) and Eldest drove up on someone's lawn and missed a fire hydrant by 3 inches and then had to use a rake to even out the tread marks in the grass.

And I have to say that the worker at the desk at the DMV was so stereotypical cold and rude (Eldest described her "as having no soul") that her role could have been played by an actress on Saturday Night Live--she was that ugly inside and out and I say that because she was so, so rude and cold.  Have no clue why she works with the public. (note: a sign behind the workers lists their motto includes having to smile and be courteous).

NOTE-- Eldest posted about his fail on Facebook so he is not too devastated and told 70 relatives at a reunion last weekend and knows I am writing this).

Second NOTE: While in Florida for the family reunion all of his college age cousins who live in Florida told him that they were able to take the learner's permit at home online, and out of 5 of them only 1 did not cheat--in fact one sister took her brother's online test for him.

For the past few days Eldest has taken many online practice tests and I quizzed him on speed limits and other rules.  The test is 20 questions on road signs (which he aced) and 20 questions of rules (of which he previously failed).  Yesterday I did errands with my youngest son and as we drove around town I found myself saying things like this out loud, "You see, when turning left on a green light sometimes it is hard to see around the car facing you opposite who is trying to turn left also.  Do not be intimidated by an impatient driver behind you." And then Youngest, the only other person in the car, would reply, "Umm, Mom, why are you telling me this--I am only 10 years old."

At the DMV today we waited for his number to be called….and of 12 workers there, he was called up to the window of the same horrible lady again.  She looked him up on her system and says, "Last time after you failed you just left rather than waiting to speak to someone so you don't get credit for the sign test that you passed so you have to take that part again too."  (not that that was ever mentioned previously).  He is pretty confident about the sign part of the test, but here this bitch had to be all ugly right off the top.  I really never use that word but you would agree with me it is so apt. When he was waiting to take his test he watched said  worker answer a lady's question very rudely and then roll her eyes.  

The area in which he then took his online test is on the far left of the room in an area that is partitioned off but not separate, and everyone with a crying baby sat right next to the test takers.  There were a couple hundred more chairs in rows 50 yards to the right but this is where all the babies were including a husband/wife with a 4 week old hungry baby.  As you can tell, I was a wreck for him.  I am surprised that I did not break out in hives.  He later said luckily the screaming babies noises increased only during his last two test questions.  The lady next to him was mumbling about the unbelievable loud babies.

Thank God he passed the test so I--that is I mean "he"--would not have to come back here again.  Until a year and a day from today for the actual driver's license.  The whole experience has been a good learning experience for us all.  I need to chill.  He learned about how or how to not deal with the public in a future job of his. We had a good discussion on way home about how important a hostess or receptionist type job is in setting the mood for an establishment. 

When we got home I described the mean lady to Hubs and I got all worked up and Hubs reminded me that it was over and to calm down.  So glad he passed.....

 

home

Here is what I am so appreciating about being home and not working:

--calling the dentist and
making appts for the two oldest boys for whatever time that was available (first visit in over a year - no cavities!)

--Watching a netflix dvd with the boys on a weeknight (Last 3 Days with Russell Crowe).

--Going to the grocery store during uncrowded daytime unlike weekend or on way home after work.

--When Middle son broke his skateboard deck on a Tuesday afternoon and asked if he could buy himself a new one soon, I drove him to the store the next morning.

--Ditto on similar errand needs.

--Had time to smell the roses and tend to vegetable garden.

--Although Hubs did 99% of the driving it worked out wonderfully that I did not have to fly back a few days earlier without them. Who would have made the boys the pb&j sandwiches in the car those last few driving days.

--No make up means not having to wash off mascara at night.


--Dinner is ready earlier.

--A much needed task gets done each day such as restacking and cleaning a kitchen cabinet.

--Time to send out good cover letters with my resume.

--Last but not least, have time to be with the boys, and I think they are glad about that too.Oldest wanted to be assured of getting new shoes and some back to school clothes in light of my unemployment. Fifteen year olds -- sheesh, but sure, they're easy-- a few new things from TJ Maxx is doable.

Grand Canyon Birthday

I'm lucky that I have a June birthday because many times I am out of town and because I am not in the home setting it is easier to keep busy and not think about getting older, etc.

We camped out at a campgraound on the North Rim side of the Grand Canyon so I got to wake up near one of the seven wonders of the world for my birthday.  It is true how they say you will never forget your first glimpse of the Grand Canyon.  The boys and Hubs had camped on the North Rim almost two weeks prior to when I did with them.  They said it was so uncrowded that they thought it was the best way to experience the Grand Canyon.  Another good thing is that Hubs admitted they took all the scary photos (sitting on ledges) that I would not approve of, on their initial visit. 

The boys were really tickled to see my reaction.  On my first day out west after I joined them in Las Vegas, we visited Hoover Dam and before you get to the dam you can stop and visit the new bridge that was just completed this past October.  It was so high and I'm not sure what happens to some women getting older about heights but that is how I am....anyway I kept telling them to not get too close to the railing and I was the same way when we walked the top of Hoover Dam and they told me, "You won't believe the Grand Canyon if you are freaking out now with a railing and everything!"

So, the evening before my birthday, once again Hubs and I got to enjoy a quiet moment while they were in the tent and we watched the moon rise.  I was in a daze and then proceeded to trip badly over a string from the staked tent.  I survived.  The Grand Canyon is incredible and like they say, it doesn't seem real--more like a backdrop.

Birthday night and dinner were spent in Gallup, NM.  We went to a restaurant where the locals go and the whole place sang Happy Birthday to Michele.  The guys had bought turquoise jewelry for me from a Navaho seller at Monument Valley.  I envied that they went there before my arrival and I am so touched that I have a momento.  Hubs told me he practically used our Youngest with his discussion of a "birthday gift for Mommy" in front of the seller--Hubs thinks it helped get him a good deal.

So we're working our way home by a few more days and some hard realities will be on the agenda so I am soaking it up now.

Hope you are enjoying your days of June.

one week on the road; one week ahead

On my blog I keep track of the full moon but for yesterday's my guys and I were camping in Big Sur, CA with no cell service--no service actually for past 4 days.

Hubs reminded me of how i wanted to see the moon after he found me in my pajamas in the tent with the boys, exhusted as usual in a good way at 10:00 pm. We left the boys in their sleeping bags and walked thru the campsite and out to the secluded beach. the sky was bright, but no
moon in sight. We walked back to the campsite and walked up the hill to a quiet hwy 1...and there it was not seen before due to a cliff between the low moon and the beach by our campsite. It was quiet and dramatic and forever memorable.
Pictures and more soon!

Got my Dexter Fix

I never mentioned how I finally discovered Netflix streaming this past December.  I was ecstatic to have a week off between Christmas and New Years and thanks to Eldest, finally joined the bandwagon that is Netflix streaming.I looked through my choices and saw that I could watch Dexter--a show that I'd heard others mention.

And oh, it was good.  I'd crack up the boys when they'd see me on the laptop every chance I could get and even talking to their friends' parents about it.  Sure I tried to space out the episodes, but by the end of the week I had watched the first two seasons.  It is just too easy on Netflix to watch one after the other.

So I looked for Season 3...and it is not available on streaming! I was so blindsided!  I signed up for an actual dvd to be sent to me from Netflix but found out it was unavailable.  I was desperate and shopped around and bought season 3 on Amazon!!  It was a deal.  By the time I got it, it was perhaps February.  Then, season 4 WAS available on dvd at Netflix, but get this--all four discs do not arrive at once.  They arrive one at a time.  To to help space it out and make my Dexter last somehow I had the willpower toi get a dvd for the kids in between my Dexter dvds. 

I have been Dexter-less for a couple of months.  That's because I've been saving the very last dvd for now.  The week that I am alone.  Like a celebration.  Or part of my ritual (eeewww--Dexter had his rituals too).  So last week I returned a non-Dexter dvd that had been in the house for weeks.  But then with everything else going on in my world, I completely forgot to make the last disc of Dexter season 4 on the top of my queue.  I was all ready to check out my mailbox for Dexter and I realized something else was already on its way to me!!  Desperate again.  I called Netflix, ready to increase my subscription from a "one dvd" to a "Two dvd" plan and get the Dexter disc to me asap. 

I spoke to a rep named Walker (yes, I had a crush instantly) and explained that I was trying to get the last disc of Dexter now that the guys in my house were away for a week (can you believe me??) and instead I am getting a movie that was meant for them, but I have to see Dexter.  And Walker, told me he would send it out right away and I didn't even have to sign up for the other plan. 

It came in the mail yesterday.  I was a little disappointed that the last disc only had ONE episode on it.  I tried to play it......but none of the four remotes and I could figure out how to do it.  And the guys have the laptop.  And youngest has the portable dvd player with him.  Yes, I was that desperate to consider watching it on a 7-inch portable dvd player.  And the techno gurus of the house were....incommunicado at the campground on the north side of the Grand Canyon.

But tonight I got my Youngest on the phone and he walked me through it--it took about 8 buttons on two remotes.  I was so grateful.  And now I am done with Dexter until Season 5 comes on dvd in August.

So it is off to join the guys on roads like this:

Seeing some crazy things like this:

And crossing over bridges that are famous and not so famous like this:

I may be late to post about the Full Strawberry Moon in June but it is on June 15th--hope it shines bright on you!

I've Said a Ton of Swear Words This Week and Have a Bunch in this Post

On Tuesday of this week our garage was filled with all of our camping and road trip supplies, ready to be loaded into the Suburban for road trip take-off Wednesday morning.  Hubs was at his last day of school as required for the teachers, prior to the long-awaited road trip.  I was at my job.

And then in the afternoon at work without any hint I was given this due to a company restructuring:

Fuck.

So you've frequently heard how I am busy from  morning till night with my job (for which I'd sometimes have to travel) and with 1 tween and 2 teenage children and dinner and their activities. What I've never written before is how miserable my job made me.  For the past 2+ years it's been common to hear one is lucky to have a job in this economy.  And sure, the devil you know keeps you around longer for fear of the devil you don't know.

I had started to job search a couple of months ago, feeling like the economy was in a better place for hiring now than a year ago.  But I wanted to be the one to turn in a letter of resignation, not the other way around.  I should have been spending my nights and weekends more on job searching than reading about things to do in Arizona and New Mexico.

In my blog profile I state that I drive like a bat out of hell after work every day to be with my family.  Here is an actual quote from my former boss a few months ago who works 24/7 and is a parent and had to go pick up her child: "This parenting thing is interfering with my work life!"  

So, yeah.  Not a good fit at all.  Fuck 'em.

And it was making me sick.  My stomach hurt every morning.  My blood pressure has always been 110/70 but not anymore.  I've gone up a clothes size.  Just 3 weeks ago I was asked to fly to a new meeting in another state.  But now I don't have to fly anywhere any more for work.  My blood pressure feels better already.

Maybe the timing wasn't so bad after all.  If it had happened let's say two weeks ago, Hubs may have freaked out and not gone on the trip.  He did freak out, but they still went, and I am glad (they are in the mountains in north New Mexico right now having a blast).

And I swear I would be stressing out about work during my vacation next week if this had not happened.  I'm keeping my plane ticket to join them as planned next week.  But instead of flying back alone to get to a work meeting the third week of June, I will be driving back with my guys.  I think this iconic road trip will be even more fucking fantastic than I ever thought before.  

So, what's been going on these past 4 days since I got the news?  I felt initial shock and weepiness during the first 48 hours, but in these second 48 hours I have felt happier and healthier than in a long time.  I have been laughing with freedom on the phone with friends--which has not been the case in a while.

People I don't even know in real life have been kinder to me these past few days than the people I used to see at work every day.  Friends have given me more of their time over the past few days than any of these people I saw every day.  Old friends are my family of choice and have given me more than words can say.  Thank you.  I've reached out to business contacts I've known through work and have received empathy, business leads, and encouragement.  To all of these people I have given my true self; all of these people know the authentic me.

Who knows when I will be employed again, but everyone in my family is healthy, our home was not torn apart in a tornado and I am taking this opportunity to be good to myself and spend time with the people who matter most.  I can always make money again.

My job is gone, but I have kept the strength of my character.

Blessings are often disguised.