Kenya Embassy - Round 2

Got up, took care of a few things and headed for the Kenya Embassy in DC. Really easy drive, hit almost all the lights green. Congestion in city so took alternate route suggested by iPhone. 12:45pm, still plenty of time. Got turned around (lots of one-way streets) but finally got there. But.....

No parking places so went around block. Not really a block since roads at angles and traffic circles everywhere. Not like NYC where roads are in straight lines. OK back at Embassy, find parking space right across the street. 1:05 pm, still time.

Walk through outside door to inner door which is locked. Locked? Sign on door said visa office open 9:30am - 1:00pm. 1:00pm?? Building sign says 1:30pm. Woman on phone at Embassy yesterday said 1:30pm. What do you mean 1:00pm?

Door has glass window. Kenyan woman standing on other side. OK, tell woman that the closing time on the building says 1:30pm. She looks at me blankly. Try to explain this is my second day driving into DC to get my visa, that I have driven 1.5 hours to get there. She looks at me blankly. That I have all my papers...

Woman stares at me. I continue to explain until suddenly I realize I am not succeeding and I am going to have to drive into the city again tomorrow. Panic sets in. Now more agitated I begin waving arms and talking more frantically, definitely getting desperate and ....

Suddenly woman realizes I am about to have a melt down. She comes to door and tells me to slip my envelope under the door. It fit easily. She picks it up and invites me in, introduces herself, and offers me a drink of water. Quickly she looks through envelope, sees all necessary papers and says everything is there. Visa will be mailed. I was out the door and on back in my car. Phew!

Driving home (exiting city through Georgetown again) watch a red tail hawk swoop down over two lanes of traffic on Route 66 to snag a mouse. He switches mouse from beak to talons and flies away. Simple, clean and swift. Wouldn't it be nice if life was that clear?

Got to the farm in time to ride Al. He gave me his first clean walk/canter transition. We had been working on it before the weather got bad but never quite got it. Made my day!

Note to self: Next time book flight in time to mail visa application to Kenya Embassy.