Voting

I voted but I’m not so optimistic my ballot will be counted. I had a horrible time finding parking in the city so my brain was a bit jumbled…I also stupidly waited until I was parked to fill out the ballot. So I did the actual ballot just fine and put it into the envelope and sealed it…then signed it…before I realized I had put the ballot into the wrong envelope. There was another envelope that I was supposed to put the ballot in. That envelope was supposed to go into the one to mail it back…sigh…

Anyway, I got to the consulate and found they have added something new to the hoops to get to the thirteenth floor. For the first many years here, I just took the elevator to the floor and went through the security scanner before going into the office. Four years ago, I found out I needed my passport to get in and I also had to go through security on the fourth floor and leave all my belongings in a locker before being put on the elevator for the thirteenth floor. This time, I still had to go through the fourth floor but also had to take off my shoes and put them through the x-ray machine. I also managed to set off the alarm, apparently by accidentally touching the side…don’t remember that. Once I got the to thirteenth floor, I had to go through yet another metal detector and that security guard unlocked the door for me to go through.

I got to the counter for American Citizen Services and rang the bell as nobody was there. The consular officer opened the outside envelope and put everything where it was supposed to go. Then he applied the consular seal and consular tape…Hopefully that will be okay but I am not overly optimistic…Of course, I will never know, will I?