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December 31, 2010

Ho Ho Ho

Found this little gem in my inbox today. The Big Guy came to visit Parkland a few days before Christmas...


ps- HAPPY NEW YEAR!

December 30, 2010

The Name Change Game

Yes folks, it’s finally here. A NEW BLOG! It’s been far too long in the making, but at last, it has arrived. This whole not-blogging thing is just not cutting it. I have far too much to say. And I know I have yet to write about the wedding and honeymoon…  I promise that’s next- but first, let’s talk DMV.
There’s this funny thing that happens once you get married. You have to change your name. And while I knew it would be no picnic, I’m suddenly realizing just how much I USE my name! Seriously… it’s everywhere. And changing it one spot at a time is really not fun. I’m thinking of inventing a website where one can go online, change it ONE TIME ONLY, and everything else just magically falls into place. Phone company? Cable? Credit Cards? Amazon & Barnes & Noble? Done! (Patent still pending.) But until that website is up and running- I get to do it the old-fashioned way. One by one. So far, I’ve conquered social security and my workplace. And as of today- my new driver’s license is on its way! But it was anything but pleasant.
I actually went to the DMV on the 22nd, and found out the hard way that they still live in the dark ages and only accept cash & checks. Neither of which I had on me. So I postponed it til today. Cash AND checkbook in my possession. Ready for anything.
Have you ever been to the DMV on a school holiday? I don’t recommend it. It was total chaos. I had to wait in a line for 30 minutes just to get the number to get a chair to wait for another hour and a half to be seen! And in that approximate 2 hours of waiting, more than a few entertaining moments were had. I don’t know what it is about the DMV- but somehow it manages to be unbelievably boring and torturous, yet still so hilarious at the same time. For instance, after I finally got my chair, I spotted my first source of delight. He was about 16 years old, and probably getting his first license. Now, everyone gets a number, and the numbers are called in order. If they’re on #237, and you’re #257, that means 20 more people before you get up there. This is not hard. But this little guy was having a hard time. Every single time a new number was called, he’d get extremely agitated that it wasn’t his turn. Like it was some sort of lottery system. He even kicked the wall at one point! I have no idea where his legal guardian was during all of this, but eventually his number was called and he disappeared to the back room- never to be seen again. Maybe he kicked a wall back there, too and was restrained by officials?
And the range of attire at the DMV! Everything from pj bottoms with UGG boots to suits to sun dresses. I think I fell somewhere in the middle with my jeans & sweater, but there were some interesting wardrobe choices out there.
The real treat came when my number was finally called and I got the sweet little old lady at the end of the row who was just full of marital advice. "You've only been married 2 1/2 weeks?? Oh honey! Just you wait!" There was a lot of nodding and smiling on my part while I listened to her go on and on about the good times and bad times and how it's important to appreciate both. I was more than a little tempted to offer some advice back about more typing, less talking- but since she was about 80, I stuck to the nodding and smiling.
Bottom line- the DMV trip was a success. I ended up with a pretty decent picture, had a few memorable encounters along the way, and will be receiving my new license in a few weeks. All to get a little piece of plastic that says “Rangira” instead of “Martin…”


PS- Still tweaking and adjusting to get the blog just right. So check back often!