Friday, February 18, 2011

Drumroll, please!!

I renewed my driver's license.

That expired last June.

Yup, I've been driving around illegally for about 9 months. I just couldn't stand the thought of facing the DMV with my son in tow. I could barely stand the thought before I had a baby. Just imagining the lines, the paperwork, the stinky crazy people (there's ALWAYS a stinky, crazy person when I've gone in the past, and they always find me!) was almost enough to make start taking public transportation. Almost.

So I called the DMV to make an appointment. I'd heard you could do that and thought that it was a fabulous idea..no? Well apparently appointments can only be made online. Not over the phone. But the website was down and the lady on the phone said I'd have to come in to the DMV to make an appointment...okaaaaay...she did remind me that in order to renew my license I'd need to bring with me two pieces of mail proving my current address, and identification in the form of social security card, birth certificate and/or passport. Oh, and my first born child..or an arm or leg.

Of that list, the firstborn child was looking like the easiest option, and here's why: I didn't legally change my name until two weeks before Aiden was born. I don't know why, I just didn't. So, my social security card has my married name, but every other piece of identification has my maiden name. No two papers matched up, AND I realized, while looking for all this stuff (no, it was not all in a secure place, like it should've been..) my birth certificate is missing...AGAIN. I had to apply for a new one when I got my passport..I'm thinking maybe they didn't send it back to me with my passport...hmmm...looks like I'll be standing in line for that, too. (btw, it is INCREDIBLY easy to apply for a birth certificate in Utah..which makes me wonder why it's so freakin hard to get a driver's license...?)

So. I brought my Social Security Card to prove I'm me, my marriage license to prove that the last name on my SS card is actually correct, and my passport (which I'll now have to change to match my new driver's license) as my second form of ID. Oh, and two Dr's bills, with my current address. Yeesh.

I put all of the above paperwork in a large envelope, for safe keeping, loaded Aiden and I into the car, and set off for Hell, er, the DMV.

Got to the DMV (w/o screaming, might I add...a major coup!) The DMV I selected is brand new & nice & shiny (even has drive through renewal for vehicle registration..nice!) It is also at the point of the mountain where it is nice and WINDY!

Right.

So, got there, grabbed all my crap out of the front seat & went to get Aiden out of the back...and a gust of wind hits me...

Envelope blown away! Contents scattered across the parking lot! My entire identity is disappearing right before my eyes!

I'm sure quite a few strangers got a major laugh at my expense that day, as they watched me frantically scurrying across the parking lot trying to stomp on my SS card, marriage certificate, etc. before they were lost to the hands of Mother Nature (I was more worried about who would find them, and what they would do with them..)

Luckily, a kinda guy took pity on me & helped me chase down everything. Luckily, I had not gotten Aiden out of the car yet..'cause I can just see how awesome that would've been!

After I had retrieved all my papers, I sat in the front seat of the Jeep, regaining my sanity & considering not even going in to face the DMV demon after my ordeal. Then Aiden began to scream & I figured 'eh, I've come this far, might as well finish the job!'

So I marched in to the DMV, filled out my paperwork to apply for a license...aaaaand...was out in 20 minutes!

It was a breeze! (Pun intended!)

8 comments:

Amber said...

You are killing me....WHAT??!?!?!?!?!!

Kateka said...

Oh honey, I have been there, and not just with renewing my license but having to track down my birth certificate, and reordering that and holy headache... I am glad it's over with (for both of us). Phew!

Trashmaster46 said...

My experience has usually been that it's not so much that DMV is hell as hell is actually all the grumpy people who seem to think the world revolves around them and of COURSE everyone should know who they are without them having to bring in adequate ID and of COURSE should be in and out in 3 minutes regardless of the line or their questions. I'm not at all saying you're one of those people. I'm just saying most of my dealings with DMV are pretty straightforward with folks who are getting paid kinda crappy wages to deal with the great unwashed of humanity and get a bit beat down themselves.
Glad it was ultimately not so painful as you'd envisioned.

Anonymous said...

You are a brave soul! It is slightly comforting to know that the DMV is insane all around the country, not just NJ. I wait to the absolute last possible second before I go to the DMV. Absolutely not my favorite place to be. I'm glad that you survived, and have a driver's license to prove it! Yay!!!

Anonymous said...

You are a brave soul! It is slightly comforting to know that the DMV is insane all around the country, not just NJ. I wait to the absolute last possible second before I go to the DMV. Absolutely not my favorite place to be. I'm glad that you survived, and have a driver's license to prove it! Yay!!!

vlea369 said...

interestin!!

vlea369 said...

interesting!!

Unknown said...

BUSINESS PTC: CLIXSENSE- EARN 30-50$/day guaranteed


Earn a lot of money just for click advertisements. If you want to earn money like me, please watch this video and info http://bit.ly/Q7f321


GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!