The saga was not quite finished

The driving license saga was not quite finished.

When we went to get Cate’s license on Saturday we had to produce an existing out of state license.  We tried to use her Austrian license but were told that it was not acceptable because it was in German. 

Well actually it is and it isn’t – it says ‘driving license’ on the front in German – and in English – and in 17 other languages. 

It also has no expiry date – for some reason Austrian licenses do not have this feature – and the BMV were simply incapable of comprehending this.

We were told we could use it only if we had it translated into English and were able to confirm that there was no expiry date on the license. Well if we did this the translation would say ‘driving license’ in English 19 times.

This had us stumped for a while – we were reeling at the task of finding official translators for each of the 18 non-English languages on the front of the license and having them certify that ‘the words on the front of the license in Turkish (or whatever) say ‘driving license’.

As far as the expiry date was concerned we were simply at a total loss. Who would we get to look at the license and certify that ‘there is no expiry date on this license’. Perhaps an official and authorized ‘driving license expiry date examiner’?

Many people in the BMV were consulted – including the branch manager. A call was made to ‘downtown’. All this had predictable and inevitable outcome. Rules are rules.

But where were the rules when I got my license and used an Austrian driving license – without any problems at all? 

Then we were told that we could use an international driving license. Terrific – we had one. We hurtled home to get it and the examiner kindly let Cate take the exam – even though she was well outside her allotted time slot.

So on Wednesday this week Cate got a call from the BMV. They wanted a copy of her Austrian driving license – without translation.

Go figure.

We had nine inches of snow yesterday.

Molly and Gaston and Biggles have arrived and have settled in nicely.

Here we go again

I am pleased to report that Cate finally has her driving license.

This – as usual – was harder than we expected it to be because of the many hoops we had to jump through to meet the bureaucratic requirements of the Bureau of Motor vehicles.

The BMV is harder to negotiate than Indiana Power and Light – a scarifying experience that I will not easily forget.

We learn as we go along. There are the written rules and the other rules which may depend upon the disposition of the person to whom you are talking – or even on the weather. It is hard to know.

But here everything is easier than in Austria because here I do not have to speak German - which is such a delight I can hardly contain myself – and start conversations with strangers in the supermarket just for the sheer delight of so doing.

Yesterday I had a long conversation in Marsh with a woman who was advising me which product was best for cleaning sinks and benches. She saw me staring intently at the shelves – and – picking me as in need of help – offered to assist.

I told her the type of stuff I used in Austria and she was able to point me in the right direction – indeed there was a fabulous collection – once you know what you are looking for.

Of course she asked me where I came from and the discussion turned to kangaroos. She had recently seen a show on TV and was able to tell me that most Australians have never seen a kangaroo in the wild.

I suppose that could be true – although you don’t have to go far out of a major city to see kangaroos – or wallabies. I did not attempt explain the difference between a kangaroo and a wallaby.

She was interested to know if we ate kangaroos. I assured her that we did – but that there were many still uneaten and they were not endangered. 

We are apparently expecting a colossal snow storm any minute. Indianapolis may be closed tomorrow.

It was harder than expected

NOT happy

I lost my appetite half way through my corn chips and salsa. To say that the Broncos were crushed would be something of an understatement.  Peyton Manning created a new record for the most completions in a Superbowl – the trouble being that he threw for a total of only 284 yards.

I got depressed at half time and instead we watched Sons of Anarchy - in which bikie gangs slaughter each other. Much more satisfying.

Molly and family arrive on Wednesday evening so I am putting the final few things into place. Yesterday I installed the baby seat in Cate’s car – in  preparation for the pick up at the airport.

This was much harder than I expected it to be – although I should know by now that these days everything is.

The seat comes with a 40 page instruction book – on almost every page of which is a warning about the ghastly fate your child will suffer if you get even the teensiest thing wrong.

It snowed again on the weekend and Cate was out early on Sunday clearing the our paths and those of the next door neighbors. She finds this therapeutic – and I must admit there is something enjoyable about throwing snow around – as long as it is soft and fluffy. 

Winter storms are forecast for Indianapolis tomorrow.