My DMV experience

I took a trip to the DMV today to switch my drivers license. Things were going as expected... I got in to the wrong line only once, the lines were long but not out the door... Not bad so far. Then it was my turn with the clerk. She started processing my new drivers license application, and I told her that I wanted to take the motorcycle written test so I could keep my motorcycle license. She looked at my old drivers license, saw the "Endorsements: Motorcycle" and said ok.

She went to the printer to get my public driving record and came back with a puzzled look. "I'm sorry miss, but you don't actually have a motor cycle endorsement." What? It says so on my license! "I'm going to check the bible," she said. Ok, I thought, I'm sure God will tell her that I have a motorcycle license.

She came back with "the bible" which was a HUGE binder full of state drivers license abbreviations and such. Another woman accompanied her and they mulled through the MN section. Then they both started to laugh. I didn't think this was very funny. The last thing I wanted to deal with was taking a motorcycle safety course and retaking the road test.

It turned out... my public record indicated that I had "limited mobility" and not a motocycle endorsement. Another 10-15 minutes went by when the two clerks had a discussion with someone in the back office. They had obviously determined I was not of "limited mobility," and that there must be a mistake on my public record.

After being "that person" at the DMV that takes FOREVER, I finally was cleared to take the motorcycle and standard driving written exams. When I took the permit test back in the mid 1990s, everything was computerized. Not in Hawaii, in 2009. I had a laminated, well loved exam, and a piece of card stock numbered to 30 with choices 1-4 as my answer key. The testing clerk used a punched exam key to grade my responses. WOW.

The cool thing was that I received my license within 5 minutes of having my photo taken. So, all in all, my 3.5 hour trip to the DMV was so bad after all!

Closed for the season?

After our epic hike last weekend, I went to fill up our water bottles at the drinking fountain.   "Aww nuts," I thought, "Its closed for the season."  

I pushed the "on" button in anger.  My anger paid off.

This must be some sort of drinking fountain safety device.  First time I ever saw one.

A new feature!

I've needed to realign my web browsing since I don't live in the Midwest anymore- sorry skinnyski, bikethrow, mcf and the like. So you can have a glimpse into my life, I've started the "Where I go when my brain is fried" list to the right. As my brain gets more crispy from being so academic at work, I'm sure my list will get longer. Here's a start at least.

High Wind Day?

I'm used to Snow Days in MN, where there's so much snow that everyone stays at home. School is canceled, activities are canceled, traffic is a mess. Here in Hawaii, I experienced the seemingly equivalent to a Snow Day. I'm calling it a High Wind Day (due to the high wind warning). Today school was canceled all across the island and neighboring islands because 60 mph winds were predicted. Sideburnz and I spent quite a bit of time researching this on the internet before venturing out this morning to make sure we'd be safe. So far so good... well... Sideburnz hasn't returned from his safari to the mall yet... Everything in Honolulu is 'go' as usual- people are out and about, stores and coffee shops are open- I just don't have to teach today. In fact, I'm probably not supposed to be here because the email said "Only essential personnel should report to work." Alas, the demands of a new faculty member make me essential personnel.

I think this is awfully ironic, because yesterday in MN, it was terribly cold with the high temp well below zero. Minnesotans had to go to school. I had no trouble riding my bike around town today. The wind didn't make me fall over or anything. Unfortunately, my hopes of reading at the Waikiki Library were dashed because, like the public schools, it too is closed due to the winds. I had to settle for Starbucks and eventually my office. Drat. The weather is not particularly nice with intermittent sun and full-on downpours, so I'm content enough to work (and blog).

I'm hoping for good weather tomorrow so I can give the local canoing club a try. I have been pretty much hobbiless for the past 2 weeks and my pacing around the house is starting to drive me (and Sideburnz) nuts. One of my issues is the length of daylight. My brain is still programmed on Northern Climate temperature-day length relationships. When its warm and sunny, it should be light 14 hours a day. Now, I'm not complaining, because I'd gladly take 11 hours of warm daylight than 8 hours of bitter cold daylight, but at 6pm its dark here. Then what do I do. I'm still too daylight dependent for activities, so at 6pm I eat dinner and sit in my tiny apartment listening to podcasts of Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me or Car Talk. Hopefully an active hobby like canoing will at least wear me out!

Well, I'm proud to say that I've made it through my first week of being an assistant professor. One week down, fifteen more to go until Summer!

We made it!

We've officially been here for 5 days.  I haven't blogged because I had to make sure we weren't going to run away screaming from the get-go.  We're adjusting to our new roles well: I'm going back to my "work until you can't see straight" mentality and Sideburnz is becoming a house husband.

So far, we've both made some rookie mistakes.  Probably the most notably was the great chicken stirfry dinner Sideburnz made last night.  He went to the local farmers market and bought some delicious fresh veggies.  Every thing was great, especially if we wanted to follow the Atkins' diet.  Somehow rice was left off of the grocery list.  I can't be upset,  because Sideburnz remembered everything else: oil, soy sauce, chicken...  The duplex cookies he bought for treat definitely made up for it.

My rookie mistake was part laziness.  We went to the beach on Tuesday when I was done with work.  Sideburnz brought my swim suit (and he even remembered all of the pieces!) and I changed at the restrooms.  After we were finished swimming, I rinsed off, and feeling slightly lazy, I decided that I would just put my tank top and skirt on OVER my wet swim suit.  Well, it took about 4 seconds for me to realize it was not the best idea.   I had developed 2 very noticable wet spots on my tank top where my boobs were.  No worries, I had another shirt to wear, so I put the other shirt on over top.  Things seemed ok until we were almost home (a 30 minute ride that's mostly up hill).  I developed a nasty chaffe mark on my leg from my saddle and was really wanting some chammy butter for my underside.  I got home and laughed at how foolish I looked wearing soaking wet semiprofessional attire- a new suit and some board shorts are definitely in order.  My current suit (circa 2004) has a neat function called "lets flash maria's boobs when she's swimming."

Today was a record day for sleep- we stayed up until 9:30 and I slept until 6.  Sideburnz is still sleeping (tired panda).  This weekend will hopefully afford us some fun time and probably a few more stories.