I send out invoices, and clients send me checks. Time Warner and RG&E suck that up and I guess that keeps the economy moving. Even when you instruct people in bold, clear 18 pt. type to make the check payable a certain way, they're going to make it out as they damn well please.

Sometimes, I can sneak it past the bank clerks, but certain tellers are way too anal about that sort of thing. I decided that even though this will likely be a moot point in another six weeks, I'd get a DBA to match the way everybody seems to want to make out the checks so that I can pay the bills and keep my internet connection. Because I would die without friends on Facebook.

So, today I ventured to the County Clerk's lair to arrange the DBA. I put enough coins in the meter to cover more than an hour, based on previous experiences. I took my place in line, and there were only three people in front of me. I have no clue what transactions all those other people had, but the line did not move. Finally, they called the other fine folks in front of me, and it was apparent that one lady was going to be at the counter all day. The other had two manilla envelopes with neat stacks of orderly documents which she presented to the cashier. The cashier told her something was missing with one of the stacks, and the woman delved into her soft-sided briefcase, and pulled out another manila envelope with a different stack. The clerk processed those, and the women pulled out another stack, and another, and another. I was in amazement because the briefcase didn't appear to be that large, and yet she was extracting big, fat volumes of paperwork.

It was probably similar to the event organizer on the day the Jesus fed 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. At first he probably watched in amazement as people filed past, and got their fill. Then, he probably nudged the Lord, and said something like, "Hey, Jesus, this wasn't supposed to be a feast, just light snacks and hors d'oeuvres." As more time passed, he'd interrupt again and say, "Jesus, can you move these people along faster? The entertainment is waiting. I've got a clown and a magician, and a Samaritan woman who plays the lyre. The magician says you're ruining his handkerchief act."

Back in line, a little boy started licking the stanchion, and I was forced to listen to Mom scolding him for five minutes. Lay off, Mom! In 35 years, that kid will probably be County Executive. Finally, the lady with the magic briefcase finished her show and I was called to the front of the line. My tranaction was completed in less than five minutes, and the whole ordeal was over in about a half hour. It was the most entertainment I had all day.