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<putting this in Roadkill because it's vehicle-related>
Well, time to get my license renewed. I have a phobia about going to
DMV, as it always seems to go wrong. Either they're closed, or I don't
have the right documents, or didn't check the right box on the form,
or the clerk decides I've forged the documents and says she will have
to refer them "to the audit division" so I can be "subject to
imprisonment up to 3 years and /or a $10,000 fine". Admittedly, a 20
year old Toyota Camry with 100K+ miles is a prize that a man might
play a desperate game for, but it was legit. Swear to God.
So, I spent all night gathering documents proving I am a
citizen, that I was born here, that I live here, that I pay bills
here, and a certificate from the local cell of Al-Qaeda that I am not
a dues-paying member. The next afternoon, I get my hair cut and head
down to DMV. Now, I forgot they close at 3:45, but I got there at
3:30, and get in line behind some kid who really needed to be stamped
on the forehead, "Cannot Follow Simple Verbal Instructions". After
several eternities had elapsed, they dispensed him elsewhere, and it
was my turn.
So, I submitted my papers, signed inside the white box (on the
first try, unlike some other people!), got my mug shot taken, and
gathered my documents and forms together while I waited for the clerk
to call my assigned number. Just as I was leaving, the supervisor
realized that they forgot to give me my birth certificate and Social
Security card back from the flatbed scanner....would have been nice to
lose those.
Just before I had completed filling out the required form, they
called my number. I grabbed the bag of papers and rushed over. I
pushed to documents through the window as I checked the last few boxes
and signed in eight or nine places of the DMV form. The clerk started
typing everything into the system. I pull out my check, so I can start
filling it out. That's when the clerk uttered the words that chilled
my blood:
"The system's gone down".
Yep. 30 seconds before I would have been done, the whole system,
statewide, allegedly crashed.
"I'm sorry", the clerk smirked. " I can't finish the transaction,
because the system is down. You'll have to come back tomorrow."
Um, yeah. I have to *work* tomorrow. I took a vacation day, partly to
get this out of the way. Yes, I want to wake up *extra early*
tomorrow, so I can come back tomorrow and start the whole process
over. Yes, I'm back to square one, apparently. Line, photo, eye test,
the whole enchilada.
Odd how they close at 3:45, and the system crashed at exactly
3:45. Wish the registers at work would do that.
P*S
Well, time to get my license renewed. I have a phobia about going to
DMV, as it always seems to go wrong. Either they're closed, or I don't
have the right documents, or didn't check the right box on the form,
or the clerk decides I've forged the documents and says she will have
to refer them "to the audit division" so I can be "subject to
imprisonment up to 3 years and /or a $10,000 fine". Admittedly, a 20
year old Toyota Camry with 100K+ miles is a prize that a man might
play a desperate game for, but it was legit. Swear to God.
So, I spent all night gathering documents proving I am a
citizen, that I was born here, that I live here, that I pay bills
here, and a certificate from the local cell of Al-Qaeda that I am not
a dues-paying member. The next afternoon, I get my hair cut and head
down to DMV. Now, I forgot they close at 3:45, but I got there at
3:30, and get in line behind some kid who really needed to be stamped
on the forehead, "Cannot Follow Simple Verbal Instructions". After
several eternities had elapsed, they dispensed him elsewhere, and it
was my turn.
So, I submitted my papers, signed inside the white box (on the
first try, unlike some other people!), got my mug shot taken, and
gathered my documents and forms together while I waited for the clerk
to call my assigned number. Just as I was leaving, the supervisor
realized that they forgot to give me my birth certificate and Social
Security card back from the flatbed scanner....would have been nice to
lose those.
Just before I had completed filling out the required form, they
called my number. I grabbed the bag of papers and rushed over. I
pushed to documents through the window as I checked the last few boxes
and signed in eight or nine places of the DMV form. The clerk started
typing everything into the system. I pull out my check, so I can start
filling it out. That's when the clerk uttered the words that chilled
my blood:
"The system's gone down".
Yep. 30 seconds before I would have been done, the whole system,
statewide, allegedly crashed.
"I'm sorry", the clerk smirked. " I can't finish the transaction,
because the system is down. You'll have to come back tomorrow."
Um, yeah. I have to *work* tomorrow. I took a vacation day, partly to
get this out of the way. Yes, I want to wake up *extra early*
tomorrow, so I can come back tomorrow and start the whole process
over. Yes, I'm back to square one, apparently. Line, photo, eye test,
the whole enchilada.
Odd how they close at 3:45, and the system crashed at exactly
3:45. Wish the registers at work would do that.
P*S
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