What made me happy today?

I'm writing Fight Club in a non Fight Club era. Rebel with a cause, or without one. All the same in the end.
 
My employment insurance claim that I put in late January was finalized this week. Looks like I can receive payments for nearly a year if necessary, which is a big relief. On top of that, there's a temporary program in effect (due to economic uncertainty resulting from *cough* things happening across the border) where payments start right away instead of only after the severance runs out.

The tiny bit of bad news is that I had no idea this program existed and presumed I wouldn't get payments for many months, so I didn't put in the claim right away. And so, I missed out on 6 weeks of payments, which isn't an insignificant amount of money for non-wealthy me. But still, I am pleased with these developments and my stress level has gone down a bit. If I don't find new work quickly, I will be okay for a good while.
 
My employment insurance claim that I put in late January was finalized this week. Looks like I can receive payments for nearly a year if necessary, which is a big relief. On top of that, there's a temporary program in effect (due to economic uncertainty resulting from *cough* things happening across the border) where payments start right away instead of only after the severance runs out.

The tiny bit of bad news is that I had no idea this program existed and presumed I wouldn't get payments for many months, so I didn't put in the claim right away. And so, I missed out on 6 weeks of payments, which isn't an insignificant amount of money for non-wealthy me. But still, I am pleased with these developments and my stress level has gone down a bit. If I don't find new work quickly, I will be okay for a good while.
That's dope. Don't have anything like that down here. So close yet so far....
 
I finally summoned enough courage to sign up for driving school. I'm due to take a theory exam sometime in May. Then, I'll do practical lessons to obtain the license. They say the practical part doesn't take much more than a month, so I should have it by July.

Whether I will actually make it and pass all the tests remain to be seen. If I do get my license, I really want to spend sometime in the summer driving to some nice places—within reason, of course! I am not trusting myself with long distances until I have built up some experience. But some good local places will do. Crete is full of those.
 
Good luck, ps102! :)

What the hell is a driving theory exam?

It's an exam about the road rules, most likely. How to recognise stop signs, who has the right of way in various situations, stuff like that.

I had to take one here in Australia before I could take the practical lessons.
 
What the hell is a driving theory exam?
We have 800 questions. Out of those, 30 random ones will be chosen for my test. I get to make one mistake, so I basically have to learn the answer to all 800.

The exam is exactly what it sounds like—examining you on the theory of driving. It tests you on various topics from operating the vehicle, road signs, highway code, etc. Do you not have this in Rhode Island?
 
Do you not have this in Rhode Island?
A theory of driving? Gas make go. Brake make stop. Check cleared. Me get license.

There is a written test that I don't think you can fail unless you've been recently concussed. It's probably been updated, but the RI driving manual was the shortest in the country when I got my license in 1994. 13 pages I think, including the covers. Creating a driving test that anyone could fail is the most un-American thing I can think of at the moment.
 
What the hell is a driving theory exam?
The first time I ever even heard of a theory test was in St Louis in 1996 when I needed a licence for a road trip. The same format was later adopted here, 40 questions, multiple choice and idiot proof. Like, you're approaching an elderly pedestrian on a zebra crossing; do you: a. speed up; b. honk your horn; c. open the doors to make sure you make contact; d. drive at an appropriate speed and stop before the crossing.

Obviously, I failed it first time, went outside to say ho hum and straight back in for the second of three, I think, permitted sittings. I passed it second time around, did the driving test and passed that and still have my Missouri licence, though now out of date.
 
A theory of driving? Gas make go. Brake make stop. Check cleared. Me get license.
Culture shock!

To be fair, it may be 800 questions, but more than half of those are obvious. I opened the handbook for the first time today and guessed the answer to most I tried myself on.
 
To be fair, it may be 800 questions, but more than half of those are obvious. I opened the handbook for the first time today and guessed the answer to most I tried myself on.
Is there something you can link to? I want to see if I can pass.
 
I've driven in Ireland. Not for the faint of heart.
Ain't that the truth. I've driven in Ireland, UK, USA, Canada, France, Belgium. Despite the absence of road markings and tendency for cyclists to appear from everywhere, the Belgians were the most courteous and even tempered of them all. I declined the opportunity to drive in Italy on the same bases, only opposite.
 
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