Then on Monday we battled with the NY DMV. Jim had already had this experience when he had to get the 4Runner licensed. They require so many different things when you are trying to register a car that had previously been registered in another state that's it's really difficult. But Jim had really worked quite a while to get all our ducks in a row, so to speak, and we set off. On the way there, there was a tornado watch and severe thunderstorm watch out - and we ran into some pretty nasty high winds and rain on our way. The Saratoga DMV is inside the mall, which is kind of different, but it was everything Jim said and more! The receptionist, the first line Gestapo type person, was a real character. She pretty much takes one look at your paperwork and shoves it back at you, telling you what else you need and makes you get out of line and fix it. There's always random paperwork that you had no clue about. We thought mine would be good but no, my Ohio title wasn't good enough. I had to call the finance company and have them fax a certified copy to NY along with a letter of permission to title in the state of NY. Like they're going to say no, I can't? Interesting. But of course when I did that, even with a rush, it would take them 24 to 48 hours to fax the paperwork. So I failed. After filling out some emission paperwork we didn't know about and making 2 rounds through the lines, Jim was able to get his new plates. He also found some good news - the insurance person said that we couldn't take cars in/out of coverage like we could in OH. Jim typically doesn't drive one of the 4Runners in the winter so we take most coverage off. Here the agent said it doesn't work that way - the difference is very slight on coverage costs if you don't drive it. But Jim asked the DMV and the lady said that he could turn in the license plates and ask them for a credit on the time he doesn't have them on the car. That way, we can reduce insurance since we aren't driving. Just another hoop to jump through but that should work out okay. So he has plates and now just has to get the car inspected - fingers crossed about that. I still have to go through the entire process - and we'll both have to get new driver's licenses too. Although NY just started a new thing that veterans can show proof of their service and get a special driver's license entitling them to benefits/discounts. So Jim is going to do that hopefully.
Tuesday, I spent way too many hours of my life (and Jim's too) getting the new postage meter and address printer set up here. The guy was here over 2 hours - had trouble installing the driver (thankfully Jim finally stepped in and got it working). Then, I had one label to run after he left and the postage meter jammed and wouldn't work. I had to call and go through all that again - they had me try and fix things myself because the tech couldn't come back out - only to discover that a belt had totally come off one set of gears that pulls the mail through the machine. So at least it was his fault and not mine. It's working now but that means he has to come back at some point and fix it. Which means another 2 hours out of my world.
A tooth on the excavator had broken - Jim spent probably two hours one day trying to get them off the machine - so he ordered new ones. They were supposed to be in first thing this morning but after a special trip, they weren't. But they came in this afternoon and he was able to go pick them up and put them on the machine. Check out the before and after pics!
And this is the excavator all happy looking with its new teeth...
Unfortunately, some of the heavy rains caused some cave ins in the trench work. Not sure exactly how that's going to go - it's way too long to shovel it out by hand. I'm sure Jim will have a trick up his sleeve.
Meanwhile, he got the pad area ready for the transformer up on top of the hill - looking good!
Another side effect from the storm was that it took a ton of leaves down from the trees. So my Leaf Peeper pics may be soon slowing down. Although there are still a lot, especially down by the street, that haven't even started to turn.
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