I finally did it

After being married for 7 months and 11 days, I finally went down to the Social Security office to change my name. Don't worry, it's not because I didn't want to change my name at all; I've been going by Kimberlee O'Malley and my business cards have that name on it, but my license and all official documents still say Kimberlee Ortiz. So, since today is the last day of recess until Memorial Day, and I'm not supposed to skip out on work when we're in session, it was either today or... never.

I've been putting this off because I hate the Social Security Administration, I hate lines and waiting rooms, I hate the Department of Licensing, I hate paperwork, and I hate government bureaucracies- except for the one that employs me. But yesterday I bought an airline ticket for Kimberlee O'Malley so I better get this taken care of in the next two months or else I won't be allowed to get on that plane.

I took the metro to the downtown office, got a number and waited for an hour until they called me. They were brutal there, if you weren't at the counter by the 3rd time they call your number, you have to get a new one and start all over. I witnessed this happen to a woman who was listening to her iPod and realized her number was called about 5 seconds too late. This almost happened to me since I had forgotten to fill out the paperwork while I was waiting, but luckily they let me fill it out while standing at the counter. At the end of it all, they promised me my new social security card would arrive in the mail within 2 weeks.

Then I get to venture into hell (the DC Department of Licensing) and do it all over again just to get a picture ID with my new name. But it will all be worth it when I'm not flagged on the terrorist watch list because I tried to board a plane in Washington, DC with the wrong ID. Also, I will no longer be asked repeatedly by Brandon, my parents, and my boss why I won't change my name.