oohh the new year. I have no plans for the New Year night. I haven't decided whether I can deal with a loud or quiet welcome to the year.
Last year was loud and Jan 1 was filled with peace. And of course, complications, but overall, pleasant indeed. A nice balance.
I was going to get reflective and all that but.... life decided to remind me that looking for a fresh start is a good thing.
Although this was an "interesting" year. I know I've been stressed. The year was filled with chaos, uncertainly and me totally off my game.
To top off the last week of the year, I lost my debit card the weekend before Christmas, thus all presents, gas...everything went onto my AMEX because without the card, I have no access to cash.
It's weird, I don't tend to carry much cash anyway, but this became traumatic!
Did you know that you can't cash a check at the Kroger without having a history of having made checks there? I always used my debit card, now I guess I'll throw some variety into the mix. Needless to say, without access to an ATM or the check cashing priviedge of the grocery store, I just did without. Thank Goddess for AMEX!
So I dealt with that and now have a new debit card in hand, and am just waiting on the PIN to be sent to me. (grrr)
THEN, as if that wasn't enough, I lost my wallet in Waco on Monday when I came back to town! Screwed I tell ya!
With no access to cash and no access to money at all I had to resort to writing a check to my manager so I could at least have gas money until this hell warmed up a little.
I called in the police report to Bellmead and the nice lady said "We dont' take reports over the phone" and I said, "Well if I go down there, you better have a cot for me because I won't have any money to refuel and return home!" She kindly took the report over the phone.
I spent Tuesday on the phone boohooing to my friend in Seattle. She offered lots of advise, and wanted to help me with money, but all avenues lead to an ID!
The only photo ID I have is my employee ID.
I know it sucks not to have money, but it's excruciating looking at your bank account and seeing money and ya can't do a darn thing about it.
So here's my list of things you can't do without an ID, not exactly an annual top ten, but observations nonetheless:
Check writing as well as cashing.
Western Union - no one can wire you money if your wallet was stolen.
Pawn Shop - um...ID please.
Check cashing store.
Blood donor - who are you?
egg donation - long process anyway and I'm too old and oh yeah an ID!!
I think the only option I really had was selling my books and CDs/DVDs.
Thank goodness the line at the DPS office was short (it was 7am!) and they barely blinked at the police report. They just compared the signature on my SSN card to the one they have on file and with $24 cash, I have the ID coming to me.
[That was a journey in itself this year. DPS lost my renewal this summer and I went back to have it replaced - the lost driver's license had only been in my possesion for a few weeks.]
What an ordeal! Lots of ordeals -- ordeals with complications!
I do think the year will turn out better.
Bring on 2006!
