I'm so impressed

I renewed my driver's license last week. It, um, had expired. By just a little bit. And by "just a little bit," I mean nine months.

Whoops.

I noticed it awhile ago and promptly forgot about it. Then I remembered it again while waiting in line to vote. The perfect time. I started panicking that I would wait 40 minutes and then not get to cast my ballot. (I did, by the way. It went unnoticed.)

But then I forgot again until I went to the bank last week. The bank teller politely informed me that my ID wasn't valid and she couldn't process my transaction. I pleaded and begged and promised to get a new one the next day.

I must have an honest face because she went ahead and gave me the money. Or, she looked at Madeline and was completely enamored with such a cute face that she didn't realize her hands were slipping me cash. (Kids come with their own set of perks, I'm telling ya.)

Anyways, I stayed true to my promise and dragged myself to the BMV the next day. Since my last visit was an afternoon of sheer torture, I packed:

• animal crackers for Madeline
• Cheese-Its for me
  
• sippy cup
  
• water bottle
  
• five books
• four silent toys
• Bunny
  
• my old cell phone
• two pacifiers

Clearly, I was expecting the worst. But guess how long my visit was? No, not three and a half hours like the previous visit.

One minute and 49 seconds.

Can I repeat that? ONE MINUTE AND 49 SECONDS!

I knew our governor said he cleaned up the bureau over the last few years but who really believes what they say in the political commercials?

But going from 3.5 hours to less than two minutes?!?!? Amazing. A-mazing. It took longer for me to unbuckle and buckle Madeline in the car than it took to get a new license.

Well done, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This is one very happy tax-paying mama.

P.S. While I'm so thankful to be rid of the Officially Worst Ever ID picture (I heard they're sending it to the Smithsonian for a special exhibit), the new one isn't much better. Right before she snapped the camera, she said, "It's better if you don't smile."

So I wound up with a very confused look in my eyes and a drooping smile. Did she mean my face looks better if I don't smile? Or it's better to not smile just in case I'm ever on the run from the law and they have to use my driver's license picture as the wanted image for the newscasts? Seriously, what does that mean??