How the Gods test us

This week was a week full of tests of one form or another.  On Monday Alma and myself paid a trip to the local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) to take our written exams as part of the long and winding road towards a Californian Driver's License.  After a bit of form filling, a quick and dirty eye test (which in fairness you could pass from almost any position in the office), $31 each and a happy go lucky photo, we headed off to our respective booths to answer the 36 multi-choice questions.  The questions themselves are a mixed bag.  Some are logical enough and then you've got a few like "How much will you be fined for abandoning an animal?".  I'm not Shaggy driving with my best pal Scooby Doo when suddenly we fall out with each other and I boot him out of the car - do I really need to know that in order to qualify for a license?  You're allowed to get 6 wrong - and yes people do actually fail this test, but the good news is that you can just turn around and take it again - literally !  Now those that know me really really really well will know that I'm not one to brag but we both somehow managed to get all of them right - a pretty good start !  Onward and upward to the 'Behind the Wheel' test I say ... but that would have to wait a couple more days.

In the meantime I had to (note the inference of zero element of choice) attend a new employee introduction training and a safety training for 2.5 days.  As you can imagine I learned loads, though in fairness I now know where to evacuate myself to in the event that there's an earthquake and we were also given some interesting information on so-called "Deemed Exports"; a very interesting topic that I knew nothing about.  I won't bore you to death with the details here so google it if you're interested.  After been given the answers to a few questions by the trainer we all graduated with a baseball cap, mousemat and glass plaque thingy.

Dramatization: Actual stud may have been smaller than those depicted.

Wednesday - D-day as far as "Behind the Wheel" tests go.  I was up first so I left work around 12pm to head home and get some lunch before making my way to the DMV office.  On the way home, I kept hearing this clicking sound whose frequency (excuse the nerd in me) changed in proportion to my speed.  When I got home I checked out the tyres and much to my delight I discovered a large metal stud embedded in the front left tyre.  Now here's the connundrum.  Do I (a) ignore it; head to the DMV and hope the guy that checks out your vehicle before the test doesn't notice the silver shining object in my tyre, (b) replace the tyre or (c) replace the car because AVIS had rang me the day before to let me know that the car was due a service.  Looking at the time I had I opted for friendly option (b) - but guess what - I couldn't find the spare (so as a result I felt like one).  There was this contraption thingy in the boot that looked like it had something to do with flat wheel problems, but it wasn't round and didn't have anywhere I could insert a couple of bolts so option (c) started looking even friendlier.  After a few phone calls and a trip to an AVIS office, I picked up the replacement car ... 1 hour before the test.

As part of the test they check how familiar you are with the vehicle by asking where the hazard light switch is, where the defroster is etc. so I had to become best friends with my new car rather rapidly. 

Anyway to keep what is turning into a ridiculously long story somewhat short the good news is that I passed.  Someone else was pulling in the car park just before me on the way back.  Now if he / she managed to pass then there is no justice in the world.  Dodgieeeee !

The ironic part about it all is that the lease car is ready to be picked up now as well, so I'll only get to keep my new best friend for another day or two.  More importantly it means that Alma gets to drive the beast (a Ford Explorer) for her "Behind the Wheel" test next Tuesday.  Good luck with that luv !!