Okay, so let me start by saying that I now understand that my plans were ridiculous. I should never have tried to turnaround this brand-new-to-me van in just a couple days in order to make a trip to visit Joan and Jim in Ticonderoga. Sometimes, my need for everything to work out like a fairy tale overrides common sense. I should’ve just packed the tent and the cooler into the Subaru and had a weekend of rest and relaxation. BUT I WANTED TO SHOW THIS THING OFF!

In order to take it on the trip, I needed at least TEMP TAGS. DUH. I had a DMV appointment scheduled for vacation-minus-2 days. I had an 8AM dentist appt and then a 10:30AM DMV appointment scheduled. It’ll all be GREAT! Until I couldn’t find the bill of sale. HOW COULD I LOSE THE BILL OF SALE?? WHY ISN’T IT IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT?? I threw a giant pile of papers into the car as I headed to the dentist. It’s gotta be in this pile. There’s nowhere else it could be. I’ll find it and still make the appointment.

Teeth cleaned. Giant pile of paperwork reviewed. No bill of sale. #@#$#*%%!!!!!!!!!!

Resigned, I head home. I’ll need to find the paperwork at home and then make another appointment for tomorrow morning. Wow, really cutting it close now. MEANWHILE AT HOME… the pipe leading into my basement from my well has burst. There’s 5″ of water in the basement. Nothing in my basement was 5″ off the floor. And it’s just gushing…

OK, so immediately, I have to admit that the universe had my back. If I’d gone to the DMV appointment, it would’ve been MANY MORE HOURS before I got home. I dunno… 12″? 18″? How much water would my basement hold by then?

Deep breath. Call both Tim and the plumbing folks. Start the submersible pump… Oh, I probably haven’t mentioned that I had a cat war going on between Kodi and Sophie. So this “water” that’s flooded the basement is not clean water at all. ALL the kitty “stuff” is either dissolved or floating in this water. Someone please just kill me.

OH, and I found the bill of sale 10 minutes after discovering all the water.

After $1000+ worth of newly-installed parts in the basement and a poor night’s sleep, I was back at the DMV, *without* a reservation this time because you can’t make one within 24 hours. Arrived at about 9:30am, I think. Finally, my number was called around 3:45pm. I arrived home after that with a TEMP TAG. We can legally drive away tomorrow morning for our vacation. I need it.

So, there’s no story about the vanity plate. Just a photo! That was the easiest process under the sun but happened several weeks later. One thing of note… I couldn’t get a plate that just said “NORI” because it was taken. So I put the little plusses around it, which I love. THAT BEING SAID, I’ve passed a pickup truck TWICE in the town of Sandwich, NH, with the “NORI” plate on it. I want to skid across the double yellow and make them stop to ask them what it means. I never see it till it’s too late!