at the squirt A level and has made it to the play-offs in the
Deleware Valley Hockey Division! He has been having a BLAST playing,
and loves playing defense and
slapping the puck away from the opponent and passing it up to his team mates
.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Congradulations Jackson!
Jackson's hockey team, the Bethlehem Blast, is ranked 4th in the nation
at the squirt A level and has made it to the play-offs in the
Deleware Valley Hockey Division! He has been having a BLAST playing,
and loves playing defense and
slapping the puck away from the opponent and passing it up to his team mates
.
at the squirt A level and has made it to the play-offs in the
Deleware Valley Hockey Division! He has been having a BLAST playing,
and loves playing defense and
slapping the puck away from the opponent and passing it up to his team mates
.
A Day at the DMV
Some may remember my story from the DMV in Chicago....following the yellow painted lines on the floor which was meant to guide one around to the different desks. The day I was there, the place was basically empty. I was told to follow the lines anyway, and the worker would then come over to the next post, rather than just helping me through all the steps at just one desk. I recall laughing at the oddity and lack of efficiency at the DMV and how comical and almost cartoon like the experience was. After today, I would take the Illinois DMV in a heart beat. And Minnesotans, you are spoiled with your many locations around the Twin Cities. In PA, I had the choice of going to the DMV in Allentown, or traveling almost 2 hours to the DMV in Harrisburg.
Here is my story.
Today I left the house at 10:30 to get my PA driver's license. I had all the documentation I needed to prove who I was: my MN license, my social security card, my raised embossed birth certificate, and two forms to prove my address. I walked in with the kids and saw the sign, "only checks and money orders accepted. No cash, no credit, no debit cards accepted." Of course, I didn't have the checkbook. I waited for Roy to arrive with the checkbook and then was able to get my number. The number I was given was C-109. The number being served at the time was C-62. I filled my time with looking at a magazine, watching moms try to keep their little kids happy, and the man who's job it was to make everyone with a water bottle or cup of coffee leave the building. There was also a place where no one was allowed to stand and wait, and Iwatched him tell people they had to move from that area. There were many signs around the room: No food, no cell phones, no loud talking, no drinks, no standing here. What can one expect, however, in a state where on the roads Left turns are not allowed and there are stop signs on ON RAMPS. Insane. After a 2 hour and 45 minute wait for my number to come up, I finally was able to bring my paperwork and check to the counter. I joked about the long wait with the lady at the desk, "Well, I should just make this visit to the DMV counter an experience worth the near 3 hour wait and enjoy my time here!" She glared at me and said, "It's like this every day. Talk to your government representative and tell them to open up another site." OK. After our 10 minute transaction I was sent to another line for my picture to be taken. The nightmare I never had (but would have had I thought of it) was coming true...I was going to live for the next 4 years with my puffy, 37 week pregnant face on my driver's license. At this point, I really didn't care. I jumped into line and looked at my watch...I had only 40 minutes before I had to leave to pick up the kids (which Roy had driven to class when we saw how long the wait would be) from the church near our house. After 50 minutes in line, it was my turn. The 85 year old couple in front of me (bless their hearts) took a while to process. So did the lady who couldn't speak English. So did the young man who didn't understand what TEMPORARY LICENSE meant and needed an 8 minute explanation. So did the girl who after her picture was taken needed to ask for driving directions. The man was pleasant enough...which was part of the problem why the line was taking so long. I told him I didn't have time for pleasantries anymore as I had been there almost 3 1/2 hours and was late to pick up my kids. He took my picture and asked me if it was OK. I previewed it, winced, and said, "at this point, what's a bad picture?" He sympathetically printed out my temporary license and Audrey and I RAN to the car to get the kids. I arrived 10 minutes late, and found them waiting in the rain for me.
Audrey asked me many times why we had to wait for a license for so long and why we needed to get one and why did we need a new license in a new state if I didn't have to take a test and I had a license in our old state. I told her it was because the government wanted our money, and I'd be back here in four years to give them more money. She seemed satisfied with this explanation. She then with a loving look said to me, "It was kinda hard to wait so long. But, I thought today would be the worst day of my life, but it was a good day." "Yes," I replied with a convicted soul, "it wasn't fun to wait, but I guess tomorrow it really won't matter that today was like it was."
Basically, at the end of most days, I realize I should complain less about the things here that are hard, strange, lonely and different. Hopefully, I'm complaining in my heart (and sometimes out loud) a little less. But, I may just write a letter to my representative, whomever that may be.
Here is my story.
Today I left the house at 10:30 to get my PA driver's license. I had all the documentation I needed to prove who I was: my MN license, my social security card, my raised embossed birth certificate, and two forms to prove my address. I walked in with the kids and saw the sign, "only checks and money orders accepted. No cash, no credit, no debit cards accepted." Of course, I didn't have the checkbook. I waited for Roy to arrive with the checkbook and then was able to get my number. The number I was given was C-109. The number being served at the time was C-62. I filled my time with looking at a magazine, watching moms try to keep their little kids happy, and the man who's job it was to make everyone with a water bottle or cup of coffee leave the building. There was also a place where no one was allowed to stand and wait, and Iwatched him tell people they had to move from that area. There were many signs around the room: No food, no cell phones, no loud talking, no drinks, no standing here. What can one expect, however, in a state where on the roads Left turns are not allowed and there are stop signs on ON RAMPS. Insane. After a 2 hour and 45 minute wait for my number to come up, I finally was able to bring my paperwork and check to the counter. I joked about the long wait with the lady at the desk, "Well, I should just make this visit to the DMV counter an experience worth the near 3 hour wait and enjoy my time here!" She glared at me and said, "It's like this every day. Talk to your government representative and tell them to open up another site." OK. After our 10 minute transaction I was sent to another line for my picture to be taken. The nightmare I never had (but would have had I thought of it) was coming true...I was going to live for the next 4 years with my puffy, 37 week pregnant face on my driver's license. At this point, I really didn't care. I jumped into line and looked at my watch...I had only 40 minutes before I had to leave to pick up the kids (which Roy had driven to class when we saw how long the wait would be) from the church near our house. After 50 minutes in line, it was my turn. The 85 year old couple in front of me (bless their hearts) took a while to process. So did the lady who couldn't speak English. So did the young man who didn't understand what TEMPORARY LICENSE meant and needed an 8 minute explanation. So did the girl who after her picture was taken needed to ask for driving directions. The man was pleasant enough...which was part of the problem why the line was taking so long. I told him I didn't have time for pleasantries anymore as I had been there almost 3 1/2 hours and was late to pick up my kids. He took my picture and asked me if it was OK. I previewed it, winced, and said, "at this point, what's a bad picture?" He sympathetically printed out my temporary license and Audrey and I RAN to the car to get the kids. I arrived 10 minutes late, and found them waiting in the rain for me.
Audrey asked me many times why we had to wait for a license for so long and why we needed to get one and why did we need a new license in a new state if I didn't have to take a test and I had a license in our old state. I told her it was because the government wanted our money, and I'd be back here in four years to give them more money. She seemed satisfied with this explanation. She then with a loving look said to me, "It was kinda hard to wait so long. But, I thought today would be the worst day of my life, but it was a good day." "Yes," I replied with a convicted soul, "it wasn't fun to wait, but I guess tomorrow it really won't matter that today was like it was."
Basically, at the end of most days, I realize I should complain less about the things here that are hard, strange, lonely and different. Hopefully, I'm complaining in my heart (and sometimes out loud) a little less. But, I may just write a letter to my representative, whomever that may be.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tell us Rod......what is behind the curtain????
A NEW CAR !!!
After 54 days of the Kids and I living without our own set of wheels, I am exuberantly happy to report that we are traveling to Northern New Jersey on Friday to acquire our 2006 Chevy Suburban !Oh you and me in our Sport Utility Vehicles, cruisin' to 7-11
for a bag of Frito-Lays!
Oh you and me in our Sport Utility Vehicles, we'll slam into 4
wheel drive, and pick up a dozen eggs.And if there ever was a snow... y'know.A really really deep snow... And if
everyone was stuck but us - We'd be the ones not stuck - Then we could be the
heroes. - We could be the heroes. - Yeah we would be the herooooooos.. - We
would push them and pull them.... - push them and pull them... - Push them and
pull them right out of the snooooooooow.
No more evenings picking up Roy from work on the days I need the car! No more waiting outside his office while the gangster cars and wandering people cause me to clinch in fear with the doors locked. No more longing for the luxury to go to the grocery store on a weekday when the crowds are minimal! No more dreaming, I will soon have my own set of wheels. Wheels of my very own.....
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Barefoot in January
What a fun winter break! Two days of weather in the 70's !!!
As of yesterday we are back to some snow and ice, but it doesn't seem to be unbearable at all knowing that we could have another day just around the corner where we discard our shoes and socks and run through the grass.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Today we traveled to Hershey, PA for a hockey game where the Bethlehem Blast again victoriously finished off opposing team...this time the victims were the Hershey Bears. Jackson played a great game and earned an assist. After the game we took in a fun time at the Hershey Chocolate headquarters where we took a musical, magical tour of a "factory" while riding in a disney-like car thing, watched a fun interactive 3-d movie, met real life chocolate bars, took a trolley tour of the town and learned all about the noble life of Milton Hershey. We were so impressed, we can't wait to take you there when you come to visit us! to learn more about Milton Hershey and his remarkable life that still changes the lives of thousands of underprivelidged youth, visit this link:http://www.miltonhershey.com/
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Saturday, January 12, 2008
New Start
Here it is, the new blog where I will update with stories, pictures, videos of our life here in PA. I know in writing and posting here, I will feel more in touch with my dear friends and family, and I hope it helps to keep you feeling a part of our lives. The last 4 weeks have been filled with adjustments and a tad bit of boredom (me and the kids have been without a car all this time) but the next 4 weeks should be more exciting. We should have a car in the next week and I plan on making the most of that time before the baby arrives. In a couple days I'll have some great pictures and stuff up here on the blog, so come back next week to see something more interesting. Miss you, friends! Kerri
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