1. On Wednesday I took Izzy to the local hospital for an MRI of her foot, so that the doctor can determine what her bump consists of and more about it’s anatomy. We had a 9:30 appointment and arrived at 9:00 to check in. Good thing too because the check in office was short staffed and it took them half an our to check us in. Izzy was a trooper. Because they wanted it with contrast, they injected dye into her arm, but it took two sticks before they were successful. I have the CD with all the images, but I’m not really sure what I’m looking at, so I guess we’ll wait until our next appointment to find out what it is and when we can have it taken off!
2. Because most of Wednesday morning was going to be taken up with this test, I decided that Wednesday afternoon should consist of Noah taking his test to get his driving temps. So I brought Izzy home and then went to our special box, where we keep all of our important papers and to my horror discovered that the envelope with all of the birth certificates and social security cards was missing!!
Mr. Pete and I did a quick search and we couldn’t find it. I can’t imagine why it would be out of the box, but in the back of the head I’m wondering if I took it out and inadvertently put it somewhere, because sometimes, I do crazy stuff like that!
Undeterred in my quest to follow my original plan, I ran downtown to get a copy of Noah’s birth certificate and then ran off a copy of my 2012 tax return. With those two documents, Noah and I went up to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to take the test. The room was completely empty except for two BMV officers so I thought it would be easy for Noah to take his test. I handed my paper work to the first officer and he started to sign us in, when his unoccupied co-worker, who was desperately looking for something to do or someone to hassle, came over and told him that he couldn’t accept our tax return.
It’s good enough for the IRS, but not good enough for the Ohio BMV. She smugly told me I would have to go down to Social Security and get some other documentation.
More determined than ever, I looked online to see what paper work I would need for the social security office and discovered that a baptismal certificate was acceptable, and the wonderful office staff at church got one ready for me. Then we drove directly to the Social Security office only to discover that they close at noon on Wednesdays, and thus our quest for the driving temps was at a standstill for that day.
3. The next morning, Noah and I arrived at the Social Security office at 9:10, and found ourselves at the end of a long line that went out the door. We dealt with a computer touch screen that everyone had to touch before they could be seen (and I was kicking myself for not having a bottle of Purell in my purse), then we stood in a waiting room with 22 seats and 30 some people for 45 minutes. When we were finally called and I presented my paperwork the office worker told me that she didn’t think she could accept the baptismal certificate. Luckily I had it book marked on my phone so that she could see that according to the web site, she absolutely could accept it – and she did.
Just a quick note that these are the same folks we are putting in charge of our health care. Must be the change part of that hopey-changey-thang.
We got a temporary social security card (that’s one hour of my life I’ll never get back) and were able to then drive up to the BMV and try it again.
And this time, we made it! Who knew that actually taking the test would be the easy part!
4. Tomorrow I talk to the 8th grade confirmation girls, with my new improved 30-minute speech. I cut out my introduction, erased the part about St. Benedict and the rule of life, and took a major chunk out of the corporal works of mercy – figuring the school probably covers that very thoroughly (or they could just read the bulletin!) So now I just have to practice a couple of times and then give it. Prayers for receptive ears and hearts would be appreciated.
5.Readers might remember that a few months ago, my ex-piano teacher criticized Noah’s reading skills. I still think she’s wrong about that. He was finished his driver’s knowledge test on the computer in about 20 minutes and before many of the people who started before him! Anyway, I found this on Mr. Stobaugh’s facebook page yesterday and it encouraged me.
On Throw Back Thursday thankful for ordinary Mrs. Crozier who yanked me out of class one day and, in a teacher/principal/parent meeting about how badly I read orally told parent, principal, and history that she would not allow me to be in the B slow reading group anymore. Principal and parent disagreed but Mrs. C was not to be denied. I was so shocked that I never looked back all the way to a fellowship at Harvard. Do not underestimate the power of a teacher!
I have Mr. Stobaugh’s history and literature books and I have heard him speak at the CHEO convention. He’s a very smart guy and an inspirational and informative speaker.
6. Gabe with his daughter. He really is doing a good job at being a dad.
7.
