Losing my wallet and the adventure for a new driver's license

I dropped my wallet walking between stores in La Jolla and raced between them hoping to find it, but no luck. It was a new wallet containing my credit cards, $80 cash, and two Warwicks bookstore gift cards worth another $100.

And my driver's license. Getting a new one has become a three month adventure.

(Later I discovered that the gift cards were used by someone on the same day I lost my wallet.)

Made an appt. at the DMV for a replacement license and waited two months thinking it would arrive any day, but no luck. The DMV rep on the phone said the license had been returned "undeliverable." We were also having problems with our mail delivery -- or lack of (our mail-in ballots were delivered to a neighbor.) Two weeks later the license arrived!

But with the incorrect street number, 6614 instead of 6618.

Another DMV visit to get a replacement card. But that morning the DMV was so overflowing with visitors that I took a few minutes to get a snack out of my car. During that time they must have called my ticket number because at 11 am they had skipped over my number, or so I thought. Back in line to get another number, another 30 minute wait, and getting to the counter I couldn't find my wallet.

I can't lose my wallet at the DMV! The rep asked if maybe I'd left it in the car. On the way to check this, I found the wallet in my new coat pocket, so I returned to the counter, wallet in hand.

I gave her my incorrect license, which needed to be sent to the DMV to show that it was their fault with the address mistake.

So I now have only a piece of paper without a photo I.D.  But I'm traveling soon and thought the car rental agency won't approve me without a picture I.D., which may not arrive in time for my trip. But I DO have a picture I.D.

My passport.

While we're in Oakland the post office is going to hold our mail for later pickup. Hopefully this time my license won't go back to the DMV as undeliverable.

And the address will be correct.

Tripping over bubble wrap and the much needed plastic spoon

I walk into the Village every Saturday to visit my friends at the bookstore, and often meet others I know from the past. I'm curious about all the changes in town (they're building a movie complex where Jonathans was, and a $35 million music/concert venue across the street pretty soon). 

I was walking by one store admiring the new shelving being installed and suddenly tripped and fell into (bubble wrapped, thank goodness) shelving that was out on the walk in front of that store. I landed on my side, wasn't hurt, and lay there wondering WTF just happened, when I heard the crackling of bubble wrap under me. When I looked up to see if anyone had seen me I was relieved there weren't any witnesses with a video camera! Meanwhile I realized that the container of yogurt I had brought for a snack had opened in my canvass bag, getting yogurt in the bag and on the bubble wrap. 

I sat up and started laughing. I couldn't believe what just happened! The guys in the store heard me laughing and came out to see what was going on to discover me sprawled on top of the bubble wrap, staring at all the yogurt that was everywhere. When they came out there were concerned of course, but the way I was sitting up looked like I meant to be sitting there. I told them what happened and their faces went white and they scurried around the help me, bringing me a bottle of water and paper towels and wanting to know if there was anything they could do. My laughing lightened the event and everything was okay.

When I was asked if I needed anything I looked at all the yogurt -- my planned snack -- that I asked for the only thing that would have really helped. 

A plastic spoon. 

So as they stood over me I proceeded to scrape off as much yogurt in my bag AND on the bubble wrap that I could. And ate it. 

After getting as much of the goop as I could manage, they said there was a sink inside I could use to clean up and not to worry about any of the yogurt on the bubble wrap. So I washed out what I could, packed everything back up (including a shirt that I was going to exchange but thankfully had put in a paper bag), and continued my stroll.