Almost Ready to Give Up

[Chicky 0]

Not to scare Sharon but has anyone ever been boxed in by 4 semi's who won't let you out? I have a few times, semi truck drivers need boredom insurance around here.

That's rch for you, he bites down and won't let go, he's like a terrier. Its also why I give him much respect even though he hates me

This is going in my other post isn't it .......

Edited February 5, 2006 by Chicky

[I'm Gone 60]

2 things when merging

1. get up to the speed of traffic. It's very scary when traffic is going 55 and you're going 25. And DON'T STOP while merging (unless the traffic is stopped) you WILL cause an accident

2. when merging just don't rely on mirrors. look over your left shoulder. I still do this and have been driving for 20 years.

What I would say that too. If you are getting on a highway you have to pick up your speed as you come down the ramp and look at the traffic to pick the spot that you will cut in. The one thing that totally pisses my off about other drivers is the freakin Yield sign doesn't mean Stop. I'll be rolling down the ramp to merge and the bonehead in front of me has stopped. Unless you are driving a rocket it's very hard to get on a highway from a dead stop.

One other thing I would say is know where the hell you are going. If need be look at a map. That way when you get to Mockingbird Lane you know that your turn is the next street so you better get in the correct lane to turn.

I drove for the government for 5 years going to DC and Northern VA from Baltimore 2 and 3 times a day and I only got nailed one time. Tractor Trailor clipped the back of the car and whipped me around and I wound up in the median on I-95, but I went right back to the motorpool and got another car and off I went.

Driving is just like anything else, the more you do it hopefully the better you will get at it.

Edited February 5, 2006 by mdyoung

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

hahhahahahaa..

driving is easy. the car drives itself. what the problem?

no one wont hit you. people are afraid of high insurance rates.

relax and you will be fine. dont panic - nothing wont hit you.

Oh you're so COOL, Shon. Now get the ** outta the thread kplz? thnxbye.

[Ephesia 0]

It's already 3am but I'm still stoked. Hubby's best friend did let me drive his truck (which is an auto). We went to get dinner for the group. Originally, I thought he was being kind by letting me drive around his subdivision, and then we'd swap and he'd drive us to get dinner. But he started telling me where to turn, and I followed his directions, and 30 secs later, I found myself on a street. I was so excited! My very first time on a real street! I actually squealed in delight when I got to use the turn signals. And I hit 40 mph, and didn't feel terrified! Silly me was even excited about getting honked at even though I had correctly stopped at a Stop sign and watched for traffic before I turned.

A couple of hours after dinner, someone mentioned dessert. So best friend and I went out again. And he let me drive all the way to Dairy Queen. Ok, so it wasn't that far. It was only a 10-min drive. Nonetheless! And he made me park the truck! Although I did a piss-poor job of parking (it was my very first time after all), he didn't care because we were the only ones in the parking lot anyway. Another friend used his cell phone to take a picture of me grinning like a total idiot next to the parked truck. The picture made me laugh, coz it's VERY obvious the truck wasn't within any of the lines. I kinda parked diagonally across 2½ spaces.

I had so much fun.

[Sharon 1]

Halfway thru the off ramp and I had to pull over to the shoulder to let hubby take over cuz I was bawling and shaking and I'd had it.

Not sure if I am wrong here, but the way I read Sharons first post was that she was trying to exit the freeway...not merge into it!

No Ladybird, sorry, I guess it was me who said the wrong thing because I was indeed trying to get ON the highway. I realize that I said "off-ramp" when I should have maybe said ON-ramp...it's a Montreal thing haha we call all those things off-ramps.

Sharon, reading your posts on this thread don't really sound like you. I have been a member here for quite some time, and know you have spit and vinegar when you need it. Now you need it.

Once you do the things that have frightened you a few times, you will be fine. I do know that seeing all of those cars coming at you can be scary at first, but prepare yourself and just work through it. You've seen them once...now just work through in your mind what you need to do when you experience it the next time.

Thanks PJ, YEAH I know this isn't like me at all haha I think that's why I probably feel that much more humiliated and frustrated over the whole thing! You're right too in saying that the fact that I know my hubby will bail me out is a deterrent I know it is....and he knows it is too. But he's told me when he sees the tears in my eyes and my hands shaking that he just can't refuse...

We're going out again this afternoon....I'm hoping that the roads won't be too bad, maybe everyone will be staying in for the big game. Hubby and I aren't football fans anyway (I know, BLASPHEMY! hehe) so we figure we'll be productive. I'll check the highway out first tho...as I said everyone will either be staying in for the game or on the roads going to other people's houses to watch it, so we'll see.....

[aussiewench 9]

A big deep breath........close your eyes.......and go for it

J/k

Will be thinking of ya darlin' You will somehow overcome this. Try not to think about it too much. I liken it to erectile disfunction.....the more you think about it and worry about it....the more you cant do it. Just keep on trying girl

[Sharon 1]

It's already 3am but I'm still stoked. Hubby's best friend did let me drive his truck (which is an auto). We went to get dinner for the group. Originally, I thought he was being kind by letting me drive around his subdivision, and then we'd swap and he'd drive us to get dinner. But he started telling me where to turn, and I followed his directions, and 30 secs later, I found myself on a street. I was so excited! My very first time on a real street! I actually squealed in delight when I got to use the turn signals. And I hit 40 mph, and didn't feel terrified! Silly me was even excited about getting honked at even though I had correctly stopped at a Stop sign and watched for traffic before I turned.

A couple of hours after dinner, someone mentioned dessert. So best friend and I went out again. And he let me drive all the way to Dairy Queen. Ok, so it wasn't that far. It was only a 10-min drive. Nonetheless! And he made me park the truck! Although I did a piss-poor job of parking (it was my very first time after all), he didn't care because we were the only ones in the parking lot anyway. Another friend used his cell phone to take a picture of me grinning like a total idiot next to the parked truck. The picture made me laugh, coz it's VERY obvious the truck wasn't within any of the lines. I kinda parked diagonally across 2½ spaces.

I had so much fun.

Way to go, Ephesia! Looks like an automatic is just what you needed! I wanna see that pic! hehe

I know how you're feeling the girl. I felt like that the very first time I was able to coast down our half mile driveway without screaming Yup, sounds like hubby needs to get you a clunker to learn and practice on! You go girl!

This is what I am learning on and driving!

[ladybird216 2]

S'ok Sharon....thanks for putting me right though....I really thought you were trying to merge to the right when I replied earlier.

Jen

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

LOL - I can't believe you looked that up dude.

google + 30 seconds = any answer you could think of

That's rch for you, he bites down and won't let go, he's like a terrier. Its also why I give him much respect even though he hates me

This is going in my other post isn't it .......

I don't hate you. I just love to argue.

[Ephesia 0]

Sharon,

I like your car! I would feel so safe driving in that!

Driving lesson this afternoon for me. But we decided I will learn in our room mate's ol' battered truck, because it has a MUCH smoother clutch. Woot.

I asked roomie to e-mail me the pic he took with his cell phone last night. I'll check with him later when he wakes up if he already has. Once I get it, I'll send it to ya, Sharon!

[ChristinaM 0]

Ephesia, that's awesome! You'll get there

Chicky, I have to say I am incredibly glad I don't live in Oregon! Sounds like you have some mental drivers over there. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do, but it sure as heck sounds like a scary way to get from A to B!!

Sharon, is there any way that your hubby could pick up something smaller for you to learn in? I have a 1990 Nissan Sentra which we picked up for $600, and the view from the windows is pretty good It may make you feel safer if you know you can see everything you need to see, like your blind spots.

[Ephesia 0]

Ephesia, that's awesome! You'll get there

Chicky, I have to say I am incredibly glad I don't live in Oregon! Sounds like you have some mental drivers over there. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do, but it sure as heck sounds like a scary way to get from A to B!!

Sharon, is there any way that your hubby could pick up something smaller for you to learn in? I have a 1990 Nissan Sentra which we picked up for $600, and the view from the windows is pretty good It may make you feel safer if you know you can see everything you need to see, like your blind spots.

Wow only $600?! We need to look around more. Hubby somehow thinks we can find decent used vehicles for $3000. I think he's concerned about mileage. I shall investigate further!

[ChristinaM 0]

Calm down, calm down!!

Here's the deal with my Sentra - she had 75K genuine miles on the clock when I got her, which was about 6 months or so ago. For a 1990 car in the UK that would be low miles, but over here it's phenomenally low! She has some cosmetic issues - when we got her, the door panel on the passenger door was off because the previous owner had broken the lock, she has some rust issues, doesn't look too pretty, and obviously is not the latest in sophistication!

However, she is, and has been the entire time I've had her, completely clear mechanically. Hubby's father is an auto mechanic for the state and Chris is pretty handy with these things too, which helps. The only thing we've had to do is change the exhaust because the pipe behind the muffler snapped - but we knew it was on the way out when we bought the car! I think the clutch may be in need of some looking at, and we may have to fix a hole in the floor boards before she will pass inspection. (I drive a stick through choice, because I loath loath loath hubby's automatic!)

So, there are good sides and bad sides to it. Try Craigslist, and we have a classifieds paper round here called "Uncle Henry's" - it's like the Freeads. Sometimes you get lucky

This is my car after we dealt with the rust issues. Of course, now it's winter it was all a total waste of time, but she looked ok for the summer!

Edited February 5, 2006 by clmarsh

[ChristinaM 0]

Wow only $600?! We need to look around more. Hubby somehow thinks we can find decent used vehicles for $3000. I think he's concerned about mileage. I shall investigate further!

I'd also KILL to have $3000 to spend on a car

[JayJay 4]

Well carry on dear Sharon

All I can say is that I am NOT, I repeat, NOT dead yet, and I've been driving now on and off for a week

If I am not dead, you can do it too