Procrastination: Reinforced or Backfired?

I have had the biggest driver's license fiasco EVER! This is probably going to be long and boring to most people, but I want to document this because I'm sure at some point I will be able to laugh about it. I won't be offended if you stop reading half way through this ridiculous story!

Let me start by saying, I hate chores. Who doesn't, right? Some people are just better at doing them. One of my very first posts on this blog was about one of those people who is great at chores.....my hubby. He is sooo good at taking care of business. His life motto--"Bust it out!" My life motto---"Put it off!" (I think his is better). One of the things that I have been putting off is getting my Arizona Drivers License. Booo. I did not want to do this. I have a very big dislike for the DMV.
About 3 weeks ago or so I lost my WA drivers license. I have no idea where it could have gone. I had it at the bank drive up window, I remember them telling me they were sending it back out to me and then I made one more stop before going to the store and that is where I realised I didn't have it anymore. Hmmmm. Weird. Long story short, it was lost. I waited a couple weeks thinking it would show up in my mail box...but no such luck. And with an upcoming flight ahead of me, I knew I had to get this taken care of.
SO, I had my parents send me the original copy of my birth certificate (a requirement to get my license here) and once it arrived I called Washington State DOL to find out exactly what I needed to do so that I could easily get my AZ license. They told me that they had to fax me a "status" letter. Basically, proof that I had a WA license.
Shoot, okay, let me figure out where I can have that faxed. I got the fax number to my closest UPS store and called them back (Wednesday). You know how it is calling these kind of places...hold, hold, hold, talk, transfer, hold some more.
I talked to someone who confirmed this sheet was what I needed and he took my info and said my fax would arrive in 2 to 24 hours. 24 hours? Fine. I'll take care of it tomorrow. Well, guess what? 24 hours came and went. Thursday, noonish I called WA DOL again. This time the lines were so busy they weren't even putting me on hold, they were just telling me to try again later. HOURS later, I talked to a person and re-told my story. Yep, okay, this is the sheet you need. They took all my info again and said, "Your fax should be there in about 24-48 hours." "What??!" The last guy told me 2-24."
"Oh, well I would never have said 2."
"Okay. Fine."
So, the next day (Friday) I stocked the UPS store. I sent Rand to check. I called and called, "Is my fax there? Is it there yet?" (I really wanted to take care of this and I had no assurance that they would call me if/when it came in).
Ok, finally they said "yes, it's here." So I ran down to UPS all ready to take care of business. It's Friday and all the DMV places are closed on Saturday. I really wanted to do this now! (nothing like last minute, eh?) I pick up the fax and low and behold, WA has faxed me someone else's status letter. I just about cried. I got on the phone again. hold hold hold. "I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ASAP. I HAVE TO FLY ON TUESDAY AND I NEED MY DRIVER'S LICENSE!" They assured me they would tell, whoever it is that faxes these things, that I need it. By late Friday afternoon I had laid it to rest and decided that I was going to have to do it on Monday. Friday night the UPS store calls me at like 7:15pm. They got my fax! Ha! Too late! The poor guy down there was like, "I know you've been really wanting this fax." He was even going to stay open for me to come down there and pick it up. I said, there was no rush now because there wasn't anything I could really do.
Friday night I searched the licencing locations in Phoenix online and found a DMV open on Saturdays and decided I'd better attempt to take care of it just in case I ran into problems. So this afternoon (after Rand's birthday lunch) I picked up my fax and headed across town to the place. I pulled into the parking lot and there was a line out the door of probably 150 people. Ugh! I jumped in line and waited with the rest of 'em. By the time I got to the door I saw a sign that says their debit readers aren't working and they won't be accepting debit cards. This could be a problem. I decided to keep going anyway.
OH! I forgot to tell you all that I have an eye-sight problem. I have poor vision in my left eye. Right eye, perfect. Left eye, not so much. This issue has always given me anxiety when getting my license because I'm always worried they are going to need some sort of special note from the eye doctor. (that has happened before)
So I get to the counter with all my stuff. I mean I am as prepared as they get. My application is already filled out, and I have every possible form of identification: my birth certificate, my SS card, my marriage license, a piece of mail....everything. I could tell she was impressed. "okay, let me just give you an eye test. Read column A, B, and C"
B and C...no problem. A?...Nothing. So she asks me just to read column A.
Like I said.....nothing. I told her, I have poor vision in one eye. She sort of laughs and says, "That's okay. You can be blind in one eye and still drive." I was half relieved and half totally offended. "I'm not blind in that eye!" Who cares. I have my number. I passed.
I waited about 45 mins. When my number got called I told the lady my story and gave her ALL my paperwork. First thing she says to me, "Is this a fax?"
"Uhhhh, yeah. This is what they told me you would need."
"Yeah, we can't accept faxes. Only original or certified copies."
"I called them 3 times and they assured me this is what you would need. What to I have to do?"
"Well, either call them and have them mail you a CC or you are going to have to take the written and the road test."
"Well I would really like to avoid doing that."
"Yeah, no kidding."
"Look, I have to fly on Tuesday and I really need my drivers license ASAP!"
"Oh, you have to fly? Hmmmm, let me see what I can do...."
She gets up and leaves and I start praying like a crazy person. She comes back and "someone" has signed off on the fax. Interesting. And the credit card machine was working.
Thank you Lord!
After that I just waited for the picture part and then the printing and now, I have my official Arizona Drivers license. Phew! I did it.

Now, I know there is a lesson to learn here, but which one is it?
1. The DMV is bad, very bad. Do not go back there if you can help it. Everything that happened this week is just confirmation and a very good reason for putting things off and avoiding it again in the future.
OR
2. Leaving chores until the last minute will give you stress and headaches. Better to take care of things right away so that you don't get yourself in a jam.

I don't know. There's pros and cons to both. :)

GOOD NEWS: My new license doesn't expire until 2042, so unless I move or something, I shouldn't have to go back for a long time!
BAD NEWS: Chances are, I will be moving! :)