Check the expiration date. On everything.

Not that I was shamefully counting change out when my credit card was declined, or anything. (It was flagged for 'strange' use and the call didn't come by the time I was out!)

Sit down with a glass of lemonade, and call each and every company you interact with. Before you move. Way before. Ask to add another address, change the main address, check phone numbers, etc. If you can, add a backup address/number so that if you are unavailable, someone you trust can verify things.

Even if you're not moving soon, MAKE A LIST! Which things need to be updated? Credit cards, debit cards, pensions, that aunt who sends you a card every Christmas?...

Even if you take care of ONE single call each day...in a million years, you will be done. I think. It's a start, anyway.

Good weekend, everyone, I'm off eat some cereal as my midnight snack and watch TV.

Oh, beautiful weekend, why have you left so soon? I am not looking forward to moving a bookcase I've sold. Or figuring out where to put the books before they're packed. Or finding my shoes in my mess of a semi-packed room.

Another great show Saturday at The Thrilling Adventure Hour. Despite the fact my hair looked horrible with the humidity (oh, salon down the street from me, you're lucky I haven't come back to scream at you), I got to say hello to two of my favorite actors, Paget Brewster and Matthew Gray Gubler. Matthew even gave me a sticker for his website GublerLand.com, it is gorgeous. And Paget wrote an sweet note to my fiance. I am absolutely squeeful!

A magical night, definitely. Cannot wait to go back next month, I definitely suggest you should go if you can get there! I've never seen an audience so thrilled and laughing so often, nor a cast and crew so talented.

Now, off to hike up to the grocery store, unless I want to eat a kiwi and tomato salad for breakfast.

Now is the time I must face the fact that I have an enormous amount of things to move.

If you are also facing this dilemma, come back to this post after you've finished rocking back and forth in a padded room. I'll wait.

First, I suggest, mark off or list all the must haves. The hand carved dollhouse your father made you, your baby pictures. These are the things you would be upset if they were lost. Irreplaceable.

Second, what are the things you would like to keep, but wouldn't be bugged if you couldn't? Yeah, that end table is gorgeous, but in the end, will it matter? THESE are the things that you can replace. See how much you really want it and go check the price at your new location. $200 Ikea bed, used for a few years. Sell it, save the shipping and buy a brand new one.

Also, consider the insane amount of fail built into lots of buildings. If you're moving into a five story building with no elevator, you will rethink the idea of having a glass front cabinet lugged up there. If you are moving in with someone, check for duplicates! Check for measurements! Check for storage space and replacement values!

I guess I should post about something unrelated to moving, as the most awesome thing happened the other day. Also, if I have to make one more Ebay listing, my head might spiral off and hit an innocent bystander.

I went to the fantastic Thrilling Adventure Hour at the Largo on La Cienega (near Beverly Center). I laughed so hard I had to try to re-do my makeup a time or three. If you can make it there, GO! You will giggle and laugh so much that you won't even remember your problems.

The lovely (seriously - so gorgeous and so talented!) Paget Brewster was kind enough to take time to say hello and peek at sketches my fiance did of her. Paget, you made my day, week, month...you are awesomely cool.

It had to be said. So I said it.

Best way to get your passport quickly (at least in Los Angeles). Come on, I can't be the only one who has looked at their passport and realized it expires in a month.

Basic Information

You're going to want to head to a Passport AGENCY, not a Passport Acceptance Facility. Those are generally post offices and there's a delay with mailing and all.

Requirements to Apply

Basically, you need to have proof you're traveling soon - 2 weeks or 4 weeks if you need a visa. Plus the usual forms, etc, which you can print at the website and fill out so you are ready to go. They didn't even want to see my e-ticket with proof of travel in 3 weeks, so, who knows.

In Los Angeles, the Passport Agency opens at 7am. Be there at 6:45 ;) Be prepared for airport style security, no metal belts, etc, unless you enjoy stripping in front of a hundred of your closest strangers.

Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90024-3615

Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: 1-877-487-2778

It moves surprisingly quickly there - it looks crowded but they usually have multiple windows open. If your paperwork is all in order, you're out in barely any time. You can choose to have your passport (passport cards are issued on the spot) mailed or you can pick it up. I chose to pick mine up (it was a renewal) and it was ready in two days. Head to Will-Call and show ID or receipt and boom, an envelope with your shiny new passport. Check the details before you leave, and sign it. Not that anyone ever checks the signature, but still.

As an offering to the passport office, I suggest bringing all the half used up pens you have to leave on the communal form filling out desk. In my informal study, 75% of people in the line had forgotten to bring a pen. 25% forget their brains.

Okay, one thing I won't miss about Los Angeles? The HEAT! I'm mellllllllllllllllting.

Anyway, short break from blogging, as Ebay had a week or so of free listings and I was busy selling everything I could find. Hint : Free USPS Pickup? Priceless. I pretend like I have to be right by the front door, which is near the TV, and at mailman time, I watch TV and sip my lemonade.

Today, my topic is photos. I'm thinking that I can't be the only one who has three huge boxes of photos? Right? I'm going through them in spurts, mainly when I'm tired and cranky, so I get rid of more. I'm not paying to ship a photo of some girl who was in some math class with me once and we went out for fries this one time. At band camp.

On the flip side, some pictures I would sob if I lost. My great grandmother watching me wear her fur stole (shut up PETA, she was born in 1900), my grandmother in a bathing suit in the 1950s, etc. I plan a large scale scanning project for the 'keeper' photos. If the originals go down on SS Crossing The Pond, I can always print them out again.

So what are YOUR suggestions on keeping and organizing photos? Do you keep every single one? Do you scan some to have 'just in case' and toss the originals?

Random hint of the day - do not skimp on healthy food, no matter how eager you may be to save money. Personally, I don't have time to cook three proper meals a day...whenever I've moved, I end up pigging out on pizza at the end of the day because I'm starving! Which brings me to my new find -

Organic fruit on the bottom and lowfat yogurt? With a cute wallaby on the package? YES. Hello breakfast! A friend dropped off a couple for me knowing I am way too busy to cook. Mango Tangerine! Genius. It's also a perfect thing to eat while on the phone, computer or anything. Get a spoon, and there is no mess, no fuss, just some tasty yogurt.

Disclaimer : I'm not saying this because I'm getting paid! Unless someone wants to pay me for it...

Other snacks I suggest are dried fruit and nuts, veggie slices with dip, hummus and pitas...anything you can have on hand to have a quick snack. Get some fuel in you before you work! :)