Tuesday, August 26, 2014

What a pain in the a@#!! Today is not going well... I need to vent!!!

After much dawdling I took what is now a required course in having a motorcycle license; the Motorcycle Safety Foundation training course (MSF).  At the conclusion of the two-day course we were given completion cards to submit to the DMV so one can apply to have the "M" designation added to the driver's license.

Pain #1
At the DMV, the person at the counter asked to see my ID.  I handed him my regular driver's license (which is a primary ID according to the DMV website) and proceeded to process my application.  Somewhere during his typing, he asks me for further ID to which I stated I did not have anything else other than what I gave him.  He informed me that he cannot do so without another form (such as a US passport) to continue.  I did not ask or challenge this person's request even though I am aware that my regular ID is all I really needed and left.  Since I did not have a US passport, I proceeded to apply for that and noted it would take another 4-6 weeks for the passport to arrive so I thought I'd wait and do the DMV thing afterwards.  Dangit!!

Pain #2
Yesterday, I was happy to receive my new passport since it only took about 2 weeks altogether.  I noted that they did not return my US Naturalization document so I immediately went to the travel.state.gov site and read that if the supporting documents were not sent with the new passport, it will be sent in a separate mailing.  I also emailed them to inquire and received a reply to expect the separate mailing anywhere within two weeks.

Pain #3
This morning, I planned to do the DMV application and brought my new passport as proof.  I proceeded to load the car with my stuff and just as I was about the start the car, I realized the MSF completion card was not where I had left it.  I practically turned the car upside down looking for this thing.  I went back into the house and went to my paper stack (even though I am sure I did not bring it into the house) but could not find it. After much digging, I decided to go to the MSF training area itself to talk to the instructor and ask for a replacement.  To make a long story short, I found out that to get a replacement card I have to send an envelope with a note and a return envelope and $15!  This about sent me through the roof!  The guy on the phone told me that "the state tells us to charge this amount!"  So now I again have to delay the "M" designation.  Arggghhh...

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Simple lunch

I've never really thought how a simple PBJ with chips and a side of grapes can be filling. 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

When on vacation...


Kelly and Katharine went to Sandestin, FL for a one week vacation before school restarts. While they were gone, Kelly's parking spot was where my bike freely parked instead of being squished infront of my car. Maybe I can convince Kelly to park outside?  Or maybe not..






Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Early lunch ride to Lake Texoma

Ride with the Dallas Honda Group. We had an early lunch (fried catfish) at Windy's Catfish in Bryan, OK. The bridge pictured here is Carpenter's Bluff Bridge which was on our way back. The bridge is about a quarter-mile long and only one lane. The fifth picture below shows the old wood planked bridge before being renovated.