Tag Archives: driving

Step One or: I Have to Get What Done?

31 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Rant

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Salutations™!!

Well, the first step of getting 3B on the track to compliance with his speeding ticket has been accomplished. That first step is getting him registered for the “Alive at 25” course at FTCC. But, getting that done took a lot more steps than is really needed.5c100913baa98.image_

Since he is only 16, we had to turn in a minor release form. Okay, I say, I’m his parent so I should just have to give permission. Nope. I had to have him fill out the release with his signature. I then had to sign it in front of a Notary Public to verify my signature. Okay, good enough, right? Wrong! I then had to go to his high school and have them sign off on this course. I was perturbed at that as I don’t feel it’s the school’s business what he is doing, as far as driving goes, away from school. If he had been arrested, yeah, okay, but he wasn’t. Whatevs. I got it done.

I have to say, really the hardest part was getting my signature notarized. I, myself, am a Notary Public and I’m used to witnessing a lot of things, but the only signature I can’t notarize is my own, so I had to find an NP.

3B and I met at Zesto Burgers & Ice Cream to have lunch and give him time to fill his out. On the hill across from Zesto is a BB&T. They’re good friends with Algenon from Zesto and he said they’d take care of me. I walked in and they were super nice, but I was told the policy is that they can only notarize things for BB&T customers. Well, that’s inconvenient, but I get it and all this needs to be a little inconvenient for everyone. Figuring I had to go to the bank that I am a client, I asked the BB&T manager about the closest Suntrust. He suggested the Ogburn Station branch. I haven’t been on that side of town in a while, so okay.

As I was headed for Suntrust, I got to thinking… hey. When you’re a Notary Public, you’re an appointed agent of the state in which you are a resident, not an agent for any institution. And, in that, as long as there is no legal warrants or precedence to dissuade you from witnessing a signature, you do it, regardless of who they may or may not do business with. As far as I know, me not being a client doesn’t constitute a disqualification from “witness.”

Oh well. The awesome lady at Suntrust agreed with me and she didn’t charge me for the service, which could have been “professional courtesy” since I, too, am a Notary Public. Or, she just may not charge for her services. I usually don’t. I mean, I can only charge a minimal nominal fee anyway.  More hassle than helpful at that point. Thanks to K Love regardless of the reason.

And, I got him signed up for the class which happens on Saturday. And it’s probably much earlier than he wants it to be for a Saturday. Here’s hoping the inconvenience is a good deterrent for future incidents he may have like this. Inconvenience on his part and on ours. It may not matter, but here’s hoping.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Car chases usually don’t involve major criminals – they’re usually guys afraid of getting another traffic ticket.” – Dennis Farina

We All Have That First or: 86 That!

25 Friday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

Do you remember your first speeding ticket? I remember mine. And, it wasn’t my first ticket. I had gotten a ticket for an illegal traffic move when I merged in front of another driver when I was almost 17. Then when I was 17, I was traveling to West Virginia to see a girlfriend when I was clocked for going 77 in a 55 zone, but they reduced it to 72 to keep me under the “15 MPH over” stuff.

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©Hagar/Geffen

Well, today, 3B got his first speeding ticket. He didn’t get so lucky. He was going 86 in a 65. 21 MPH over. When I asked him why he said he had to go to the bathroom. He probably doesn’t want me telling that part, but you know what, you do silly things, you get called out for it.

I asked why he didn’t just stop at a convenience store and he said he didn’t want to do that in a convenience store. So, instead of getting home, safely, to do that, he got into even more poo. Sorry for the pun. I don’t know, yet, what the repercussions will be. He says that there’s not a fine. I am quite sure there is a fine and I’m quite sure that fine will be minuscule compared to the court costs. They will be high.

But, all of that doesn’t compare to what it’s going to cost his mother. He’s on her insurance. She said that the cost doubled when she added him. I’m sure this will double that number. Especially since it was that much over.  He’ll probably lose his driving privileges for some period of time, too. We’ll see.

Oh, and turns out The BCPF has pink eye. Isn’t this a wonderful day?!?

Until tomorrow, stay safe and slow down…
Scorp out!

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“Gonna write me up a 125. Post my face wanted dead or alive. Take my license, all that jive. I can’t drive 55! Oh No!.” – “I Can’t Drive 55” (Hagar)

Driving Me Crazy or: Tahoe You Go!

24 Tuesday Jul 2018

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Salutations™!!

It finally happened. His mother and I finally got 3B a vehicle. It’s a vehicle that’s very familiar to him. In fact, he’s ridden in it his entire life.

Trey driving tahoe

3B pulling out of the driveway in his “new” vehicle.

You see, Ma Mère got a new ride last week and 3B’s mother and I purchased her old ride. She’s had it for many, many years and 3B and his cousins have been riding in it, basically, since he was a toddler. It’s a 2002 Chevy Tahoe and he was born in 2002. Ma Mère hasn’t had it from the beginning but she got it not long after that. And, truthfully, she’s driven the snot out of it. But, Ma Père is diligent and adamant about proper service, so we know its history, its faults, and its nuances. 3B has driven it before.

There are a few other things we have to do to it, but he drove it to his mother’s house today and she lives in Pinnacle (which is about 25-30 minutes away). He’ll be back here on Thursday.

We have laid down some rules for him, too. Driving times, when he can go places, who is not to be in his vehicle, punishments, grades, etc. So, we’ll see how this goes. I see it being “okay” but leaning toward the “give us the keys” at this point. But, again, he’s only 16, so it’s to be expected.

Keep me in your thoughts, Dear Reader, the whole thing makes me nervous.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Adolescence is a period of rapid changes.  Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years.” – Author Unknown

The Last of My Colored Hair or: How Long, Now?

15 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Food, Life as We Know It, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

So, I’m going to spare you the whole “it was 16 years ago today at 2:42pm, that my awesome son was unleashed upon this world” story. But, really, that’s what happened. So, instead, I’m going to tell you about the thing that happened today, which I’m sure you can figure out what that is. But, time’s up and I’m going to tell you anyway.

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Yeah, that’s my kid…

 

Yeah, his mother and I accompanied 3B to the local DMV/Highway Patrol office and watched him and a nice officer drive off in her vehicle. They were gone about 10 minutes at the most and then they came back. I thought, uh oh. That didn’t take too long. That can’t be good. But, the instructor confirmed that she hadn’t been scared by his driving.

3B is a good driver. I still worry about his immaturity but I guess you have to let them grow up, right? I mean Mes ‘Rents gave me room and always hoped that I’d grow up. I don’t think that I ever did, though.

So, yeah, he passed it on his first try. Look out WSNC (and Pinnacle and all points in between).

In all this happening, we didn’t record The Man Who Ate the Town today, but in missing that, I want to give a big shout out to our sponsors anyway. Washington Perk is your downtown purveyor of fine provisions. It’s not a grocery store, no, but it’s better than a convenience store. Sandwiches from the Perk deli counter, a wall of beer and wine, a chip corner, Larry’s Beans coffee and, of course, Wolfie’s Custard. You can find them at 301 W 4th Street in WSNC.

For the best cookies and baked goods in town, much of which is gluten-free and/or vegan, you have to go to The Humble Bee Shoppe located at 1003 Brookstown Ave in WSNC. Brittany makes everything from scratch and as we say, she wants to challenge your perception of scratch-made and give you a baked goodness experience that you’ll never forget!

Di Lisio’s Italian Family Restaurant is my favorite Italian restaurant in town. Tony is my favorite Italian. I’ve never made any bones about that, right? Kelly and The BCPF both agree with me, too. Homemade sauces, delicious seafood and meat options with a variety of pasta to choose from. Di Lisio’s goes beyond lasagne and spaghetti but if that is what you like, you will love Di Lisio’s! They”re located at 301 Brookstown Ave.

Thanks to all our sponsors for everything they do. And, hey! I’ve not received any playlists, yet. Get with it folks! And, watch out for my boy out there on the road.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“I’m not ready for this…” – 3B’s mother, my “baby mama.”

And It Starts or: Grab That Oh Shoot Handle

26 Friday May 2017

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Salutations™!!unnamed

I’m going to keep this short (surprise) because I’m still trying to catch my breath and steel my nerves. The day came that I sat in the passenger’s seat in my Soul I call “Nigel” and look to my left and see my baby boy, my little, itty boy in the driver’s seat and we were not in the driveway. We were on a real road, with real traffic and real danger.  Now, when I say “little” and “itty bitty,” I’m talking about my 15-year old, 5’9″ young man.

I think I mentioned him getting his learner’s permit a couple of weeks ago. Well, it was time for me to ride with him today. We practiced parking, driving on Peters Creek Parkway and some 2-lane roads. He needs to work a little on his turning – some he doesn’t break enough, some he breaks too much – but otherwise, he’s doing a pretty good job. He was straight in the middle of the lines and while I did hold the “oh shoot” handle the whole time, I didn’t have to squeeze it too much. I was proud of him, he’s growing up. He’s got a long way to go but it’s a good start. He’ll be fine eventually. I’ve just got to keep with him. We’ll do it again, soon. Just keep me in your thoughts.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Driving is a spectacular form of amnesia. Everything is to be discovered, everything to be obliterated.” – Jean Baudrillard

No, Not Yet or: It Was Bound to Happen

14 Friday Apr 2017

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Salutations™!!

Well, this was a day that I have dreaded for 5446 days, 21 hours, 47 minutes and 36 unnamed (2)seconds. That’s 14 years, 10 months, 28 days. It was the day that my son, 3B, sat behind the wheel of a car for his “in-car” driver’s education class. For the first time ever, he drove a car, on the road. I was sick to my stomach all day. I know that my usual worry over him is about to pale in comparison to what the rest of my life will be, starting now.

I asked him about it and he said he had a little trouble at first, figuring the turns and how to maneuver them, but soon he was doing fine. His words: “easy peasy, lemon squeezy.” Well, okay then. He sent me a text saying he had ran the car into a wall. I told him to stop it. He laughed. Anywhat!

Keep me in your thoughts or whatever it is you do. In all seriousness, keep him in that. Getting ready to take him for day #2. And, The BCPF is off today, so I’m keeping this short. Happy Friday, Dear Reader.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers.” – Dave Berry