More Driving Stuff

The driving is actually going well. I've improved a lot, and am just awaiting an opening in the DMV schedule so I can take the road test again. I'll probably have another lesson sometime before then to make sure I've got it down. I've had three lessons so far, and they've been a great help to me.

Driving Revisited

Dear Reader, tomorrow I will meet my new driving instructor. We'll be driving around town for an hour so he can assess my driving skills. He just recently opened the driving school, a service that was very much needed in our area(especially by me).

Mr. Allen has been forewarned about my extreme nervousness while driving, although I assured him I've gotten much better about it. Maybe he can help with that. In any case, this is an excellent opportunity for me to get some behind-the-wheel experience, and with any luck, finally get my license.

I'm a little nervous just thinking about it, but I think it'll go well.

Late Night Round Up

I was going about putting the house to bed for the night, when I looked out to see why the motion sensor lights were on in the driveway. A few of the steers had decided to go out for a stroll. It didn't take long to run them back in, although one of them took off into the bean field. It's hard to see the black ones in the dark. That little guy was out for a walk early in the afternoon, and I'd put him back in myself.

Now they're all back in their pen, which is blocked with a swinging gate. I think the electric fence is broken. My husband and father-in-law are looking into that now.

Just part of the fun of living on a farm....

Death by Bicycle

Dear Reader, I did my first full mile on my bicycle today. I think my legs are about ready to go on strike. I'm keeping track of my miles this year, but I haven't got a goal in mind. Maybe 100, if my knees hold up. Seems a decent goal for Summer.

Lent and Fitness

So far, I've spent half of Lent being sick. I get really sick about once or twice a year, and I'm hoping this will be it for 2009.

I gave up pop again this year, as well as snacking. The snacking is actually the most difficult. I didn't realize how much snacking I've been doing.

I'm hoping the self discipline I'm learning will help me with my fitness goals for the year. I haven't quite given up on the idea of jogging/running(which I tried last year until my knees made me stop), so I asked my doctor about my knee problems, and he suggested I get knee braces and take up bicycling. Walking is still my preferred exercise at the moment, but if the braces help reduce the irritation, I might be able to step it up a bit. Riding a bike up and down a half-mile dirt lane ought to be a good workout. Regardless, I'll be making good use of our treadmill.

On the Road Again

Today marked my return to driving practice. I'm going to try again to get my license. It took a long time to recover from the failed road test, but I'm back at it.

My sister came up this morning to be my designated passenger. I did alright, although I still have several things to work on, such as: picking out landmarks for deceleration; maintaining speed while changing lanes; watching out for old ladies who come to a complete stop before turning off the main highway; and negotiating the Walmart parking lot.

I managed to find my way around town alright. I found the church, Walmart, and Taco Johns. Then I found my way home again without getting lost. I consider that an accomplishment. That and not being nearly as nervous as I had previously when behind the wheel. Other drivers still make me nervous, but not so much as before.

I think the next time I drive, I'll cruise the residential neighborhoods for places to practice parallel parking and y turns. I got pretty good at the former, but I haven't done it since I failed the road test and stopped driving in town.

All in all, it was a good driving experience, and should make the next excursion that much better.

Year of Reading

Dear Reader, this year, I intend to do a ridiculous amount of reading. I'm off to a fairly good start, having finished the Bible in less than two months. But since I started that back in December, not all of it counts toward this year, I suppose. Still, I've got two more Bibles to read, which will make three within a year. I'm saving the King James Version for last. So far, I much prefer the New American Bible to the New Jerusalem. It's easy to read, yet still somewhat poetic.

I have five fiction books to read, two of which I've already started, and a couple of borrowed nonfiction that I really need to read and get back to my sister. If I get those read in good time, I'm going to attempt to read my old Business Law textbook. I'm already planning to buy some books from Amazon, so it's doubtful I'll get the textbook read.

In the middle of all of this, I'll continue to write, and perhaps find some inspiration in the gazillions of words I'll be taking in over the course of the year.