The Dreaded DMV

When I was a kid, I always wanted a motorcycle. I remember running around the house pretending to be on the back of some type of bike, making a grumbling noise as I ran. Well, recently a friend of mine bought a bike and with the price of gas at $4+ easily talked me into getting one too. Since it was my first bike, I took my time buying and purchased a used Honda Shadow 600. I considered the Rebel 250, but knew my wife and kids would want me to ride them around after I got some experience and thought I might want the extra power sooner rather than later.

So now I have to go to the dreaded DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicles). There I figured out why people hate that place so much - going there makes you feel like an insecure little kid. Even if you don't have to wait in a long line, you still have to wait for one of the chunky ladies to notice you and/or yell 'next!' Then you humbly walk over and present your homework, I mean paperwork, just praying to the God in Heaven that you have everything you need, that it's acceptable to this intimidating lady, and that she doesn't give you an INCOMPLETE (Just like in school). No doubt you will either have to go get a piece of paperwork that you didn't even know you needed (notarized and in triplicate), or you have something filled out incorrectly (which just makes you feel like a dumbass), or it will cost you 28 times more than you thought. In my case, the insurance company that I used wasn't recognized in their computed system. But fortunately the out-of-place plump angel that waited on me actually called my insurance company and had them fax over a form with their correct number on it. I know!, it freaked me out too!, she could easily have told me to go to my insurance agent and get what I needed myself (she must have been having a good day). So I said 'thank you', paid my money, and waited for her to give me the 'OK you can go now' command and I thought 'how did things get so complicated with all these forms and papers? Oh well, I'm good for at another 12 months.' and I ran out of there like a kid on summer break.

By the way, can anyone tell me why I have to pay taxes on something EVERY YEAR that I own? I mean I guess I can understand paying taxes on something when you buy it (these ladies have to make money some how), but how can they send me a notice every year that I owe so much money, and if I don't pay it, they'll come and take my motorcycle away? Isn't that extortion? Oh well, I guess that's a blog for another time.

PS There are websites now that most states have to help you figure out what paperwork you need before you go to the DMV (in KY it's http://transportation.ky.gov/dmc/home_vr.htm ), but it usually takes you as much time to find what you need on those sites as it does to drive across your county, visit the large intimidating ladies, and let them send you back out for whatever you didn't know that you needed.