Driving
First let me congratulate the NY Giants and their fans for a fantastic game. You outplayed the Patriots last night. My house is in mourning. But let’s not forget the Pats undefeated season. Nobody can take that away from them. Even without the ring at the end.
****************
OK on to other things:
So, my daughter passed her permit test. 
The next morning, my husband took her driving for the first time at the local college. She did GREAT! 
Until she hit a pothole and popped a tire. 
On my mom’s car.
To his credit, my husband handled it without yelling. 
After all, accidents happen. And tomorrow is another day.
Did I mention the driving instructor is coming on Thursday?? 
Yeah, I’m back again. I’ve had an awful cold. My nose is still stuffed but at least I’m able to sit straight again.
Believe it or not, this was exactly the same thing that happened to me when I was out on the road for the first time. And I can tell you! My Mom was NOT very patient. So you can tell your daughter I’m feeling with her. But be careful when you hit the road the next time. I think the person in the passenger seat should do a lot of praying :pray: 
Congrats to your daughter on passing the test. I think it’s one of the greatest moments for a teenager. As for her first drive
As for the SUPER BOWL: Big surprise there. I mean almost everybody thought that the Pats are gonna make it. But no such luck here.
Have a great day
See you
Vero
Comment by Vero — February 4, 2008 @ 6:22 am
Yay to your daughter - and that no one was hurt in the pothole incident. Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well on Thursday.
Comment by Stacy ~ — February 4, 2008 @ 6:53 am
Your tire story makes me think of my brother driving at the college. He was driving a 1967 Ford station wagon and turned the corner and the wheel fell off. Luckily he had several friends with him and they got everything working again, but I can still see four 16 year olds chasing the wheel down the hill to put it back on the car.
Congrats to all the Giants fans too.
Comment by Liza — February 4, 2008 @ 9:41 am
Janelle: it’s icy up here….schools are delayed two hours (sigh, I get two of my three kiddos and can’t go in and volunteer :wallbash
.
Vero:I totally get it. I am feeling a little bit better today. I still can’t hear (too much fluid in my ears). I am going to drink lots of water today.
Comment by katie — February 4, 2008 @ 10:25 am
Poor Jackie! She’s going to be scarred for life…popping a tire on her first time out, LOL! Seriously, she’ll have a funny story to tell her kids one day.
Hugs on the Pats losing…tell Phil was thinking of him.
Comment by Julie Leto — February 4, 2008 @ 10:26 am
For some reason hubby was rooting for the Giants. He also slept on his own side of the bed last night.
Daughter got rear ended when we were at a stop sign on afternoon. She thought I would go nuts on her or the guy who hit her. (she was still on her permit.) She was truly amazed that I kept my cool and was more concerned that she didn’t get hurt and that I made her drive home after we were done with all the paperwork. I think your husband did more for her by not getting upset that she will really know. Getting behind the wheel is scary and to have that happen could break anyones nerves. Kuddos.
Keep in mind if she is ever in an accident (I learned this after daughters accident, from our insurance co.) that as long as she is under 18, NO ONE from the the other sides insurance can talk to her 1) without your permission and 2) you can tell them NO. She is a minor and under your care. Period. I gave them the info and they had to deal with it. On the other hand, I hope she has a safe time driving from now on. She got the scary part (sorta) out of the way. :pray:
Comment by ev — February 4, 2008 @ 10:42 am
Oh my heavens - a daughter driving. My husband was not good teaching my daughters to drive. He’d always tell them he’d go out with them then go to sleep in the recliner. Believe they didn’t want to wake him. So it was up to me. It was scary and now they are gone. One in Indiana 11 hours away :pray: and the other driving back and forth five days a week 80 miles one way to College. She moved in with her boyfriend.
Now it’s empty nest and lonely.
I miss them terribly and have no grandchildren either.
Good luck and God Bless.
Comment by Jane Squires — February 4, 2008 @ 11:00 am
Good Morning Everyone,
Okay, I said that I never watch football unless the Broncos are playing but I guess I lied…my husband and I watched the Super Bowl yesterday. And boy, what a game. It was a real nail biter. Both teams fought like a gang of curs over one bone. But when it came down to it, the Giants outplayed them. And those boys were bone tired at the end.
I must say I was thrilled that the Giants won. I didn’t want to to say anything the day before and take away Carly’s thunder.
Sorry, Carly. But as you said they had a perfect season that no one can ever take away from them. They are still a fabulous team.
Bless Jackie’s heart. Her first time out and she blows a tire. Like Julie said she’ll have a funny story to tell one day. I’m glad your husband didn’t yell at her.
Have a great day all,
Cher
Comment by Cher — February 4, 2008 @ 11:19 am
Hi Carly~ We’re mourning the Pat’s loss in my household too. But congrats to all Giants fans.
Yikes and Yay on the driver’s permit. I’m not too far behind you with my son. Keep us posted on how everything goes. I’ll be sending good driving vibes to all of you.
Comment by Robin — February 4, 2008 @ 11:54 am
The fun is just beginning, Carly!
Katie - Brrrrr!!!!! :cold:
Comment by Janelle — February 4, 2008 @ 11:55 am
Glad you are feeling better, Vero and Katie. I’m hearing more and more about first funny driving times!
Ev, great advice. I didn’t know about that with insurance companies either!
Comment by Carly — February 4, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
Oh boy. I’ve so been there with the teen driver…
Comment by Jill S. — February 4, 2008 @ 12:29 pm
Carly,
Okay, there was still the potential danger of hitting a car (or worse: two cars or even three? Who knows? You think that’s never gonna happen? Never say never!) while trying to get into a parking lot. But you do have to admit: The parking lot always seems to be smaller than the car (at least when a woman is driving. Or maybe just when I’m driving?) But I’m not insinuating that every woman was incapable of getting into a parking lot. But I don’t succeed at the first try. And at the second and third neither…
I’m glad I’m able to join the daily fun again, too.
KATIE, I’m feeling with you. Get better soon. Luckily, we can’t infect anybody over the Internet.
Seems like everybody has some worries about letting their daughters drive. I remember one special incident when my father in the passenger seat was nagging during the whole ride. Then he said if I were his SON he wouldn’t have to keep an eye on me the whole time. WHAT ? At least I was able to break and that helps a lot.
See you
Vero
Comment by Vero — February 4, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
Janelle…go get Don a warm parka!
Vero…I am glad we can’t infect anyone over the internet, too. I am feeling a LOT better, but I still have lots of fluid behind my ear and can’t hear….not much fun when you have to be a parent!
Comment by katie — February 4, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
Congrats on the permit. My first time driving with my dad, he had a volks van that was a stick and I put it out of gear and it bounced—yep bounced down the road as he was yelling and bounced right past a stop sign before I got it in gear…..He is 81 with Azlheimers but still brings that up every now and then, not to mention the curb I ran over in the station wagon…..We finally got an instructor two years later and well that was the best decision for everyone.
Comment by debb — February 4, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Oh, your poor daughter. She gets the freedom of the permit and has an accident. That would have crushed my confidence.
And, congratulations to your husband for keeping his cool. Hmm, I wonder what my father would have done???
Comment by ThatBrunette — February 4, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
I can sympathize with your daughter!
Comment by Susan — February 4, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Congrats to Jackie for getting her permit!
to Jackie for having a problem her first time out. However, it might be a good lesson that driving is not just about fun & freedom!
Katie & Vero, get better soon.
To all the Patriot fans, what a bummer that after such an awesome season they lost that last game. On the other hand I’m very excited for Eli Manning & the rest of the team. Since I’m a west coast girl I don’t have an allegiance to either the Pats or the Giants! Sorry!!
Comment by Donna M — February 4, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
Go Giants! (Couldn’t resist. :mrgreen
Your daughter’s story made me think of the first time I took the family car out after getting my full license. Went to a graduation party. No drinking or anything like that. But on my way home, got rear-ended by a hit and run driver, which caused me to plow into the car in front of me at a stop sign. Our one and only car was totalled. I figured my driving days were eternally ended and I could certainly forget about enjoying my last summer before college. But my very stern Dad was great, worried more about me and my girlfriend then about the car. Still it was a long time before I asked to drive the next one.
Comment by Patricia W — February 4, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
When my sister went to get her licenses, she was pulling into the park and run over the cement at the top of the parking spot. She started going down the hill when she slammed on the brakes. My dad looked at her, told her to back the car up and go get her licenses. He stayed very calm and she got her licenses. It makes for a great story all these years later.
Good luck on Thurday.
Comment by Stephanie S. — February 4, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
Carly, When my daughter started driving she took drivers ed in school, but we also paid for an instructor to give private lessons because we felt like the drivers ed didn’t give alot of driving time. It was the best money spent. As for your husband he must have a lot of patience because whenever my husband took my daughter out driving, they would come back not talking to each other…lol
Sorry about the Pat’s loss, but you know I’m on cloud 9 right now and I think we are all ditching work and school for the parade tomorrow
Comment by Tina Martinesi — February 4, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
Hey Carly, congrats to your daughter…it’s funny how potholes just jump in front of your tires when you are new driver…I remember when i first got my permit…I was afraid to drive…yep, I wanted the freedom it would give me, but thinking of driving in NYC just terrified me…I hit several potholes, bumped some cars while parking (parallel parking, it is one of the most dreaded things I would ever have to think about doing…does that make sense?), AND, I drove so slloooooowwwwww…of course experienced NYC drivers, especially cabbies, had no tolerance for that, and they let me know…so, I gave up driving and put off getting my license until I was 23 or 24…who needs a license when you live in the city anyway? Now when I go back, I know how to deal with the drivers, because I am just as aggressive, sometimes I catch myself being impatient with new drivers, but I check myself, remembering how it was when I first started out…how did your daughter feel after hitting the pothole? I will see you soon…need to go and coach a basketball game…ttyl….
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — February 4, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Carly, congrats to your daughter! Yippee!! And also to your hubby for keeping his cool–accidents do have a way of sneaking up on us!
Comment by Fedora — February 4, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
Paula R- if you are still living in NYC, remember you don’t have to take your test there. My step son is coming home to take his. And he’s almost 48. :giggle:
When we were all growing up, my mom taught almost the whole neighborhood to drive. She was the only one who had the patience to do so. Although I think I am the only one who knew she had a prediliction to drag at red lights. Dad didn’t drive with anyone until we felt we were ready for our road test. Then he would take us out in the 10-wheel dump truck and make us drive it around the block. Thank god we lived in the country. We had to do it without stalling the truck. It wasn’t an automatic either. If we could do that, we were ready. I don’t think anyone failed their first time out.
I hae had one ticket- in 1979. For speeding. Thank god for cruise control!!!
Comment by ev — February 4, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Congrats to your daughter!
I taught all four of my kids to drive—-so glad we lived in the country.
Comment by Estella — February 4, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Congrats to your daughter! The first time I took my driving test I was so nervous I almost backed into a telephone pole. Notice I said “first time”. I passed on the second try.
Comment by bluecat — February 5, 2008 @ 8:49 pm