Hidden Costs

You know, I'm supposed to be moving to Morocco because this is going to be beneficial to me, and while in the long run it may be, so far all it has been is an expense. Between the wedding which we weren't able to take the time to save for (not that I mind), buying a ticket for Garren (again not that I mind, obviously), acquiring pertinent documents, and them pushing back my start date I feel somehow like I'm out a fortune. I'm sure maybe I'm exaggerating a little here, but now I'm having to pay to have all my document translated for the Visa purposes. 

I just sent ONE of the documents I need translated for a quote and was told $195 for the one document. Granted it's the biggest document with the most words but at this rate, getting everything translated is going to cost me an insane amount of money. 

Between the wedding, moving, taking on a new job, leaving my old job, moving away from everything I know, leaving my cats, and spending a lot of money I don't have I'm feeling really depressed. I keep telling myself it's going to be great and it's all going to be worth it in the end, but right now it doesn't feel that way. I just feel stressed, put out and a little lonely with Garren at work tonight. 

Whatever it's just money right? And in the end it will get me to Morocco and a crazy adventure right? I'm going to have to email to see if they will cover the costs for these translations. I just hate feeling like the American who's trying to get everything paid for. But this was an expense I didn't expect.  So I'll send them the invoice and see what they say. Sigh. It will probably be no.

What?!

Melanie at work got a text from her daughter that Michael Jackson was dead.

WTF?! Upon scouring the Internet on TMZ is reporting he is dead, but as far as I'm concerned TMZ is a bunch of idiots. The NYT, LAT and Washington Post are reporting that he was rushed to a hospital in LA. Apparently he's suffered a heart attack and was not breathing upon the paramedics arrival.

Although since writing this, LAT is now reporting that he is dead. I'm still dubious as I think it still has yet to be confirmed by the hospital.

I know Michael Jackson isn't the stablest of personalities, but I have a fondness for his music so, "Don't die Michael!"

Anti Bride

I'm a little frustrated with wedding stuff today. I know that Garren and everyone in my circle of friends is sick of hearing about it but I'm just not gaga over any of my dress choices. The fact is I'm annoying myself with my lack of decision making abilities.

I dunno. Maybe I'm placing too much importance on it, but when I pictured my wedding I always imagined that I would have the most unbelievable dress or at least feel unbelievable in it. But I never had a clear picture of the style or options I wanted. Maybe because it's changed over the years. Either way it has caused problems as it's hard to find your perfect dress if you don't have a clear picture of it.

I think the other factor is the limited time. From start to finish I will have had about 6 weeks total to plan this wedding. And while for the most part it is exactly what I want even if we had more time the truth is that if I had a year I feel like I could have paid a bit more attention to the details. I probably would have found a dress before I picked flower colors and I would have had a lot more time to be picky about the dress without worrying about a time crunch and alterations and accessory buying factors. I would have had more time to think about decorations, flower arrangements, gifts, etc. As it is most of that stuff has been thrown out the window for us. And while that's ok I regret not having some more time, because if I did I could have saved a bit more for the dress so I wasn't as limited in the price range.

Right now I feel like I can't consider certain options because it's out of my price range or there is not enough time. Or maybe it doesn't fit with the casual wedding we're having. And with us paying for the wedding on our own (with some help from the parents) I don't know if I can justify paying over $400 for a dress I'll only wear once. My frugal side is telling me it's ridiculous.

At this point I'm not sure what to do. Do I settle? Do I keep looking? Do I consider options a little bit out of the price range and say to hell with it? Do I say f*%ck it and just wear a sheet?

I'm giving myself the weekend. And then if I can't find an option I am gaga over I'm going with the back up dress and I'm going to embrace it whole heartedly without any reservations. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it. I'm also going to shut up about it after this post. I hate feeling like a bridezilla. blah.

Whew!

Crisis averted (hopefully). The hotel is being very understanding, I'm being very understanding and I have been extended a start date of August 15th.

So Bay Area friends you are stuck with me for a little while longer. I'll be working until the end of July and Garren and I may just take a mini honeymoon to Europe before my start date in Morocco. This also leaves me time to settle the cats in Benicia myself, which will make me feel a little better about my departure from them.

So things are looking ok. For now.

Good News

As a side note Garren and I have found a photographer. We originally were hoping to book Susan Dean, but she is bi-coastal this summer and for her to come to come out for our little wedding would not be cost efficient. Thankfully Susan is awesome and recommended some friends of hers who would be willing to work within our budget and had the date free. You can check out their work here. 

We're very excited that another piece of the puzzle has been put into place for the wedding. Even with all this other work drama going on. So yea wedding stuff! Boo moving stuff!

Un-FREAKING-Believable

I just got a call today from Marrakech. They've delayed the opening. And now they want me to start September 1st.

After giving me a hard time for asking for an August 1st start date. After making it sound like it is DIRE that I need to be there July 1st. After we have been running around with wedding plans, moving plans, giving notice at jobs, apartments, bugging family, friends and anyone who will listen they want me to start September 1st.

To say I'm upset is a little understated. I mean they knew there were rumblings that the hotel would be delayed. They wouldn't tell me and I KNEW that it would be delayed. And they still insisted on a July 1st start date. And now this. It just makes them seem 1. disorganized and 2. uncaring as to my situation. I understand that they have construction issues and all sorts of opening issues to deal with, but take some initiative and realize as you are hiring someone that the opening date you have planned, probably will not be happening and plan accordingly. It's not THAT hard.

So

1. I need to speak with mom. (Mom, call me when you read this)
2. The wedding is still on for July 14th. Too much is already been planned and coordinated. We're not changing it.
3. Garren's going to see if he can still work for another month or so, while still having the time off for the wedding and all.
4. I need to coordinate with Marrakech to see if we can do an Aug 1st or Mid August start date so that even if Garren is not working we can possibly make everything work.

Oy vey!

Making some Progress

So last week or so I was given a list of things that need to be provided for my Visa application in Morocco. I present you with the list:

• 16 Identification Photos (8 Passport size, 8 1 inch x 1 inch)
• Birth Certificate
• 2 Copies of Marriage License
• 3 Copies of Background Check (1 original + 2 copies)
• 4 Copies of Resume (in French)
• 2 Copies of any Diplomas
• 2 Copies of Verification of Employment
• Original Copy of the Request for Transfer
• 5 Copies of Passport with the Visa Page for entry into Morocco

On top of this all of the above has to be translated into French and I have to get 3 quotes from movers to move our stuff from Berkeley, CA to Marrakech, Morocco. And no one has told me when they need these documents by or how to send them (i.e email, mail, overnight, etc, or just plain bring it with me). Ughh.

But for my own, "I am making progress purposes" I give you the following list of items that have procured and/or completed:

• 8 Passport Photos (they suck). (I still need to get 8 in the 1"x1" size)
• Birth Certificate with Certification obtained today! (Still needs to be translated)
• 2 Copies of Marriage Certificate - I explained our situation and was told I can bring a copy of the filed marriage license and give them a copy of the Marriage Certificate when received after arrival in Morocco. (To be copied, filed and request a copy of certificate)
• Background check - Both Garren and I have been fingerprinted and have sent them off to the FBI for a print out of a criminal background check. (Waiting to be received and then translated).
• Resume - My sister is working on translating this for me. And if she doesn't have time I'll have it translated with everything else
• Diploma - I've found it! (Still needs to be translated)
• Verification of Employment - I have one from my current employer and one from my former employer is on the way (Still need to be translated)
• Request for Transfer - Filled out except that they need to tell us how long the duration time frame should be on the form. (An email has been sent to clarify)
• Passport and Visa Page - Has been scanned (Ready to send and/or print as soon as they tell me when they want this stuff!)
• Movers are coming tomorrow to do an estimate, another company is sending an estimate based on our size requirements and we are calling another to get the third estimate tomorrow.

So really I am making progress right? Now if I can just get them to tell me when I should buy our tickets. Or how? And if it's ok that we're planning on leaving from LA....So many things to settle still, but progress is progress. Right? Right?

GOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!

So as some of you know I've been on Weight Watchers for the past year. This past week I hit my 6 week maintenance and am now a Lifetime Member. Woot-woot!

Not to toot my own horn or anything but I just felt like the event needed a comment or a vocal marking of some kind. It's not like a lost a massive amount of weight. All told it was under 30 pounds, but well I feel like it was an accomplishment for me. I decided to change something in my life and I made it happen. It wasn't impossible, or unreachable it just needed a little focus and outside help.

So there it is. I'm a skinny bitch in time for the wedding. Some things just do fall into place.

Kept Man

Garren has entered the world of blogging. Go give him some love. You can find him here:

http://keptmanchronicles.blogspot.com/

When I Grow Up

I feel like a grown up today. Garren and I got a marriage license. Weird! Who thought I would ever do that? Or I mean I thought one day eventually but to actually do it and have it now. Well it feels like something a grown up should be doing. Not me.

And all of work now knows that I'm moving to Morocco. Lots of Congratulations and a little bit of sadness going around. But lots and lots of well wishes so it's really nice. I'm going to miss my life here, but like everyone has been saying, it's a great opportunity, you only live once and I'm young so I should do it now.

So hell yea.

Official

Well. We're moving to Morocco. They agreed to a later start date and I've signed and sent off the contract. Good God!

Now we just have to get organzied and get married. Simple really. Yea uh-huh. I'm already stressed at finding a dress. I don't want anything fancy. Just something simple, but with stores seeming to carry nothing these days I've exhausted my online options (although I have 4 dresses at home which are possible and being kept as back up in case I find nothing else I like) and I keep looking at the same things online over and over. sigh. I think I have a few more options I can order and try on at home. But after that.....Bridal boutiques scare me. Both for the intimidation factor and money factor.

And then I have to find shoes, and maybe jewlery. This is all just exhausting and this is just a teeny tiny portion of this whole process. Thank god we are having a small hurried wedding. Anything else and I might pull out my hair. I am so not a girl.

And then there is moving logistics. I don't even know where to start there so I'm just waiting for the HR department to contact me. I need direction people!

And this morning it entered into my head that I'm going to have to say goodbye to my cats. When I drop them off at the vet for boarding as everyone who would usually watch them will be in SB with us. So it will be stressful for them and I will be super sad. Mom will of course take great care of them, but I don't know when I'll see them again. I'm a pathetic pathetic cat lady.

And there are a million more "and thens" that are swirling around in my head. So if I act like a basket case for the next month or so, please forgive me. This is all a little overwhelming.

Thank you to everyone for all your support and love. Garren and I are amazed at the outpouring of offers of help that we have received since calling you all and letting you know that this whole crazy plan is a go. We truly have the best friends and family.

I'm going to go back to obsessing over my list (planner!) and trying to do work now. Although really who can focus on work....