HOW DID I PASS THE BEHIND-THE-WHEEL TEST AT DMV

I was in the shower and thinking that I should share my experience.
If you want to know the REQUIREMENTS for obtaining a Leaner's Permit, on my previous post.. just click here.


After I got my combo card (EAD/AP). I gave myself a week to review the dmv practice test online. I use the manual for my reference..I didn't read the whole thing. When I feel that I'm ready to take the test, we went to DMV San Marcos, Descanso Branch which is closing in a month. Yeyyy.. I passed it. (third week of March, 2016)I didn't practice right away. I have nobody to go with me or practice me. My husband is working overseas. Yes its hard. He told me to get a lesson and I did. I paid for 2 hour lesson for $109. I told him that I drove before at the US Base but here is totally different. We only have 2 lanes there. No stoplight, only 25pmh and I didn't drove for a year. He told me about the rules but really didn't registered in my small mind hehe., and then we drove... ohh boy! a lot of things to know. I'm stopping when I changed lane which is a big NO NO... and more errors. He did tell what what I need to work on. SMOG/SMOS ( Signal, Mirror, Over-the-shoulder, Go/Stop) everytime you change lane or turning.. Watch for pedestrian and traffic so on so fort. I realized this aint gonna work for me.. I need somebody to practice with me. One lesson will not going to help me. He also advised me that...Since my husband is not here..I tried to text my retired bro-in-law coz Mother-in-law dont like me drive. And I was happy when he said SURE. After couple practice him, I am confident to take my first behind-the-wheel (BTW).
April 28, 2016----I went inside the dmv and lined-up to the BTW appointment lane. lady told me to go on the testing with my bro-in-law inside the truck. (yes, I am driving a pick-up truck haha Imagine that, with the big tool box at the back)We were there. The examiner asked my bro to off the car.
Examiner told me to show everything what she will ask.

PRE-DRIVE CHECKLIST (this is whats on the score sheet)

Driver Window - didn't ask for this
Windshield -  didn't ask for thi
Rearview Mirrors -  didn't ask for thi
Turn Signals F/B - she had me turn it to left then right while checking on the lights outside the truck
Brake Lights - asked me to step on the break
Tires -  didn't ask for thi
Foot Brake - I just showed her where
Horn - asked to honk it
Emergency/Parking Brake - i pointed it to her
Arm Signals --yes! you should know this.. Hand-up means RIGHT, straight your arms means LEFT
                      and arms down is STOP
Windshield Wipers - point it to her
Defroster - I don't know this but good thing I asked my bro in law..yes i point this too
Emergency Flasher..showed where it is
Headlights - showed this too
Passenger door -  didn't ask for this
Glove box -  didn't ask for thi
Seat belts - very important that when your examiner go inside make sure you have yours buckled and check on your examiner too.

When she get in, She told me that I will be score base on my performance. She will asked me to change lane so on..dont mind her scoring me. Drive safe hehe

I FAILED on the first try. I was nervous, nerve wrecking. Really different when a DMV person is in the passenger seat. I have a critical error ' DANGEROUS MANEUVER'. I know I failed. I don't look much on my mirrors, I just eyeballing it and DMV don't like it.. YOU should show them that you really looking but moving your head checking your blindspot..Show your eyebrow looking on the rearview mirror.. Keep your eyes moving....Make it EXAGGERATED.
I don't Smog/Smos, specially when merging to a bike lane. She explained everything.. what I need to work on. It was totally a disappointment. but hey, I still have 2 chances hehe.

So, I need more practice. I had chance to practice once a week. Imagine that. Sometimes its every 2 weeks. Atleast 2 hrs in those practice. So if I have that  chance, I make sure I remember everything. and correcting those errors. I made my habit making it exaggerated. my husband told me to get lesson and he doesn't care if it cost $100/aday... Omg! big money. I don't want to spend much on this coz I know I can make it and trying to tell him that I just need to practice more as I need what to work on. He still insist it. I went online and read reviews on the good driving school..those have good reviews hehe.. I found one..very good reviews lol.. This is a different driving school from my first one and this is just evaluation for an hour cost $99. The lady came 15minutes late. Okay, its alright. She apologized. Oh men! she's a talker. really don't stop talking.  She gave me lesson which I already know. I was like (in my mind)..Cmon! lets go driving geezzzzz... She's terrible. I really didn't felt I am driving. She has the gas and brake on her side. I just have the steering wheel. I can feel I wasn't driving. What drives me crazy when she steps on the brake really hard and hurt my chest. I was like throwing on the windshield. My confidence was thrown too when she told me I need more lesson. Whatttttttt??????? You kidding?. Ofcourse I didn't say that.. I'm nice lol.. I just say Okay, I guess You are right. I will call your office to get 2 more lesson then.. but of course I didn't lol.  I am helpless, down, no confident...I need to gain it again. texted my Bro in law for a practice. yes, once a week again. Till I scheduled my second BTW test

June 8, 2016 - I did my best here. My examiner almost felt sleep on my driving.. I made it really exaggerated. Freaking Roundabout failed me. Okay, we didn't practice this. I don't know the rules. We were trying to find wheres the roundabout at San Marcos but we didn't find it. I wish I googled earth it. I was really disappointed and devastated... hopeless....down...world was falling apart.... I had the worst examiner lol.. . I was really mad.

Okay here's what happen. We approached the roundabout near the school but that time theres no kids walking. 25mph on the school zone but in the roundabout is 15mph.  i slow down. Then car came on the other side. We're on the same position. I didn't stop or yield. she yelled...STOP STOP! he has the right-of-way. She is freaking mad. haha. I stopped. takenote, Im inside the roundabout, yet she yelled stop. I don't know the rules that time. Then, she said GO STRAIGHT, GO STRAIGHT. which is actually RIGHT TURN freaking b*tch... I googled it..THERE'S NO STOPPING ON THE ROUNDABOUT unless to avoid collision'. I didn't contest. I failed on my second time. critical error again 'INTERVENTION BY EXAMINER'.

Okay time is ticking... we will be leaving to join my husband in US Base. I need to pass the test. I scheduled it right away for my last chance which is JUNE 17, 1:30 hehe. Then my husband pushing me to get a lesson again haha spend his money lol. yes I did schedule a lesson again with the first school that I had. He said he was surprised he saw my name on the list. Asked me what happen. I was shocked that he told me that DMV San Marcos is difficult and they are mean  hehe try different DMV which is Poway or Oceanside. It shocked me more when he told me we will go on the FREEWAY. I was like.. I haven't drive on the freeway yet. I told him. he asked me about my lane changing. I said I think I am okay with lane change. and i know the basic when merging and exiting. He said he will show me the route there. Omg! I like the freeway than the intersection hahahaha. He told me I did great on my driving and I gain my confidence again... Yes, Poway has an easy route and no roundabout haha. Then afterwards, he told me to show him the San Marcos route that I had. Drove on the freeway again and showed him. But its too late for me to change the appointment and maybe I would not get the date that I want since we will be leaving on the 23rd. I did take the risk at San Marcos again. What will be will be. If I failed here, then next time I will try different DMV.

On my third and last chance...I had a guy examiner. I saw the b*tch there and I was praying hard not her this time..please Lord not her. A guy approached me and he's like from India hehe or more from Syria haha

Here's what happen: Did the same thing on the pre checklist, He didn't asked anything about my past failure lol. He said he will ask me to change lane..blah blah.. then drive safely. I don't understand what he was saying so I confirm it to him but very polite. I kinda repeat what he said. He was kinda pissed. He had me  do curb parking and 50 yards backing. I was told focused on the side mirror. Duh! because Im afraid I hit the curb and its a critical error. I do check other mirrors once in awhile. I think He wants me do rotate by head to my back like exorcism. After that, the freaking roundabout haha.. I made sure I yield on the cars that comes first. Pretty good in that this time haha.. Then, asked to go right. Okay. Rules of turning right, you are permitted to turn (unless posted) after a complete stop and check for all traffic coming.  If its safe, you can proceed. I think it was 7 cars and light is still red. didn't noticed that there's one more coming and fast. Okay! I failed this. Thats what I think right away. I messed up hehe. He asked me to change lane on the way to dmv.. left right.. Asked to park on the testing parking. I know I failed again. Then he told me everything to work on. About that right turn...I was down again..but was very happy when he told me I PASSED..

I would say..keep practicing. Remember all the rules. Make a habit on how to drive defensively. I would suggest get a lesson before taking the BTW so You will know what you need to work on.

CROCHET BOSTON VEST

CROCHET BOSTON VEST

First of all I would like to give credit to Natalia Kononova's blog for sharing her beautiful pattern. Although some of it will need "figure out by yourself". I fell inlove with this vest. I just learned crochet last December 2015 hehe I am not really sure if I will make it right... I started to study graph pattern and how to work on it.

HOW TO CROCHET PUFFY HEART

PATTERN:

Row 1
Magic Ring
4 sc
st


Row 2
ch 1
inc sc2 each stitch
st


Row 3
ch 1
1 sc
1 inc sc2
3 sc
1 inc sc2
2 sc
st


Row 4
ch 1
2 sc
1 inc sc3
4 sc
1 inc sc3
2 sc
st

Row 5
ch 1
3 sc
1 inc sc3
6 sc
1 inc sc3
3 sc
st

Row 6
ch 1
4 sc
1 inc sc3
8 sc
1 inc sc3
4 sc
st

Row 7
ch 1
5 sc
1 inc sc2
10 sc
1 inc sc2
5 sc
st

Row 8
ch 2
skip 13 stitch
st

Left Side Row 9
ch 1
sc on the stitches at Row 8

Row 10
5 sc
1 dec sc
5 sc
1 dec sc

Row 11
6 dec sc
sl
then close this side with needle. you can see a small hole then may fill it from there use the other side of your hook to insert the filling.

Right Side of the heart
  follow how you made the left side ( Row 9 - 11)

HOW TO CROCHET SHOE (kids size 11)

 This one is for my 5yr old son, wearing size 11 shoe.



Make a magic ring (wish i could take a video)

Magic Ring

1st Row
Ch 2  then hdc 12, Sl St 

2nd Row
Ch 2, Inc hdc on each ch

LANCE WORKS (5YRS OLD)

I do need to post this here as when he grow older, he will see his stuff and what he did when he was just a toddler.

@5yrs old, TK Class at Miller School

He painted this last month (December 2015) at school. Its getting better than before. ON this one, he said the people on left was us. Mom, dad and him. We have apple tree that has falling leaves and fruits. It was raining last week so he said, its just a dark clouds(purple) but no rain and sun is out. Ofcourse our house.

 Draw this last year too (don't remember the month but surely 2015)

 Pretty proud on his drawing... So you know who's on his drawing... Mom, him and Daddy. We all have a happy face. Our house is kinda small lol... and we have a bird house ... i love the tree

 spaghetti sauce on his face haha

He hand me this one today (Jan. 21, 2016). He said a ladder to the volcano haha

HOW TO CROCHET A FLOWER

I just finished one foot for my shoe project

and thinking I should add some decoration. Since I always use youtube as my guide, click here . There's 3 videos for the whole flower. The reason why I put it here in my blog so next time I don't need to watch again..here's my own language hahaha next time will put pic every stage...

Terminologies hehe

SngCro = single crochet
DblCro = double crochet
Ch = chain
SlipSticth = to lock or close

Make a 6 chain

then make a ring close it with a slipstitch

4 chains

single crocket

2 chain
CONTINUE till you made 8holes - then slipstitch to close then 1ch

making the FIRST LAYER 5 PETALS 
5PETALS

1SngCro > 1ch >  2 DblCro & x2 > 1Ch > 1SngCro
skip some holes, key here is just to make 5 petals only...do the math lol

SECOND LAYER 8 PETALS
1Ch > turn the flower Over > on the first hook do > 1SlipStitch > 5Ch > (1DblCro + 2Ch)x8 or 7 lol not sure hahaha but here's the pic

lets do the petals...
start in 1loop by making (1SngCro > 3DblCro >1Ch>1SngCro) x 8

back view

front view

THIRD LAYER 8 PETALS

       Turn upside down again then make 1Ch

For the loopies (8 loops)
SlipStitch on the first spoke > 6Ch > (1DblCro on the next spoke + 3Ch ) x 8
then 1Ch

for the petals
 turn around your flower
(1SngCro > 1Ch  > 4DblCro > 1Ch > 1SngCro) x 8

and here's your flower ..back view

front view...and here's your flower

SWEET AND SOUR FISH

I've been searching for recipes last week as I feel I like to cook again and my favorite Filipino Restaurant here will be close on January 2- 16. Damn! we will be hungry lol.

I am trying to use the stock that we have here at the house. I found a Halibut Fish (this drive me crazy, my Mom-in-law bought this for $25 geeeezzzz expensive). Good thing I found this Recipe from kawalingpinoy.com . This website has a lot of good recipe which makes me drool.
I made some changes and I use "tantiyahan" lol so If you want an exact measurement, visit that website



Ingredients (use my stock here at the house)

Halibut Fish (cut into pieces)
Soy Sause (i used just enough for the fish)
3 kalamansi ( got this from Mom's friend, doesn't looks like calamansi as it is orange but taste are same)
1 beaten egg
flour
salt and pepper
oil
red bell pepper ( I used just half and saved the other half)
onion (half also)
white vinegar
ketchup
brown sugar
salt
cornstarch

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, kalamansi and fish. Marinate for atlas 30 minutes.
2. In a bowl, place egg. In another bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper. I dredge the fish into the beaten egg and then to the flour to coat. (I miss the recipe that you have to dredge to flour, then egg then flour again). I always use my left hand on the egg then right hand on the flour so it won't stick on
my fingers. Ito na yung pics after ko na madredge...


3. In a pan over medium heat, put oil (tantiya ulit) Fried the battered fish until brown. Put it in a paper towel to absorbed excess oil.


4. In a bowl, combine pineapple juice, vinegar, ketchup, sugar and salt. Stir then add cornstarch and stir again until dissolved then set aside.




5. In a pan, over medium heat with a little bit of oil, add the onion then bell pepper until half cooked. remove from the pan and set aside.
6. In a pan, boil the mixture, whisking regularly until thickened
7. Add bell pepper and onions, cook about 1min or until tender. Add fish fillet and toss gently.

and that's our lunch today with hot rice.