It's not a Race

Hello, I am Laurene and I am a speed demon. I need a twelve step program to over come an addiction to speed { Speeding: Going over the lawful speed limit in the vehicle of your choice, or not... I drive a mini van.} No, I have not received a ticket. I have been trying desperately to go the speed limit. One may wonder,how hard can this be? Just go the correct speed that is posted. {This is harder than it seems when there is a group of people in your head that must be first. I don't know their names, but they all seem pretty nice. Except for maybe one, will call her Norwanda, you wouldn't like her when she is mad or even a little irritated....Believe me or ask my kids about her.}

I realize that many people do not have this problem. I on the other hand struggle every time I get into the car. It is like I am in a race and I need to get to point B from point A as fast as I can. This sounds so crazy, especially since most of the time I have my children with me. I don't drive 100 miles per hour, but pretty consistently about 60-65 in all straight a ways and on the free way I go about 75-80. I do this naturally. I mean my foot just assumes the position that it feels comfortable with. I don't even know I am speeding unless I look down. When I change my speed to the appropriate speed I think, okay I doing good, then I look down and I am speeding again. It could be that I like to sing at the top of my lungs when I drive or that my mind is racing over all that I need to do.

The other thing is I really dislike, people to pass me. Why?... I don't know why. I am a little competitive, but really IT'S NOT A RACE! Somewhere back in the recesses of my mind I do know this. It could be a primal thing. I just know I don't like it. I am doing a lot of self talk for this particular problem.

I am glad I have been working on this. Just last night I drove through the same speed trap that I received my ticket in and I was driving too fast, but only about 5 miles over. I slowed right down when I saw the cop sitting there in the dark. The thing is, just a minute before this I checked my speed and I was doing well within the range of the correct speed.

Several people have given me suggestions; use cruise control to control yourself { which works if I remember} The problem, however is in my head.

1.Car

2.Being able to drive

3.Free country

PS. Now Jack has read this post and told Sam{the deputy Sheriff} and they are monitoring my every push of the pedal. Great ,now I drive with the Gestapo!

Traffic School

I spent pretty much the whole day in traffic school. I was not to excited to go, but we all must pay our dues. This punishment, as I was told by the teacher of the class, was to teach me to obey the law and help me to remember that driving is a privilege not a right.

I arrived with a book and thought I would be able to read. The teacher said no one could read, sleep, or anything else. She wanted to see the whites of our eyes at all times. I thought this lady is tough. You know, traffic school is not free. You pay for the whole eight hours and in return you earn points back on your Virginia driving record. Plus your record is clean.

What did I learn? Quite a bit. For instance did you know many people don't realize there is actually a speed limit. Some people think the signs are just a suggestion. Also interesting is that many people have a lot of rage inside them and they carry weapons in their cars. Some people think it is their duty to police others, and that is why they get in the left hand lane and go really slow to keep others in check. This made me a little nervous. What I also learned is that is that people are habitual offenders and go to traffic school over and over. Bizarre! One guy had been to this particular Lady's class 3 times. She was a good teacher, but come on. Did you know you should put someone in your cell phone under the name ICE " In Case of Emergency" that is what paramedics are looking for when they look on your phone for someone to help.

This teacher was very entertaining. She had a vast knowledge of the rules of driving. I always find it interesting to see why people are in the profession they are. I mean how do you set out to be in the driving school buisness. I asked her and got an interesting story. You should try it people have great stories.

I have decided to slow down { I had already been trying to do this} Hopefully, I won't be talking to anymore police officers outside my car window.

I came home and took a little nap, then made some dinner and some homemade bread. Haircuts for the boys ,by Skip. Then baths and off to bed.

1.Cars

2.Ability to hear

3.Homemade bread

"DMV'' aka "THE MAN"

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to got to the Richmond DMV. I received a speeding ticket a while back and needed, albeit late, to get a Virginia drivers license. You would think this would be easy{nothing ever is}. I had most of my Identification, birth certificate, passport and they needed some sort of address validation, of course all our bills are paperless {going green has it's down side} I don't get a pay check, no stub. I don't have a Virgina Identification card or drivers licence, duh! So I brought my insurance card which doesn't count, I need a bill from the insurance company, again paperless. What are you going to do? Beg them to take a insurance statement of withdrawal of funds, which I did . She had to leave and go get it approved and a signature which took ,forever. { I think there must be some munchies in the back} They consented.

Now to the hard part; last year when Skip registered our cars {yes, it has been a year and I still haven't gone to get a new license} he used some form of identification with an obscure spelling of my name. I was not aware of it till I went in today. They told me they could not use my legal name because it wasn't in their system. I argued and told them that doesn't make since. She left again to talk to a supervisor. { Forever again} I would also have to get a court order to change it in their system. WHAT! I mean the name is wrong I have proof to show them. As I found out you can not argue with the DMV they are "THE MAN"! So I said fine go ahead and issue the license that way, with the incorrect name, because I was running out of time{I needed to get to traffic court. That was another crazy experience} They DMV lady tried to do this. She stared at the screen for some time,

Then said,"This name does not match the social security data base for this social security number"

No kidding, it is not my legal name, I had made this statement already. She looked confused and I was running late.

I said, "What do we do now?"

She says, " You will have to get a court order so we can change it."

I don't think so, and then I said with a little impatience in my voice " Let me speak to your supervisor."

She leaves again. {Where is this lady going, outside to the Quick Stop next door to get an icy?}

She comes back and says," My supervisor is at lunch. "

You have got to be kidding me. I said," Look, I am on my way to court and they are going to want to know I at least made an effort here."

She says,"I will write you a note."

Wonderful, I am sure the judge is going to want to see my note from the DMV Lady.