Bad mood, day 2...

First the good:  yesterday I went car-free, and today I rode my bike, in the cold and wind to Arlington County offices to complain, pay and pay, etc.  (that's also the bad news part).  

The bad:  Arlington just wants an open artery...that's it.  They are trying to get us to pay car taxes for the  Caravan we sold to Rob FOUR years ago -- we need to prove that we don't own it.  Needless to say, since the 'burg didn't have this problem, we just don't have records.  

Some good news here:  Yesterday I left a message with the company we used to have the car insurance with -- and a nice woman named Elizabeth called me back first thing this morning.  She could see that we stopped insurance in 2004, but we still couldn't quite figure out what Arlington wanted.  Anyway -- a real person call

ed, and we don't even have an account with them any more....so, a big gold star for her.

Then the mortgage company was late paying our real estate taxes, and we got a big frightening letter and a bill for $292 -- I called the mortgage company and they said they mailed a payment on Oct. 4th -- at Arlington I saw their postmarked envelope with Oct. 20th --- overdue.  So, from the offices I tried to call the mortgage company again...but got busy signals on all numbers for them -- hmmmm...do I smell going out of business?  So, I paid it, and I'm sure we won't get it back:-(  Now I need to see how I can arrange to pay the taxes ourselves....hard to believe it, but I'm sure that will save us money.  I sent all the paperwork to the mortgage company, certified receipt mail, etc., but I'm sure it still won't do any good.

But, at least I rode my bike...