Showing posts with label driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label driving. Show all posts

Saying Goodbye 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010 - Posted by Amanda Bast
When I transitioned out of my crib as a toddler, my parents bought me cheap, white, plastic coated MDF furniture. When I was older (maybe 5 or 6), they bought me new, pretty, solid wood furniture. With flowers on it. The night we sold the old stuff, and I was using the new stuff, I distinctly remember getting out of bed, going downstairs, and bursting into tears.

Monday night I bought a new car (oh the wonders of a real job!). A 2011 red Mazda 3 GS to be exact. I bought this car from this man. Let me tell you, it is one sexy piece of machinery (the car, not the man). The front looks like it's smiling at me and when I turn the key, the dash makes this little beedilybee! noise and says "Hello!". It also says goodbye when I shut it off. Having Bluetooth means I can call people FROM MY CAR. I can push a button, say "CALL HOME" and it CALLS HOME. Without me ever having to touch my phone. This astounds me. The sound system is marvelous. The heated seats are marvelous. I have a trunk! That I can put things in! Trunk things! Also when I drive, the car doesn't shudder when it switches from 1st to 2nd gear. It starts even if it is very cold. Everything about it is just phenomenal.

Buying a new car means selling my old one. My 1999 silver Honda C-RV (aka the Bastmobile) is in the process of being sold to some university students. As much as I love my new baby, I can't help but feel sad and nostalgic about my good ol' soccer mom car. It was the car I learned to drive on. It has taken me many places and has been a place where I have created many memories. To satisfy my inner memory junkie, and to properly commemorate the Bastmobile, I will now provide you of a list of memories. Feel free to add to my stories in the comments.

* Learning to drive in the empty Farmer's Market parking lot.
Dad (very calmly): Don't hit the pop can.
Me: OK
Dad (still calm): Don't hit the pop can.
Me: OK
Dad (calmly): Don't hit the pop can.
Me: OK
Dad (calmly): You hit the pop can.

* Driving home from high school (wow) with Ben and Owen in the backseat, blasting the Backstreet Boys while driving through downtown St. Jacob's. Yeah, we were cool.

* Cottage road trips, including my first ever solo trip with Zoe the Schnauzer (in which it was thunderstorming and she jumped off of the seat and went halfway under the driver seat), the epic Metal Madness trip with Goo and Leb (we wore bandannas the whole trip and I hit an already dead rabbit), and many other solo trips that were spent singing on the top of my lungs for three hours, resulting in a hoarse voice by the time I reached the lake.

* Driving to the University of Guelph for 4 years, 45 minutes each way. So much thinking, singing, praying and saying hello to the donkeys on the farm near the stop sign happened during these 4 years. Also driving through intense snowstorms on back country roads where my cell didn't work (sorry Mom!). And one speeding ticket.

* Taking various university friends grocery shopping and loading the back end with heavy items. I was paid in Sesame Snaps, which made it totally worth my while.

* Creation of the Dumfries. Tyler, Neil, Kristen and I got unnecessarily lost on the way to a camp in Ayr. I can't really explain this other than it was ridiculously fun and resulted in some solid life-long friendships.

* The next trip to the camp in Ayr. Tyler and I got very very lost on the way to the camp and were an hour late, despite the fact we left half an hour ahead of everyone else. I have never wanted to strangle someone so much in my life. I didn't talk to Ty for the rest of the weekend. We've patched things up somewhat since then. But we still don't like to talk about this incident.

* DTRs. Many of them happened in the C-RV. Some good, some bad.

* Road trip to Ottawa. Probably the longest trip the C-RV has taken. Kristi, I will never forget all the hilarious crap that happened on that trip. It is a huuuuuuuuuge, awesome memory full of FLAVA, the Val, Batman and man-points.

* Picking up friends from the train station (Dawn, I want to do this again soon!). If I stayed in my car, I didn't have to pay the dollar for parking, but one time I really had to pee. I essentially paid a dollar to use the gross disgusting washroom. I'm still upset about that dollar.

* Finally, getting married. Not really. My character in a play getting married, and me coming out to my car between shows to find a "Just Married" sign tied to the back.

When I was little, I did eventually learn to love my new furniture. If you have any other C-RV memories, share them with me. I'm going to think about these memories while my bum is being warmed in my Mazda.

2 comments Labels: , , ,

signs that say you probably shouldn't be on the road 

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Posted by Amanda Bast
(Mom, you might not want to read this)

-you've just written two midterms and you feel like your brain is going to explode
-your contacts are dry and you feel it is necessary to blink every half-second
-well traveled city streets are coated in snow
-people are going 40 km/h on the highway
-when you turn on your high beams, it does nothing but light up the snow ahead of you and make things scarier
-the tire tracks you are following frequently swerve around the road
-it is still snowing
-it is dark and there are no street lights
-when the plow goes by, it seemingly does nothing because the snow is so packed into the road
-you don't see another car on the road for a good 15 or 20 minutes
-you can't remember if you charged your cell phone
-parts of the drive that normally take you five minutes, take 15 minutes
-no one from home knows what time you left the city, or if you left at all
-a 40 minute drive takes you an additional 40 minutes

Probably wasn't the best decision to drive home last night. I did it anyway.

Now that I'm home safe, I'm excited for MEXICO! I leave early early this Friday morning. If you wish to do so, here is a list of things you can pray for (I really like lists):

-safe travel, including no delays because of the weather
-the entire team gets all of their luggage, and we don't experience any bag searches (this is what I'm most concerned about, for some reason)
-arrival of the bus in Mexico City and safe transport to the orphanage
-food! That it is gluten free and safe, and doesn't make anyone sick
-safety while working (mixing concrete, etc)
-that God will keep our hearts open to whatever he wants to teach us
-my mommy back home - that she isn't enjoying her time to herself tooooo too much

The weather forecast in Mexico is up in the mid-twenties today :o)

2 comments Labels: , , ,

always choose the right lane 

Friday, December 21, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast
I passed my G test. I am fully licensed! My driver tester lady was very rude, and I hope to never have anyone that rude in my vehicle ever again. HOORAY for never having to do any more driving tests! This means I can check one thing off of my to do list. Painting canvases comes next!

I had a doctors appointment yesterday, and my oh my, this doctor was straight out of Grey's Anatomy. He is the definition of tall, dark and handsome. Well dressed. Nicely coiffed hair. My first reaction was to propose, but I controlled myself, and carried on with the appointment. Here is part of our conversation:

Dr. McHottie (reading my medical history): "Celiac Disease, eh?"
Me: "Yeeeah."
Dr. McHottie: "Well, that's a drag."
Me: "Yeeeeah."

Thanks, dude. You're still hot.

1 comments Labels: ,

shalom! 

Sunday, September 30, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast
-not getting (too) lost - 4:00am mornings - new friends - late night fence climbing - late night making fun of Steve - best friends - suprising Chad with cookies - having three toes - Saved By the Bell - those delicious apples - pa-pa-pants! - Caaaawwfeeeaaaaaay! - four on a bunk - a door hit my face - becoming Goo - intense prayer sessions - blue silk blouses - ones-ey pjs - hugs - go fish - three boys in a shower - singing outside - sticky situations - brown and sticky - IKEA in mom's pants - sketchiest man alive - autumn crispness - mad libs - spelling POO - apple juice water - guitars - Jewish things.

Good weekend.

2 comments Labels: , , , , , , ,

Ottawa! 

Monday, June 11, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast
This is going to be a beast.

Friday morning Krispy iceBaerg lettuce in the fridge! and I revved up the Bastmobile and set out to Ottawa. It was a lovely trip - we sang, we laughed, we cried. We also went on a huge side trip and saw most of Kingston because we couldn't find the dang Wendy's.

We arrived in Ottawa, found the Ottawa Jail Hostel (it used to be a jail), checked in, parked the car, and excitedly found our room. Well, found our room with people sleeping in it at four in the afternoon. With the lights on. Who does that? Our roommates apparantly. So we made our dinner, froz pizz and fru ju. Yum.

Friday night consisted of wandering around town and Kristi showing me some of the sites. We took a self-guided tour of Chateau Laurier. The third floor is lovely. We then made our way to Parliment and discovered that they were still giving tours. Our tour guide was Avril (yes, we giggled) and she took us on a most "convenient" tour. I am not particularly interested in politics, so most things went in one ear and out the other. I focused on things like the hideous outfits that all the tour guides were wearing, the good looking security guards, and how many times Avril said "we", when she should have said "they". Avril, you had nothing to do with the renovation of the library, stop talking as though you did. While in Parliment, it started to thunderstorm. Cool, but Kristi was wearing white, and I was wearing Birks. Not cool. We did eventually make it "home", but we were a little damp.

The common room was a strange place. There were oodles of English people there, and their accents were so real they sounded fake. It felt like we were in the middle of a Brit-Com. At approximately 10pm, it was invaded by screaming Girl Guides.

We eventually went to bed, but found this to be quite a trick. Some of our roomies were sleeping, so we had to be quiet, which is next to impossible when your bunks creak and sound like they are going to collapse. Every time Kristi moved above me, it felt like an earthquake. Every time I tried to sleep on my side, I slid into the ladder (my mattress was on a slant!), and every time I tried laying on my back, the light from in the hall shone directly into my eyes. It was humid and hot, and I was tired and miserable. The best moment was at 1am, when some heaven-sent person found the lightswitch for the blinding hall lights. I think I shed a little tear. Sleeeeeep. Finally. Then someone's cell phone rang. Twice. Thanks, Asian girl who talked on cell phone all weekend.

The next morning was spent at the Museum of Civilization (well, the children's part of the Museum of Civ...the adult stuff was boring) and at the IMAX. We had lunch in an outdoor cafe, and then strolled back to Parliment to go up the Peace Tower. I have a beeping belt. I peed in Parliment, and wish there was a t-shirt in the boutique that said so.

We then caught the bus and headed to Westboro, for WESTfest. We ate some chocolate while the owner of the chocolate store took pictures of us eating chocolate. Then....THEN the Golden Dogs played a show. It was marvelous. Made even more marvelous by the fact they were playing on Golden St., the funny dancing man, the confusing guy in the aviators, and that other guy that looked shockingly similar to Wally. We met up with my friend Matty, and had some Mexican. I mean the food, not the people. I love Mexican food. A whole bunch. And the people. But not to eat.

The evening was spent wandering, watching some dude light himself on fire, watching some other dude sing and play guitar, warding off skeevy short guys, speculating about what happens when a girl sits down in a too-short skirt (where does it GO?), laughing at a bachelorette party, watching some people get a "relationship reading", and drooling in the best bead store I have ever been to in my life. Seriously drool-worthy. And taking a picture of a restaurant called "Mr. Wang's Noodles". Come on, that's funny.

We met a guy from England named Oliver. I won't mention much about him, because he'll probably get his own post in a day or so.

Sleep was a little better, but there were earthquakes everytime Kristi or I moved. My bed was still slanty.

We went to the Art Gallary Sunday morning, and it was a nice, relaxing chill time. I loved the Renoir exibit, but I realized that I don't "get" contemporary art. How is a pile of scraps of carpeting art? I don't get it. I must be dumb.

We spent our last bit of time in Ottawa at Confederation Park playing frisbee. Confed park is where Kristi first learned to play Ultimate, so it was an honour to play frizz in the park where our Ultimate guru first learned to play. A little boy watched us. We were amazing.

We took a few last minute pictures at Parliment (teeeeheeeee) before heading home. The drive home was fun because of our unreal tiredness. We stopped for dinner in an unknown city (Whitby, we learned later) and it was full of FLAVA.

I drove home. And went to bed.

3 comments Labels: , ,

ottawa 

Wednesday, June 6, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast
Kristi and I head to Ottawa Friday morning.

If the Sens win tonight, we will be downtown Ottawa for game 6. Hoooooooyeeeeeeah.

More importantly, THE GOLDEN DOGS! will be in Ottawa when we are! I love THE GOLDEN DOGS! because they are fantastic and fun and wacky. If you've never heard THE GOLDEN DOGS! then you should listen to them right now. Then you will love THE GOLDEN DOGS! too.

Also, never call frozen pizza "froz pizz" because it sounds gross. Almost gross enough to keep me from eating it. Almost.

Tomorrow evening, the kids at Lexington are doing their School House Rock musical. I'm excited to see some of the props I made being put to use! And to see little grade six Charlie sing the pants off the Number 3 song.

I want to go to Wonderland. On the 23rd. :oP

My excitement has taken away my ability to write coherently. I apologize.

3 comments Labels: , , ,

I'm squinting 

Sunday, June 3, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast
After youth on Friday, I did a whole lot of sitting around and doing nothing. That turned into talking with Wally at 1:00am, which turned into me going to Toronto the next day to see Starfield and Hillsong.

Wally picked me up, we picked up Paddy. Princess Paddy wasn't ready to leave because he hadn't eaten. He bragged about his 30 second toaster. I figured he was lying and counted. It was closer to being a 90 second toaster. I told him that I would never buy a house from him because he was unrealistic about his toaster. We drove to TO, windows down, music blasting. Until Princess made us roll up the windows and put on the air.


here we go! (Check out my necklace...it's my latest creation!)Paddy, Me, Wally

Princess Paddy and I

We arrived at the ampetheatre, met up with Buckles, Jono, Leanne, and Leanne's bandmate, Andrew, and wandered around. It was HooooooT! We caught a few sidebands. There was one with a fiddle player, who was absoloutely amazing and incredible, but knew he was amazing and incredible, so it took off some of the impressiveness. During this, we saw a guy walking around in a white speedo. Looked like tighty whiteys. We saw some more people we knew, including Wally's sister, Emily. We waited in line for the concert. I ate my gluten free ham sandwich.

We all were a little scattered and got separated in the theatre. Andrew, Paddy, Geoff and I ended up in the second last row, behind a pole. I could see the stage on either side of the pole, but I couldn't see the keyboardist, but still pretty ok, regardless. Andrew and I talked about things gluten free. And Mexico. Also how it is easy to eat gluten free in Mexico. I ran into (got yelled at by, actually) Snyderman and his brother on the way to the washroom.
Christian concerts are funny because they make you do silly things. Like repeat phrases, hold hands, and hug. It was all pretty funny, but still cool that you can do that at a concert and not start any fights.

Starfield was pretty awesome, except for the lead guy leaving for a whole song just to tune...that was strange. Hillsong was incredible. We were standing on a slope and clapping a ton so today my calves are absolutely wrecked and my wrists hurt. After the concert (Jono, Buckles, Me, Leanne, Geoff, Andrew, Wally, Paddy)

We went to McD's after, got us some grease, Paddy kicked me in the calves, then we sped home. Listening to country, with the windows down. Let me tell you, the 401 is pretty fun when you're being driven by a guy who drives racecars.

Yesterday officially felt like summer. Carefree, full of laughs, good friends, new friends, the rank smell of sweaty bodies in the breeze. Ah yes, summer.





4 comments Labels: , ,

the Lake, the Lovelies, the Labels 

Monday, May 21, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast
Wow. Good weekend. Instead of the weekend recap, I will make a list of highlights:
-metal music on the way up - complete with bandanas
-devil sticks. Oh gosh. Never again.
-Swings
-NEW ROOF ON THE REC HALL!!! (this means no bats!)
-talking and giggling until early in the morning
-garage sale - Caleb bought a label maker and consequently everything in my cottage is accurately labeled (my favourite being "gluten-free microwave/heat up yo gluten somewhere else sucka")
-dock party! whooo!
-Cardboard Kerry showed up in many a picture. He had more fun than real Kerry would have.
-"Luuuke, would you like to play a game, Luuuke?"
-Girl Talk
-calling real Kerry at 1am and making him angry :o)
-talking until early hours of the morning again
-huuge long nice lovely wonderful sleep in
-went to Tobermory to tour the harbour (with Cardboard Kerry) and to the lighthouse for a nice little photoshoot
-extended games of bump
-campfire, stargazing
-"this is for the lovers, strictly for the lovers...if you've got someone to get close to, get close to this UNHHH/like a flower to a treeeeee that's how close I wanna be, (bop bop booo) baby to your heart (your heart ooohhh)"
-SUNRISE! (so cold, sooo very cold)
-an apology serenade (awww)
-slushies on the way home

more pictures later, but here's a few to hold you over:

Me, Cardboard Kerry, Micah, Caleb, Kristi in the Tob!

Cardboard Kerry, Kristi, the Beav, and I in the Tobermory Harbour

2 comments Labels: , , , , , ,

Swerve 

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 - Posted by Amanda Bast
On the drive to school today, I ended up behind a bus. This bus, as I have discovered on previous drives to school, stops every few feet, so I switched into the left lane to avoid the inconvenience. The car behind the bus decided he didn't want to be behind this bus, so he swerved to the left. The bus was pulled over, and I was in the left lane, so there was adequate room for the car, however, the bus had its left blinker on, and started pulling away from the curb. If you haven't noticed, on the back of buses there is a great big yield sign. Meaning, stay the heck out of the way when the bus has its blinker on. It's the law. But no, this car decides to pass the bus regardless.

So as you can imagine, the car is sandwiched between me and the bus (approaching a red light, nonetheless). He spazzes out and starts swerving remarkabley close to the Bastmobile. Holy crap, I freaked out. In my state of panic, I groped for the horn, but ended up turning on my blinker instead. Yes, my blinker. That sure showed him. He's lucky he didn't hit me, or I'd have turned on my four ways.

On the way home from school, there was a dog walking on the side of the road in Conestogo. I told him to go home, but he did not listen. Instead, he walked out onto the road behind my car, and in front of oncoming traffic. I could not see the dog, but I did see the SUV swerve. The dog came out unharmed on the other side, but he was once again in the path of oncoming traffic. More swerving, but the dog skittered away, safe. I watched this whole ordeal through my rear view mirror, and was yelling the whole time. I hope he made it home ok.

I hate that feeling. Being trapped somewhere, and watching something potentially harmful happen, and have no way to stop it. And you can yell and freak out and get mad, or hope the other cars will swerve. But it all seems rather useless. You have the best intentions, but yell as loud as you may, the guy in the car isn't going to hear your blinker, and the dog isn't going to listen to your pleas to return home.

I've discovered that this feeling occurs more often than I would like it to. I see people I love sandwiching themselves into unsafe situations, as if they are sitting and waiting to get crunched. And I turn on my blinker.

I see people I love running around like lost puppies, looking for a safe haven, but skittering away when what they find is only danger and uncertainty. And all I do is look out my rearview mirror and yell at them with my windows rolled up.

I want to do something, I really do, but my car keeps going. I can't do anything. It makes me feel angry, scared, and totally helpless. I want to cry sometimes. But I can't do anything but keep driving and have faith that they will be taken care of.

It's a funny thing, this driving to school. It's provided me with much more insight than I would have ever imagined. As I continue to drive along, you probably won't hear me yelling, but trust me, I am. Loudly. I am praying and I have faith that you will make it home ok.

Comments Labels: , ,