Tax Dollars at Work.
While wasting time looking at all the RVs for sale on Craig's List (I confess to a little wishful thinking) it occurred to me that I should be doing something more productive. Because housework isn't all that appealing at the moment, I figured I'd update the blog.
In the past week, I have had two, count 'em, TWO clashes with the fine examples of guv'ment inefficiencies.
The first:
As almost anyone reading this already knows, Greg adopted Laurel over the summer. The adoption was finalized on September 25, 2005. Last week, it occurred to me to go over to the local Health Department to pick up Laurel's amended birth certificate. After convincing Laurel the Hermit to crawl out of the confines of her room, we went to pick it up. I gave my form and fee to the counter lady and spent a few minutes listening to Laurel expound on the symptoms and complications of diabetes. See, the Health Department has a very graphic display of this. I also hoped she wouldn't see the information on STDs.
My name was called and lo, they said they have no record of an amended birth certificate, but gave me a card with a number for Vital Records in Jeff City. Having been a guv'ment worker myself, I knew when I called Jeff City, I would be met with shining examples of efficiency and expediency.
When I finally reached someone at Vital Records, I found out that a) there is only 1 person who handles adoption amendments; b) she is still working on June adoptsions; and c) if I want to find out if she has received our paperwork, I will need to give her the exact date the attorney sent it to her along with the check or money order number and the attorney's name. So much for my habit of bowing to our state capital in prayer five times every day.
I was mad. I was so mad that I stomped downstairs to tell Greg just how mad I was. Then I stomped back upstairs and e-mailed my Representative. I suggested perhaps another filing and / or logging system is in order. 'Ha!' I thought. 'That'll show 'em.' Alas, to date I have not received a response from my Rep. But I am not without hope, because I don't think they're even in session right now.
The second:
I checked out a book from the library. Upon reaching home, I realized that the previous reader left a family portrait in the book. 'Oh,' I thought. 'I need to return this to the library so they can look up the previous reader and return this to her.' I say 'her' because honestly, how many men do you know who use family portraits as bookmarks? Or who read Jennifer Crusie novels? Besides, I was a little lacking on my Good Samaritan karma lately. I'd cut some people off while driving and hadn't been as patient with idiots as I could've been. So it was time.
I went to the library with the photo, feeling mighty good about myself, and explained the situation to the librarian, who said, 'Oh, yeah, that happens all the time. We just take it and put it back here in case someone asks for it.'
Me: 'You mean you can't look up who had the book before I did? Because I would imagine this photo has some sentimental value.'
Librarian: 'Nope. The book's former record was erased when you checked it out.'
Good thing the criminal justice system doesn't work that way. Or maybe it does. At any rate, I left, aggravated because I felt my good works had been foiled by the library. I couldn't understand why they wouldn't have the ability to look up the last couple of people, at least, who checked out a book. It seems it would be a smart thing. And considering all the money we just paid in personal property taxes...sigh.
My karma meter is low.
Ah, well.
Maybe I'll just go give blood. Happy Friday, everyone.
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