When I moved, it was a temporary thing. I didn’t know if I would really like Colorado, if Jon and I could actually date while living in the same place, or if I would find a job and like teaching in Colorado.
It was no big deal. I figured I’d just wait until the school year was over to decide what to do…. that was until I got my jury duty notice for DuPage County (in IL).
After my dad (because it was sent to my parent’s address which I have as my permanent address) sent in the form asking to be excused due to employment out of state along with my current address I was mailed back a postcard refusing the request. Ok- well, that sucks especially since it went BACK to my parent’s place (good thing they check their mail regularly and didn’t leave town).
After calling the jury commissioners office, I found out that I need to send them proof of residence or reschedule the date. I was also told, “you’re juror number is 202 which is pretty high. Just take your chances and call is if you get called.” Of course, as my luck would have it, they called from juror 1 to 212! So, next morning I call and am told I have until Monday to fax them proof of residence.
Well, this made me decide very quickly that I was to become a permanent resident of Colorado. The plan was to get a CO driver’s license on a Saturday because I teach all day. Stupid CO DMV… they’re only open M-F from 8-5! Go figure… so the average working Joe has to go…. when? Lunch?
Perfect… I had Friday off school. Figure I’ll go get it quick. I print off the documents list to figure out what I need to bring with me. It says that a social security card and a current driver’s license will prove the four things they need. I bring those (with a copy of my birth certificate because that’s all I have) to the DMV. I wait for over an hour to get called. I finally go up the counter and the woman asks for my DL and my birth certificate. WHAT?
I said, “Doesn’t the license and the social security card prove the four things?” “No,” she says. At this time I immediately take out the sheet… and sure enough it does. I tell her I have a copy of the birth certificate but that won’t due because it HAS TO BE the original, certified copy. Crap. Well, she goes on and enters all the information. Hair color, eye color, current address, is it my maiden or married name…. Then, she leaves. Few minutes later she comes back with another woman who looks at the information. Then they leave.
She comes back and tells me that I need to bring in a birth certificate or a pass port to prove my middle name. Well, Katherine Amanda Junta is NOT going to fit on the license… in fact, if I remember there was only a spot for the initial. This is stupid. So, I asked why I need to if my ss card has the SAME middle initial… she says I have to prove the full name. So then I asked, “if I the license and the ss card have the SAME name and middle initial, why can’t I just use the copy of the birth certificate to prove the full name… since that’s the ONLY thing you need?” She says, of course, “we only take certified documents. We need either your birth certificate or your pass port.”
BULL CRAP! I had to wait an hour with the documents YOU said would work… for you to tell me that they don’t? Also- why did you even process the information if you knew I had to prove the middle name?? FINALLY- why didn’t they just say on the sheet that I need to bring the birth certificate because I can’t do it without!!!!!!
The crappiest part- I don’t have a pass port because I’ve never needed one, my birth certificate is in a safe deposit box in a bank in Illinois, and I have to prove my residence by MONDAY!
ARG! I think the part that ticked me off the most is that there was a guy at the door that gives people a number… and then just sits there! It should be a part of his job description that he checks to see that everyone has the appropriate documents to save EVERYONE time!
