jennifer patel

When I turned 16, like most new drivers, I was involved in a car accident. I was on my way to afternoon swim practice, and decided to go with the car next to me at a very busy intersection (that is now a light) on their turn instead of coming to a complete stop and then going on the next round. A truck turning left blocked the view of my car to the next side's turn and I got hit in my driver's side door. The person who hit me was also a brand new 16-year-old driver and while I was at fault, I don't know how you run into something head-on coming off a stop that far away, but whatever... We pulled into the gas station parking lot on the corner and it was sort of the blind leading the blind. We asked each other if we were okay, agreed we were, and I think I apologized (thereby admitting fault). We were exchanging information when a lady pulled in behind us and got out of her car, fuming. She looked at the other girl and was like, "I saw the whole thing, here's my num...

Remember this ? Well, it got kind of hot and uninviting to manage. It's okay, you can laugh. Okra loves heat.

Dear Occasional Second Driver, First of all, there is no need to act vexed when readjusting the driver's seat settings to accommodate your larger stature. Bigger people than you drive us just fine. Sorry it takes longer to adjust as there are more manual adjustments compared to your younger, sexy German sports car. She might be sexy as hell, but she's kind of a bitch. Just saying. What is your problem with me, anyway? Have I ever stranded my main driver anywhere? No. Okay, that one time when my battery died and you had to come jump me. I could not have picked a better place to die. The Target parking lot? It's not the worst place I can think of. I take good care of your precious cargo. She and I are a great team. Given her birth race, she has become quite the defensive driver. I wear my corner scuffs proudly to remember how far we've come. Although highway speeding has become a problem, we are alert. I just gently remind her that we don't go that fast b...

My Mom won a trip to San Antonio in a silent auction this past Spring. We did a one day beach trip turnaround and drove down where we then tried to pack as much stuff as we could into two days. No, I've never seen Blackfish and didn't care to watch it before going to SeaWorld. Zoos already make me sad if I think about them too long and yes, so does SeaWorld. That doesn't stop me from wanting to swim around with their dolphins and whales. They are really cute. Also, if you're interested, SeaWorld cares. They say so on their website. You can learn about all the inaccuracies of Blackfish here . (mainly directed at V) Which side is more truthful? Did anyone who declared a major in Marine Biology actually get that degree? I didn't think so. The real tragedy of our trip took place in Historic Market Square. We ate Tex Mex at Mi Tierra Cafe. In the back room, there is a huge 3D mural of influential people to Hispanic culture, past and present. It was very detailed ...

cousin john's boogie board...both boys did well and both boys wiped out! Can someone, who is a licensed child Psychologist (or someone who thinks they are), please tell me why my son will run with reckless abandon into the ocean but take 10 minutes to decide he wants to swim in a pool? Why he will get pushed around by waves almost to his neck, and wipe out getting trapped under his boogie board for a few seconds and recover but wants to go home after choking on pool water? It's very confusing to me, but I am not complaining. He is my beach baby and I'm glad I have one because I also love the beach. As V puts it, our yearly TRIP to the gulf is "forced relaxation". We beach it up twice a day and eat and sleep a lot. Rinse and repeat. "cause baby I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me..." (gotta work in Taylor Swift when you can) #newromantics surf ninjas is a real game third year in a row to wear this swim sui...