most auspicious day

Never have I ever been accused of being a convicted criminal on my birthday before, until today. I was at the Moter Vehicle building in Mount Pearl to get a new driver's license, and the clerk working at the service counter was very skeptical of my Alberta license. She questioned me on all of the codes and endorsements (I can only drive a motor vehicle with the usual number of axels, must wear corrective lenses, etc.), but was really stumped on a few of them, and annoyed that I didn't have the answer key for the codes. I was a little flabbergasted when she asked me, "Why did you take a driver's education class? Do you have a conviction that you're not telling me???" I responded that I took a class to learn to operate a vehicle and learn the rules of the road, which I thought was normal,  but the clerk seemed really suspicious. Maybe it's common here not to take driver education unless ordered to by a court; I really don't know ... In the end, I must have been deemed trustworthy enough as the clerk took my Alberta license away, asked for $100, and gave me a new piece of plastic so can legally drive around Newfoundland for another five years. We're probably only going to be here for another 3-4 weeks :)

I was really hoping that my Knitpicks Options that I ordered on February 11 would be waiting in my mailbox when we got home from the Motor Vehicles office, but they're still MIA. Instead, the (t)rusty mailbox held for me a copy of The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques, Just Hats, and a few cool things from Etsy, like a set of lovely stitch markers and my very own Black Apple print. So, still some awesome mail, and I only bought one of those items myself :)

Comments

[Ani]

That is quite odd. Have an evil doppelganger out there somewhere?

[Vicky]

Good grief.

Sounds like you hit one of the women who has been there for centuries and dislikes being made to do any actual work (I hate to say it, but they seem to be fairly common in certain sectors of government). I have only met one group of government folks more insanely and irritatingly hidebound by ridiculous regulations than MVR (health and community services, in case you were wondering).

I'm sorry you had such a rotten time. It's not a pleasant place at the best of times, but to have someone treat you in that way was entirely unwarranted. I'd be tempted to make a complaint, if I didn't know that the supervisors were worse.

[Helen]

I would have been stumped by her questions, since in Quebec one is REQUIRED to take a driving course before getting a license.

I hesitate to say this, since I am a woman, but as my mom likes to say (and for once I think she's right), it is generally preferable to avoid dealing with women in situations like this. Ever notice that female customs officials like to ask you a buttload of questions whereas the men just glance at you and then let you pass? Every time I have to pass through immigration at an airport, I try to avoid the women immigration officers. I used to think my mom was nuts for her opinion, but the more I travel the more I think she's right.