Going Postal

Up until today I have never understood what the big deal is with going to the post office.  Usually I go in, get my stamps from the machine, put the stamps on my letter(s), put them in the slot, and then turn around and leave.  Most of the time I have the girls with me so this makes for a much more time consuming adventure than is needed.  I rarely go up to the counter and therefore rarely need to interact with another human other than other citizens using the post office like myself.

Today I was more than fortunate to interact with one of those lovely postal workers behind the counter.  A few weeks ago I decided I needed to update my passport.  While in the post office getting my usual stamps I got the needed forms to do this updating after talking to one of those lovely people behind the counter about which form I needed, what identification I would need, and how much this adventure would cost.  At no point did the nice lady behind the counter (with nice hair) explain what color ink was needed to fill out the form. 

Over the past week I filled out the form (which I swear means I am going to be cloned now since they know everything about me other than my blood type, my weight which I would lie about anyways, and true color of my hair) and gathered the necessary paperwork to prove I am indeed a citizen of the U.S.A.  After dropping off the girls this morning at school and working out (Yay! for me!) I drove over to the lovely, extremely busy post office to send off my paperwork to be cloned.  After waiting in line for 15 minutes behind a family of 6 who apparently have decided to go somewhere exotic (or missionary don't don't which) I got to the front of the line. 

As I hand the lady behind the counter my paperwork I am feeling quite good about myself.  I have found my old passport (with what I have decided has an awful picture of me and I am glad to see it go), birth certificate, marriage license, and drivers license and have it all in hand along with my form to be cloned.  The lady behind the counter (which has nice hair) takes my paperwork and says I am sorry you have had to wait this long and I am sorry that I should have had you fill out the paperwork again.  "What?"  "Yes," She says.  "You can't use blue ink."  "Huh?"  "The government is only taking forms at this current time filled out in black ink."  "Oh," I say.  "Here is your form you can step over there and fill it out again."  "No, I have to have my hair done."  Going Postal?  Yup....over blue ink.