No love for (or from) the DMV

The coolest thing about my new home (at least in my mind) is that it's a swing state. Which means that, unless the Secretary of State does something off kilter, my vote might actually mean something.

Now, Ohio claims that I was supposed to switch my license & registration over as soon as I accepted a job here (last November) or took up a residence (last July). They also require that I have a copy of my title, which took over 6 weeks for me to obtain from the state of Michigan.

Since the sky wasn't falling, my motivation to go to the DMV was pretty low. I do, however, need to register to vote at least 30 days prior to the election, which means the end of next week.

I decided that Friday morning would be the day. When I reviewed the requirements online, I realized that I needed my social security card (it was at home - far from work & the DMV location that provided written driving exams). My passport (in my car) would not suffice, in spite of the fact that 1) I needed a soc card & a birth certificate to get it and 2) it actually has a photo & would be much harder to fake than a soc card. Whatever. We don't approve of travel in this here state. And, you can use your pilot's license instead! Your boating license! Grrrr.

But I still wanted to get this done, so I drove home from work to fetch my card. Then, I drove to the DMV and, without study, bs-ed my way though the written test & passes. Happily walking to the other room (past the sign endorsing one political candidate for governor, thanks to some "pro-family" agency renting space next door) to get my shiny new license & registration.

I was immeadiately informed (along with a room of 25-35 sad, degected looking souls) that the system was down. For the entire state of Ohio. No idea when it would be back up. *You should all go home.*

Having been warned by a coworker that she has NEVER accomplished her goal with one trip to the DMV, I burst out laughing and walked to my car. I giggled for about half a mile, then used some of the Panera gift cards that I won from the United Way (I won 2 contests - one for showing up at the department fundraising kickoff meeting & another for pledging in the first week) to get myself some free lunch.

I lost 2 hours of my work day and about 2 gallons of gas (but I stayed late & worked through lunch to make up a bit of the time). No license, no vehicle registration, no voter registration.

I'll try again on Monday. Wish me luck!