Non-football related stuff that really makes your day

[-Deborah-]

That is indeed impressive!!

[-Deborah-]

Oh and I read the same article, btw.

I never got the deed for my new place sent to me, although the website does show it was recorded 6 months ago...grrrr.

[DanO]

Good to hear Malto.

GO LIONS "10" !!!!!!!!!!

[Sweatpants Murphy]

OMG! Unbelieveable!

I have been meaning to apply for a Passport. In actuality, before now, I have had no need to have one. My trips out of the country have been limited to Canada or territories of the US. Until recently, no passport was needed to go to Canada.

......anywho, I have been meaning to apply for a passport in case something came up that would take me out of the Country (hopefully for pleasure).

After searching for about two months, I was unable to find my birth certificate. Dreading the thought of going back downtown and dealing with the City of Detroit Department of Health (who keeps all of the records of births within the City) I put this task off for a long time. I decided that this week I was going to get this done.

In last weeks newspaper I was reading an article on how lacking Wayne County's web site was in comparison to our neighboring Counties of Oakland and Macomb. They did however say that one could apply for birth certificates online.

On a whim, I went to the County's web site to apply for mine. There I learned the County held records for all births in the County except those that were born in the City of Detroit. If you were born in Detroit, you had to contact them directly. There was a link for those who were born in Detroit. I went there and found an option of printing out a form and sending it in or applying online.

I filled out an application online and it gave me two choices to request the information from. The State of Michigan live births department, or the City of Detroit Department of Vital Statistics. Knowing how the City of Detroit tries to keep everything within their jurisdiction, I chose the Detroit options which surprisingly, was $2.00 cheaper than requesting from the State.

After the transaction was confirmed, I was informed that it will take 8-12 business days to process the request and additional time for delivery (I could opt for FedEX or UPS overnight for an additional $32.50 or use the USPS which was free but not trackable). I chose to use the USPS.

My request was made Monday June 14 at 7:53 AM.

My mail was delivered today at about 10:30 AM an lo and behold! A true copy of my birth certificate was in my mailbox.

I was so impressed with the speed of service, I felt it necessary to write a letter to Mayor Bing to let him know that there are good things happening in City Government all is not bad. I CC'd the head of the Department responsible for maintaining and issuing these records.

I am really impressed!

The City of Toledo does that as well, but they separate it by the hospital/year in which you were born. Seems to work pretty well, as I've only had good experiences down there.

[Malto Marko]

OMG! I am on a roll! I am going to have to buy a lottery ticket.

My morning started out with a trip to Lowes and Home Depot in search of a new dishwasher. Since both of these giants have stores right next to each other in Allen Park, I headed there to save drive time.

Home Depot was first, Lowes, second. I decided on a model that I liked from Home Depot. Had to head home because Mama realized she did not have her phone and could not remember where she had put it so she wanted to re-trace her steps from last night to find it. It was found within minutes of arriving back home.

Decided to go the the Home Depot in Livonia and order the dishwasher. They had a similar model on the floor that was $100 more but not the one I was intending on purchasing. After talking with an "Associate" he confirmed they carried the model I was looking for and confirmed the price I had seen it in Allen Park. He also informed me that it was on sale for 10% off.

Write me up!

He enters the model in the computer and the price comes up equal to the regular price minus the 10%. After he reviews the paperwork he looks it over and says "that can't be right". He reenters the model number and the same price appears. Since I was paying with a check, he had to escort me up to a cashier as he could only accept credit cards at his desk. When we get to the cashier he informs her that the item is on sale for 10% and she needs to scan something or other so I get the discount. She scans, gives me a total, I write the check and we are out of there.

Upon examination of the receipt on the way home I learned that I was given a 10% discount on what I already had figured was the discounted price and the sales tax charged was not even close to the purchase made. When I get home, I calculate the sales tax to discover I was only charged tax on the additional items needed for installation, not on the appliance itself. Total additional unexpected savings, $67.00.

Next I decide to go apply for my passport. I had called the local Town Hall and they told me they accepted applications but, I needed to get "passport quality" photos. I asked where does one get these and she suggested a Secretary of State office in Livonia. I called the branch to make sure they in fact did this (because no Secretary of State office I have ever been in provided this type of service) and lo and behold, they do not. I asked if they knew where I might be able to get them and they suggested my local Post Office.

I called the Post Office and sure enough, they accept the applications and have the ability to take pictures if you do not have them for an additional charge. I was somewhat leary of going to my local branch as they do not have a good reputation for Customer Satisfaction.

After having a bit of lunch, I decided to take a trek over there since the only other thing on my agenda this afternoon was to water my tomato plants. I walked in the office and got in line behind about 7 other people.

I was standing in line holding the completed forms in my hand when an employee approached me from behind and asked "Excuse me, are you here for a passport?" I replied that I was and she motioned me over to a counter and asked to see the paperwork. She started a very pleasant conversation about flowers while checking over all of the paperwork. She then asked me to raise my right hand and swear that all of the information on the forms were correct. I did. I informed her I needed pictures and she informed me that would be an additional $15.00. I told her I was aware of this.

She took me out of the main area into a hallway and went to retrieve the camera. Came back, took my picture then went to print them.

Then she arranged all of the paperwork the way they wanted them and took me to the front of the line and pointed out the window I had to go to when she was available. Milliseconds later, the clerk waived me up. We completed the transaction.

Bottom line is, I was in the Post Office for less than 20 minutes and the clerk did not charge me for the photos.

Whoopeee! I saved a total of $82.00 today and spent about 90 minutes less time getting these chores done than I anticipated.

Man, I am really on a roll. Time to water my 'maters, maybe I will wake up to find some ready to go in the morning.

[DetroitDad08]

Nice Day Malto, I'm so ready to come home to chores... lol I miss them!

[-Deborah-]

Mark, obviously your good karma is paying off.

[Malto Marko]

Mark, obviously your good karma is paying off.

I have never experienced Government Agencies working this efficiently before. Maybe the powers that be are scared and are insisting the "small" people need to be attended to.?

[DetroitDad08]

If only the rest of the world was like that!

[SeattleLionsFan]

I can't speak to the birth cert mark, but I had a similar experience with my passport application.

I chalked it up to them doing something new and therefore interesting.

[DanO]

MARK, GO BUY A LOTTO TICKET BEFORE YOU END THE DAY. :-)

GO LIONS "10" !!!!!!!!!!

[DetroitDad08]

Seriously.... get me one while your at it!

[Panoptes]

Being on a roadie with my parents, wife and kid, winning enough $ in NV casinos to pay for meals and lots of ancillary fun stuff while also enjoying incredible local weather while watching my LAL win another NBA title.

Damn life is good right now.

[Drew]

Congrats!

[DetroitDad08]

Panoptes(I still am not used to it), life does sound good!