Sarah Connor*: "If you're gonna be a hero, you gotta learn how to drive stick."

I can drive stick. If I was an actor, I'd be able to list that under "Special Talents" on the back of my head shot. I sort of didn't have a choice but to learn. For years, my parents only drove cars with manual transmissions. When I was learning to drive, at age 17--late bloomer, I suppose--my mother was driving a manual MINI VAN! I'm not kidding. It's the car I practiced driving the summer before going away to college.

I think it was on my Thanksgiving break of my freshman year that I was surprised with a hand-me-down (x 2) car. The little silver Toyota Celica had been my uncle's and then passed on to my grandfather, who gave it to me. It had a stick shift, of course. Having not driven for several months, I had to learn this vehicle's clutch.

My sister and I love to laugh about the time I was going to drive her to the mall in my "new" car. We got to a four-way stop not far from the house and I could not go again. I kept stalling. I think there were construction workers watching nearby, who may have laughed. Then again, that just may be an embellishment of the tale. Anyway, what I do remember is my younger sibling laughing and giving me so much shit that when I did finally get going again, I made a right turn, instead of going straight, and drove her ass back home. Laugh at me and no mall for you.

The Celica did not even make it through my full four years of college. It was a great car, but didn't handle well in the snow. That simply could have been driver error though. When I graduated and bought my first real new car, I chose a Honda Civic with a manual transmission. We lived in Florida at the time and it's flat as can be there, so no problem. I drove that car the entire cross-country trip to L.A. as E doesn't drive stick. Once I was driving on varied terrain and in stop-and-go traffic, I really started wanting an automatic. I had a weekend job that brought me up that big hill on La Cienega to Sunset, which was the worst.

So, I traded the Honda in for an automatic and have not looked back since. If I absolutely HAD to drive a stick, I could. The skill came in handy one night at the old gym we used to go to. The parking lot sloped down--toward the L.A. River!-- and this young woman could not get the shiny red car she was driving backed out of the space. She kept inching closer to the fence. She was exasperated and worried, "My dad is going to kill me!" So, I got in and backed her manual transmission car (or was it her dad's?) out for her. It's nice to know I can still do it, but I don't think it would be by choice, even if it does mean better gas mileage.

*TV's Sarah Connor, that is.

Driving In L.A.

Yesterday was remarkable in that E and I were both feeling reasonably well enough to leave the house together and participate in life. What a nice change! Granted, we got a bit of a late start, but journeyed down to the California Science Center to check out the Star Wars exhibit.

After the Star Wars fun, we drove around in my little Scion xA some more. Our adventures included:

• Desperately looking for a relatively affordable gas station, as my needle was on 'R.'*

• Driving by a friend's new house. Well, he's still in escrow, but it will be his soon. We can't wait to swim in the pool!
  

• Helping Rescuing an aging, somewhat chubby Chihuahua.

• A yummy, Japanese dinner.

• A hilarious show called 'Dirty Found,' put on by the guys from Found Magazine. Dirty good times!
  

I may discuss one or more of these things in more detail at some point. Right now, I have a lot to catch up on in terms of cleaning up my yard and house. We've really neglected things during our recent illnesses.

*Instead of E for 'empty,' my fuel gauge has an 'R.' We joke that it means "Rutrow!" but that's just because we are silly.