Aloha Daze

Some days, it doesn’t pay to get out of bed.

Jennifer calls me up: her grandfather died last Sunday. Their family is quite close, and she’s really not feeling great. The weddding expo booth we [OahuBride.com] have this weekend? We’re looking into – if not a refund – moving the booth to the April 2006 show.

I hate to miss the expo, but I can’t blame anyone. A death in the family? Nobody to blame but fate. Run the booth myself? Unlikely. We’re located right smacky dab inside the door at the convention center. Traffic is expected. 5 hours one day, about 7 the next. But nobody to relieve me. And I have to drive home to Makaha in between. (the other side of the island.)

Too much, too late in the game. We’ll just move to the next show and cut our losses.

Let’s move on…

Before I explain the next Thing, you have to understand what started the process:

“State Implements Law Leaving Used Car Buyers Left With Parking Tickets”

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=3931621

On that site is a link for potential buyers to check to see if the car they’re checking out has anything outstanding. I ran mine.

Imagine my delight when it responded “Safety Check Expired.”

Only, it’s not. I got it inspected. Insurance is up to date. Everything is great.

Oops. Except, apparently, one thing.

After digging through my wallet I found the culprit: Car registration has expired.

At the end of August.

And the city never sent a renewal notice. Which is besides the point: I read the small print: Just because I didn’t get a renewal notice to remind me of YET another thing to pay the city for, that’s just too bad. My problem.

The next line makes things even better. Late fee will be added. Lovely.

The line after that takes the cake: “Hawaii has no grace period.”

Ah, I just love it. In my never ending attempt to follow the law by the book… they failed to send me all the pages. And it’s my fault.

That’s my Monday.

Satellite City Hall, here I come. Have yet another bill, will pay.

And that’s how I’ll start my Tuesday.

Heaven help me. I need a vacation.

RLR