Changing your name is a huge step, and once you do it, going back is a pain in the butt, so be sure. Evaluate the pros and cons--"I want to have the same name as my kids," or "I have no brothers so no one else will carry on my name," or "I love the idea of the whole family having a new last name," et cetera. And now, once you've decided to take the plunge...
Wanna change your name to Princess Consuela Bananahammock? Go to court. Want to hyphenate, combine names, or take your husband's last name (or have him take yours)? Then read on, as these are the only name-change options available when applying for a marriage license. And please note that all forms must be filled out in blue or black ink, and that you should always get at the very least a tracking number when sending in such documents, which can be easily and cheaply obtained at your local post office.
Passport--do this one first, as it's both the easiest and the fastest, and will provide you with a solid new ID to use for changing the other two. All you need to do is send in your old passport, two passport photos, your marriage license with your new name, a $75 check made out to "U.S. Department of State," and a filled-out DS-82 form, which you can get here:
http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds82/ds82_843.html
The address you'll be sending to is located on the DS-82 form. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so make sure to expedite in case of travel emergency.
Social Security card--once you get your passport, you'll have solid ID stating your new name. A new social security card is another thing that you can get via mail, provided your mailing address is not in Queens or Brooklyn (or Las Vegas, Orlando, or Phoenix). You're just send in your passport (you'll receive your old one back along with your new one), your marriage license with your new name, and a filled-out SS-5, which you can get here:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html
You'll need to send it to your local social security office, which can easily be found here. This process takes approximately four weeks, but your accompanying documents, such as your marriage license, may be returned to you before your card is shipped.
Driver's License--this is the only one you MUST do in person. You must bring your old license or other photo document, your marriage license, a check for $15, and a filled-out MV-44, which you can get here:
http://www.nysdmv.com/forms/mv44.pdf
This too should take approximately four weeks. I recommend saving the driver's license until after you've received your new social security card because I've heard of people having trouble with this, but it doesn't appear from the website that there should be any problem.
Please note that security restrictions and requirements change all the time, so feel free to check and make sure you've got all the necessary stuff. The directions at www.travel.state.gov, www.socialsecurity.gov, and www.nysdmv.com are easy enough, so take a minute to look it all over. Happy name change!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Turn the Page
Sure, you've probably read a few, but how much do you really know about books? Below, a few lesser-known facts:
--Books are always in multiples of 16 pages, including the blanks. Each unit of 16 pages is called a signature, and this is how books are printed.
--The page listing an author's previous titles is called a card page
--How much it costs to produce a book is dependent on many factors, including the size (called the trim size), the format (hardcover, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback), the genre, whether or not there is art or inserts, whether the inserts are color or black and white, and whether or not there is foil and/or embossing on the cover. Ignore the whole "you can't judge a book buy its cover" thing--if a publishing house was willing to spend a lot on the book, it means they think it's decent.
--Every book has a little logo on its spine that tells you which publishing company did the book, but for all the different names and pictures, nearly every book you read is only coming from one of four publishing houses--Random House, Penguin, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster. The different logos, like Vintage, Avon, Washington Square Press, Atria William Morrow, Berkeley, etc. are called imprints--sub-divisions within each publishing house, each with their own editorial director and some sort of theme, e.g. one may be the house's "paperback" imprint, or their "non-fiction" imprint.
--Like a book that just came out in hardcover but want it in trade paperback instead? You'll be waiting about 11-13 months. (Although occasionally, the title will be released in Canada as a simultanous publication, but in paperback, so use your Canadian contacts--they may be good for something after all!)
--A book's price may depend on its page count; for example, a book that is 384 pages (a standard romance novel) can't cost more than $6.99
--It is nearly impossible to get a book published by a major house without a literary agent. Even celebrities have them, although some politicians use a lawyer instead.
--Books are always in multiples of 16 pages, including the blanks. Each unit of 16 pages is called a signature, and this is how books are printed.
--The page listing an author's previous titles is called a card page
--How much it costs to produce a book is dependent on many factors, including the size (called the trim size), the format (hardcover, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback), the genre, whether or not there is art or inserts, whether the inserts are color or black and white, and whether or not there is foil and/or embossing on the cover. Ignore the whole "you can't judge a book buy its cover" thing--if a publishing house was willing to spend a lot on the book, it means they think it's decent.
--Every book has a little logo on its spine that tells you which publishing company did the book, but for all the different names and pictures, nearly every book you read is only coming from one of four publishing houses--Random House, Penguin, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster. The different logos, like Vintage, Avon, Washington Square Press, Atria William Morrow, Berkeley, etc. are called imprints--sub-divisions within each publishing house, each with their own editorial director and some sort of theme, e.g. one may be the house's "paperback" imprint, or their "non-fiction" imprint.
--Like a book that just came out in hardcover but want it in trade paperback instead? You'll be waiting about 11-13 months. (Although occasionally, the title will be released in Canada as a simultanous publication, but in paperback, so use your Canadian contacts--they may be good for something after all!)
--A book's price may depend on its page count; for example, a book that is 384 pages (a standard romance novel) can't cost more than $6.99
--It is nearly impossible to get a book published by a major house without a literary agent. Even celebrities have them, although some politicians use a lawyer instead.
The Corporate World
well look im blogging!!!
working in corporate america for about a year and 1/2 full-time and some summers has been a tremendous learning experience.
you develop a penchant for dealing with extremely difficult people, manage on tight time deadlines, learn how to not take no for an answer, and enjoy awesome perks that come with large firms. you also are also able to afford a few trips to saks or barneys, especially if it is just you and you happen to love shoes...
it has not always been easy though. i have had to give up friends' birthday parties, family time, even my best friend's engagement party.
you must pick up every phone call or at the very least return every voicemail. ive been called into the office motzi shabbos, on sundays. ive been dragged downtown to the printers during the weekday, at night, and on weekends. ive pulled all-nighters with closings.
so ill back up a minute. while i wont disclose the name the name of my current firm, i will say that i am the only legal assistant in my department. so when things need to get done, often i am the one called. furthermore there are certain things we do on excel that very few ppl in our dept know how to do so often again i am the go-to person.
the printers is another hellacious experience. this is where huge corporate documents, like a 10-k for example, get filed and drafts get turned and comments are received from all sides. it is more economical to sit in the central filing location than at the office. its hellacious because often you there for hours, days, sometimes a week at a time, turning drafts of the same document. both sides of counsel representation are there as well as the bankers and other finance ppl. its pretty intense.
there was a time when i thought about going into finance, then i thought about being an attorney. i spent an exorbitant amount of money in the thousands on an LSAT tutor and took the LSATs last year. then i actually sat down and thought long and hard about what i wanted to do with my life. what really makes me happy. but even more than that what makes me excited and creates a drive inside me. and while i understand the appeal and sense of satisfaction that comes with completing a huge merger or corporate acquisition, thats not what ultitmately i have the heart for.
when i was an economics major at columbia, the best, meaning the most stimulating and cerebrally-challenging, classes i took were ones relating to education and urban poverty. why there is a disparate diffrence between private and public schools in america, why policy reform has not worked so far, why bush's No Child Left Behind was more lip service than action.
yes i can be as cutthroat as anyone but i really dont want to spend the rest of my life working for big tobacco or "the man". having worked for large corporations i DO know their importance in keeping economies of scale going. money is money is what makes the world go round. and my career pursuits also aren't because i'm a bleeding heart liberal (though lets go dems 08!!!) but there are other things i really believe in.
so for now ill appreciate the perks and toughness of the corporate job for a few more months and then its on to other endeavors........
working in corporate america for about a year and 1/2 full-time and some summers has been a tremendous learning experience.
you develop a penchant for dealing with extremely difficult people, manage on tight time deadlines, learn how to not take no for an answer, and enjoy awesome perks that come with large firms. you also are also able to afford a few trips to saks or barneys, especially if it is just you and you happen to love shoes...
it has not always been easy though. i have had to give up friends' birthday parties, family time, even my best friend's engagement party.
you must pick up every phone call or at the very least return every voicemail. ive been called into the office motzi shabbos, on sundays. ive been dragged downtown to the printers during the weekday, at night, and on weekends. ive pulled all-nighters with closings.
so ill back up a minute. while i wont disclose the name the name of my current firm, i will say that i am the only legal assistant in my department. so when things need to get done, often i am the one called. furthermore there are certain things we do on excel that very few ppl in our dept know how to do so often again i am the go-to person.
the printers is another hellacious experience. this is where huge corporate documents, like a 10-k for example, get filed and drafts get turned and comments are received from all sides. it is more economical to sit in the central filing location than at the office. its hellacious because often you there for hours, days, sometimes a week at a time, turning drafts of the same document. both sides of counsel representation are there as well as the bankers and other finance ppl. its pretty intense.
there was a time when i thought about going into finance, then i thought about being an attorney. i spent an exorbitant amount of money in the thousands on an LSAT tutor and took the LSATs last year. then i actually sat down and thought long and hard about what i wanted to do with my life. what really makes me happy. but even more than that what makes me excited and creates a drive inside me. and while i understand the appeal and sense of satisfaction that comes with completing a huge merger or corporate acquisition, thats not what ultitmately i have the heart for.
when i was an economics major at columbia, the best, meaning the most stimulating and cerebrally-challenging, classes i took were ones relating to education and urban poverty. why there is a disparate diffrence between private and public schools in america, why policy reform has not worked so far, why bush's No Child Left Behind was more lip service than action.
yes i can be as cutthroat as anyone but i really dont want to spend the rest of my life working for big tobacco or "the man". having worked for large corporations i DO know their importance in keeping economies of scale going. money is money is what makes the world go round. and my career pursuits also aren't because i'm a bleeding heart liberal (though lets go dems 08!!!) but there are other things i really believe in.
so for now ill appreciate the perks and toughness of the corporate job for a few more months and then its on to other endeavors........
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Pack it Up, Pack it In, Let Me Begin
Packing sucks, and moving's worse, but unfortunately, these are the two areas I know best right now. Hopefully, most of you will never know the pain and want-to-kill-yourself-ness of an interstate move, but since none of us want to be in $5,000-a-month 1-bedrooms forever, here's some stuff to know about packing:
Here's what you'll need to pack: packing tape, cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, newspaper, and paper towels. Scotch tape and plastic boxes won't hurt either. If you have any original boxes, especially hatboxes, you're going to want to pack in those as well.
The most important things to know are as follows: The heaviest things go on the bottom (never glass), and the boxes should always be full. To fill boxes, conserve your soft, cushy items like sheets, towels, couch pillows, and even laundry--these will help make safe layers and protect items from scratching. The first thing to do, once you have a box assembled and ready to pack, is to crumple up sheets of newspaper and cover the entire bottom of the box, so there's a little bit of a cushion. Once that's done, you can start filling it with the rest.
Clothes are the easiest thing to pack--they're unbreakable, and all it takes is a plastic garment to ensure that your favorite dresses won't get stained. Pack them in duffel bags, suitcases, even garbage bags, whatever...but save some of those T-shirts and other non-delicates that are OK to wrinkle for padding other boxes.
On the flip side, the kitchen is probably the hardest. If you've got tons of bubble wrap--great. Wrap each dish securely in a sleeve of bubble wrap, tape, and stack. Little things that should be wrapped in bubble wrap if you've got some to spare? Pan handles and appliance plugs, so that they won't scratch everything else.
If you're lacking in bubble wrap, newspaper works well too--just be warned that newsprint ink is never fully dry, which means everything you pack in it will get grimy. How to fix? Wrap everything in paper towel first, and wrap the newsprint around that. Voila! Make sure to put layers between things that may move around, like mixing bowls (especially glass/pyrex) and stacked pots and pans. Glasses can be wrapped in newsprint too, and are easiest transported in something resembling a wine box with cardboard dividers.
For loose flatware, all you need to do is wrap it up in paper towels and put it in a ziploc bag. If you keep your flatware in a tray, just wrap up the entire tray in a plastic shopping bags and tape it tight with packing tape. You can do the same thing with a full utensil crock.
For appliances, try dismantling them into as many small pieces as possible, so that you can distribute the weight more evenly in the box. Always wrap up the plugs so they don't scratch anything else. If the appliance comes with a detachable cord, remove it and tape it to or pack it in the appliance.
When you're done packing the boxes, label them by which room you would like the movers to deliver them to. (This becomes much more relevant when moving to a house as opposed to an apartment.) If a box is heavy or fragile, make sure to indicate as such on the box, as these markings will effect its placement in the truck. You can even number the boxes and make a number key for yourself telling you what's in each box, which will be a huge help when unpacking.
The correct way to tape a box shut is to tape across the top (perpendicular to the opening) and all the way around the box, but if you need to conserve tape, just make sure you have these basic four tapes down--across the top, then down the entire opening, then two more perpendicular tapes, one on each side of the first. Et voila!
Here's what you'll need to pack: packing tape, cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, newspaper, and paper towels. Scotch tape and plastic boxes won't hurt either. If you have any original boxes, especially hatboxes, you're going to want to pack in those as well.
The most important things to know are as follows: The heaviest things go on the bottom (never glass), and the boxes should always be full. To fill boxes, conserve your soft, cushy items like sheets, towels, couch pillows, and even laundry--these will help make safe layers and protect items from scratching. The first thing to do, once you have a box assembled and ready to pack, is to crumple up sheets of newspaper and cover the entire bottom of the box, so there's a little bit of a cushion. Once that's done, you can start filling it with the rest.
Clothes are the easiest thing to pack--they're unbreakable, and all it takes is a plastic garment to ensure that your favorite dresses won't get stained. Pack them in duffel bags, suitcases, even garbage bags, whatever...but save some of those T-shirts and other non-delicates that are OK to wrinkle for padding other boxes.
On the flip side, the kitchen is probably the hardest. If you've got tons of bubble wrap--great. Wrap each dish securely in a sleeve of bubble wrap, tape, and stack. Little things that should be wrapped in bubble wrap if you've got some to spare? Pan handles and appliance plugs, so that they won't scratch everything else.
If you're lacking in bubble wrap, newspaper works well too--just be warned that newsprint ink is never fully dry, which means everything you pack in it will get grimy. How to fix? Wrap everything in paper towel first, and wrap the newsprint around that. Voila! Make sure to put layers between things that may move around, like mixing bowls (especially glass/pyrex) and stacked pots and pans. Glasses can be wrapped in newsprint too, and are easiest transported in something resembling a wine box with cardboard dividers.
For loose flatware, all you need to do is wrap it up in paper towels and put it in a ziploc bag. If you keep your flatware in a tray, just wrap up the entire tray in a plastic shopping bags and tape it tight with packing tape. You can do the same thing with a full utensil crock.
For appliances, try dismantling them into as many small pieces as possible, so that you can distribute the weight more evenly in the box. Always wrap up the plugs so they don't scratch anything else. If the appliance comes with a detachable cord, remove it and tape it to or pack it in the appliance.
When you're done packing the boxes, label them by which room you would like the movers to deliver them to. (This becomes much more relevant when moving to a house as opposed to an apartment.) If a box is heavy or fragile, make sure to indicate as such on the box, as these markings will effect its placement in the truck. You can even number the boxes and make a number key for yourself telling you what's in each box, which will be a huge help when unpacking.
The correct way to tape a box shut is to tape across the top (perpendicular to the opening) and all the way around the box, but if you need to conserve tape, just make sure you have these basic four tapes down--across the top, then down the entire opening, then two more perpendicular tapes, one on each side of the first. Et voila!
Welcome to the Lady Pool!
Hello ladies! Welcome to the Lady Pool, where we ladies can gather to pool our resources and teach each other wonderfully fascinating new things. Have a topic you'd like to write about? Right now, we have openings for spelunking, wine tasting, and going on African Safari--just let me know!
You know you love me,
XOXO,
Lady Girl
You know you love me,
XOXO,
Lady Girl
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)