Life. It [Continues]

Once again, the internet has been farting so I'm gonna make this as fast as I can for fear of not being able to get it posted. I had driving lesson 2 today. I wasn't as nervous going into it to be honest. I knew I would be fine and I would eventually get it over with, I was just a little unhappy with having to sit in the car for 2 straight hours. That was my biggest concern because I get so uncomfortable.
It was a different instructor today and what a difference that made. He was older than Mike and when he got out of the car, he seemed a lot more calm and friendly. I sat in the car and he actually talked with me a bit. Last week, Mike had me get in and go. I wasn't really crazy about that approuch. I started out great. Surprisingly, he took me out to the highway, route 295, and yes I was a bit nervous about that, but I got used to it pretty fast. If I didn't, then well I would have been run over to put it nicely.
As we're driving, I found it funny how he kept bringing up stories of accidents and teen driving deaths. I just kinda nodded my head and kept focused on the road. It was quite amusing. The driving instructor telling stories of highway horrors.
I drove all the way out to the Marlton area and had to manuever the traffic there. That got a little tricky but because I was a lot calmer, I was able to it without a problem.
About, like an hour and a half in, he had me drive into Burger King, park, and wait for him while he ran in to use the bathroom. So I'm sitting in the car, relaxing a bit. What is it with these instructors taking leisurly breaks anyway? Talking on the cellphone and running into bathrooms. I thought I was the one who was supposed to be learning...
I drove some more..went around some developments. As I was nearing the end of my two hours, he had me drive to this girls house because she had her lesson next. This was all the way down past Lenape highschool. I picked her up and hopped in the back seat and finally got to see what it was like for someone else learning. It was her first time. She drove really well for her first time too. I was kind of jealous actually. Plus, the instuctor was really into her. He talked and got to know her more than he talked with me. I think it was because she was hot...That always does it.
I got home around 4:00 and had some time before going off to gymnastics. As always, it was good time to cool down and have fun. I'll be going all through the summer too.

Tomorrow, I guess I'm heading with mom, nana, and Riley to Allentown. That's cool. I feel like getting out somewhere. Saturday is the final day of my driving. If I haven't already complained about it here, it's at freakin 7:00 in the morning. That means I'll have to be ready to go anytime between 6:30 and 7:00, which ALSO means I'll have to be up at 6:00. Does that suck or does that suck??
Thankfully, and I mean THANKFULLY, it's my last class. Of course, I'll still have to drive with my permit then but at least there are no more crazy instructors. Only crazy parents to deal with and by that I mean, they're gonna be on my butt to get me out and driving on a regular basis. That's how I got to learn though. One trip out at a time.

I haven't posted in awhile because of internet problems. Speaking of which, I just had one. It doesn't like working for me. I'm going to make this fast so the internet doesn't shut down on me. (aka internet farts)
Uhhh let's see...yesterday I bought myself a Nintendo DS system because I had all this birthday money still just sitting in my drawer and I guess I felt like going back and playing video games again. Besides, this was something I wanted since Christmas. I also went to the park with Mandy, Candice, and Alex and we had a good time there and afterwards when we walked to Wawa.
Dad has been home since Tuesday fixing our downstairs bathroom. That's cool with me. I don't have to watch Riley all by myself.
Today I worked with the summer rec program in the morning but I had to leave 15 minutes in to go get a doctors checkup. I got a shot there as well. It wasn't bad. Back at work, I only had to stand there for an hour or so and just watch the kids on the playground. Easy enough.
Later this afternoon, I walked Riley over to the LaFleurs house because she wanted to play over there. I stayed with her. That was like a good 2 hours or so.
Mom and dad went out and bought a new patio table tonight. We were carrying it in at like 10:00.
Tomorrow is part 2 of my driving lessons. I'm ready to just get them over with. I don't like sitting in the car for 2 hours behind the wheel. Time goes pretty slow.

It was such a sunny and nice day. The weather was perfect. It was also Mandy's surprise party today. From 4-8. I had a blast. We played a bunch of games and ran around with water balloons. I got soaked from the hose. It was a great time even though I had a killer headache. I think it was from being in the sun all day. In one word, today was relaxing. Tomorrow is Saturday and actually had to think about that. I've soo lost track of the days now that school is out. Fridays don't mean as much to me anymore. Every day is Friday during the summer. Except of course, when I start working. Then it's a different story.

Alright. So I'm getting ready to write it. You already know what I'm going to be talking about and yes, it's what everyone wants to know. If you didn't know or haven't been following my posts, I'm talking about my first driving lesson.
It was today. I made it and I've realized that driving isn't all that it's hyped up to be.
The instructor pulled up in a yellow car. Mom followed me out to the front with her camera of course. My instructor, Mike got out of the car and going off my first impression, he scared me. He didn't look too happy. Katie was already out with him and he had been sitting with her in the car for 2 hours. Who knows if had to teach someone before her even. But, it's his job none the less. I had to learn. So I got in, fixed the seat and mirrors, and pulled out of the street.
Right off the bat, I had to drive out and onto the road. Well duh. Where else was I going to go? So I drove. It was weird. I looked around at all the cars around me and I wondered how I looked to them. Was I just some crazy, inexperienced, stupid teen driver or did I look like I knew what I was doing? Did they realize that I had never been thrown out to the road with a steering wheel and two pedals and expected to get from place to place? Who knows? But the fact of the matter is, I did what I had to do. Frankly, I don't really care. I'm learning and well, I'm going to tick some people off in the process but that's what I've got to do to get the driving deal down. With this all out of the way now, I'll mention that there were some shaky times. Like me not turning the wheel early enough or me not staying in the middle of the road. He had to reach over and grab the wheel more than once. I hated when he did that. It meant I was doing bad. The worst part was, traffic still moves around you so I had to keep pushing the gas not knowing how much I should push it or if I should brake. All this goes through your head simultaneously. It's hard to put into words.
About halfway through, he had me drive to a parking lot area where he set up some cones. I had to do K-turns and back into a spot alonside the curb. Now that I think about it, isn't that parallel parking?? Hahah I parelled parked and didn't even realize it. Cool.
So yeah we worked on this for a bit. It took me like three trys and re-do's. After I had done it, he stepped out of the car to talk on his phone, which is another thing he did often while I drove. As I'm sitting there waiting for him to get back in, I'm thinking, wow I'm in a completely unfamilar place (no idea where I am) with a guy I barely even had a chance to look at, and am in control of a vehicle. What a scary thought.
After my so called break, I lightened up a bit. I talked with him a bit but only enough to relieve some pressure. Keep in mind, I was still deeply focused on what I was doing. My mind didn't want to be anywhere but on the road. I had to keep thinking.
All this thinking is where I had a problem when coming back to the house. As I drove down the street and pulled up to the house I was still in focus, think, and listen mode. NOT talk and collect my thoughts mode. Mom, dad I'm sorry for closing up like that when I got home. I didn't mean to. I just needed a few minutes to relax and take a breather. Then I got frustrated with myself for not being able to explain my ride. I'm sorry. I don't want you to think there was anything wrong. There wasn't.
So other than my driving lesson, today was uneventful and typical. Oh yeah, gymnastics practice right after driving was great. It helped me soooo much to loosen up again and get back into my normal head. Exactly what I needed.
I'll be seeing Mike again exactly a week from now. Lesson 2 of my 3 parted lessons. I'll be better next time. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a look at him too and maybe even attempt to start a conversation. All in all, lesson 1 was what it should have been; a push to get me into the road. Actually, it was one really big push. It was a push into a bigger world outside of the passenger side of the car. This time, I was behind the wheel. No turning back now.


*Things I didn't mention....thought I would*
-I drove through Mount Holly
-The radio (95.7 BEN FM) strangely kept playing songs about highways. I wanted to laugh but didn't. Ex: That song thats like "My heart is a highway da da da da"
- He had to honk the horn at some lady who was driving bad. I honestly don't know what she was doing. Apparently, he did. I think she was in the wrong lane or something.
-Driving around was tougher than I thought. I wasn't used to there not being lanes down the middle of the road
-Mom took a picture...That's no big surprise (Love ya ma)
-I had no idea where I drove
-My legs really cramped up on me
-I think my breath was bad
-I was sweating a lot. There was a big sweat stain all across my back when I got out of the drivers seat. :)
-John said I drove better than Kaite
-It was often awkwardly quiet in the car

I've been so busy this week. Quick recap:
Monday: Dentist appointment to whiten my front tooth and went over Mandys that night and was out really late
Tuesday: Watched Riley while mom went to work, went over nana's house that night while mom, dad, and hop pop went to the Phillies vs. Mets game in Philidelphia
Wednesday (Today): Supposed to have had a swimming party with the gymnastics team at Westwood but it got canceled due to thunder and lightning.
Thursday (Tomorrow): DRIVING DAY! My first lesson and I'm watching Riley. I don't know what to expect driving tomorrow
Friday: Surprise going away party for Mandy

Next week won't be any less busy...I start working with the summer recreation program, will still be watching Riley, and I have a doctors appointment that week. My blog is living up to its name again. It's summer. It's Life On The Go!
Did you expect anything less?

I finished Pendragon yesterday. It was amazingly good. I can't wait for the next one but now this also means I have to start my summer English books. Joy

Fathers Day. The day we try to give dad presents. Now I know you guys are probably going to be reading this so, yeah, I'm not sure what I should write. I'll just say that it was a nice day. No elaboration is necessary.
We were over Aunt Debbie's for dinner and cook out from like 5 to after 8. That was nice because I was REALLY antsy today and had a ton of energy. I think it's all the stress from school leaving me and now I don't know what to do with myself.
Chris started speaking Spanish when we were eating and I was surprised to realize that I understood what he said. It's a good thing no one else understood because he would have gotten in some trouble. Especially for saying that kind of word. The funny part was everyone just kinda looked at him and laughed. If only they knew... I love knowing a second language.
So tomorrow, I've got to go the Dentist to get my fake tooth filled and whitened. Whatever. It's not like I've got anything else to do.
I'm going to read these Green Lantern comics Hop pop got me today also. Green Lantern is my new hero...Well actually, since it's Father's Day, maybe it's more appropriate to say that actually dad is my hero ;)
(Man, that is sooooo cliché)

One last Happy Fathers Day dad!

Today was definately an active day. I'm exhausted. I woke up after 9 to go strawberry picking with mom, nana, and riley at Lonewolf. My pants got all red stained and yellow marks on them from the flowers. My back was killing me from bending over in all the strawberry bushes. They were all wet from last night's rain. Afterwards, we ran to joann fabrics for mom and next door to Staples so mom could pick up some things. Since Friendly's was near and it was like 11:15 we went for an early lunch at Friendlys. That was one of the best meals I ate there even if I was mad because I didn't get my breakfast. For the first time I had a colossal burger other than an all american colossal burger. I had the ummm I think it was the smoked cheddar and bacon burger...........yummmm
The rest of the day started after getting a call from Mandy to walk and meet them and everyone down the street. Supposedly, I was supposed to go half way but I ended up going the whole way..in sandals. Whatever. I didn't care. So I met up with Alex, Mandy, and Candice and we walked to the playground. We were there for a while before leaving. I stopped over at Alex's first. A short time later I head home because it was after 6:00. I had been out for over 3 hours so I decided to stop home and check in. All was good. I headed back out after eating dinner and went over Candice's for a bit. The rest is well nothing too special. We were just in the backyard for a bit and then walked over to the pond. Mandy was the entertainment. I decided to call and come home around 9:30. Didn't want to be out too late.
All in all, a great day but I'm exhausted. I'm gonna sleep well tonight.
Reid has a hockey game in the morning unfortunately but I'll most like stay home.

This is what summer feels like again. I watched Riley while mom went to work just like last year. Nothing really special happened. I got to sleep in until like 8:45, which is good don't get me wrong. I spent a lot of the time "baby-sitting" reading Pendragon. Speaking of that book, I'm really plowing through it now. I'm soooo glad I got it a month before the rest of the world did. Tomorrow I believe I'll be going strawberry picking with nana, mom, and Riley. That's cool. I'd like to get out of the house for a day.
If you noticed, I'm now posting after 11:00 at night. Like I said, I have no more bed time. It feels so good to be able to stay up again.

It's that special day of the year today. I took my last finals this morning so now, I am officialy OUT! Summer has started for me and I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet. I'd like to get more of a tan outside by the pool tomorrow as I'm watching Riley. I'd also like to continue reading Pendragon because that book is really good. To be honest, it doesn't matter what I do now because I've got a whole summer!

Hahaha!!!

It felt sooo good to write that on there last night. Speaking of night and sleeping, I can sleep in now...



This is going to be a good break. I'm going to try to not stress over my summer homework and just take time to update my blog. Besides, it's not like I have to be in bed by a certain time anymore.
I guess you can say that right now I'm short on words, but exploding with oppurtunity for a great summer. I want school off my brain for a good month or so...

So I've got to make this quick like always because it's 10:00 at night and I have an early morning final tomorrow so I need rest. Actually, I'm really excited right now because I so want to start reading the new Pendragon book which is resting only 5 feet away from me. It's a nice 500 pages long. It's hardback. It's got a great cover art and oh yeah it's not supposed to come out until a month.
I'm really ecstatic to have it because I can honestly say I am one of the few in the world to have a copy so early. It's KILLING me to have to wait to read it because of gosh darn finals and summer reading books but I'll have my time to read it. I'll make time. Thanks a bunch dad for arranging your uhhh "connections" in all parts of the world to have it signed for me. It means a ton.
I really really need to go and read at least like 5 pages or so now before I go to sleep and dream about all the events that have occured between 1492 and 1877.
If I was perfect, I would probably squeeze in about 10 more minutes of study time but, man how tempting books can be...

School is coming to a close. Summer is about here. I'm ready to have no more worries for a few months and relax a bit. Only problem is that won't be happening. I've got some driving to learn. And I've better kick it into high gear too or else things won't work out too hot. I had my first "experience" today driving and it came as quite a surprise. Dad was taking me to Walmart to buy the CD I wanted but first he had to stop at the Special Services school to meet Todd. Special services had an empty parking lot. You know what that meant for me. So I had to get behind the wheel in my sandals and all. Needless to say, I wasn't prepared, caught completely off guard. That's when it all went wrong. Basically, I've never and I mean NEVER had any experience sitting behind the wheel. I've never even pushed a pedal before. Dad expected me to be able to manuever the car from the beginning and I knew it wasn't going to happen that fast. But, I tried. I failed. I sucked. I was stupid. I had no idea what I was doing despite taking the drivers ed class. Dad...well...Dad yelled. Now, I'm not trying to make him sound like a bad person (even though I was thinking that at the time...sorry dad) but he was just trying to get me to learn. I realize that I'm gonna need to "buck up" and get into gear. (Get it!?) I'm going to have to get back out there and practice again even if I'm not too thrilled to go again after a miserable first experience. I'm going to have to drive whether I like it or not and I need to drill that in my head now. It's inevitable. Ryan, you're gonna be driving.

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This weekend's gonna be hot...and stormy. I want to spend the weekend swimming and being outside. After all, Monday is the last day of school before finals.
I've got my summer assignments now to work on unfortuately so now I'm gonna have that weighing at the back of my mind if I don't start working on them. Yup, I've got my work cut out for me.

It's inevitable now......