The BMV, SWAT, Grimace, and me!

(An excerpt for Monday April 23rd... I haven't posted in a while)

I still believe there are cosmic laws that allow Monday to be a bad day no matter what the circumstances are.

I guess my Monday wasn't "bad" but it was frustrating.

I had to go to the BMV (it's the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Ohio... not a Department). I needed to renew my tags for the Jeep, and renew my license for my 25th birthday. A seemingly simple task. Monday was my only day to do this since the BMV in Westerville is on open till 6:30 PM.

So, I head directly there after work. No problems. Step inside, take a number, sit down. There aren't many people there, so I anticipate a speedy in and out.

My number is called, I get up to the desk, tell the clerk what I need. She says okay. I have to answer some questions along the line of whether or not I'm a truth telling felon. Then comes the eye exam. Which I barely passed. And when I say barely, I mean I probably got a D-. I need to get new glasses. Anyhow the total comes out to be $78.50. I hand the clerk my debit card. They only take cash or check. (Sidenote to the BMV - GET WITH THE TIMES!) . I have no cash on me. They tell me there is a bank across the street. They'll have everything ready to go when I get back.

Here begins the "fun".

I hop in the Jeep in hopes of getting to an ATM getting my money and getting back. I am ever so nieve.

I notice that the bank across the street the clerk mentioned is surrounded with police vehicles and fire trucks. I also notice on my side of the street there is a reporter from WSYX 6 TV in front of a camera. Obviously this bank is not an option. So I just need to find an ATM. I head north toward Speedway. I run in and go to the ATM. The ATM will not accept my card for whatever reason. As I head out I notice that there is a SWAT vehicle heading back toward the BMV. As much as I want to follow and take pictures , I have another task at the moment.

I then proceed further north to a Sunoco and go to the ATM inside. The screen reads "Now available cash $40". I assume this means that I can only withdraw $40 dollars per transaction. I withdraw 40$ (with a $2.50 fee). The ATM is now out of cash. Great... just great.

So then I proceed to the CVS hoping there is an ATM there. No ATM. I ask the lady at the checkout if I can make a debit purchase and get cash back. She says yes, but for only $35. 40+35= 75 and I need $78.50! ARGH!

Now I head south, back toward, and past the BMV/SWAT event. I head into the Kroger on Shrock road. I head in... get to the ATM, put my card in... and withdraw another $40 (with a $2.00 fee).

I head back into the BMV. I calmly walk up to the desk after facing a frustrating time finding a way to access my money. There is a young girl next to me in the same situation. She doesn't have any cash. The clerk tells her to go across the street to the bank. I advise that wouldn't be a good idea since it's blocked off, and there's a SWAT van over there. The clerk then tells her to head up to the street to the Speedway. I advise that her that the ATM isn't working there. All the clerks get a laugh out of this and say "he's been all over town", which I found half amusing. I suggested best bet is to head in the other direction to the Kroger.

I get my ID, my tags, and I head home to relax on the day before my birthday...

On my way home I pass the McDonalds and the Grimace (and a seemingly less enthusiastic employee) is outside waving his heart out. Happy that I was done with this task I stick my hand out the window and wave back. And Grimace gives me the two handed pointing gesture. It was enough to make my day.

(End Scene)

I had to post that before I could catch up with anything else. I'll post more this week about my Birthday. And I'll hopefully have some pictures up... if I take any.

And just in case you were wondering what was going on with the SWAT van... this is all I could find out.