Today I went to the Social Security offices & The Department of Motor Vehicles.
Just needed to have a small correction made to my last name.
Started whole process at 10:30am, and finished at 4:30pm
The information operator told me that there was a Social Security at East 29th Street. It’s a neighborhood I like, so off I went on the subway. When I got there all I found was a sign that gave the office’s new address - 15 blocks away.
I get myself over to the address, and get a number - A165. They call A140 right afterwards. **sigh
Things I Did While I Waited:
- text everyone in my address book to let them know I felt like there was a pitchfork in my eye
- cleaned out handbag
- added up all the credit card receipts accumulated over two weeks
- realize how much I spent and sit stunned for several minutes
- come to and go downstairs to buy an ice cold Arizona Sweet Tea at the corner deli
- stand outside of the corner deli, sipping tea and admiring the cut flowers on the outside stand
- got chased by the largest bee on the planet
- go back upstairs and struck up conversation with the lady next to me
- read newspaper over someone’s shoulder
- made a to do list that I’ll probably never do
A165 finally gets called after nearly two hours, and the lady I;m talking to cheers for me.
I get an excellent clerk, who was able to solve my problem. She even provided me with a letter for the DMV.
Feeling heady with success I decide to rock over to the DMV and get it all done today.
Took a couple of pics along the way.
Get to DMV and get an application to change name.
Stand on a long line.
Take eye test.
Smile for picture.
I hate having my picture taken.
Prove that correction is valid to clerk.
Clerk okays application & gives me a number - B342.
Play peek-a-boo with adorable two year old.
Call friend to hear about gorgeous guy she met.
B342
Practically skip to window because in minutes the transaction will be done.
Ask woman at desk question.
Get ignored.
Ask question again.
Get ignored.
Say excuse me so many times it sounds like a mantra.
Get ignored.
Woman at next desk tells me clerk is very very hard of hearing.
Look at woman strangely.
Ask her to clarify.
Woman explains that clerk is so hard of hearing that she can not hear me at all.
Ask woman if superivisor is available.
She offers to answer my questions.
Ask woman questions, get answers and take completed papers from hard of hearing clerk.
Pay five dollars for new card to be mailed to me.
Grab myself a snack and head home.
Pick up mail.
Letter from IRS.
Sink slowly into chair.
Dial IRS customer service.
Incredibly wonderful person on other end of line fixes everything in a nanosecond.
Thank person profusely, hang up, and go collapse face first on futon.









14 comments
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August 14, 2007 at 6:13 am
Lisa's Chaos
I don’t think I can top that but, it sounds like a day I would like to avoid.
I always dread going to the DMV but since moving to WI it’s really painless. They prefer you to mail things and actually charge you more to walk in the door. So the lines are very short if I do need to go. Just can’t get used to it.
The bee part sounded the most fun
August 14, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Wicked H
Well I will not take this time to remind you of my recent success at both the DMV and Emissions place, nope not gonna do it.
I am glad that at the end of the day it all worked out great. Although I would love to see a picture of the dive onto the futon.
August 14, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Karina
Wowee, you had a doozie of a day! Congrats on all your great success though, sounds like it was a very productive day. AND you got some great pictures out of it too!!
August 14, 2007 at 2:46 pm
lissa
That sounds exhausting. I also almost did the same thing trying to fix my name because the lady entered it wrong. I had to go through the whole thing again — filling out form, wait in line, get my photo taken by new guy who doesn’t even know how to work the camera, get on another line, wait for the tempory ID paper - all this to remove one letter from my name.
At least you got it all done and manage to take some wonderful images. Don’t think I would have that much patience.
August 14, 2007 at 6:59 pm
JennieBoo
You win! You Win!
Love the pics, though. Just think, if you hadn’t rode around all morning looking for the correct address, you may not have gotten those pics!
Ah, the irony!
August 14, 2007 at 8:44 pm
patois
Oh, but that could have gone so much the other way. Congrats to you and all you accomplished in just one short day.
August 15, 2007 at 6:33 am
susan
Ah the joys of bureaucracy! Well, at least you got your purse all cleaned out and got some stunning photos!
August 15, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Bri
WOW O.o. While a terribly long process, it’s good that the clerks and all were fairly pleasant.
Glad you got it taken care of, but man - I was exhausted just after reading about it.
August 15, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Mon
eh, sounds like a big, giant hassel, but at least its done. I’m mostly impressed you got the IRS to fix something so fast. They never seem to help me when I call but are quick to let me know when I owe them $2 or something equally as minute.
August 15, 2007 at 5:12 pm
giveitatry
I can’t beat it. It sounds like a Hell of a day, but I am glad you had success in the end.
August 16, 2007 at 12:38 am
JennieBoo
Frances:
I have made something for you.
Please go here to get it:
http://boosbuttons.blogspot.com/2007/08/friendship-bracelets.html
ENJOY!
August 16, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Andrea
I thoroughly enjoyed this post–made me laugh
Just think, it was all over in one day!
August 16, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Andrea
Me again, just realized I have a similar blog. . just read the first bit of this for a little laugh: http://www.glory-ho.com/?p=13 Still can’t top yours!!! but funny.
August 18, 2007 at 12:50 pm
qualcosa di bello
ok, frances…whenever there is a post that includes…DMV, SSA & IRS…my head just wants to explode - & i’m only *reading* it. God bless you, girl!