Every few years your birthday means a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles for an eye exam and a new driver's license, complete with new photo.

My license renewal was due this year so I head up to West Bend where the closest DMV is and expect the worst. You know, the usual rude State employees, long lines filled with morons, paperwork, fees and just a general pain in the butt.

The first 45 minutes was surprisingly almost pleasant. While no one was particularly nice, no one was rude either. Lines moved along fairly well with only the occasional stupid question/stupid answer session to delay things. Now I realize that low expectations can sometimes make things seem better than they really are but still, nothing to get the blood pressure up about.

With eye exam, drill sargeant questioning and paperwork complete I get in line to get my picture taken. The State employee operating the new computerized system seems to be having trouble with the contraption. It's apparent that she's trying not to lose her cool and being fairly successful at it I must say. But frustration is seeping in. She's forced to retake many photos and the system is backing up. By the time I get to stand on the little feet on the floor in front of the camera she's pretty flabergasted with the whole thing. Me, just happy to be almost done with the project.

I follow her directions; look forward, raise the chin, keep my eyes on the little light. Just when I think I'm about done she raises her hands in frustration and says that the computer is locked up. I roll my eyes and then, well what do you know the contraption kicks back on, the flash goes off and I'm now stuck with a goofy driver's license photo. For eight years I'm stuck with this thing. Why she took the time to retake other photos yet felt that mine was OK is beyond my comprehension. Anyway, to my annoyance and to your glee over having this happen to someone else, enjoy the photo;



I wasn't aware that your eyes go loopy when you roll them.

By the way, I hope that it's illegal to copy and distribute things like driver's license photos. When the DMV police come around I'll agree to remove the picture when they agree to take a new one. How's that for sticking it to the Man? Although this is clearly a case of the Man sticking it to me. It'll even out. I don't know when and I don't know how but someday...


Switching gears and as a service to you, dear reader, I provide this link which takes you to a web site where you can enter your first or last name in the little box in the upper right to find out how many people in the United States share your name. Silly but fun.

Every few years your birthday means a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles for an eye exam and a new driver's license, complete with new photo.

My license renewal was due this year so I head up to West Bend where the closest DMV is and expect the worst. You know, the usual rude State employees, long lines filled with morons, paperwork, fees and just a general pain in the butt.

The first 45 minutes was surprisingly almost pleasant. While no one was particularly nice, no one was rude either. Lines moved along fairly well with only the occasional stupid question/stupid answer session to delay things. Now I realize that low expectations can sometimes make things seem better than they really are but still, nothing to get the blood pressure up about.

With eye exam, drill sargeant questioning and paperwork complete I get in line to get my picture taken. The State employee operating the new computerized system seems to be having trouble with the contraption. It's apparent that she's trying not to lose her cool and being fairly successful at it I must say. But frustration is seeping in. She's forced to retake many photos and the system is backing up. By the time I get to stand on the little feet on the floor in front of the camera she's pretty flabergasted with the whole thing. Me, just happy to be almost done with the project.

I follow her directions; look forward, raise the chin, keep my eyes on the little light. Just when I think I'm about done she raises her hands in frustration and says that the computer is locked up. I roll my eyes and then, well what do you know the contraption kicks back on, the flash goes off and I'm now stuck with a goofy driver's license photo. For eight years I'm stuck with this thing. Why she took the time to retake other photos yet felt that mine was OK is beyond my comprehension. Anyway, to my annoyance and to your glee over having this happen to someone else, enjoy the photo;



I wasn't aware that your eyes go loopy when you roll them.

By the way, I hope that it's illegal to copy and distribute things like driver's license photos. When the DMV police come around I'll agree to remove the picture when they agree to take a new one. How's that for sticking it to the Man? Although this is clearly a case of the Man sticking it to me. It'll even out. I don't know when and I don't know how but someday...


Switching gears and as a service to you, dear reader, I provide this link which takes you to a web site where you can enter your first or last name in the little box in the upper right to find out how many people in the United States share your name. Silly but fun.