With freshly minted temporary Texas Driving Permit folded into the front pocket of his shorts, Father and Son back out into the alley and head 2 miles down the road to Williams Stadium under Saturday's high noon sky. No HS football game at the Stadium until this evening, so we have a broad, 1/4 mile block-long parking lot mostly to ourselves for driving lesson #1.
Use only your right foot. Accelerator on the right, break on the left. Check and adjust mirrors, get comfortable in the drivers seat. Son, start the engine. Put it gear. Test the gas, now the break. Drive to the end of the lot and turn around. Watch your speed on the turns. Keep the vehicle straight, try not to drive over any of the yellow parking space lines. Good job. Control your speed in the turns. Anticipate turns and stops. Use a bit more of the break. Nice, smooth acceleration - good, just like that.
Grant says, "Not too bad, I think I feel comfortable."
That is the point. No license until you are comfortable in all driving situations. That comes with time.
We'll try this again real soon. How about I take us to a drive through and we get some lunch? Sounds good. Here is to success!
As Dad always says, "Drive Fast! Take Chances!" Seriously, do as I do, not as I say.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Permit Me -- Please
At last! Our long family nightmare is over. Grant has his driver's permit from the Texas Department of Public Safety as of 4:59 PM, Friday, August 27.
An article in the Dallas Morning News some months back cited the trend of High Schoolers obtaining their Driving permits/licenses later in life. The author & sociologist speculated that the rite of passage that was once embodied in the DL, has lost some of its potency with the rise of Facebook, texting and cell phone communication, facilitating a sense of independence that was once reserved for physically driving away from the parent's home. All sociology is suspect in my estimation, but maybe sometimes they are correct. The trend of late licensing certainly has resonance with our experience with Grant. He has never shown much interest to- head out on the highway, heavy metal thunder, born to be wi-ild! Content to stay in touch with friends via computer and cell phone.
A proto-driver is eligible to begin the licensing process at age 15. Late in his 15th year, after some prodding, Grant got the mandatory form (VOE) from the school office to verify that he was not a drop out on the road to alcohol; because the state insists that you be 18 before you drive our highways like and angry drunk. I think we citizens would be served just as well if we dropped the suggestive name highway and referred to our major thoroughfares as "sane and sober-ways". A name change, preferably with a hyphen, will fix everything. On this my canine-American companion is in complete agreement with me. We printed the application online, filled it out and mailed it and $20 to Austin to get the "Parent-taught Instruction Manual and Education Log". Grant's job was to slog through the Texas Driver's Manual (included) and then go online to answer questions at the end of the chapters. Did you know that it is illegal to drive drunk now? Also, the mixture of drugs and driving is punishable by law? Motivation flagged for this informative online process, and then the 3 month window for the VOE expired.
Grant turned 16, but seemed to be mostly OK without a license.
Grant turned 17, but seemed to be mostly OK without a license.
A new state law passes, and the online "Parent-taught Driver Course" is no longer valid. You must now buy a state approved computer course with online testing capabilities and will be issued a Certificate of Completion once the student passes. It is still illegal to drive drunk and punishable by law to be stoned and behind the wheel. We opt to buy the cheapest computer course at $109, thus saving $150 over the "fun and entertaining" instruction kit. With some prodding, Grant slogs through this course and receives his certificate. But his VOE has once again expired.
His sister returns home for the Summer and harangues her brother for his slackerness. But, too late, one can not get a new VOE until school opens, unless you come to the District Office. Inga drives Grant to get his new VOE from the District. Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect VOE; they do not issue those forms on Fridays. More Slackerness in the face of bureaucracy.
School starts, and the Office issues another VOE. Two days later, Grant gathers School photo ID, passport, Social Security Card, Certificate of Completion for Parent-taught Drivers Instruction and study log and application form and headed to the DPS with Mom. Whoops! Application form must be notarized and signed by Officially designated Driving Instructor, Dad. Mom calls and says they need my notarized signature and will come by my office with the form. There is a bank on the first floor of my building with notaries. I sign the form, get a notary stamp and the two weary travelers return to the DPS, leaving the bank at 4:10. They present the forms, and Selma (or was it Patty) looks everything over and then requests her supervisor to rule on whether Grant can apply for his permit with his mother, rather than his father who is the Official Driving Instructor? The supervisor says that the answer would be no, but since we have my notarized signature, he will allow Grant to take the test.
Grant begins answering the 24 multiple-choice question: What is the stopping distance of a 2300 pound car traveling at a speed of 50 MPH? What is the average flight velocity of a European Swallow? Is it legal to be drunk and operate a car weighting 2300 pounds? What is the legal distance you must leave between a parked car and a fire hydrant? What is your favorite color? The provision is that the DPS Office closes at 5:00 PM - sharp. If you have not finished your exam by 5 PM, you will be given a failing grade, and must return to retake the exam (I am not making this one up). With the state employees keeping one eye on Grant and one eye on the clock, Grant submits his exam for grading. He passes, It is 4:59 PM.
Permit in hand. Our 2 1/2 year effort bears fruit. Now I will soon have to insure a second teenage driver. Maybe I can drag out the instruction process until he is 26.
An article in the Dallas Morning News some months back cited the trend of High Schoolers obtaining their Driving permits/licenses later in life. The author & sociologist speculated that the rite of passage that was once embodied in the DL, has lost some of its potency with the rise of Facebook, texting and cell phone communication, facilitating a sense of independence that was once reserved for physically driving away from the parent's home. All sociology is suspect in my estimation, but maybe sometimes they are correct. The trend of late licensing certainly has resonance with our experience with Grant. He has never shown much interest to- head out on the highway, heavy metal thunder, born to be wi-ild! Content to stay in touch with friends via computer and cell phone.
A proto-driver is eligible to begin the licensing process at age 15. Late in his 15th year, after some prodding, Grant got the mandatory form (VOE) from the school office to verify that he was not a drop out on the road to alcohol; because the state insists that you be 18 before you drive our highways like and angry drunk. I think we citizens would be served just as well if we dropped the suggestive name highway and referred to our major thoroughfares as "sane and sober-ways". A name change, preferably with a hyphen, will fix everything. On this my canine-American companion is in complete agreement with me. We printed the application online, filled it out and mailed it and $20 to Austin to get the "Parent-taught Instruction Manual and Education Log". Grant's job was to slog through the Texas Driver's Manual (included) and then go online to answer questions at the end of the chapters. Did you know that it is illegal to drive drunk now? Also, the mixture of drugs and driving is punishable by law? Motivation flagged for this informative online process, and then the 3 month window for the VOE expired.
Grant turned 16, but seemed to be mostly OK without a license.
Grant turned 17, but seemed to be mostly OK without a license.
A new state law passes, and the online "Parent-taught Driver Course" is no longer valid. You must now buy a state approved computer course with online testing capabilities and will be issued a Certificate of Completion once the student passes. It is still illegal to drive drunk and punishable by law to be stoned and behind the wheel. We opt to buy the cheapest computer course at $109, thus saving $150 over the "fun and entertaining" instruction kit. With some prodding, Grant slogs through this course and receives his certificate. But his VOE has once again expired.
His sister returns home for the Summer and harangues her brother for his slackerness. But, too late, one can not get a new VOE until school opens, unless you come to the District Office. Inga drives Grant to get his new VOE from the District. Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect VOE; they do not issue those forms on Fridays. More Slackerness in the face of bureaucracy.
School starts, and the Office issues another VOE. Two days later, Grant gathers School photo ID, passport, Social Security Card, Certificate of Completion for Parent-taught Drivers Instruction and study log and application form and headed to the DPS with Mom. Whoops! Application form must be notarized and signed by Officially designated Driving Instructor, Dad. Mom calls and says they need my notarized signature and will come by my office with the form. There is a bank on the first floor of my building with notaries. I sign the form, get a notary stamp and the two weary travelers return to the DPS, leaving the bank at 4:10. They present the forms, and Selma (or was it Patty) looks everything over and then requests her supervisor to rule on whether Grant can apply for his permit with his mother, rather than his father who is the Official Driving Instructor? The supervisor says that the answer would be no, but since we have my notarized signature, he will allow Grant to take the test.
Grant begins answering the 24 multiple-choice question: What is the stopping distance of a 2300 pound car traveling at a speed of 50 MPH? What is the average flight velocity of a European Swallow? Is it legal to be drunk and operate a car weighting 2300 pounds? What is the legal distance you must leave between a parked car and a fire hydrant? What is your favorite color? The provision is that the DPS Office closes at 5:00 PM - sharp. If you have not finished your exam by 5 PM, you will be given a failing grade, and must return to retake the exam (I am not making this one up). With the state employees keeping one eye on Grant and one eye on the clock, Grant submits his exam for grading. He passes, It is 4:59 PM.
Permit in hand. Our 2 1/2 year effort bears fruit. Now I will soon have to insure a second teenage driver. Maybe I can drag out the instruction process until he is 26.
Take me out to the ball game...
The family has been following the Texas Rangers Baseball Team this season, with great expectations that the Rangers will get into post-season play for the first time since 1999. The Rangers are fielding a good team with decent pitching this season and were well represented on this year's American League All-Star Team, with 5 of our players selected by receiving the most fan votes. Grant and Inga did their part in getting our players selected by casting on-line ballots for the Ranger Allstars, and as a reward for their loyal votes, the Rangers sent 2 free tickets to both to be used during the August series against the Minnesota Twins.
We selected to attend on Wed. August 25 to coincide with "$1 Hot Dog Night" promotion. It was 78 degrees for the first pitch, while 2 nights previous it was 102 degrees at the start of the game - are we the ultimate 'fair-weather fans?'. Inga choose not to get a hot dog at the baseball game - which caused me and Grant to express our suspicions that she joined the Communist Party while in Oregon last year. She claims she loves Mom, Baseball and BBQ, is OK with apple pie, but does not like hot dogs (not even for $1?!). She was quite happy to ingest her share of cotton candy and garlic fries as we saw the Rangers win 4-3.
...Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack...
Family friends, John & James Swindle (John is 1 year older than Inga) plus Lauren (Church Youth Group Leader), also voted for the Rangers Allstars, and they offered to take Inga and Grant to the Rangers game the next night, Thur. Aug. 26 for 1/2 price tickets. So off they went again, vowing not to buy ballpark-priced food (now that Dad's wallet wasn't 2 seats away). The Twins roughed up our ace pitcher and won the last game of the 4-game series, 6-4. The fan group stopped for a late dinner after the game on the way home.
There are just somethings that gotta be included in a proper summer.
We selected to attend on Wed. August 25 to coincide with "$1 Hot Dog Night" promotion. It was 78 degrees for the first pitch, while 2 nights previous it was 102 degrees at the start of the game - are we the ultimate 'fair-weather fans?'. Inga choose not to get a hot dog at the baseball game - which caused me and Grant to express our suspicions that she joined the Communist Party while in Oregon last year. She claims she loves Mom, Baseball and BBQ, is OK with apple pie, but does not like hot dogs (not even for $1?!). She was quite happy to ingest her share of cotton candy and garlic fries as we saw the Rangers win 4-3.
...Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack...
Family friends, John & James Swindle (John is 1 year older than Inga) plus Lauren (Church Youth Group Leader), also voted for the Rangers Allstars, and they offered to take Inga and Grant to the Rangers game the next night, Thur. Aug. 26 for 1/2 price tickets. So off they went again, vowing not to buy ballpark-priced food (now that Dad's wallet wasn't 2 seats away). The Twins roughed up our ace pitcher and won the last game of the 4-game series, 6-4. The fan group stopped for a late dinner after the game on the way home.
There are just somethings that gotta be included in a proper summer.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Last First
THE last First Day of School. August 23, 2010. Grant's Senior Year. Not one to speak his thoughts, Grant methodically set his alarm for 5:45 AM, go up, showered and dressed - it isn't good and it isn't bad, it is just the routine. I was up to inquire if he wanted the ceremonial good luck send-off? Grant knew what I was speaking of and said, "sure, that sounds good". I set to mixing up a batch of cinnamon, ginger-bread pancakes. He said he'd like four. I served 'em hot off the griddle, and then made five for myself. His sister awoke for the bon voyage and later ate all the rest of the hotcakes for her breakfast and lunch. I dragged him out to the front porch, this time no complaints, as it is just the routine to take a few "1st Day of School photos. I took 5 for good measure, none of which turned out to have his eyes open. But at least the photo routine was completed.
Not one to speak his thoughts, Grant methodically set down at the dinner table, where his place was set with the "Red Plate" signifying the diner was to be honored for a particular accomplishment or mile stone that day. Mom asks, "Well, how did your day go?" The answer, "Fine". A second motherly probe, "What did you do today?" The answer, "I went to some classes". Dad cracks up at this pathetic dinner discussion dynamic. Dad says that we old folks could barely remember what happens at a High School, but we at least had figured out that he would go to some classes - what we really are looking for are some details about subjects, opinions of teachers and specific instructions.
Grant's defenses warn down, he says that his schedule has math, science and English. He was going to take guitar lessons at school, but thought the teacher seemed inappropriately rigid - so he'll drop guitar. The counselors were swamped, so it will be a few days before he has his new schedule straightened out. Oh, yeah, I have a bunch of paper for parent to sign. Then it was off to familiarize himself with the Greek alphabetic symbols for statistic class homework. Too exhausted to do dishes, he gets a pass and goes to bed at 8:30.
 |
| Eyes wide-shut: 1st Day of School |
Grant's defenses warn down, he says that his schedule has math, science and English. He was going to take guitar lessons at school, but thought the teacher seemed inappropriately rigid - so he'll drop guitar. The counselors were swamped, so it will be a few days before he has his new schedule straightened out. Oh, yeah, I have a bunch of paper for parent to sign. Then it was off to familiarize himself with the Greek alphabetic symbols for statistic class homework. Too exhausted to do dishes, he gets a pass and goes to bed at 8:30.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tennis Anyone?
Last year, his Junior Year, Grant took a flier and tried out for the Mighty Owl's Tennis Team, with really no previous experience on the court. He not only made the team, but also was one of a half dozen to be named to the JV traveling squad. Coach Jackson remarked on his strong serves. He practised hard, relished being a part of the team, upgraded his racquet, and for most of this summer spent 3 days a week playing and taking some lessons. We were most proud to see his initiative and dedication to tennis. Grant mentioning that he liked his tennis experience better than football - which he played as a freshman and 5 years in the Pee Wee League, where his Eagles were Turkey Bowl Champions (Garland City Tournament).
As a Senior this year, Grant was no longer eligible for the JV squad, so he had to try out for a place on the 10-member varsity squad and there were 8 or 9 returning varsity players. Tryouts were for 2 1/2 hours in the 103 degree heat. Word came the next day that he did not make varsity. One can try to be philosophical and look a the "greater perspective" - even in the Bible, Moses served in Pharaoh's court, and that led to 40 years in the wilderness. No doubt about the real zing of disappointment for everyone around here, but who knows where he'll be in 40 years.
School begins August 23rd.
As a Senior this year, Grant was no longer eligible for the JV squad, so he had to try out for a place on the 10-member varsity squad and there were 8 or 9 returning varsity players. Tryouts were for 2 1/2 hours in the 103 degree heat. Word came the next day that he did not make varsity. One can try to be philosophical and look a the "greater perspective" - even in the Bible, Moses served in Pharaoh's court, and that led to 40 years in the wilderness. No doubt about the real zing of disappointment for everyone around here, but who knows where he'll be in 40 years.
School begins August 23rd.
Friday, August 13, 2010
10-Day Triple Digit Rule
The "10-Day Triple Digit Rule" is now in effect:
Suneson Household Rules
Section III "Table and Menu Code"
Article 14
If the external temperature reaches 100 degrees (F) or exceeds 100 degrees (F) for 10 consecutive days, the head of the house shall serve key lime pie for dessert on the tenth consecutive day that temperatures meet or exceeds 100 degrees (F).
It was tasty.
Suneson Household Rules
Section III "Table and Menu Code"
Article 14
If the external temperature reaches 100 degrees (F) or exceeds 100 degrees (F) for 10 consecutive days, the head of the house shall serve key lime pie for dessert on the tenth consecutive day that temperatures meet or exceeds 100 degrees (F).
It was tasty.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Too Fuzzy for Texas
 |
| Strider (Too Fuzzy for TX) enjoys building a snowman during cooler times [Feb., 2010] |
Meanwhile, Inga home from college for the Summer from Eugene, Oregon (cool green Eugene) has a "Mustache Party" at Carolyn's house. Dad's advice: Stay over at Carolyn's as loooong as you can, it will be a night to remember here at home; and I say that not in a good way. Inga comes back at 4:30 AM - without a mustache. I open all of the windows and amp up the ceiling fans. As the sun slowly sets, we sit around the living room in the fading light watching the sweat beads form on one anothers skin. Enough of this entertainment! Lets get out of here. I don't need to ask twice to get Sue and Grant out to dine at an air conditioned eatery where we linger until we go take in the late show at Firewheel Mall. Upon recommendation of the kids, we parents see Inception while Grant opts to view Will Farrel's latest flick. Grant will see Inception the next day for the 2nd time with buddy Eric.
Chomper the Desert Tortoise does not usually take advange of the A/C; so he does not know what he is missing from his perspective in the backyard burrow. Alas, this leaves Strider richly resplendant in very thick, black fur (a gift from his Chow and Labrador Retriever heritage) to hang his spotted tongue on the floor as he pants trying to absorb the last hint of coolness from the foyer tiles. Alas, Strider is too fuzzy for Texas.
 |
| Chomper: No complaining about the blown A/C |
But Strider smiled even more than the rest of the family when Danny arrived midmorning Saturday to replace the blown capacitor and get us comfortable again and under warranty to boot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)