I started the mission today to gain Rank P (passport). The first bit was fairly easy. Wake up at a decent hour, talk to some gate guards on the phone and find out where exactly I needed to go.

So, knowing what I had to do, I got a second cup of cawffee, jumped in the shower, put on a smart looking outfit and set out to camp the Notorious Monster: Pennsylvania Health and Welfare Department of Vital Records. IMPOSSIBLE TO GAUGE!! I got in the chococar and made haste to the PA Turnpike.

An hour and some change later, I was approaching my old 'hood. It was pouring down rain and the last stretch was tense. It cleared a bit as I entered the city. I couldn't help but notice how much of a dump it seemed like? I guess when you live somewhere long enough you don't really "look" at it anymore. It's funny when you leave for a while and come back and don't much have a choice. Yeah, it's an orc armpit :D

I circled several times in the Capitol area until I was able to find the gorramn place I was instructed to park in according to the internets. Done! RATS! I need to find an ATM, I forgot people like to charge you for parking. Now to find the place and worry about money later.

Well, the address was vague online. The luck I have... I ended up walking into three giant government buildings like a lost sheep until I stumbled into the right one. I almost got squished by a SUV which actually made me laugh. What if I died while trying to get a copy of my birth certificate? Now that would be something huh?

OK correct building now. I was scared now... I guess since I never did this kind of thing and had no idea what they would ask? Did I have the right ID? Should I have brought cupcakes?

I flexed quietly to myself and pulled open the doom door and walked in. Fsck it I fought Fenrir (well Rayj did, but I flashed him a lot so he wouldn't die...... bad reference I guess but needless to say, I was feeling tough). I saw down the long stark white hallway... the room.

I walked up to the counter and in my most pleasant, yet slightly desperate tone... I stated to the very large, annoyed woman that I'd like a copy of my birth certificate. (Thinking to myself that cupcakes would have really sealed the deal on this escapade)

Well, I was told to fill out a form.... which had maybe 5 things on it, write a check and TADA! She handed me a slip of paper and told me to come back in an hour. Umm..Had I known that it is more difficult to get fscking pictures developed in this state than it is to obtain certified documents of birth.... I would have stayed home for a third cup of friggin' coffee.

I have an hour to kill now so I'm eating some japanese food and writing this adventure on a ghei Chococat™ memo pad I luckily had in my bag. Now this part is really important. I hope you're paying attention????? If you only take one piece of advice from me EVER whilst reading my rants.. this one should be IT:

Do not not get within 10 feet of soy sauce while wearing a cute, smart-looking white shirt. Don't do it for me...... do it for the children.

Now I'm going to walk back up and pick up the paper that says I was born. Good thing since I could just like WAVE and say HI instead...... but nuuuuu they like proof. I'll finish this up when I get home....... latah!

*****

Ok home now and yes I have the said documents! Always a damn adventure with me trying to get shit done. Ah well, makes for a good story perhaps. I'd tell you about how when I was walking back to the building a stray stone struck me in the eye and I fell and couldn't see out of my right eye for about 4 hours? It made for interesting drive home. I thought perhaps the Pirate Kit would be more a reality than a novelty? But I have already been babbling too much.

I'm on my way to that hug. It's stressful and scary and I'm doing it anyway haha. I did hang out at my sister's place a while tonight. She's cheering me on this trip with pom-poms and helping me one hundred percent with this trip. So cool.

Driving home tonight though... I got that feeling I get a lot. I really enjoy driving late at night on a lonely road listening to music. I rank it up there with snuggling. But tonight was one of those that you kind of think about it more (maybe since I just didn't want to go home and took the long way) I started wondering why I liked it so much. It's a weird thing to like... then it hit me.

I looked at the road and felt a smile on my face. It looked like I was driving into an abyss... a black 'nothing' but there was always road under my tires... something was there even when it seems like there isn't. Well that philosophical mumbo-jumbo and the fact I have some really GREAT music hahahahaha. Either way, I would miss that if I went somewhere I couldn't drive.

Tune in tomorrow when I tell you about the wonderful world of: PASSPORT PHOTOS! I wanted to get my mom to make me a "Stupid American" tee-shirt for the picture but snow tells me they are only shot from the neck up... bummer ;D hahaha

goodnight all :D