Denver Trip /Technology strikes again
My school visit in Denver was great because I got to stay with my brother and his family. My nephew made me play Dance Revolution, and yeah, I pretty much stink at that. (Just what the world needed: one more way for teenagers to humiliate their elders.)
My brother let me drive his swanky BMW to the school. It had all sorts of bells and whistles I’m not used to. (For example it was keyless and the garage door opener was built into the car on the bottom of the rear view mirror.)
When I turned it on to leave in the morning I noticed the brake light was on. I sat there, looking for the emergency brake. I finally found it, but it was off. I tapped the brakes thinking that maybe I was supposed to do that as part of the whole keyless routine.
The light still didn’t turn off.
I called my brother’s cell phone, but got no answer.
I tried both of the brakes again then pushed a few random buttons.
The light didn’t turn off and all I could think was, “Great. The BMW makers have put a third brake somewhere on this car and I don’t know where it is, and I’m going to ruin my brother’s car when I drive it.”
Stupid new technology.
Well, okay, for those of you who think I’m an idiot for believing a car maker would put a third brake on a car—let me tell you about my new laptop. I still don’t know how to work it because there is so much new technology. Seriously. The spellcheck has been buried somewhere under all sorts of new functions. I can’t even find the ruler to make paragraph indentations. What was Bill Gates thinking?
So finally I had to drive off because I knew I would be late otherwise, and who knew when my brother would get out of his morning meeting. (Sometimes my husband’s morning meetings last into the evening.)
I drove, like 20 miles an hour all the way there. While cars whizzed by me–cursing, I’m sure–I tried to send them telepathic messages that it really wasn’t my fault, It was BMWs for being too brake-happy.
Then I called my brother between every presentation because I didn’t want to have to drive home with the brake still on.
Finally I got ahold of him. It seems the BMW was just telling him it was time to have his brakes serviced. No third brake. The rest of you knew that all along, didn’t you? But then, the rest of you can probably play Dance Revolution too.
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I’d still be sitting in the driveway, worried about wrecking such an expensive car.
Hey, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
You should see my 10 year old play DDR. Yeah. I think she has a microchip planted in her brain for coordination. I wish I had one.
I played DDR ONE TIME and my kids laughed so hard they about wet their pants. People wonder why we only have a game cube (no dance game–well, there’s one but it’s rare and expensive)
And my hubby is a car man, loves the ‘latest’ thing, but wonders why I hate driving them. Truth: they scare the crap out of me. I can’t help but think about what would happen to our insurance if I wreck it–assuming my husband didn’t kill me for hurting his baby.
They are adding more and more advanced technology to my school, and half of it dosen’t work. it makes the teachers mad that it takes half the class to turn the junk on.
And i stink at that Dance Revolution thing too.
No worries. 18 year old here, and I’ve never played DDR. 🙂 Also, if you’re talking about the new Microsoft Word, then yes, it stinks. A lot. I really hate having to dig through everything trying to figure out how to format it right, and I usually end up just giving up and glaring at the computer.
*sigh*
You do get around, Janette. I’m amazed at all the places you get to visit. Good for you.
You definitely deserve the early Christmas gift waiting for you on my blog today. And so does everyone else who wanders over to my blog. Enjoy!
I pretty much have the tecnology stuff down, besides the fact that I’ve never been in one of those supped up cars and can’t drive.
At my school, they have a computer class you have to go to and a really good teacher. I keep learning and learn it fast, which is an advantage. I had a teacher that said “Smart kids ask questions.” and I do.
Don’t worry janette, Im not an’elder’ and I still have a hard time with just mechanical pencils.
(Me being a klutz pobably has nothing to do with it…)
I soo need a good computer class, and then one on how to work my cell phone, and then one on how to work the DVD/VCR/TV. Really, sometimes technology just makes things harder.
but the car…
I know cars…
I can’t play dance revolution and I LOVE dancing. I’ve determined the game was created by evil minions.
I think you’re right. It’s the same evil minions who created high heels.
Don’t worry, I can’t do DDR, and I’m a cheerleader! Dancing is like, my duty, yet I can’t DDR.
And if you’re talking about the new Microsoft Word, I promise it’ll get better. It actually has a better UI (user interface) than the old word. It just takes some getting used to.