Mortaine’s Blog

Brian stayed over last night, after we all had a few drinks and Ken didn’t feel like driving him home. Besides, I was going to drive him to the DMV today anyway– might as well have him stay over and save a trip.

We decided to get up and go at 8 this morning. We actually left at about 8:30, but who’s counting? I took Brian home so he could change his clothes, and then we headed down to the DMV.

Let me tell you, the DMV is deserted at 9 AM. If you ever want fast service, get there super-early. Brian took care of the one-day registration that he needed to be able to drive his car away from impound and to get smogged (and, ultimately, to get it registered, again at the DMV). That went very quickly and cost him nothing.

Then, he needed a temporary license. The fellow who was helping us was either on drugs or really blase about his job. He didn’t seem to “get” what we were asking, although he was very laid back about it anyway. Either he has a terrific sense of humor, or he’s drugged. It’s the DMV– either one is equally possible.

After that, we went to the Saratoga police station, which is where Brian had gone previously to get his car (and where they took his license away). They gave him, eventually, a map to Cupertino, where his car had been towed, and explained that they didn’t know how much the tow company charged for the “service” of having his car towed and stored for 5 days.

Remember, dear reader, that Brian had tried to take care of all of this yesterday, but that the DMV and the county courthouse can’t seem to share a database when it comes to clearing up tickets.

We drove to Cupertino. Getting the car out of impound was another $490, which went on my credit card, and which Brian wrote me a check for (they didn’t take checks or Discover).

Brian got the car. That’s when his solo race began– he now has to go get it smogged and registered, all in one day. Also, he was planning to get to work today, but I don’t know if he made it or not.

I’m happy to help out a friend, but this experience teaches me that I never, ever, ever want to have my car impounded. This was an expensive and painful experience for Brian, and it was difficult for me, as a friend, to watch him go through it. By the time we got to the impound, he was so furious, he was threatening assault (under his breath, of course). Brian, however, is a good guy generally, and I’ll bet once he blows off some steam at a good computer game, he’ll feel a lot better.

In personal-land: I was scheduled to give blood today, but deferred to Tuesday. I didn’t sleep much last night, I drank quite a bit (3 or 4 jello shots and a greyhound), and both of those are a recipe for dehydration and passing out when giving blood. So, I’ll wait till Tuesday and make sure I sleep well and drink lots of non-alcoholic fluids on Monday. I also had disturbing dreams (what’s new?) which I should probably log in the morning, but didn’t because I got up and drove to the DMV instead.

Well, I took the exam for my “Documenting Java” class today. I should probably back up a bit: My day started out doing a favor for a friend. But first, the Java class:

I’m taking this class as part of my requirements for the Tech Writing certificate at UCSC Ext. Mind, I don’t actually need the class– I have enough electives without it. But, I took the C++ API documentation class, and really enjoyed it– I think I found my niche. So I thought I’d pick up Java while I was at it. Useful stuff, you know?

Anyway, the Java course isn’t much different from the C course, except in the ways that Java is different from C (interfaces, methods vs. functions, nested classes, and constructors). So, I figured an easy A.

Well, stupid me. I took it for granted. I didn’t study. I was busy studying for my MA exam next month. I got an A- on today’s test. Which gives me an A- for the class. Which brings my average down for the certificate (I currently have straight A’s). Ah, well. Maybe I just won’t “count” this course.

This morning:

My friend Brian had his car impounded over the weekend for lack of registration. Now, I owe him big for a couple of weeks ago, when I finally met my threshold in alcohol. Anyway, I picked him up at his house this morning, drove him down to SCruz courthouse, and helped him take care of fines and what-not. Brian is a fairly responsible young bachelor; he just procrastinated on registration.

Here’s my impression of dealing with the City: The entire process of getting one’s car out of impound or of fighting a ticket is designed to: (a) make you pay more than you probably feel comfortable paying, (b) make it hurt SO MUCH that you never do it again, and (c) give the unemployed something to do during the day. I say this because only the unemployed really have time to go down to the courthouse during their very unfriendly work hours, fill out paperwork, go to court (twice if you plead not guilty), all for the privilege of not paying a fine, or of paying a reduced fine. If you pay it on the spot, in cash, it’s still 24 hours before you can get your driver’s license back, which you need in order to get your car out of impound.

Do we not live in 2002? How is it possible that these computers aren’t networked together? The clerk at the courthouse can tell what offenses are on Brian’s DMV record– why can’t they enter into that very same database the fact that Brian has now paid (in cash), so he can immediately go get his license back and, ultimately, get his car back? Is is because the impound lot charges a daily fee? Perhaps. Is it because it’s more PAINFUL for Brian to have to come back tomorrow? Perhaps.

What’s truly sad about all this is that, if Brian had been alone, or if I hadn’t had to go to San Jose today, he would have had to skip another day of work, which might mean not getting paid. In his case, it could come out of his vacation time, but not everyone is salaried– many people get paid hourly and are basically screwed if they miss a day of work. If it’s because of something as unimpressive as having your car impounded and your license revoked, the resulting “bad rep” will almost certainly mean you’ll never get another promotion at that company again.

I knew someone at the Boardwalk who called in to work on his first day, to tell them he couldn’t come in because he was in jail– that poor guy never made it off of the kiddie rides. I met him over 2 years later, and the only rides he ever got to work were the kiddie rides. We think that being truthful to our employers is important, but it’s not in this case. It’s better to tell your boss that you can’t come in because you’re having emergency dental surgery, or something. At least then they don’t think you’re unreliable about anything except brushing your teeth.

Anyway, after this morning’s run-around, Brian still needs a ride to the DMV and to his car tomorrow. And yes, I will be his chauffeur tomorrow. Why? Well, for starters, there’s the thing he did for me two weeks ago. Also, I’m his oldest friend. Also, I’m his friend, and that’s what you do for friends– you’re there for them when they need you. And, I have to go over the hill tomorrow anyway– I’ve got a meeting in the evening, and a blood donation in the afternoon. So it’s not like I won’t be headed that way to begin with. It just means I’ll be going over earlier than I’d planned.