The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Licensing is a pain in the ass. Despite all assurances that licenses would be processed "within the usual 8-week timeline", I'm just not convinced this will happen.

Typically, massage grads who tested before graduation had their licenses within a week or two of graduating. This quarter, the state has informed massage schools that, due to the transition to a new computer system, the licensing procedure may take ten weeks.

Ten weeks from when is the operative information. We were told eight weeks from application, which was the first business day of April. Some students, proactive little hamsters that they are, were told by DOH that it would be eight weeks from some indeterminate date.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!

I called this morning. I told the nice lady (well, she was condescending and brusque, but I'm trying to win karma points in case anyone's paying attention to me) . . . I told the nice lady that I was going on the information provided to my school by the state, and had rented my house out and had a job waiting on June first. I gave her my name (spelling it of course for the Swedish-impaired) and she said she'd call back. She has until 3pm.

If I don't hear back, I will go to Olympia, our state capitol, on Tuesday, where I will wait around until someone with a face and a pulse will meet with me to discuss the exact status of my license.

I've passed all the requirements. This is just about the piece of paper.

Wish me luck. I'm gonna kick some bureaucratic ass, peeps.