jaeclectic (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jaeclectic) wrote2009-06-09 10:08 pm
jaeclectic) wrote2009-06-09 10:08 pm
Entry tags:
totally ordinary
OK, so I know there is absolutely nothing special about this, but I am compelled to describe it anyway. It's only my third time visiting the CA Department of Motor Vehicles, and so the pure kafkaesqueness of it all still has the power to impress me.
First of all, I made an appointment. The web site said I would save time by making an appointment!
Here is what making an appointment means: You start by getting in one of two lines. One line is for "appointments and disabled", the other is for "no appointment". The appointments/disabled line is shorter. So you save time, yay! by going through the line more quickly.
But the first line isn't to actually talk to someone about whatever you are there for. Oh no. The first line is to be given a number, which you must wait to be called, in order to then talk to someone.
A little bit tedious, and oddly convoluted, but not yet vast exploring new heights of absurdity.
So I got my number, and I waited, and eventually my number was called, and the person processed my form with a minimum of fuss. And then said that I just needed to get my picture taken at desk 28. All righty.
I went and found desk 28. There was a place to get in line, only one person in line ahead of me, great. Except, there was no one working at desk 28. There was a person at desk 29, dealing with another line of people who were taking the written driving exam. And there was a person at desk 27 who kept saying, to the line of people at desk 28, "anyone here to take a driving test?". So those people would get out of the line, and the rest of us just stood there.
After a few minutes, there were about 30 people in line behind me. I kept thinking, the person who works at desk 28 must have taken a break, they'll be back in a minutes.
Eventually, the person behind me, who was a little less patient than I am, interrupted the person at desk 27 to ask what the heck was going on. She explained that they were short one person, and that she had to process the driving tests first. He pointed out that by that logic, if people who needed to take the driving test kept showing up, the rest of us could be there forever. Forever!
Heh.
Needless to say, eventually Miss 27 came over and took my picture, thumbprint, and signature. So now I am legal to drive in CA again.
The End.
First of all, I made an appointment. The web site said I would save time by making an appointment!
Here is what making an appointment means: You start by getting in one of two lines. One line is for "appointments and disabled", the other is for "no appointment". The appointments/disabled line is shorter. So you save time, yay! by going through the line more quickly.
But the first line isn't to actually talk to someone about whatever you are there for. Oh no. The first line is to be given a number, which you must wait to be called, in order to then talk to someone.
A little bit tedious, and oddly convoluted, but not yet vast exploring new heights of absurdity.
So I got my number, and I waited, and eventually my number was called, and the person processed my form with a minimum of fuss. And then said that I just needed to get my picture taken at desk 28. All righty.
I went and found desk 28. There was a place to get in line, only one person in line ahead of me, great. Except, there was no one working at desk 28. There was a person at desk 29, dealing with another line of people who were taking the written driving exam. And there was a person at desk 27 who kept saying, to the line of people at desk 28, "anyone here to take a driving test?". So those people would get out of the line, and the rest of us just stood there.
After a few minutes, there were about 30 people in line behind me. I kept thinking, the person who works at desk 28 must have taken a break, they'll be back in a minutes.
Eventually, the person behind me, who was a little less patient than I am, interrupted the person at desk 27 to ask what the heck was going on. She explained that they were short one person, and that she had to process the driving tests first. He pointed out that by that logic, if people who needed to take the driving test kept showing up, the rest of us could be there forever. Forever!
Heh.
Needless to say, eventually Miss 27 came over and took my picture, thumbprint, and signature. So now I am legal to drive in CA again.
The End.
no subject
and yay for DONE.