Wednesday, July 21, 2021

What's in a Name?

What's in a name? I'll tell you... its paperwork. 

I am knee deep in the process of changing my name. Or to put it more appropriately, up to my eyeballs in various forms, websites with instructions, phone numbers to call, and certified copies of everything. Why, oh why do they make it so complex? I feel that somewhere along the line there should have been an invention where when I make the first official change via the federal government, ya know that big group of people that is over all the other places I need to change my name- that change should just be passed on down the line to all of the other things. 

But no...apparently no one has come up with that yet. Apparently, they aren't even working on it as an option. So I've mailed things to social security, I've made two- I repeat TWO trips to the DMV and various other trips to the post office in order to get things sorted. Why two trips to the DMV you ask? Didn't you look online ahead of time for what you would need? 

Of course I did! I came so prepared with all the things, in the order I knew she would ask for them. And right before she told me something was wrong, the gatekeeper of the DMV had just commented on how prepared I was. But due to some very unclear language on their site, what I had brought with me did not meet appropriate requirements for proof of address. Here is where it should be noted that I was not changing my address. I live at the same location I lived at before I changed my name. And both names are on my marriage certificate. And the paper I went home to get had the same address as the one I'd already been holding. Mrs. Gatekeeper did not seem to grasp the ridiculousness of what they were requesting from me. How does one have mail in their new name delivered without changing their name first? 

So I was sent home to collect something else and return. Good thing the DMV is just around the corner from my house right? Oh wait..it's not. It's 20 minutes away. But I returned, and I smiled as I went back up to Mrs. Gatekeeper because I imagine people fuss and roll their eyes at her a lot- so I did that in my car instead of to her face because I feel pretty confident she didn't make these rules she has to enforce. 

Fast forward to that afternoon, feeling so accomplished to have 2 major pieces of identification with my new name complete, I looked up a list of things you need to make sure you change once married, not wanting to miss anything. I discovered that those major legal pieces that you need to change right away are only a fraction of all the things that need doing. Why is our name in so many places?! And I ask again...why is there not some magical database where now that I'm legally this new name, everyone just knows it?

So if you need me between now and December, that's what I'll be doing and even then I'm pretty sure I'll still be finding odds and ends that are not up to date. 

This was a word heavy...picture lacking post. Because there aren't many fun pictures to take when at the DMV and post office. So I will leave you with one more tidbit about life these days. 

Hubby and I spent Sunday evening with a friend at a small live music event. It's in someone's backyard and is free to anyone and everyone through word of mouth. The couple that sets it up does it out of the goodness of their hearts just so people can come together and enjoy some summer live shows which is so hospitable and lovely. It was warm but not hot, the band was excellent and company even better. 

This is the man who's name I am running all over town to have. And it makes me the most proud to be his wife and have his last name. It's weird giving up your own last name, or in my case moving it to the middle. It can feel a little bittersweer as you're writing it down on all those many forms. But looking at my new name on my new license- our name, the name for our family and future children, the name that represents our live together fills me with nothing but joy. 

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Back At It...With the Hodgepodge

Breaking my blogging silence with a hodgepodge...I will be back to regular blogging soon I am sure of it. I feel like I have a bunch of things to blog about but then the more time I leave it the trickier it gets to get back to it. But I'm doing the manageable thing for now and hodgepodging. You can link up too over at my mom's blog

 
From this Side of the Pond
1. Tell us about one small blessing you have counted in the past week? 

Summer break! It's not really even a small blessing, it's a big one but this summer has been a necessary refresh I'm so thankful for that time to rest, recharge and time with family. 

2. Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14th...have you ever been to France? Any desire to visit or re-visit, and if so what site or city would you most want to see? (pretend for a minute international travel isn't an issue) 

I have been to France..more than once lucky for me! I blogged about some of my travel experiences during my month long A-Z writing challenge. I have been fortunate enough to have been to Paris, Normandy and Chamonix. All trips were very different and each part is special in a different way. Paris feels like a very traditional or typical experience that you're expecting from France complete with all the cafes, crepes and the Eifel Tower. Normandy is steeped in history and Chamonix was filled with snow and skiing. If I were to return, I'd go back to any of the above places I mentioned, but would love to see parts that I've missed- areas in the south probably such as Cannes.

3. A food associated with France that you love? 

Cheese. I love cheese and the french do it well. And bread. I mean, who doesn't love cheese and bread? Not to mention you can get crepes all over the place! 

4. Something you recently purchased where a coupon was involved? Do you regularly shop with coupons? 

Hm, I feel confident it was at CVS but I'm not sure what. That's just really the only place I use coupons. I shop sales for sure and sometimes get digital coupon codes from companies I've subscribed too but it's not a regular occurrence. Did anyone ever watch that show "Extreme Couponing" ? I used to find that fascinating...they'd go into a store and shop the sales and deals then shell out a whole bunch of coupons and pay NOTHING for groceries! Or I even saw some where the store owed them money back. 

5. You have to give something away this week...what will it be? 

Shoes. I've decided I have too many shoes for someone who wears like 3 pairs on a regular basis. I've been trying to find ways to downsize our belongings so I've been on the lookout working through different areas and while I've trimmed down my closet pretty well clothes wise...the shoes are an issue. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

As I said earlier, I'm going to be working to get back into blogging so stay tuned for more from me. But for now, I will leave you with a wedding picture because we are celebrating 6 months of married bliss this week.