Government Red Tape Hell

A few years back, I had my purse stolen and now it's coming back to haunt me in a BIG WAY. Only back then, I was a victim of thieves. Today, I felt like a victim at the hands of government red tape.

My 19 year-old son got a job coaching the Academic Decathlon team for the high school he graduated from, but needed ID for the I-9 immigration form. His ID, social security card, and birth certificate had been in my purse when it had been stolen and, in my trauma from the incident, I'd forgotten to replace them.

He went to get his college ID card today, so he could use that as one form of ID, and they wouldn't let him have it. Said he needed his social security card to get it.

Okay. We'll go get a new copy of the social security card. No problem. Right?

Wrong.

The lady at the social security office was awfully rude and told us he couldn't get a social security card without a California ID card. So, we'll go get a new copy of his California ID card at the DMV. No problem. Right?

Wrong.

We get there and the lady (who was nice) told us they only kept ID's current for a certain length of time and that his had been purged. We'd have to start all over. Fine. We'll do that. No problem. Right?

Wrong.

We need his birth certificate in order to get a new ID card. Sigh...

I've already been gone from work two hours at this point, when my lunch hour was one hour. So, birth certificate will have to wait until another day. Unless...there's a fast way to get it online.

So, I get back to work and checked online. Faster to go down to Norwalk and get it. BUT....we don't want this to be easy. Right?

Now, the state of California requires a NOTARIZED form filled out proving that the person who is applying for the copy of the birth certificate is who they are. So, how do they do that with no birth certificate? No social security card? No California state ID? No college ID?

Jeez, Louise...what's this world coming to???

End of the Day Writing Update

Well, here I am again, recording what I've accomplished on my novel today. And, as I post, I ponder on questions that have been raised while I've been writing tonight.

I've always heard you should write whether you're inspired or not. Don't wait for the muse. That's pretty much what I've developed the ability to do. Except for a couple of days I haven't felt well, I've hit my goal, which is now up to 8 pages per day so I can finish this rough draft in time for a workshop later this month.

However, is there really a lot of value in words that are forced? I feel like what I write when I'm not inspired is not good. It's crap. And, yes, I've heard that crap can be fixed, but sometimes I feel like I don't have the talent to do so.

I've been told that I'm just blind and prejudiced against my own writing. I've been told it's from writing when I'm exhausted after putting in a full day at work and shuttling kids around after school. But, is it? I ask myself this question all the time...especially tonight. I wrote 8 pages, but I don't feel like it's good. I hope that, after I sleep, I'll be pleased by the fact that I have something to edit and not just blank space on the screen.

Beginning of the End 2116 words for the day

69,131 words total so far.

On the upside, someone recommended a great editor today, so maybe after I finish and get a few revisions done, that's the way to go.

But, for now, it's time to grab some sleep. Thank God tomorrow's Friday!!!