Why the DMV gets a bad name

Register to vote...get a library card....get a new license...

Went to the DMV yesterday to see about getting an Alaska DL.
The woman at the info. desk stared blankly at me as I told her what I needed.

"Go over to station 5 and take the test (What, a test?). No talking. No cell phone."

Uhh....okay, nice lady. I go to the computer screen and start answering the 20 questions. Geez, I hope I can remember speed limits, sign meanings, when to yield, etc.

Does anyone know the answer to this question - when approaching an oncoming vehicle, at what distance should you change your headlights from high beam to low beam?

Uhh...anyone? 200 ft? 300 ft? 500 ft? If you answered 500, you're correct! I think I answered 300, cuz I got it wrong. Three other doozies like that, and I get a big fat F on the test.

I walk back over to nice lady. I smile. She gives me another blank stare. I guess I'll start the conversation. "So, I failed the test." Stare...."When can I take it again?" "Tomorrow", she answers. "Umm....is there a handbook or something that I should look at before I take it again?" She gestures to the lobby, where I guess they keep said handbooks.

Okay, friends. Wouldn't it have been nice of her to mention before I took the test that there was a handbook I should glance over? After all, I am from CA, where the laws are different. And, would it kill her to smile? I hate people who work in customer service when they really belong in an office by themselves, doing bland research. Aaargh! One of my major pet peeves. I think when I go in next, I'll bring her some freshly baked cookies, just to see if I can get her to smile or say "Thank you."

Love and warm hugs,
Lana

animal count

Four moose.
One porcupine.
Two Austrailian shepherds.

Day 3.
We're safe and sound at my brother's house, watching his dogs while he and Amanda are in Mazatlan.

Flight north was eventful.
Coco threw up (first time ever) as soon as the plane touched ground in Seattle. "Sissy, I accidentally threw up. Why does it smell like cheese?" Fifty dollars of new clothes and an airport sponge bath later, she was good to go. This is the first and the last time I'll forget to pack a change of clothes in the carry on. The flight to ANC was spent in the lavatory, working on her fear of the toilet. It's a loud flush, you'll remember. But, this is much more than you need to know.

Cousin Laile hosted a lovely dinner, where we were entertained by a family of 4 moose outside the kitchen window. The mom and pop came back the next day, but no sign of the babies. Andy says it's almost mating season, and the mom shuns her kids when it's time to procreate. I wonder what they do....

Sophie had her day at Anchorage Dance Theater yesterday. She got a part in The Nutcracker, and met two girls her age, one of whom she'll attend West High School with. Good news!

Saw an ad in the paper for the season opening Anchorage Symphony concert, and got the last two tickets for my friend Joe and I. It was instantly comforting for me to hear some familiar sounds. It was a Russian program (Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante with cellist Wendy Ward, Mussorgsky's Suite from Khovantchina, and finally Stravinsky's Firebird Suite). I was impressed with the 70 person volunteer orchestra and their music director, Randall Craig Fleischer. He's got an impressive resume. The symphony only has one performance per set, which is too bad, but the audience of 2,000 was most appreciative. Okay, symphony geek-out moment over.

The weather here is beautiful and clear. Temp around 55. Nice and crisp, with stunning displays of fall foliage.

Today is Sam's (Laile's 8 year old) kickball party at the Spenard Rec Center, then dinner at cousin Kelley's. This is exactly why I'm here.

Love and warm hugs to you all,
Lana