The end of the taxi cab era (hopefully...)

I will never again complain about going to the DMV stateside ever again. Not after yesterday's nonsense. It started about 8 AM with a phone call from a guy who is selling his car because he is desperate to get off island TODAY. In the past 2 months he had been stabbed, broken his back, and been almost killed by a hitchhiker he had picked up. He needed out of here so we knew we could get a deal. He came right over in a beat up 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but for $1150 we decided the price was right. Immediately we had to get the title transfered and registered, insured, etc. Step one, find a notary which seems entirely pointless. Then we have to walk to the insurance agency and set all that up. Had to pay up front for a full year and then we'll supposedly get a prorated refund when we leave. Then the DMV, actually the BMV here. I now hail stateside DMVs as beacons of efficiency and speed. Start off in super long line and make it to window one, where of course the woman behind the window is out to lunch so we just have to wait it out because she has to check records for tickets. Next up, window 2 to fill out applications for registration. Take a number. Number is finally called and we pay someone some money. Back to window 2. Given some papers. Now is time for car inspection. What you are about to read is totally illegal but accepted, if not encouraged. There is a guy right at the DMV who you can pay to "get your inspection done". This entails no one actually ever looking at the vehicle because few of them would pass on this island, ours included. He runs around for an hour or more between who knows how many windows but we are finally presented with our registration stickers, and now I'm almost late to work. It was quite the ordeal.

This day of hell will be worth it because it means no more taxi cabs! Allowing that the car holds up. The motor, engine, all that are good apparently (this is Kellie writing this, so all technicalities regarding car troubles are according to Mat), but there is a crazy clicking noise, needs some breaks, and you have to touch wires together to roll the windows up or down. And sometimes you have to wiggle the battery bolt things in order to start the car. But it runs, it runs, and we figure we can get through the next 4 months with it, put a little money into it, and maybe even sell it for a small profit when we leave.

Happy New Years to all of you! Hope eveyone will be safe tonight and have a good time. I will be working from 3 pm to 3 am, so my holiday is pretty much shot. Mat is also working. But we both have the next 2 days off and are going to St. Johns tomorrow to get massages, hang out at the beach, and have a nice dinner. Belated christmas presents to eachother. We love you all!