To-do

Now that the wedding is over, we have time to get back to normal life, which is great because there is quite a bit of stuff that needs to happen. I think November 1 is absolutely the latest in the year that one should have a wedding, because now we're back and it's almost the holidays and holy crap on top of the normal holiday stuff there's all this post-wedding stuff AND stuff that we didn't do while we were planning the wedding that really needs to get done.

So, before my head explodes from all the stuff I keep meaning to do, I thought I'd write it out here and also get you all to commiserate with me to make me feel better about everything that needs to get done.

1. Legally changing my name. I've made a list of all the places where that has to get done, and so far I've come up with 26. An unbelievable number, isn't it? But it's true: Social Security, my license, two banks (brick & mortar plus online savings), work, two passports (American and British), three insurances (health, dental, and renter's), two doctors and a pharmacy, cell phone, internet/cable company, Zipcar, BlogHer, my frequent flier account, and a bunch of credit cards. And probably something else that I'm not thinking of. I am really trying not to think about the heinous mounds of paperwork that are waiting for me.

2. Organizing our apartment. We'd been living together for over a year when we got married, and we each lived on our own for awhile before that, so we had quite a bit of domestic stuff already. So the gifts we registered for were mostly upgrades to the stuff that we already had: nice china instead of our parents' old castoffs, quality pots and pans instead of the starter set from Ikea, etc. And we got a lot of really fantastic gifts, but we have seriously nowhere to put them, because our apartment is not that big and cabinet space is limited. So we have to put all of our dishes and other old kitchen implements through the dishwasher and then pack them up to donate and put all of our new stuff in their places. And figure out where the hell we're going to PUT everything, because we definitely have more stuff now than we did before. AND since we're going to be making a big donation to Goodwill or wherever, I'd like to finally go through our closet and pull out all the clothes we don't wear and donate them as well. That way we can have a million boxes of stuff to donate and then we can just get a Zipcar for a couple hours and donate it all at once.

3. Writing thank you notes. I don't mind doing that at all, actually, because it's a great way to follow up with people after the wedding, and plus we got a lot of fantastic gifts and I genuinely want to thank people for giving them, but they will definitely take time. And I can already feel the hand cramps. I am very glad that we did a decent job of keeping up with the thank you notes for the gifts that arrived before the wedding.

4. Getting a Christmas tree and decorating it. This can't happen until number 2 has been completed, because all of our wedding gifts are currently languishing in the one space in the apartment that is big enough to hold a tree. But I really want a tree. I am bizarrely much more excited about Christmas this year than I am most years, and not because of the gifts. It's just that there was the wedding, and then the tropical vacation, and when we got back there were wreaths and Christmas lights everywhere, and I felt very happy and excited about that. I am looking forward to Christmas season, holiday parties, etc.

5. Buying gifts. I have some already purchased and others picked out, but there are still a fair few that I am totally stuck on. But I would really like to get my shopping done early so that I can stop thinking about it. There is no sense of satisfaction quite like the complacent feeling that you have finished your holiday gift shopping, as far as I'm concerned.

6. Getting my wedding gown cleaned and preserved. First of all, I have to figure out where to do this. Then I somehow have to get the heavy dress there (wherever there is--and I'm guessing it won't be conveniently located right down the street) and then pick it up again. And then, and this may be the most difficult part, I have to figure out where to store it in our small apartment. Hm.

OK, now I am simultaneously struck by how much stuff I have to get done and relieved to have it all written down and therefore somewhat organized. But please, reassure me: I'm not alone here, right? What stuff do YOU have on your to-do list right now?