The irony, of course, was that i *wasn't* desperate, so the thing showed up so fast.

I'm guessing that there must be some added speed in actually going to the passport office, and probably in that if your application is enough of an elegant mess, they're more than happy enough to send it to...um, Rochester, NH is where they issue them now? Future adult renewals will at least be easier, though i'm sort of hoping i won't have to bring my mother with me next time to verify that i exist.