The DMV Is So Thorough

So we (and by "we" I mean AJ) were successful in getting the new license plates on Tuesday. We had no issues whatsoever and honestly, I was a little concerned by something that happened at the DMV. Here's the story:

I took my POA, the proof of purchase from when we bought the car, the current registration and a few other important pieces of paper. The POA I have is a special POA that specifically states that I am allowed to register, title, drive, sell, buy blah, blah, blah, basically do anything to D's vehicle in his absence.

So we walked into the building directly from having driven 2 1/2 hours to get there. I told them why I was there and took a number. A few minutes later my number was being called and we made our way over to the counter. I explained why we were there again and basically dumped the entire contents of my file folder out on the counter. The lady picked through and took the copy I had made of my POA and a few other things, then told me to fill out two forms.

After the forms were filled out and she had made copies of everything else she was going to need she told me how much I owed them and directed me across the aisle to the cashier. He made a copy of my POA for another reason (records, I don't know) and then informed me that there was a $4.07 surcharge for using my debit card to pay the $194 fee.

Seriously? The surcharge is wrong on so many different levels, the first being, who the hell came up with $4.07? Couldn't they have chosen a round number? Secondly, the $194 I'm paying your already can't cover the extra $4.07? Does that seem strange to anyone else? Anyways, on with the story.

The thing that disturbed me about the entire transaction was that they never once asked me for my ID. They didn't check to make sure that I was who I was saying I was. They also never checked to make sure that I was the person listed on the POA. I'm pretty sure that they didn't even cross check the forms with the POA to make sure that D's name was the same on both of them. I very easily could have walked in and registered someone else's car in my name and they wouldn't have noticed.

All in all, it was pretty uneventful, but the car is registered in D's name, AJ was fabulous in the car and afterwards we met up with my brother for dinner.

*I just wanted to let everyone know that I've been super busy with AJ lately (since her naps are hit or miss lately) and haven't really had time to read and comment very much. Hopefully this weekend I'll get back into the groove a bit!

I Make Plans, God Laughs.

So the big man upstairs must have heard that I was turning over a new leaf. I knew that it was going to be more difficult than just saying I was going to adjust my attitude, but really? How much can one girl take?! LOL

As many of you know, we are currently stationed in Missouri. One of the perks about living here is that we are only about 2.5 hours from our home state, and while our families live quite a bit further than that, we only have to drive about 150 miles to get to our state of residence.

This is coming in handy today, let me tell you! Here's the story.

A little over a year ago, we bought a car in Washington state. We registered it there because that is where we lived at the time and it was just easier than trying to register it in our home state. Well, as of August, our license plates are expired. Why, you ask? Because I attempted to register our car through the mail and the Department of Motor Vehicles never processed the application. I sent in the $194 check and all the paper work (after calling several times to make sure I was sending everything they would need). I waited the requisite 30 days (plus a few extra days for good measure) that they say it takes to process said application. I called yesterday and they have no record of it.

Seriously? How is it that things only ever get "lost in the mail" when there's a $194 check with my name and checking account number on it involved?

So, this afternoon AJ and I are getting in the car to drive the 2.5 hours to the closest DMV location to register the car in person. I am bringing my Power Of Attorney (because, yeah, I didn't mention that the car is only registered in D's name?), all the proof of purchase forms, the old registration, pretty much anything I can think of because I am not making this drive more than once!

So there you have it, folks. I made plans to be a more positive person and God thought that He should test me on it, right away. Well, God, I'm keeping a smile on my face for the whole drive, if it kills me!