We just got our engagement photo. :D Sean's so dreamy. <3

Moving is a bitch. And I'm not even talking about the moving-furniture-unpacking-boxes part. Just the paperwork alone is a nightmare.



On the last day of November we bought our new car, and on the first day of December we moved to Philadelphia. But because we were to live in New Jersey for 7 more hours that night, the dealership insisted on putting through the paperwork (and accompanying cost) of New Jersey registration.



Our temporary registration (the dealership paper in the back window) expires on the 19th, and since its new to our insurance policy, we need to get a certified picture taken of the car by the 14th, which involes going to a private auto body shop on a weekday between the hours of 8:30 and 4:30.



Since we changed states we had to get a new insurance policy. That wasn't so bad and got taken care of over the phone. But it may take a week or so before we get the official PA proof of insurance cards. That insurance, by the way, is more expensive for one car in Philly than it was for two cars in New Jersey - even though Sean took his car to Philly every day for work.



We need to get PA licenses. That involves going to an office on a week day between 8:30 and 4:30, surrendering our old lisences, providing our birth certificates, two forms of proof confirming our new address (we haven't had time to even get bills yet), our SS cards, and a check or money order, cause debit cards are apparently of the devil.



Then we need to get the cars registered. And I think planets actually need to align for this one. Since we're financing the car we don't have the title, so we have to go into the office of a private messenger business between 8:30 and 4:30 on a weekday, bring proof of PA car insurance (have to wait till it arrives in the mail), fill out a form, have a professional mechanic formally "trace" the VIN number, and wait several business days until the company recieves a copy of our title from the financer. Then we have to come back during a weekday between 8:30 and 4:30 to finish the registration process. And because PA is a privatized system and doesn't have DMVs, it costs $125 to get this private company to process our forms for us.



And then there are the taxes. Because we changed states mid-fiscal year, we have to pay taxes in NJ, PA, and Philadelphia. 11 months worth of taxes for New Jersey, 1 month worth of taxes for PA and Philly. The PA and Philly income taxes combined are twice as much as we were paying in New Jersey. So everything is more expensive, but we're making less money. Yay. And I'm not even sure how we're going to file for these taxes since only today did I get my change of address to process through Payroll, so I may have to pay out of pocket wage and income taxes for Philly and PA since those deductions weren't made.



And then there is the marriage license. We have to both go in person to City Hall on a week day between 8:30 and 4:30 (see a theme here), brining proof of ID and citizenship, so we can fill out a form, wait three days, and then come back during business hours to pick up the license in person. And because it's a self uniting marriage license it costs $170 instead of $80 for a regular one. And it has to be paid via money order, cause debit cards are of the devil.



I don't know if we'll go broke first, or if we'll go insane from all the paperwork and weekday shuffling from office to office.

Sean and I found out this weekend that most of the ceilings in our apartment are made of concrete. So those ceiling mounted curtains and our dining room chandelier are going to be a bit of an issue to put up. In the bathroom we've got more problems. It has beautiful marble tile with a standard straight curtain rod mounted directly onto the marble. We'd prefer a curved curtain rod cause it gives you more space in the shower, but again, drilling into the ubber hard surface to mount it might be a bit of an issue.



For the marble I think we need special drill bits, but for the concrete I've read we'd need a hammer drill, which are expensive and we'd never really use again. So I was thinking about hiring a professional who not only would have the tools, but would have experience, but I'm not sure what to look up. Carpenters? Contractors? Handyguys?



Got any advice?



Maybe we should just use denture cream. Those commercials are amazing.

I was told we were having a working lunch this afternoon and one of the program managers was going to buy pizza. So I grabbed my notebook and went up to the conference room ... to a surprise Bridal Shower.



I opened the door and found 25 of my coworkers smiling at me, yelling "Surprise!". I was completely shocked. I stood in the door way like a deer in headlights not fully comprehending what was going on. The room was decorated with balloons, table clothes, and shiny milar party centerpieces. There was pizza, soda, salad, cookies, cake, a card, a present, and a gift card. When I opened the present and saw the Empire Red Artisan Kitchen Aid Mixer, tears actually welled up in my eyes. I said "I can't tell you how much this means to me." And I really can't.



I've never had a surprise party before. I never expected all of my coworkers to put something like that together for me. To go to such trouble and such expense. I can't even think of the words to express how loved I feel.

The move is done. Our old apartment was emptied, the wallpaper removed (what a nightmare), the bathroom painted with primer, and the keys dropped off in the leasing office mail slot.



Our new place is BEAUTIFUL! There are a bunch of boxes yet to unpack, but most of the pictures are on the walls and the furniture is all in place. I just can't wait to go home again. :)



The drive this morning wasn't so bad. I left at 6:30 and arrived at the front gate of the base by 7:35, and I didn't even speed. I'm not sure how much worse the traffic would be if I left later in the morning though. If I want to arrive at work at 8:30 I may have to leave by 7.



We also got a new car this weekend. We went to the Saturn of Turnersville on Friday to sell Sean's car, and instead ended up trading both of our cars in for a 2006 Saturn Ion with only 16K miles, an upgraded suspension, a full electronics package (no more window cranks for us!), a boop-boop key chain thingy, On Star, a warranty, and Ipod compatibility. And after much negotiation, we got them down to $211 a month with no additional money down. That's $5 less a month than I was paying for my old car, so it doesn't affect our budget at all. It's all clean and nice inside and the seats are new and cushy. :D



So it's been a crazy weekend. New home, new car, new state. And the wedding is 39 days away and counting.