Maybe I should give the universe a foot massage?

[brightrosefox]

I think the universe, or the part that's supposed to watch over me, is either very tired and distracted, or on a long coffee break. Little things just seem to be going a bit odd or not quite in my favor lately, especially since that insurance screw-up (I have to call them again to see if everything went through).
This morning, the broken AC in the office building, and the relentless heat last night that kept me up tossing and turning, and the really irritating morning mini thunderstorm that wouldn't let me get that last half hour of sleep.
And then, after I got to work and settled in, I called up Social Security to make sure I was in the system with my married name. And I wasn't. Why? Because I was supposed to send them my original photo ID -- not a photocopy.
Excuse me, but who in their right mind would stick their driver's license in the mail and willingly wait two weeks to get it back? Fuck no. My boss, Ray, heard me bitching and cursing under my breath and asked what was wrong. I told him. He suggested that I take a full day off to take care of it. I suggested Friday. I need it, too.
So Friday morning I will get up early, not as early as normal, but early enough to do everything I need to do in enough time. I am going to both the social security office and the local MVA Express so I can get my SS card changed, as well as a new state ID. I would like to officially be Joanna Rose Capello Paul. That way when I get published and possibly famous, I can honor all my names (and people from my past will recognize me). And I can still go by just Mrs. Joanna Paul for most things, so the Capello could almost be another middle name.
I'm going to see if they'll let me have Rose as a middle name legally -- I may need to fill out a few more forms for that. I might not go with the middle name if it's too complicated. I'm not sure if there is something different one must do if they wish to actually add a middle name to their birth name. Funny, my mom always said she'd wanted me to pick my own middle name. But I'm not sure how that swings legally.
Plus, if I have my insurance card by Friday, I can also go to my doctor's office so they can have it in the system.
So I have this Friday to myself, after I get all of that done.
Sigh.

By the way, Beth... your cats are adorable.

Comments

[my-piece-of-sky.livejournal.com]

i think to add the middle name you need more paperwork, either from the courthouse or county clerk's office or whatever. if you want to do that, hold off on changing everything else...less headache. oh, and the SS office is really not that bad, once you actually get there (but yes, the no photocopy thing is *truly* retarded).

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

i think in MD you need to go in front of a judge in order to add to or change the name given on your birth certificate for anything other than marriage or divorce. if not, then there is certainly more paperwork involved. look it up on the web NOW so you'll have everything in order on friday.

[dogstar240.livejournal.com]

I had my name changed, funny enough my middle name that I gave myself was Rose as well. When I was 16, I had it changed legally (this was in Arizona) and I had to make a court appearance as well as fill out tons of paperwork. I had to prove to about six different people that I wasn't changing my name to avoid being arrested or to try to obtain US residency. The point being was that they wanted to make sure that I wasn't changing my name to get away with breaking any laws. It was a very expensive and time consuming. In order to get it permanently changed to my birth certificate, I had to show the original document to the courthouse and order a new one (which was a process in and of itself). Having two official birth certificates is probably the most painful experience of my life. When I joined the military, they had no idea what name to use, even though the "Brandy Rose" was official.

Even after all the money was spent, and I went before the judge and was sworn in (this took a day itself because in order for a judge to see me, I had to witness other court cases, all being name changes) and proved that I was who I was saying I was, and that I wasn't changing my name to avoid the law, everything I do is still a major pain in the ass, from registering my car to the DMV, to getting a Visa check card with my bank account. People don't know what to make of my situation.

As far as Social Security goes, it is very retarded. And the most silly thing about it is that if you go down to the office, they can get everything done in just a few short minutes. I don't know how Social Security works with married names, but when and if you get your middle name changed, I doubt they will send you a new card. My card still omits my middle name (which is always fun when someone asks me for my birth certificate and my SS card since they now have two different names) but it's changed in their system. But you would be better off checking with your own state laws to see if it would be such a major pain in the ass for you as it was for me.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that, and everyone else's comments, convinces me to leave my birth name as is. Besides, Rose is part of a more personal soul name. :)

[dogstar240.livejournal.com]

I understand that. To me, it's more personal if you use it without having to explain yourself...it's like that it's none of anybody else's business.

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

but btw--you can USE the Rose, if you want to. it just won't be on your SS card, birth certificate or photo ID.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

I can? I wasn't sure if it would be a legal thing. I'm assuming I shouldn't use it on, say credit card applications or something; just to introduce myself maybe?

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

don't apply with it, but you can sign your name that way. it won't be strictly legal as in it won't make it your legal name, but it won't really be illegal, either.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Good to know.