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July 5, 2005
ActI: Play by Play of Rank P: the beginning
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 Chococatâ„¢ 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
Posted by naku at July 5, 2005 11:16 PM
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Comments
* Naku's snuggling skill rises 0.2
i can't wait >_>
now.. passport photos..
try to smile =D
also: hold up an acme 'doom' sign *giggle*
can't wait for you to get here ^_^
/sigh
/wait 60 days
/target Naku
/smoochga
Posted by: snowchyld
at July 5, 2005 11:25 PM
Hey soy-pirate-girl (wow - what a vision).
Government departments are never fun; I remember surreal episodes with immigration (work permit), customs (shipping my world by sea) and marriage visas. I shudder.
I vote for either some temporary henna facial tattoo or neonise your hair to flare-out the camera when it comes to passport photos.
/emote thinks Naku and Snow sure make a cute couple.
Posted by: vtraveller
at July 6, 2005 3:18 AM
Government buildings... gah... don't even get me started... government buildings in my job... government buildings in my life outside the job... they're closing in... can't breath... must....eject....
As for the almost getting run down by an SUV... I can sympathize with that... the courthouse here where I live has a parking garage, the exit of which exits out onto a four lane "1-way" road... as your coming out of the exit though.... you look left to be sure your not about to die.. and what do you see? Oh no, not the oncoming traffic about to put you in a metal grave... but a lovely billboard strategically blocking veiw of the road that says something along the lines of "EAT AT JOES..." ... whos bright idea was that.... damn government buildings....
Posted by: Garkin at July 6, 2005 10:31 AM
OH NO! DON'T SMILE! I just got my passport pictures taken and I was told not to smile in it, so I had to get another set taken. After pumping another
*stumbles about his crazy american keyboard looking for a pounds sterling sign.......... *
Dog dammit there isn't one! Any way i had to pay another 5 pounds and believe me, I wasn't smiling after having to do that. I mean let face it, you could wear a bin bag, without smiling, and still look mucho cute, so really you've nothing to worry about, but mine looked crappy. Actually, I think it's a government requirement to look like shit in these pictures because I've never seen a good one. You'll need to post yours so I can ^^
Posted by: sturyko
at July 6, 2005 11:32 AM
Big sister says, "Be brave and run to the one you love". I will help you in any way you need me too. Come over and let super Joe help with the ticket purchase. He is the master of the great deal.
VV
Love and hugs and super sister support :-) xx
Posted by: tsirgey at July 6, 2005 11:48 AM
Aww this is off to the makings of a grand love tale, all the best with your Passport run tomorrow. Too bad they didn't have a Tele-GovPass spell to get you there quicker. ^_^
Looking forward to see how this all unfolds Naku.
Eric
Posted by: ZiN at July 6, 2005 12:14 PM
hi naku. you have no idea who i am, i think. my name's CoCo and i kow snowy from SharpE. i haven't talked to him today but i know he's recently moved and we're all kind of worried. could you or he please drop me a line at silentpyjamas@gmail.com and let me know if he's okay? thank you so much.
in other news, congratulations on going for the passport. i know snowy's really happy with you and i know you guys will hve a good time.
cheers!
silentpyjamas
Posted by: silentpyjamas at July 7, 2005 1:56 PM
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