license to drive

Wow, so much pressure to update! Both Gloria and Crystal asked me to update today...man! I guess since I'm not working yet, it's ok. Even though I haven't really done anything interesting.

Let's see...I woke up at 6:30am this morning to take Jerome to work. We only have one of our cars here now, so if I need the car during the day, I have to take him to work and pick him up in the evening. Not a big deal--it takes me 15-20 minutes round trip (would be faster if it weren't for the 30mph at all times on the base!) and then I'm back in bed. It's really interesting to be able to drive onto base. I always pass by the big ships (Japanses Naval Ships are in the harbor now...so interesting!) and I always want to take pictures. But then the big sign with a camera and a slash across it prevents me. :(

a random ship...found the picture on flickr

After another hour of sleeping, I got ready and headed down to the "satellite city hall" and applied for a new license. I don't really need a Hawaii license because 1) my Cali license doesn't expire for another year and 2) I'd probably be able to renew by mail when the time comes. But, I recently changed my name (I know, it's been over a year since I got married...) so I needed a new license. So after applying, giving them the necessary paperwork (new SS card, marriage license), the guy tells me, "now you go to pay $2 for the written test." WRITTEN TEST?!? Why did I get so nervous? So I go pay the fee and when I approach the line, the lady asks if I want to take the test or if I want to study first. ummm....STUDY. haha. Overall, the test was straightforward, but I did miss 2 questions. Passing is 4 wrong or better. :)

Driving in Hawaii is not much different than anywhere else...except that it's sloooow. It's 35mph on the streets and 55mph (sometimes 50mph) on the freeway. If there's construction on the freeway, speeds reduce to 35mph on the freeway!! In the morning, going Koko head bound on Nimitz (east on the raod that goes parallel to the H1) the 2 middle lanes on the OPPOSITE (west) side is coned off and becomes the HOV lane for going east. It's bizarre to me and I would never want to drive on that side b/c it doesn't make sense to me. haha...but yeah, that's their solution to the morning traffic going in that direction. (which is horrible because it's going towards Downtown Honolulu & Wakiki) Jerome tells me that it's the same on the freeway--where the HOV lane is on the opposite side of the road, but I haven't seen it.

After the DMV, I went to get some groceries at the Commissary (only 5 minutes away from my house!) and then to the Navy Federal Credit Union to get a new bank card with the new name. Again, pretty painless changing my name to Jane old middle name, old last name, new last name. (No, I didn't hyphenate--my maiden name is now my second middle name!)

That's pretty much all. The rest of the day will consist of watching TV and cooking dinner--and playing with Bella. Yesterday was her one human year birthday!! Too bad she's still like a puppy...we love her though! Happy Birthday, Bella!