The ______ DMV

I really, really dislike the Virginia DMV.  More specifically, the downtown Richmond DMV.  Let me tell you my many adventures with this awful place.

In July, I realized that our Mazda had expired it's Utah registration.  What to do?  I asked Jim and Wendy if they would be willing to let us transfer the title to Virginia, and they very graciously agreed.

Step One: title mailed from Utah to Virginia.

Step Two: go to the DMV.

In early August, I took the title to the DMV after filling out all the appropriate spaces on the back saying that we were now the owners.  I waited in line.  I filled out the DMV's paperwork.  I was called to the desk.  The lady told me that since there was a very small error on the title that I had filled out, I had to have Jim sign the title again.  Sigh.

Step Three: title mailed from Virginia to Utah.

Step Four: title mailed from Utah to Virginia.

In early September, I took the re-written title to the DMV.  The lady at the front desk saw that it was in both Jordan and my names.
"Is Jordan Henderson here?"
"No, he is in school."
"Well, we need his signature on this form."

Step Five: get Jordan to sign the DMV's form.

On the third week in September, I took the forms from the DMV and the title to the DMV.  I again waited in line, and was called to the desk.  The same lady who I worked with the first time was there.  Great.  She looked at the title like I was hiding something.  (Really?  All I want is for you to go through this paperwork and let me get my car switched!)
"Oh, is this a salvaged vehicle?"
"Yes...."
"We don't do those here."
"You don't do salvaged vehicles in Virginia?!"
"We do, but you have to go to that counter over there.  The lady that does them is probably gone though because it's 5 PM now.  You can come back tomorrow."
I burst into tears.  I work nights!  I can't come back tomorrow!
"I have been here three times to get this car taken care of and now you're telling me to come back later!?  Why didn't the front desk lady tell me to go to that counter?"
"I don't know.  One minute..."
She comes back with her manager.
"What's wrong?"
"Well apparently I can't get my salvaged vehicle taken care of?"
"Go over to the security man and he'll page the lady for you overhead."
I walk over to the security man, still crying.
"I guess you're supposed to page someone for me?  I need the salvaged vehicles lady."
"Ok, go wait at that counter ma'am."
Walk over to the counter.  The security lady hands me a tissue.  After about an eternity of waiting, the salvaged vehicles lady comes over. (Thank GOODNESS she hadn't left for the day.)
"What's wrong?"
"I guess you need to look at my salvaged vehicle?  I'm trying to get it titled and registered!?!"
"I don't need to look at it, who told you that?  There are a lot of new people they just hired."
I hand her the paperwork, pay the money, and she tells me that Jim needs to fax a letter to her saying they gave us the car as a gift.  Holy cow.  After he faxed the letter, I need to call her, and then she'll put all the paperwork through.  THEN I need to come to the DMV again, and get the car registered.  Sigh.....

Step Six: Email letter to Jim to have faxed back to the DMV lady.

Step Seven: Call the DMV lady.

Step Eight: Wait for her to call back.

Step Nine: Call her on Friday to see if she finished the paperwork.

Step Ten: Call her on Monday.  She finished the paperwork.  It is titled, she lost my number so she couldn't call me.

Step Eleven: Go to the DMV.

I went to the DMV on Monday, waited in line, and was called up to the desk.  Told the lady I needed my car registered, and she looked the title up by SSN, I paid, and got my license plates.

What a waste of time!  It's over now though, and I won't have to deal with the Richmond DMV for a whole year!  Hallelujah!

The Little Car that Could

Jordan blogging. Last night, we made quite a trip and I'm surprised that my car lasted. First, I should preface by describing our car: It is a Mazda 3 hatchback. What's special about it is that this car is that it has literally been totaled and put back together again into a functioning automobile. In other words, it's a rebuilt title. Scary to think that we drove this 2200 miles in just under 40 hours two weeks ago, but we did it. Luckily, this car hasn't had any major problems in the three years and 40,000 miles I've driven it. But last night...

For Melyn's birthday we drove yesterday to Washington D.C. On the way back, we stopped at Woodbridge, VA (about 80 miles from Richmond, our new home) to go to IKEA. Melyn loves buying furniture and other home doodads from IKEA. Since our house had very, very little furnishing so far, and since we also had a bunch of IKEA gift cards, we planned to get a bunch of furniture there. I assume you all know about how IKEA "flat-packs" everything, so we expected to fit alot into our car. I love the little bit of extra space that hatchbacks can give you when the rear seats are folded down. So, at the end of our shopping we had two carts jammed pack full of stuff. Melyn asked, "are you sure we're going to be able to fit everything into the car?" I responded, "Of course!" (Since my car survived the trip to Virginia carrying four people and all our luggage, I believed my Mazda was capable of anything). Well, when I drove the car up to the loading area to where our huge pile of stuff was waiting, my car suddenly didn't seem as spacious or capable as I remembered.

Fortunately, we had an IKEA employee helping us. But as we were loading, I knew not everything was going to fit inside. So, as you can see from the first picture, we had to tie one large box (an office chair) to the top of the car. The inside was so full that I (the driver) had to lean to my left as I sat in my seat. I could not see anythingtot my right while inside, so I had to ask Melyn everytime I wanted to turn right if my path was clear. And we had to travel 80 miles with all this stuff. This is the kind of moment where you say a silent prayer. Believe it or not, we made it home. And the office chair on top made it too. I think it's about time that I give my car a break.