30 July 2007
Why can't they make it work?
O.K. so I'm getting excited now...My trip is seeming real to me. I'm on my way to the F.B.I. building in Westwood, Ca. to get my passport renewed. I got the pics, had to go to 2 places, because the first pics the girl didn't tell me she was going to take the picture and I looked like a fat corpse if you can picture that. For the experience I pay $7.00, I end up going to another place for $12.99 and look a little better, come to find out they charge me twice so I'm into it now for $ 32.00, o.k. I see how they play now.
I've got the pics in my hot little hand and go to enter the building when a very large Federal Officer puts his beefy arm about where my nose is suppose to be. "Do you have an appointment"? No, I say quietly smiling, I bat an eyelash....nothing....there is not even a glimmer of a smile, I'm not sure he's human. This guy hates his job, you can tell by the taco sauce on his lapel. He knows it's there and knows everybody else knows it's there, and can't stand that's it's there. He's miserable. " Go to those 2 guards over there.... Get some paper work." he lumbers back into position.
On my way over to the 2 guards I see a line of about 50 people and decide to get the real poop, I need to talk to them. So what I find out is that the 2 guards I'm suppose to be seeing, will tell me that I can get my passport sent to me in 4-5 weeks. They lie. Everyone in line tells me that they sent theirs in thru the mail about 10-14 weeks ago, and they still don't have their passports. They're pissed! A round little hispanic woman has words flying out of her mouth about 180 miles an hour, several people talk about storming the will call window....It's not pretty at the Federal building today.
This is our Government people!!! Why is it so screwed up? I know you've all been to the DMV, you'd at least think a federal office would have their shit together....or maybe not. What am I thinking...of course not! So I end up sending my renewal in the mail, I chant over the envelope to insure a safe delivery and put it in the box. I'm also pissed off I have to pay an extra 60 bucks to expedite the thing. What are ya gunna do when your up against a behemoth ?
When I get home I see on the internet that there is a huge problem, since they decided to change the passport rules and they are suffering, as is everyone else the rule change. People are missing trips. Missing weddings, funerals, vacations. State senators are fielding thousands of calls, people are mad! Oh this is just great....will I ever get mine? I've got 11 weeks before I leave. Stress is in the air. Everyone say nom yo ho renque Q !