Pictures Are Coming!

I just talked with my photographer. She is mailing me a CD of our wedding pictures today. I will probably be uploading them on Shutterfly over the weekend. I will let you know when they are up and ready for viewing/ordering.

New Identity (Part II)

Today I went to the Social Security office to get my name changed. What an afternoon! I left the office around noon. I stopped at Mama B's to get lunch. I knew I'd have to wait, so I figured I might as well eat while I'm waiting. I found the Federal Building, but I couldn't figure out where to park. After driving around a couple blocks, I find a space in the lot accross the street. Of course it's metered parking so I'm scrounging to find some change. I have enough for about 2 hours (it's nearly 1:00 by now). I grab everything I need and cross the street. When I get up to the front door, there is a sign that says "NO CELLPHONES". So I have to go back to the car and leave my cell phone there. I returned to the Federal Building and got through security. I walked down the hall to the S.S. office and there's another sign, "NO FOOD OR DRINK". GRRR! I stuffed my sandwich in my bag, took a few big sips from my drink and threw the rest away. I walked into a room with like a hundred people waiting. I asked the security guy where to sign in. He points to a computer in the corner of the room and tells me that it's broken, but the other security guard is fixing it. The guy fixes the machine and asks me what I'm there for. I tell him that I'm just changing my name. He hands me a slip of paper with a number on it, E179, and I take a seat. Shortly after I'm seated, the first security guard starts calling out numbers, "E143, E144, E145." Some people get up and go into another room off to the side. I think to myself, "not bad. This won't take long at all." About 15 minutes later, he calls out the next series of 3 or 4 numbers. About every 15-20 minutes, he calls out a few more numbers. "E174, E175, E176." I'm so close. I should be in the next set. About 10 minutes after he called this set, you wouldn't believe what happened next. The fire alarm went off!! Everyone starts evacuating the building. I found a nice shady spot accross the street, but it was still HOT! While I'm sitting outside, I figure I might as well start eating my lunch. I only had enough time to eat the potato chips, though. The fire department showed up right away and soon they let us go back in (employees first, of course). I finally get back inside the building and have to go through security again. This time, the x-ray machine flagged my bag as having an electronic device inside. It was my iPod and they let me go. I took an empty seat. It wasn't long before my number was called. I quickly got up and was escorted to this side room where, guess what, I had to wait in line. While I was waiting, the guard starts asking people individually whether or not they were born in the United States. The first 3 people that responded "yes" (myself included) were escorted to another back room where they had previously been calling to people who had made appointments (I didn't know you could do that). We take a seat and wait some more. FINALLY, one of the employees asked who's next. "ME, ME, ME!" She takes me to her desk. I looked at the clock. It's now 3:30. If you've done the math, you know that my meter has run out. I take a seat and hand the woman my application, driver's license, and marriage certificate. The woman was like, "I'm not too familiar with doing name changes." She had to ask for help from one of the other employees. She finally gets everything inputted into the computer and I get a receipt. I grab all my documents, give a small smile and thank you, and dash out of there. I race to my car, praying that I don't have a parking ticket. Praise the Lord, NO TICKET!!! Finally something goes right today. I head back to the office. It's now about 4:00. I just lost 4 hours of work that I have to make up (or take out of my vacation). I finally get to eat my sandwhich though (which is now soggy from all the dressing that they put on it). In case you're wondering, yes, I could have taken care of this through the mail. But I would have had to send original documents, not photocopies. So for fear of not having them returned and the illegality to drive without my driver's license, I had to take care of this in person. But it's done now, or so I think. I'll know for sure when I get my new card in the mail.

New Identity

Our certified marriage license arrived in the mail on Thursday so on Friday, I spent my entire lunch hour (and then some) at the DMV to get my new driver's license. When I arrived, they were serving number 30 and my ticket said I80. Of course on first glance, it thought the letter I was the number 1. I was relieved that there were only 50 people in front of my instead of 150! Though, it actually went somewhat quickly. About half of those 50 people had either left or weren't paying attention when their number was called, so they got skipped over. So after an hour and $15 later, I got my new driver's license stating my new name and new address. Now I get the dubious task of changing my name for my bank accounts and insurace policies. I need to apply for a new social security card and change my marital status on my W-2 (I might as well go ahead and add Madison as a dependent while I'm at it).

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

Today marks 37 years of marriage for my parents (and 11 days for me). I have written in the past about how they have been a great model for marriage and how I hoped that one day I would have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps. Well that day finally came, and I pray that Bryan & I can live up to such a great model. Congratulations! May God continue to bless your marriage. Happy Anniversary!

Back To Life

Well, the honeymoon is over and it's back to the real world, back to work, and the back to the ho-hum of daily life. But now I don't have to go home to an empty house.

It was a really nice trip. We spent the first 3 days in the Lake of the Ozarks at the Tan-Tar-A Resort. It was an older resort and a little run down, but we had a nice view from our room. We had a wall of windows which overlooked the lake. It was very relaxing. We walked around up and down hills, layed out by the pool, and took a boat tour of the lake.

We spent the rest of the week with my new in-laws. Bryan showed me all over Kansas City, we saw a nice little fireworks display, we toured the art museum, and drove out to the University of Kansas. Another highlight of the trip was all the food. We had all our meals paid for at the resort. Bryan's mom made breakfast every morning. We had some good Kansas City barbeque.

We got back around 11:00 this morning and rested most of the day. Now Bryan is mowing the lawn (which is 3 feet high) and I'm about to head to the grocery store to get some food for this week. Tonight's menu - beef stroganoff (from scratch). Wish me luck :)

The New Mrs. Helman

Well, it finally happened. I'm MARRIED! I'm not sure that reality has fully sunk in yet. I don't really feel all that different. Everything went so smoothly despite the rain and the florist getting robbed. The weekend went by so fast. I wish I could have been able to spend more time with everyone that made the trip down. I hope everyone had a good time. I did! Most of it is still a bit of a blur, though. I can't wait to see the pictures! Tomorrow we leave for our honeymoon at the Tan-Ta-Ra Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks in southern Missouri.

I'm listening to the Tiger game. Ernie Harwell is the guest annoucer on ESPN tonight. It's nice to hear the Voice of the Tigers once again.