Well, don't say I didn't warn you...
I filled out the forms to add the E to my plate so it would properly read K9STYLE. Seemed to go through without a problem - as you know, they generally tell you then and there if your request it unavailable for whatever reason. So we stuck on the temporary paper plates provided and waited. And waited. Eventually I called the DMV to see what the delay was. The woman I talked with claimed that I couldn't have that plate as it had been marked as inappropriate, k9 style being a sexual reference. Excuse me!! First of all, nobody to my knowledge had been offended before - indeed I later asked many people about it, and they said the idea had never even crossed their minds! The only comments I ever got were "oh what a cute plate, you must be a groomer" - well duh. Secondly, if sex actually is the first interpretation that people think of, then they have a dirty mind to start with and have no right to be offended. Honestly, I don't care if they read it that way, but really now, let's not be hypocrtitical. Thirdly, I have seen several far worse - outwardly risque or violent - plates in the state. So why target mine? I cry conspiracy! And I say that only half jokingly.
There was no fighting the issue with this woman on the phone. Didn't matter that I technically had the plate for two years already - after all it said the same thing only without an E. Supposedly, even if I had left the spelling as is, the plate would have been filtered out and not allowed any longer. Sounds screwy to me, but as I couldn't convince her otherwise, I was forced to let it go and pick an entirely different vanity plate. I should have called or wrote to headquarters or whoever's in charge and fought back, but of course I didn't. Mistake #1. I guess I didn't want the hassle of dealing further with the DMV. Stupid thought, as I probably could have gotten it all straightened out easily enough, especially considering the fact that the K9STYLE plates came to me shortly after this whole ordeal! Apparently, they were simply lost in the mail! So tell me, why would they print up plates that were not allowed in the first place? Yeah, my point exactly - they wouldn't! Is it any wonder conspiracy comes to mind? (And just wait, there's more.) So did I call the DMV then about the plates? Of course not, that would just be more hassle of changing plates again. If anything, I could just keep what I had now and try again the next year. Mistake #2. I regretted that all year and ever since.
Next renewal date comes around and we're running late in the month, so once again my dad convinces me to hold off another year on fighting to get my K9STYLE back, so we don't have to deal with changing plates. Fine. Whatever. This was perhaps mistake #3. Girls, you gotta fight for what you believe in. And knock off the procrastination! Here's why...
I'm driving uptown later that summer, and what do I see in front of me? Why, a new little VW Bug with a NH vanity plate that reads K9STYL. Ooh, I was steamin' - you don't want to hear what was sputtering out of my mouth! How is it that I was told those plates are vulgar and no longer allowed in the state, yet 14 months later here I see them on a vehicle not 2 miles from my home?! And who knows how long that person had them? Are you sensing the conspiracy yet?
I'm still entirely ticked off about the whole matter.
You probably couldn't tell. ;-)