December 23, 2009
December 22, 2009
Disaster at the DMV (part 2)
{...and now the conclusion to my name change saga.}
When I left off earlier, I was leaving the DMV to get our lease signed by the property manager of our complex. Once I got back to the DMV, I found out my lady was going to lunch. I didn’t even care when I was sent to the adjacent counter to be helped by someone else. Since I knew my paperwork was okay, I wasn’t worried about the residency part anymore. Sure enough she reviewed my documents quickly. And then she asked me what name needed to go on the license. I told her it needed to be Patti J. Davis-Smith. And she told me I couldn’t do that.
When I left off earlier, I was leaving the DMV to get our lease signed by the property manager of our complex. Once I got back to the DMV, I found out my lady was going to lunch. I didn’t even care when I was sent to the adjacent counter to be helped by someone else. Since I knew my paperwork was okay, I wasn’t worried about the residency part anymore. Sure enough she reviewed my documents quickly. And then she asked me what name needed to go on the license. I told her it needed to be Patti J. Davis-Smith. And she told me I couldn’t do that.
Disaster at the DMV (part 1)
I try not to make too many promises around here but it has taken me FOREVER to finish this name change story. SO I'm promising to do just that - finish it (unless something crazy comes up in the future). But its going to take me 2 posts to do it. Figure you've waited this long for me to finish, whats 2 more posts about it, right? I feel the same way. Lets get it!
Once the clerk from Jasper sent our certified copies of our license (within the week), I was equipped to move forward in the process. I needed to do 2 things above all else: change my name with the Social Security Administration and get a government issued photo ID. Social Security ended up being a cakewalk. The DMV (the most obvious choice for getting a photoID) was not. Since you’ve basically heard about my trip to SSA, we’ll fast forward through that part.
About 1 month later, I finally dragged myself to the DMV to try and get a Georgia license. I wasn’t too happy about this prospect because I’d also be registering to vote and that would basically make me a Georgia resident (ech). [Yes, I’m aware that that if I had claimed residency years ago it would have saved us the marriage license drama. But I was/am concerned with having FL tags and a GA license, so I (happily) held out.] At this point I didn’t have a choice. I have no idea when I’m going to FL, and I need a photoID/drivers license with my new name to deal with the next set of name changes.
So I caved. I had an added hurdle because not only was I changing my name, I was converting my FL license to a GA one, which meant I had to prove that I live here. Yup, doing a LOT...story of my life. Luckily, the main utilities are in my name. Unluckily, we have e-bills. So I decided to use a copy of our lease to prove my residency. Specifically the copy that Hubs used 2 weeks prior to change his license. Easy, peasy right? So so sooo wrong.
Once the clerk from Jasper sent our certified copies of our license (within the week), I was equipped to move forward in the process. I needed to do 2 things above all else: change my name with the Social Security Administration and get a government issued photo ID. Social Security ended up being a cakewalk. The DMV (the most obvious choice for getting a photoID) was not. Since you’ve basically heard about my trip to SSA, we’ll fast forward through that part.
About 1 month later, I finally dragged myself to the DMV to try and get a Georgia license. I wasn’t too happy about this prospect because I’d also be registering to vote and that would basically make me a Georgia resident (ech). [Yes, I’m aware that that if I had claimed residency years ago it would have saved us the marriage license drama. But I was/am concerned with having FL tags and a GA license, so I (happily) held out.] At this point I didn’t have a choice. I have no idea when I’m going to FL, and I need a photoID/drivers license with my new name to deal with the next set of name changes.
So I caved. I had an added hurdle because not only was I changing my name, I was converting my FL license to a GA one, which meant I had to prove that I live here. Yup, doing a LOT...story of my life. Luckily, the main utilities are in my name. Unluckily, we have e-bills. So I decided to use a copy of our lease to prove my residency. Specifically the copy that Hubs used 2 weeks prior to change his license. Easy, peasy right? So so sooo wrong.
December 19, 2009
Hair Story
On this day 6 years ago I got my last relaxer.
Hubs thinks its pretty weird that I remember the exact date. But what he doesn't understand is that me deciding to grow out my relaxer was a HUGE deal. Generally speaking I am very particular about my hair. At that time, my senior year in college, I got relaxers on a schedule (every 7 weeks), the only cutting was a trim or long layers, it was not colored, and always in my signature "wrap and go style." I'd had a relaxer - with that same level of familiarity - for more than 10 years. I knew how to deal with chemically straightened hair.
What I didn't know how to do was deal with natural hair. In fact, I wasn't even sure what it would look like, after it took x number of months to grow it out. Would it be wavy? Curly? A thick mess? Who knew. But my gut was telling me that my hair was thinning and that its growth was stunted...despite me still having a head full of hair - lol. I gave myself 7 more weeks to think it over. Why 7 weeks? Because at 7 weeks I needed to be sitting in my stylist's chair for a re-touch. If I made it that far, I'd just keep going.
Hubs thinks its pretty weird that I remember the exact date. But what he doesn't understand is that me deciding to grow out my relaxer was a HUGE deal. Generally speaking I am very particular about my hair. At that time, my senior year in college, I got relaxers on a schedule (every 7 weeks), the only cutting was a trim or long layers, it was not colored, and always in my signature "wrap and go style." I'd had a relaxer - with that same level of familiarity - for more than 10 years. I knew how to deal with chemically straightened hair.
What I didn't know how to do was deal with natural hair. In fact, I wasn't even sure what it would look like, after it took x number of months to grow it out. Would it be wavy? Curly? A thick mess? Who knew. But my gut was telling me that my hair was thinning and that its growth was stunted...despite me still having a head full of hair - lol. I gave myself 7 more weeks to think it over. Why 7 weeks? Because at 7 weeks I needed to be sitting in my stylist's chair for a re-touch. If I made it that far, I'd just keep going.
December 18, 2009
Holiday Tour 2009: Dining Room Table Décor
Since my podmate Dani has already shown you the beginnings of our tree, I figured it was time to get off my blogging arse and show you the finished product. Actually, I’m going to do one better and give you the full-blown Holiday Tour of Casa Smithville. I focused my efforts on 4 areas of our home: the dining room table, the mantle, a tree and a wreath. My goal: to decorate as stylishly-yet-inexpensively as possible.
The dining room table was completed first*. Like, the day before thanksgiving, first (don’t judge). Even though we aren’t hosting dinner, I’m accustomed to decorating the table at MamaPs, so naturally, our table got a little prettified too. Everything was purchased at either Walmart, Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby or Michaels, for around $20.
The dining room table was completed first*. Like, the day before thanksgiving, first (don’t judge). Even though we aren’t hosting dinner, I’m accustomed to decorating the table at MamaPs, so naturally, our table got a little prettified too. Everything was purchased at either Walmart, Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby or Michaels, for around $20.
