~* Ash *~
Over the course of the last 4 1/2 months that I've been blogging, I've told you about pre-engagement, counseling, our family and friends, wedding planning, our honeymoon, and probably more than you wanted to know about my thoughts and feelings during this time in my life.
Bottom Line: Marriage is a big deal, and Lu and I don't take it lightly.
But there is one detail that we'd kinda, almost forgotten about: our marriage license.
You know? That little piece of paper that verifies that all of this wedding business is legit?
Lu and I always assumed that on our next trip to Maryland over Labor Day, we'd go in and get our license. In and out, no sweat. Since we're going in a few weeks, we sat down last night to plan our trip.
That's where it all went downhill. The conversation went something like this (try to follow):
Me: Okay, so I've got the APSA Conference Sept. 2-5. Then my bridal shower is the evening of the 5th, which is a Sunday. I also have to renew my driver's license, we have to get our marriage license, and Reverend Davies wants us to have dinner with the couple he mentioned during our counseling.... That's going to be a crazy weekend.
Lu: Yeah, and I can't leave Michigan until Sept. 3 -- in the afternoon because of the conference I'm running up here.
Me: I guess it makes the most sense for me to fly out a day ahead of you, and then you could fly to DC that Friday.
Lu: What about Maggie?
Me: Hmmm, I guess I could fly with her. Then maybe leave her with my parents? I don't think I can take her on the Metro, but I don't want my parents to have to pick me up from the airport when I'm a few Metro stops away from my hotel.
Lu: And I'm NOT flying with Maggie. Maggie? On a plane? Without her Mom?! Yeah, right.
Me: Good point. Maggie would go crazy. Maybe I'll drive. We'll have gifts from the bridal shower to take back, and besides, how would I get to the court to get our marriage license without a car?
Lu: We've already done that drive twice this summer. You could probably find someone in your family to take you to the court. Although, it would be cheaper to drive.
Me: Not really -- between gas, tolls, food along the way, and the stress. Not to mention parking in DC. Besides, my grant's paying for my travel, so we only have to pay for one ticket.... Then again, driving might be doable because I could leave my car with my family, and we don't have to be back at school until Sept. 8.
Lu: No, Sept. 7.
Me: Sept. 7? That Tuesday?
Lu: Yeah, that's when classes start. I thought they were the 8th, but I was wrong.
Me: If you can't fly out until Friday, and we have to leave on Monday.... How are we going to get our marriage license?!
Lu: Maybe we can get it Oct. 15.
Me: The day before the wedding? Really? No.... I'm not dealing with that stress, and I think you have to wait at least 2 days before it's valid anyway.
Lu: So what are we going to do?
Me: I have no idea. What if we can't get married???
Lu: No, babe. There has to be a way.
Me: That weekend's going to be busy already. Adding parking in DC or flying with Maggie, plus transporting gifts, and waiting at the DMV, and going to dinner, and then there's the conference. What are we going to do?
Lu: I have no idea.
So today we did some research.
It turns out that I can renew my driver's license by mail. I called and had the DMV send me the proper paperwork. Check.
The kennel -- excuse me, PetsHotel -- has space that weekend to board Maggie, and it'd only be $75 for three days. Whereas flying with her would be $75 each way, on top of my parents having to drive all the way to DC or Baltimore to pick her up from the airport. I hate boarding Maggie, but it makes the most sense in this situation.... Besides, they have Doggy Daycamp. :-) Check.
We can ship any gifts that we get at the bridal shower for under $100, unless I get over 125 lbs. worth of stuff; and I highly doubt that. Check.
We're going to call our pastor and ask if we can have dinner with the couple on Sept. 4, which is the day he originally said would be best for them. Check.
As far as the conference, I'll have Wednesday evening, all day Thursday, Friday afternoon, and all day Saturday.... I might go to a few panels Sunday morning, but I don't really feel bad about skipping out early on the last day. Check.
So now comes the marriage license. The part that I avoided.
Scarily enough, it turns out that getting a marriage license in PG County, Maryland is pretty easy. All I need is a copy of Lu's driver's license, birth certificate, or passport, and some basic information about him. In fact, Lu doesn't even have to be there.... Yeah, I told you it was scary.
I'll have copies of Lu's identification, arrange for someone in my family to pick me up from the airport on Wednesday -- probably my parents because I'm coming in during non-rush hour times when there's still sunlight out. (I love my father but don't trust his vision!) We'll drive straight to the courthouse and the license.
Then I'll spend the night at home on Wednesday, probably letting my mom hold me and getting teary-eyed that I really am getting married. On Thursday morning, I'll ride into the city, check in early at my hotel (Hotel Palomar -- GORGEOUS, not to mention $99/night on Hotwire.com with their "secret deals"), and be at the conference with time to register and make it to the first plenary session. *whew*
.... And as a plan B, I'll Metro out to PG County on Friday morning, and my parents will drive me to the circuit court from there.
Either way, I'll meet Lu that evening, and we'll be in the clear for a hectic but enjoyable weekend!
Bottom Line: Marriage is a big deal, and Lu and I don't take it lightly.
But there is one detail that we'd kinda, almost forgotten about: our marriage license.
You know? That little piece of paper that verifies that all of this wedding business is legit?
Lu and I always assumed that on our next trip to Maryland over Labor Day, we'd go in and get our license. In and out, no sweat. Since we're going in a few weeks, we sat down last night to plan our trip.
That's where it all went downhill. The conversation went something like this (try to follow):
Me: Okay, so I've got the APSA Conference Sept. 2-5. Then my bridal shower is the evening of the 5th, which is a Sunday. I also have to renew my driver's license, we have to get our marriage license, and Reverend Davies wants us to have dinner with the couple he mentioned during our counseling.... That's going to be a crazy weekend.
Lu: Yeah, and I can't leave Michigan until Sept. 3 -- in the afternoon because of the conference I'm running up here.
Me: I guess it makes the most sense for me to fly out a day ahead of you, and then you could fly to DC that Friday.
Lu: What about Maggie?
Me: Hmmm, I guess I could fly with her. Then maybe leave her with my parents? I don't think I can take her on the Metro, but I don't want my parents to have to pick me up from the airport when I'm a few Metro stops away from my hotel.
Lu: And I'm NOT flying with Maggie. Maggie? On a plane? Without her Mom?! Yeah, right.
Me: Good point. Maggie would go crazy. Maybe I'll drive. We'll have gifts from the bridal shower to take back, and besides, how would I get to the court to get our marriage license without a car?
Lu: We've already done that drive twice this summer. You could probably find someone in your family to take you to the court. Although, it would be cheaper to drive.
Me: Not really -- between gas, tolls, food along the way, and the stress. Not to mention parking in DC. Besides, my grant's paying for my travel, so we only have to pay for one ticket.... Then again, driving might be doable because I could leave my car with my family, and we don't have to be back at school until Sept. 8.
Lu: No, Sept. 7.
Me: Sept. 7? That Tuesday?
Lu: Yeah, that's when classes start. I thought they were the 8th, but I was wrong.
Me: If you can't fly out until Friday, and we have to leave on Monday.... How are we going to get our marriage license?!
Lu: Maybe we can get it Oct. 15.
Me: The day before the wedding? Really? No.... I'm not dealing with that stress, and I think you have to wait at least 2 days before it's valid anyway.
Lu: So what are we going to do?
Me: I have no idea. What if we can't get married???
Lu: No, babe. There has to be a way.
Me: That weekend's going to be busy already. Adding parking in DC or flying with Maggie, plus transporting gifts, and waiting at the DMV, and going to dinner, and then there's the conference. What are we going to do?
Lu: I have no idea.
So today we did some research.
It turns out that I can renew my driver's license by mail. I called and had the DMV send me the proper paperwork. Check.
The kennel -- excuse me, PetsHotel -- has space that weekend to board Maggie, and it'd only be $75 for three days. Whereas flying with her would be $75 each way, on top of my parents having to drive all the way to DC or Baltimore to pick her up from the airport. I hate boarding Maggie, but it makes the most sense in this situation.... Besides, they have Doggy Daycamp. :-) Check.
We can ship any gifts that we get at the bridal shower for under $100, unless I get over 125 lbs. worth of stuff; and I highly doubt that. Check.
We're going to call our pastor and ask if we can have dinner with the couple on Sept. 4, which is the day he originally said would be best for them. Check.
As far as the conference, I'll have Wednesday evening, all day Thursday, Friday afternoon, and all day Saturday.... I might go to a few panels Sunday morning, but I don't really feel bad about skipping out early on the last day. Check.
So now comes the marriage license. The part that I avoided.
Scarily enough, it turns out that getting a marriage license in PG County, Maryland is pretty easy. All I need is a copy of Lu's driver's license, birth certificate, or passport, and some basic information about him. In fact, Lu doesn't even have to be there.... Yeah, I told you it was scary.
I'll have copies of Lu's identification, arrange for someone in my family to pick me up from the airport on Wednesday -- probably my parents because I'm coming in during non-rush hour times when there's still sunlight out. (I love my father but don't trust his vision!) We'll drive straight to the courthouse and the license.
Then I'll spend the night at home on Wednesday, probably letting my mom hold me and getting teary-eyed that I really am getting married. On Thursday morning, I'll ride into the city, check in early at my hotel (Hotel Palomar -- GORGEOUS, not to mention $99/night on Hotwire.com with their "secret deals"), and be at the conference with time to register and make it to the first plenary session. *whew*
.... And as a plan B, I'll Metro out to PG County on Friday morning, and my parents will drive me to the circuit court from there.
Either way, I'll meet Lu that evening, and we'll be in the clear for a hectic but enjoyable weekend!
It's amazing how in the midst of what seems like no way out, U and Lu gather yourselves and thoughts and come up with a solution.
Thanks! Lu actually had an even better plan: I fly in earlier on Wednesday and get the license as soon as I come in, then Friday can be a back up day. :-)
Buuuut I do have to admit that it was a lot more stressful than my conversation. The end wasn't so pretty! lol