Just another day...

Here are a couple of miniatures I just finished.

The first is called "Walking the Labyrinth", and is a 2" x 2" pen & ink/watercolor. The second, also pen & ink with watercolors, is called "Blue Vase" and measures 1.5" x 2.5".

I spend many hours doing these little things, and am inordinately proud of them.

I spent the day today re-registering my car, after having found an old letter from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles that showed me my registration expired approximately six weeks ago. (If you're not a Connecticut DMV hater, you can skip this part.) The renewal form noted that I owed delinquent vehicle taxes in Pomfret. So I called the Pomfret Tax Collector, and they said I was paid up. They suggested I stop by (about a forty-minute drive) and get a release showing the taxes had been paid.

So I called DMV, and waited on hold for approximately 25 minutes. When an "agent" was finally free to take my call, she informed me that no, I did not owe motor vehicle taxes in Pomfret--I owed them in Norwich. So I called the Norwich Tax Collector's office, and they said, nosirree, you're all paid up. I decided to take a drive to Norwich, which has a DMV branch in it anyway. The nice lady in the Norwich tax office stamped my registration form, filled out a little receipt, and wished me good luck with big soulful eyes.

The line at DMV was almost out the door, but it went quickly. I amused myself by pointing out to John (who, blessedly drove me around all day in his Miata) that the "agent" behind the counter had an extraordinarily bad toupee. When I got up to the counter, I said, "Hi, my name's Mabel Terry and..." "I know who you are", he said. Moment of dead silence. Is this the Grim Reaper? I pictured better hair.

"You don't recognize me, do you?" he said. "Fifth grade?" A blank look on my part. "I'm Mr. D!"

Oh, my God. Mr. DeBartolo.

"You were the smartest kid I ever saw," he said.

Yes, you are in the twilight zone.

Easiest time I ever had at the DMV.