the key; the destination

I think of February in mostly the same regard that I think of January; a bit of a festering turd of a month that doesn't allow for much to happen in the public eye but allows everything to happen behind closed doors.  Mostly that has to do with the cold and a lack/desire of getting out of the house.  Not to say that nothing at all has happened, because after all I did invent the cure for cancer this month... but of course not to say anything ground breaking has happened, either, because I still drive a dumpy car and mostly stay confined to my bedroom at my parents house.  That being said, something wonderful finally happened today and with it, I am allowed to reveal 2 more action items from my list of 26 Golden Things for my golden year.

#2 - The key; obtain a Passport.

#3 - The Destination; book a trip.

I had alluded to something NEARLY (2 days shy) a month ago about nailing one of my 26 things to the proverbial wall but forced myself to wait until said object was actually in my hands.  That being my Passport of course.  The bulk of the reason behind choosing to get one was an impending trip with my travel partner, Jillybean, but I'll get to that.  What's funny is that I thought getting a Passport would be fairly easy.  Fill out the papers, take a bad picture, then jaunt on over to the Post Office to lose a bunch of money and wait a few weeks.  The reason it's funny is because I wasn't QUITE that lucky.

I filled out the Passport application on the computer and printed it off at home, so that made life pretty easy for the hussy at the Post Office when I went in with my picture and everything, ready to roll.  The clerk-lady even said as much.  I brought two birth certificates with me that day; one was from just a couple days after I was born and the other was from the mid 90's when my mom wanted a copy.  The clerk at the Post Office chose the one from the 90's in what I assume was mostly due to it looking more official-like.  So I sign the checks and she mails my files off.  And then the waiting starts.

Well holy shit if not two weeks later I get a lovely letter from the U.S. Passport Agency telling me I sent the wrong birth certificate.  That one was an "abstract" certificate, whereas the Passport Agency clearly requests a "certified" certificate.  I had had a bad day at work already so when I got that letter I about blew my lid and shot some kittens.  I didn't really kill kittens; you can bet your ass I posted angrily about it on Facebook though!  How else would I get to whine about the injustice of it all!?

So my option (singular) was to submit the proper certificate within 90 days or else the Passport is denied and I lose my money.  They included a list of phone numbers for each state and how to collect said certificate.  Now, it's easy for most people in this area to get a certified copy of their birth certificate, largely due to the fact that they were born here and simply need to take a short drive to gather it.  I, being of Californian decent, must jump through some hoops first.  California state law requires a written declaration be submitted in regards to obtaining a certified certificate, and before sending the request in it must be notarized.  Good grief!  So I write out the damn check, get the papers notarized at my bank, and send it off.

In conjunction with sending off my request I decided to tempt fate.  My original birth certificate actually does say that it is a certified copy, the only problem being that the notary imprint on it is very faded and worn out.  I wrote a cover letter to the Passport Agency (because I'm fairly pretentious,) explaining why this record of my birth should be sufficient, and sent it away.  Worst that could happen?  They deny my passport and I have to go through the whole effing process again, losing another $135.  I was pleased as punch to come home today from the salon after going a couple shades closer to fabulous (aka true blond,) and find a lovely red, white, and blue envelope waiting for me.  Inside, said passport.

Now in the end, it is just a booklet of paper that feels kind of funny.  I suppose it has a microchip in it as well. But to me having a Passport symbolizes some pretty fantastic things.  Being able to leave the country chief among them; I finally have lost my reason to not do things regarding travel.  It's so easy to say "FUCK I want to go to Paris!"  Actually doing it is something else entirely without the ability, re: key, to do so.  I can't tell you how great it feels to be able to look up ticket prices to another country on a travel site and know that I can just click "purchase" instead of thinking "oh someday."  So with that out of the way, here is how the passport will first be used.

Jillybean, who is my absolute favorite person to travel with and always has been, started talking to me just after my birthday about going somewhere.  Anywhere.  She wanted to partake in my list of 26 Golden Things and I wanted to take her up on it.  It is one thing to WANT to book a trip, it is another thing entirely to actually do it.  So with her pure determination, we have booked a cruise.  That's right, a cruise; and no, not in Italy.  I don't want to drown before I turn 27 and round out what is sure to be (and so far has been) an amazing year.

We will be flying to Miami with Jillybean to depart for our cruise on November 3rd.  The Carnival Liberty sets sail from Miami and heads straight to Cozumel, Mexico, where our first port is.  From their we head to Belize City, Belize.  And then it is another jaunt to Mahogany Bay, Roatan Island, Honduras.  And not to stop at three countries, we will make it 4 with a final stop in George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.  If you are going to do it you might as well do it big, right?  The cruise is 7 nights long and it is going to be an absolute blast.  I am devising/revising my list of 26 Things so as to adapt for these destinations, and I'll be sure to take lots of pictures as I hit them.

This blog has gone on for way too long and I've run out of things to say, lol.  I'm sorry.  But there you have it, 3 of 26 Golden Things already checked off.  Expect one more next week (c:

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