Ideal Day

Recently I made a list of everything I'd do in my ideal (but normal, a.k.a. not a vacation or something wonderful like that) day. I love making lists and this one was extra delightful because it's all stuff I like. Obviously. My ideal day (in no particular order) includes:

• running or some exercise something
  
• music (listening to, playing)
• being quiet (reading, praying, writing, thinking)
• being with people in a meaningful way, definitely Brad, probably friends/family/etc.
• taking Emmy for a walk
• being productive, a.k.a. cleaning, organizing, gardening, working
  
• cooking or baking, or eating things I've prepared myself
• watching something really good on TV, or a good movie; being entertained by non-garbage
• using email and Facebook to stay in contact with people I like, not to just spy mindlessly
• laughing. A lot.
• going somewhere: a coffee shop, the library, work, someone's house, etc. In other words, not being at home all day.
• learning something new
• writing
• reading
  

I didn't have to work on Tuesday and had a super quaint little morning. I got up and read for a while, then went running with Emmy, then came back and got my computer and drove to Luna for their summer latte hour or whatever it's called. Luna is a restaurant not far from my house and it is so adorable that it makes me want to die, or just live there or eat there every day. I bought coffee and a scone and sat outside at the cutest table on the nicest and most foliage-covered outdoor patio area. I was in love with it. And while I was there I wrote a draft of a whole essay! That's right. So many things on my list were happening all at once. I was the master of my own plan. I stopped by the library to turn in books and check out a few more, and went home and ate a delicious salad I made myself, and vacuumed, and made some ultra boring but necessary calls to our insurance provider. I was the most productive and most pleased woman in the world.

Then, I went to the Department of Licensing. We are going to Victoria in six weeks and I need to get an enhanced driver's license because my passport says my maiden name and I won't be able to get that fixed in time. So I brought my passport and marriage license and my driver's license and a billion utility bills with my married name, my maiden name, Brad's name, everything. I drove for half an hour through super gross traffic, got in line to get my number, and then the guy told me he couldn't help me! Apparently, although it would be enough to fix the name on my passport, the DOL won't take a marriage license/passport combo to give you an enhanced driver's license. I was enraged, but I tried to be very subtle about. The guy said I'd need to bring in my birth certificate so they'd have "a paper trail" and that I should go to the courthouse to request it.

But I didn't have my checkbook with me, so I needed cash for the birth certificate business. So I drove to a credit union downtown. I accidentally drove through their teller window area backward. Not in reverse; I went around the building counter-clockwise, and it was supposed to be clockwise. Awesome. A little embarrassment always helps me when I'm feeling enraged. I got $20 for the birth certificate, and drove to REI because they are close to the courthouse and have free parking. For customers only. So, to feel less like a parking space thief, I stopped into REI for a minute and priced out metal water bottles. It was ridiculous but it made me feel less guilty.

Then, on to the courthouse. However, contrary to what my buddy at the DOL told me, the courthouse does not provide birth certificates! No, no, no. Those are from some other building a couple of blocks south of the courthouse. So I wandered down there, and it was getting hot and miserable, and I was carrying around my laptop because I was supposed to meet some friends for a writing date at a coffee shop at that exact moment, and it was digging into my shoulder and making me feel off-balance. I filled out the paperwork and got my birth certificate and hiked back to my car (which was now kind of far away). And I was tired and sweaty and running late, I didn't have an enhanced driver's license, and I only wanted to go home. So I did. My ideal day disintegrated into a very unsuccessful and grouchy afternoon.

And on Thursday, instead of going back to Luna, I went back to the DOL. I waited for more than four hours, then spent about 10 minutes filling out paperwork, answering questions, getting my eyes checked, and having my picture taken. Driver's license, consider yourself enhanced. Ideal day list, consider yourself thwarted by normal life.