Before I get into the story of Friday afternoon's disaster, can we please pause to discuss this ridiculousness: why is their no universal title for the place you get your driver's license? Most people know it as the DMV, I grew up with the MVA and in Massachusetts, it's the RMV.
Ridiculous, right? Also, it's totally confusing.
Anyway, back to my story. I headed over to the RMV on Friday afternoon hoping to get a Massachusetts license. I've been wanting to do it for a while (mainly so I can finally get a library card), but haven't had the chance because it's only open during work hours. Thanks to short summer Fridays, I was able to go in a few days ago to get everything settled.
When I walked up to the "greeter" (the RMV is MUCH bigger than the MVA and has multiple floors and a greeter), I asked if they were doing licenses that day.
"Of course we are. Why wouldn't we be doing licenses?"
"Because last time I was here I asked if you were doing out of state conversions and you said to come back tomorrow."
"Why would I say that? You must have asked if we were doing driving tests."
Clearly I had not asked that, but fine.
After waiting for close to an hour, my number finally got called. The lady took my picture and though it looked horrific, I didn't feel like waiting around for a better one. When the lady asked to see my proof of residency, I showed her my lease. Apparently, my horrible landlady hadn't signed it in the right place, so the RMV wouldn't accept it.
Disgruntled, I headed back home to get a pay stub, only to find out that the woman at the RMV was about to go on her break and I'd have to wait again. When the lady finally returned from her break, she turned me down AGAIN because the pay stub was too old.
So now, I don't have a new license, I'm even more angry at my old landlady, and I think I ruined my trusty Yosi Samra flats trying to navigate through flooded streets to walk the two blocks home.
Oh right, I forgot to mention the torrential downpour/hailstorm/flood that occurred while I was waiting for the lady to come back from her break.
Grrr!
Does anything good ever happen at these places, because I'm pretty sure most of my experiences have ended in tears. (Ask my mom...)