Attack of the killer dragonflies

Well they maybe aren't killer dragonflies but there sure is a swarm of them outside. I went out earlier and had to go out the back way because they were everywhere and I wasn't sure what they were at first. I thought perhaps they were wasps so there was no way I was going near them. Very strange. They always fly around but never in a swarm like they are today. Very strange indeed.

I know a lot of people like them and think they are pretty and I used to too but the ones here are massive and I always get worried that they won't fly out of my way and that it would hurt if they hit me.

I was considering taking a picture but I don't think it would come out very well so I'm not going to bother. I did find something cool to take a picture of when I was out. There is a big toadstool circle behind the apartments. We must have fairies living here because my mum told me that if toadstools are in a ring then it is a meeting place for them. I will try to get a picture of it later.

Dangerous driving

So on Sunday I had a go at driving. I have been putting it off, not intentionally, but Sunday I decided to just go for it. Probably not a good idea when I had PMS but everything is always clearer with hindsight.

We went down to the neighborhood behind us where they are still building as I thought it would be lighter on traffic.

For a while I practised by going round this square they have. It was okay for a first attempt I guess. I mean, I had trouble judging how close I was to the middle of the road but it was okay. My husband was not impressed with my stopping at the stop sign as it was admittedly juddery and I couldn't stop exactly where he wanted me to. I did this for a while and then I was directed out onto the real roads (where traffic was). It was scary. We drove around a bit and I was kind of feeling okay but then we got to the houses right behind where we live. The roads are really narrow and have cars parked on both sides. This is where it all went really wrong. My husband started having a panic attack and shouted at me. He kept saying to go left. Actually it was more like....GO LEFT GO LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT!!!!!! So, I start going left onto the other side of the road but a big red truck is coming straight at me on the left so I go back to the right to get past it. I don't know whether my husband couldn't see this truck coming at me or what but it was a nightmare. We nearly died.

So then I just wanted to get home so we went along the way and my waining confidence was just pulverized. I tried to go up a road but nearly crashed into a parked car and I had to stop and reverse back so I could get by without scratching it. Then we turned the corner and were nearly home. I had to stop the car in front of the gates and I had plenty of room but my husband seemed to think I was planning on driving through them. We got through them safely (surprisingly) and then I got told off for using the indicators when I turned the corner although I thought you were supposed to do this. Then I had to park which I knew I wouldn't be able to do...and I couldn't. I drove up the pavement. I couldn't even be bothered trying to fix it because I was nearly crying so I got out and let my husband fix it and then went inside and cried.

I hate all those people that say....oh driving is easy. No it isn't. It is really hard concentrating on all the different things and trying not to kill people or get myself killed. Plus people in America drive on the opposite side of the road than in England and the cars are all different. Like there is no clutch and the indicator thing is in a different place. Plus I don't know what the road signs mean half the time and have no clue what the speed limits are. So it isn't easy at all and I hate the fact that I HAVE to learn how to do it.

Free screening of District 9

On Thursday evening we went to a free preview showing of District 9. I got the tickets from FilmMetro and they give out more tickets than there are seats to make sure the theater is full so it could happen that not everyone gets in. We planned on leaving when my husband got home from work but there was a really bad thunderstorm and I was too scared to go outside. After a while the storm started dying down and we decided to go and hope that the storm had put everyone else off so that we could get in. Traffic was horrific and it took forever to get there and I started to think that perhaps we would not get in.

We got there eventually and we were at the right theater (see my previous post on My Life In Ruins for details of one of our previous attempts). We went in and a man pointed us in the right direction. Well, the queue was horrendous. I thought for sure we wouldn't get to see the movie and even contemplated leaving there and then but we joined the line and surprisingly we got in. They stamp your hand and check your bag and wand you. I guess so you don't record the movie. I bet it is only a matter of time before they start doing that for regular screenings too.

We went in and picked our seats. I thought it would be more organised to just put everyone in seats in order of when you enter but no, they left it as a free for all. We ended up right near the front so my husband could hang his gigantic legs out the side and be a bit more comfortable.

It took a while to get everyone in so my husband kindly went to get drinks and popcorn. I didn't want him to whilst we were outside in case we didn't get in.

Finally, the movie started. I didn't really have any expectations of it. I just knew that aliens had landed on earth. I actually really enjoyed it. It was done documentary style which made it more interesting to me.

There was one rather surreal moment and that was maybe halfway through the film. We were all caught up in the movie and out of the corner of my eye I could see something moving on the floor. It took me a minute to fully understand what I was seeing but it was a really small child crawling across the floor. It freaked me out. I don't know where the kid went but it was a weird little moment that kind of made me think....did I really see that?

Anyway, not a bad movie at all. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

Dogsitting

This weekend we were looking after two little dogs. One is only a teeny tiny baby and he is so cute. He is tinier than the toys that my dog has. Not that my dog actually plays with his toys. Here is the cute puppy: It was fun to have them around but they woke me up on Sunday morning at 7am. I thought they were fighting but they may have been playing. My big dog got very jealous of the attention the other dogs were getting and he was behaving like a spoilt only child...which he is. Anyway he was very happy when the little dogs went home and he got us all to himnself again.
Here is my dog hiding:

My new vacuum

This is my new vacuum. It is a Bissell PowerForce Bagless Vacuum. The other one we have is awful. It is a million years old and it smells so I would rather not use it than stink the place up. Basically, it has long ago had it's day.
This new one is great. I wasn't expecting miracles because it was under $50 but oh my god it is amazing. We have a husky who is shedding big time right now and I was hoping it would at least pick up some of the dog hair. What I wasn't expecting was for it to fill up after I had just done the living room. I was actually amazed the suction was that good. The living room is the worst room for dog hair definitely and because I hate the other vacuum I have been cleaning it up with the dog glove which is good but means I have to get down on my hands and knees. Not being a fan of housework you can understand how much I don't enjoy doing that job.

I realize now that I am old. Why else would I be this excited over a vacuum. It's sad really but I love my new vacuum.