Shut-up Nancy!

Turn left here, Make a U-Turn...
...You know that annoying voice that usually puts you in the wrong place.

My morning began on just two hours of sleep due to excessive homework and studying.  I had to be out of the house by 6:30 in order to get to Arlington for my scheduled check-off.  I grabbed breakfast, which was the same thing I had for dinner the night before...a package of Austin brand Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter and ran out of the door.  Perfect...I not only would be there on time, but I was going to have a few moments to go over the check-off one last time.  Wouldn't it be nice if life worked as good while it is happening as it does in our heads? 

Halfway to Granbury, I realize I don't have my watch, an important piece of equipment in the check-off.  In a split second several things run through my mind as I pull to the side of the road and whip my car around...driving all the way home would make me late, I could borrow a classmates watch, but it's scheduled check-offs so there might not be anyone else there, if I am late the instructor could actually count it as a fail, three fails and your out, can't be out of the program, could call Terry who might grab my watch and head my direction with it, (quick glance at the clock and back to the thoughts flying through my head) Terry could already be at work, Terry might be gripey, can't be late, awe heck just call Terry.  Well, I did, he was not gripey, and he met me on the road between the house and Glen Rose with my watch.  Lifesaver!

That turning around did take about 20 minutes of the clock, which was cutting it pretty close, but getting to Arlington on time was still possible.  That was until the flat bed truck in front of me started losing tools off the back of his truck.  So there I was dodging a large combination square at 70 mph, hoping it didn't hit my car and feeling sorry for him when he go to the job site.  I needed to get around him, but it wasn't gonna happen.  For fear of getting hit by a table saw I slowed down to a crawl.  Yes 55 - 60 feels like you're crawling when you have to be somewhere by a certain time.

Now, I know which roads to take, which exits to use, so I didn't need the navigator, but Nancy, the navigator, has that neat little feature that shows your arrival time, and she is always right on the money.  (The kiddos named the voice Nancy, but my husband usually calls her something else)  I reach over, turn Nancy on and she shows my arrival time to be 8:49.  That is 19 minutes late! 

By this time, I am out of the country and in traffic, on the phone with my instructor, and going over the steps of my check-off.  Yes, I was going through the steps out loud, and yes, other drivers were most likely wondering, "What in the heck is wrong with that girl?".

My lack of sleep, hunger, test anxiety, and stress got the best of me.  I could see far enough ahead to know there were no cops, so I decided I could go a little bit faster, ya know just to get through the traffic.  Before I knew it, Nancy is yelling "CAUTION".  She yells that when your speed is 10 miles over the posted limit.  I am a multi-tasker, but even I couldn't keep my eyes on the road, drive a little bit faster than I should, fight traffic, go over my check-off, and turn Nancy's volume off at the same time.  Come on, It just wouldn't be safe if I did all of that. 

So, every few seconds, I hear, "CAUTION".  I slow down just a tad, but speed right back again.  There she is again, "CAUTION"  I repeat the slow down - speed up. "CAUTION", "CAUTION", "CAUTION"  Like I mentioned before, my lack of sleep, hunger, test anxiety, and stress got the best of me, and I holler out, "SHUT UP NANCY!"

She just replied, "CAUTION"

In case you were wondering...I was 15 minutes late, Ms. Todd did let me check-off, and Yep, I passed first attempt.  We'll see how next week goes.

Until next time...
...We're gonna keep on doin' it Townley Style.