The Weekend is Over ...

 ... and I am back to the routine. Well, for the most part. This morning I have to run out to Mayo for a psych consult. Shouldn't be longer than an hour, and then back home. I think I am clear until my 1pm zoom meeting with the counselor from my IOP. I know that will last all of 15 minutes. She just wants to make sure I am reaching goals, and doing well. I haven't checked my calendar yet this morning, so I am running off of memory for now.

Weekend was fine. Did some grocery shopping on Saturday. Yesterday we went to church. I met a couple of guys (Andy and Mike, if I remember correctly) that are in the men's bible study group that PT is in. They were happy to put a face with a name for me, because evidently PT has them praying for the transplant. In fact, I was a bit miffed at church. People there I have known for years were coming up to me and saying things like, " Glad to see you able to get up and about", or "Hope everything goes okay". I looked at the Wife and asked her "Does everyone here know about this?". She just kinda shrugged her shoulders. Well, what's done is done.

Picked up some Chino Bandito for lunch. It was perfect for the day. It just tasted so good, that even the Wife was commenting that it really hit the spot. I spent the afternoon playing around on the computer mostly.

Oh, I need to call the DMV today. Seems the registration for the Youngest's car (still in my name) came last week with the new sticker. Well Saturday, I received another one. I need to compare the two, and if they have different sticker numbers, or something, I should call to make sure the correct one is one the vehicle. I also need to get ahold of National Archives. I have ordered a copy of my Dad's DD-214 twice now. They said it was completed and sent, allow 5-7 business days. First time I waited a month, then ordered it again. It has now been almost another month, and the second order they said was completed 4/13. I *KNOW* the address to deliver to was correct, as I made sure of it the second time.

Welp, I need to get my meds down the hatch, and get ready for my appointment this morning. Y'all have a good 'un.

PeacE

Wish completed

 Unlike my relationship with my siblings, my children all love to get together and be around one another. Maybe it is because they are younger, and haven't had the experiences of Life that I/we have had. I don't know, but it sure makes things easier - like getting everyone together for something. Yesterday being Father's Day, I knew we were not getting together as a family, but my one wish was that at least each of the kids would call/visit me for at some point. By 11:45pm, that happened. The last of them did call me that late, which was fine, I was awake in bed playing a game on the tablet. So I went to bed happy.

In my video chat with the Daughter and SIL, we found it it may be awhile before they are able to come visit. He has a couple trips to Canada for work-related stuff, aside from the more "local" trips he has to make. So July will be very busy for him. That is a bit of a downer, but maybe we can go down a Saturday and visit. Middle Son had texted me around mid-afternoon and hoped I would have a good day. Youngest said HFD when he finally rolled out of his bedroom late afternoon. And the Oldest Son did call late that night. He wants to get together some night int he next couple weeks with me. No presents or cards, which is fine, but at least got to speak/text with each yesterday.

My Dr appointment went fine last Friday. My counts for BP and Glucose were still a "little" high than where he would like me, but after some discussion, it was decided I would stay where I am at for three months. My medication dosages were changing every 30 days, that I felt that my body wasn't being able to have enough time to work with any specific one. He thought a moment and agreed. So for now we wait and see how my counts go. I am still recording them each morning. While setting the next appointment in three months, I found out the doctor I have been seeing is leaving this group. Huh? He didn't mention it. So I am being assigned to a different doctor. They made a big deal of asking if it was okay that this new doc was a female. I told them I didn't care.

Nothing big on the agenda today. Run up to DMV and get the specialty plate assigned back to my vehicle and get it on. Then may head up tot he VFW this afternoon for a couple beers and a few chapters in my book. I've read 131/150 books this year for my goal. This morning I changed the goal to 200.

PeacE

A Sleepless Day Off

 Saturday mornings are generally considered one of the days of the week I am not working, and have the opportunity to sleep in. Most of them I do, since I usually go out with friends the night before, and stay out too late. Last night I stayed home though, and was in bed at my "usual" hour. Then awake at 3:30am this morning. I was able to nap for about another hour, before I decided it was a waste of time, and got up. A quick run to the QT to get cigarettes (and a couple rollers and drinks) and here I sit, going through the morning routine.

No update on a new project for work. If it runs the normal gamut, it will eb late Sunday, or early Monday morning before I hear anything.

The oldest Son texted me yesterday, upset about our DMV. We had helped him get a newer vehicle a short while back. At the beginning of the month, DMV had emailed him the registration amount, etc. He made the payment online to them. Mind you, this is for his plates and registration. Evidently, somehow the payment didn't go through (not due to lack of finances, but some other glitch) and he called yesterday to follow up about not receiving the updated sticker and the plates. Seems the payment never processed, and no one contacted him, so he wanted to correct it right then on the phone, but they would not let him. The excuse was the people that do phone payments leave at 5pm, though the phone lines are open until 6pm. Needless to say, he was frustrated, and concerned about driving his car with the expired dealer paper in place of the actual license plate and current registration. I told him he was okay to drive, and if for whatever reason was pulled over, just explain it to the officer. They understand sometimes it takes a little longer to get your plates on a new(er) vehicle. Either way he was a bit miffed. Can't say I blame him.

No idea what plans are for today. Might take a nap later being up so early today. Then again, I may not and sleep better tonight. Hope to hear something on the sale of the house soon. Sis and BIL have not said much of anything, and it is less than 2 weeks to contract end. Hope they don't screw me over. If they do, I know I will never hear the end of it from my Wife, and it will just ruin what little relationship I have left with Sis. 

Well, enough negative thoughts this morning. I'm going to see what I can find to watch on Netflix.

PeacE

Government Frustration

You think this post is going to be full of every bitch about politicians and whatnot? No, not really. I mean, I do have many gripes about them. Many citizens do, I am sure. Some of them might even match mine, or make me agree with them on something I haven't even heard of ... but that is more off track than what I was referring to with the post title.

Several, nay, MANY years ago, when I was but a wee lad in high school, The Valley area had many DMV offices. I can remember several locations from those days, as I had thoroughly read the paper pamphlet (the rules of the road) and the listing of locations within, so I could be ready to do my licensing at any place, anytime, and knew what places did the testing, etc. In that blank space of time since my HS days, many of these locations have closed. My guess to some government beaucracy somewhere, funding cuts and the shit riolls downhill, blah blah blah, until ADOT (AZ Dept of Trans.) has to do cuts that close locations.

The Valley is continuing to grow in population. Hence, more monies being paid into the system for licenses/registrations/etc, but does that make a difference? No. What ADOT/DMV have done, is contracted and allowed third party providers offer certain services (registration/plates/temporary plates), many of which, charge additional fees on top of the standard fee from DMV. However, after much research this morning, none of these third parties are allowed to do licenses/permits.

So...
A.) with higher fees, many people don't use these third party places, or they don't even know about them.
B.) DMV locations are fewer in number, thus have to serve larger amounts of people (from Valley growth, plus larger areas with fewer locations).
C.) DMV locations are swamped with longer waiting times to get anything accomplished.

Is there any way to fix this? Sure, if whatever higher-up muckity-mucks got whatever funding they needed to provide more locations, and fatten their paychecks. So no, no way to fix it. Sure, DMV does offer some online services, but not enough people use it. The worst is most are not informed of what they can do online, or through other means except going to the DMV. Which clogs up the waiting process even more.

What brought this griping on today? The Eldest Son had his driving permit expire. Told the Wife, but not me. So now he has to go take the written test again, instead of just a renewal we could have done online. He has to go to a DMV to take the test. Third parties aren't allowed licensing procedures. Tried two different locations today, with terrible results - lines over 50 at one, and well over 100 at the other. At 15 minutes to opening ....

We are going to try one of those locations tomorrow, but arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of opening, so we can maybe be in the top 25 to get in, and be out in a couple hours (I hope).