Interesting day
I started off getting out to the DMV this morning. A long line was comming out of the building and out about 300 feet. An hour later the woman at information just pointed me to the self service area to get my tags paid. Man, I wish they had someone outside calling for people who were just paying for tags. I had wasted an hour for nothing.
The self-service area was a touch-screen keyboard with a credit card reader and a scanner. A woman approached me asking if I needed help. I was slow at what I was doing, but I was getting by. She mentioned that the scanner was not working, so I would have to enter the information by the touch-screen keyboard. I was typing the numbers alright - but I was having a terrible time looking for the enter key. Apparently, the keyboard wasn’t laid out 100% like a normal computer keyboard. The enter button was at the bottom of the screen and large … however its contrast against the background was not strong. It took me a bit of searching before I found it. Man … I’m not sure if I should feel like a moron for not finding the big button right away, or if its some designers fault for not taking lessons on color theory and user task analysis.
Anyway … after that, I went home to look for some receipts. Upon my searches, I found that I had actually been approved for my wal-mart credit card and actually had the thing in my hands. Boy is this great news. I was running low on food and wasn’t sure if I would make it for the next week. I activated my card and then took off for the ren fest.
I went over to shop keeper and patiently waited until he was done with a customer. I approached and stated that I needed to cancel an order. He neither argued or asked why. He took the receipts I had and swiped my card. I was impressed. Truly impressed. I kept going over all these scenarios that I figured would happen on the trip getting there and here it was - the best outcome. I felt a little guilty about the whole thing - but it was his fault for charging me on the wrong day costing $96 in service charges from my bank. And then there was the fee to get into the renfest to have him fix the problem last time. Unfortunately, It was not fixed quick enough …
Well, I actually spent the rest of the day watching a lot of the shows, asking people for “memories” (photographs), and talking with the locals about the storyline going on today. I stayed so late that I found myself walking along streets where there were hardly any souls walking around. It was in the late evening and was more peaceful. As I approached the gates leading out, there was still a crowd of people. I simply walked out and make the long hike to my car.
I then proceeded the trip home, but stopped at walmart first. I picked up some cat litter, milk, and a few odds and ends in food supplies. I am now home and beat. This was a good day. A lot was accomplished. It had turned out better then I had expected. I am pleased and at rest. Oh, and get this - my special spectacular awesome wife was cleaning up when I got home and didn’t complain that I was out all this time without calling. Well … I did try to call, but my cell phone wasn’t working.
Tags: DMV, Information, Self Service, Tags, Car, Touch Screen, Keyboard, Credit Card, Scanner, Designers, Color Theory, User Task Analysis, Receipts, Wal-Mart, Credit, Renfest, Guilt, Shows, Memories, Photograph, Storyline, Peaceful, Driving, Trip, Cat Litter, Milk, Food, Shopping, Wife, Angel, Cell Phone, Cleaning