I'm so proud

This is not actually a picture of our van, it's just a picture I got online. But it's what our van looks like.I'm so very proud of myself. I actually DROVE the van to the store to get groceries today. Now, this may not seem like such a feat, but when you realize how very wimpy I can be when it comes to driving sometimes (Kami told me I should go to counseling after I drove with her in Chicago once), it's a great feat indeed--I mean, a vehicle I've never driven in, in a COUNTRY I've never driven in. That's awesome. AND I only called Brett twice. The first time was, I admit, just a little silly.

Kayli: How do you turn on the van?

Brett: How do you turn it on?
Kayli: Uh, yeah.
Brett: You push in the clutch and turn the key...
Kayli: Clutch! -Right. Bye.

That pushing in the clutch step is tricky sometimes. Yes, I have driven manuals before.

The second call was not as silly, because I didn't know there is a button on the steering column you have to push to be able to take the keys out.

Anyhow. I drove down the street, speeding through those roundabouts like I'm a native, parked in the parking garage with scary-skinny parking spots, grocery shopped (though I forgot to bring a 2-frank coin, so I couldn't get a cart (though I did figure out that you can use one of the ones with a baby seat on them for free), and I forgot my bags), and went back home successfully. And how very very NICE it was not to push a grocery-laden stroller and two whiny children in the cold from the bus stop all the way (and it is a long way) to my house. Ahhhhhh, the sweetness of a vehicle in my life.

Also, I just thought I'd let you know that soon I will be interviewing Brett J Bell for this very blog, and so you're welcomed, nay, encouraged, to leave any questions for him in the comments. Anything at all--trivial or deep, whatever you've always wondered about the man. Such as, why he ever conceded to marrying a crazy redhead. (I'm sure it was a weak moment, but we all must pay for our weak moments.) ;) On that note, here is a little video of an interview that is sure to make you smile (Monty Python usually will).