When I was 15 I learned to drive by going to school with my Grandma in her ‘95 Taurus, an experience that validated one universal truth: women love guys who drive white Ford station wagons.

Well, perhaps there is no actual truth to that statement. In fact, so much so that I think my own Mom would’ve given me a swirlie if she could’ve. And this is exactly why I was unable to turn down the offer when my friend Scott (on the other side of his sweet sixteen at the time, with a real license) asked me if I wanted to drive his Dad’s BMW.

Once I got behind the wheel, what followed was two of the most exhilarating minutes I’d ever had. I drove with a reckless abandon that I can only hope my own kids will not when they get behind the wheel sans chaperone for the first time. Nothing could’ve gotten me to slow down. Except, of course, for what did: the hill on which I bottomed out on with a loud, speedometer deflating bang.

Picture: driving the bus, again | dcornelius

I mention this story because the combination of unbridled excitement and complete mystification is exactly what Seattle-ites went through last Sunday with the 90 degree weather.

For me, I realized the sun was out, liked that the sun was out, but that was about as far as I got. I didn’t quite know what to do with myself. So what I ended up doing was make two egregious mistakes, both of which were sunny day equivalents to crashing my friend’s Dad’s BMW.

• Sunburn - If you make Conan O’Brien look well bronzed (which sadly I do), you should not fall asleep in the sun without sunscreen. It was a painful lesson and one that has been reinforced with every shower I have taken in the last 48 hours.

• Mojitos - When making a mojito, mortar and pestle are key elements, not optional ones. Logical as it may be to finely chop the mint before adding it, I would not recommend this approach. I tried it and I was two leaves away from having to execute the heimlick (again, really sorry about that one, Andrea. Margaritas next time, I promise).

Even though I might have to fend for myself on the sunscreen part, thankfully, with respect to my lack mojito making skills, there’s hope for me yet. There are some folks here in Seattle, with great classes on TeachStreet, who know a thing or two behind the bar.

Picture: Margarita | Drunken Monkey

Bartending Class - Taught @ North Seattle Community College

Homebrew Class - Taught by West Seattle Homebrewers

Wine Appreciation Classes - Taught by Dieter Schafer