This was a week noteworthy. Darin became an official licensed Japanese driver! Yea! And, I drove for the first time Saturday!
Yeah, not so good. I almost hit a pedestrian and a parked van. Not at the same time though. The near misses did not occur because I wasn't paying attention. I was fully aware of my driving...I just didn't happen to see the man or the parked vehicle. It happens. After the second near miss Nathan commented he would rather walk back home. I love my family.
Just to make things clear, pedestrians have the right of way. That's great for them, but not for drivers. They come out of know where then zip across the street without warning. Even so the driving issue is a bit troubling. I have only one week to legally practice my driving before my permit expires. I take my test in September. I'm still not convinced I should drive at all. Neither is the man I almost met.
Hit and runs aside, while we were out driving we stopped at "The Price Club". It is a international grocery store (like a mini Costco) where plenty of goodies from home are available like jello ($2/box) and macaroni and cheese ($3/box). I was most pleased about finding my Peanut Butter & Co. "Dark Chocolate Dream" peanut butter. It was twice the price for half the amount I can get at Walmart, but hey...it's chocolate! I also found the organic shampoo that I just purchased during home leave. However, here it is about $20 for a bottle. Not sure I'll be buying it here, but it's nice to know I can.
After church Sunday I was trying to help the kids get in the van. Because there wasn't room to open the passenger door I opened the driver's door. I wasn't going to drive. I just wanted to put down my purse and Caden's "bikepike" (backpack). When Caden saw me opening the door he screamed, "No Mommy, don't drive" Don't drive!" Two-year-olds can be so humbling!
There was a 7.1 earthquake Sunday evening off the coast of Japan. Yes, we DID feel it. I couldn't figure out what was making creaking noises in the ceiling and in our closet. When I got up to investigate I looked into our closet to find our clothes swaying back and forth. I checked out the earthquake website (www.earthquake.usgs.gov) to find there had indeed been one.
It is Tuesday early morning and I am, as I am typing, being gently swayed back and forth by another earthquake. I’m just not sure how comfortable I am with this geographic area…and residing on the 16th floor during such an event. We are in a typhoon advisory as well. Never thought I would miss the Midwest thunderstorms and tornados!
