On The Road Again

I left for Charlotte alittle after 9am this morning. I wanted to allow time for traffic and/or missed turns. I drove directly to The Department of Homeland Security. I was about an hour early so I went and grabbed a sandwich. I got back about 10 minutes before my 1pm appointment. I went to the security officer and showed him my email confirmation that I had a 1:00 appointment for fingerprints and I was supposed to report to "Room 191". They have a security check point like in an airport. He said, "You need fingerprints?" and I said, "Yes.". He told me I had to go to their other location (which I knew I would have to, but I now I didn't understand why I was here in the first place). He gave me a hand drawn map and sent me packin'. I got to the other building a few miles away and explained what I was there for and the woman recognized my name from the add on appointments for the day. She gave me a form to fill out and instructed me to turn it in at the desk across the room. I was then issued a number and began the waiting process. Not too long later a man called across the room, "Mrs. Sabatini?". I thought, "Cool. That was quick!". Unfortunately, it was too quick. What he needed to tell me was that I had to go to the Department of Homeland Security to pay for the fingerprints. I told him I had just been there and they sent me to them. Aaarrgghh! He wrote a note and I headed back to the other office. When I walked in I told the security officer that I needed to be there!! On the other side of the security check point stood a woman who turned out to be the one who had scheduled my appointment. She was hateful. She barked a few things at me (probably mad thinking that I had gone directly to the other location) and then snapped at the security guard saying, "Well, are you going to process her??!!!" So I put my purse on the conveyer and walked through the metal detector. She took the payment and went to the back to get me a reciept. While she was gone I had a lovely conversation with one of the other security guards. She came back and sent me back to the other building. I have to tell you that it was all I could do not to mouth off to her, but I decided to say a prayer for her instead. Did I mention that she wasn't nice?!!

So, I went back to the other building and they took me right back. I had the prints done and was in the car again for the long ride home. I made it home safely and the mission was accomplished. I guess you would call that a success in spite of a few bumps in the road.

Hopefully there will be no more last minute surprises. I'M TIRED!!

Sharon