5 or 205?

As I said, yesterday, I discovered my license was expired.  See above.  Today, I managed to find myself without a sub job.  So, I got a hair cut and went to get my license.

I went online before I left and discovered that the Dept. of Licensing opens at 9:30AM on Thursdays.  Good.  I went to get my hair cut.  I then drove to the DOL...only to remember that they only take cash or check...no debit, so I turned around and went to get cash.  Strike one.  I got to the DOL at about 9:50 only to find the parking lot full.  I walked in...the place was full.  I asked the lady behind the desk if the other DOL on the other sider of town was still open...it was not.  She gave me a number.

661.

That was my number.  I looked up at the numbers on the boards or those being served.  Yeah.  Not a good sign. Those numbers were:

009.

456.

999.

and 009.

My best guess was there were three different lines.  I wasn't sure why there were two 009s, but either way, I could not believe they would make it to 661 anytime soon.  I stood for about 10 minutes, discussing the prospects of being done before lunch with a fellow inmate.  It did not appear hopeful.  

I then remembered something my father had mentioned to me a few years ago.  Something about the Sunnyside DOL being faster.  I made a call to my dad and sure enough, he confirmed my memory.  I shared my information with my fellow inmates, who happened to live on the other side of Sunnyside and it was on their way.  It sounded like they planned on doing what I was.  I began the walk to the door and then heard them announce number 010.  Yep!  Time to leave.

I jumped in my truck and made my semi-legal way down to Sunnyside.  With some trepidation I walked in.  There were all of a dozen people in there with two lines.  The number I took was 014.  The numbers on the boards were 009 and 298.  I figured there was a good chance I would get through!

Sure enough, within 25 minutes I was walking out the door.  So, a half hour drive and a 25 minute wait made me a happy boy.  I had a cup of coffee with my parents and then came home to tend to my poor sick wife.  Seems she got the same bug I had.  With the way the numbers were at the first place I might still be there! 

It Expired WHEN?!

We have been trying to save money by not going out as much and keeping down grocery bills and cutting out some other things we do.  We have been doing pretty good.  Tonight, after a month of eating in  (and not counting this weekend when we were in the tri-cities), we decided to splurge and have pizza.  We went with the take and bake option.

While there, I decided to bring some beer home to go with the pizza.  I walked in.  I chose an appropriate selection.  I walked to the counter.  I pulled out my card.  I was about to swipe my card.  The evil lady behind the counter asked to see my ID.  I opened up my wallet and showed her.  She said fine.  I began to put it away.  She said, "May I see it again?"  Getting mildly annoyed I said yes and showed her again.  She said, "It's expired."  I summoned a word from my best, most intelligent sounding vocabulary list and said, "What?"  I happened to know for a fact it won't expire until my birthday!  HA!

I glanced at my license.  I glanced again.  And it was then that I saw the place where she was pointing.  It said 2009.  I stared blankly and then it dawned on me.  this year is...(drum roll please) ...(hey, my thought processes are kinda slow, ok?)...2010!  SHIT!  It's 2010!  This thing says it expired in 2009!  Hey!  That's like last year!

The lady behind the counter would not let me enjoy this startling realization, let alone share it.  She simply looked at me disappointedly.  Actually, now that I consider it, she might have been looking at me accusingly.  She took the beer and put it behind the counter.  "I can't sell this to you."

Normally, I might have put up a fight.  At that moment, I was...taken by surprise.  I fled the store.  OK, not so much fled, but it may have been taken as such.  Actually, I was lost in the idea that I could have been using an expired ID for almost a year.  I have been to the liquor store numerous times.  I even had my license copied for a couple jobs.  I had to show it to the state for my background check.  What I am saying is I've had it looked at MANY times.  NOT JUST ME!  Lots of people have seen it.  NO ONE.  NADA!  ZIP!  ZILCH!  NOT ONE PERSON noticed.  I was sure it wasn't due to expire until this year.

Yeah...this is gonna be a good year.