8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 15

[radioclash2]

Well played !!

TAKE WHAT YOU CAN !!

 

[tom31b]

Man, I thought the 40 second rule had me for sure there

I got hit by the "same post in 5 minute rule" which then invoked another 40 seconds, otherwise I would have had it...

Congrats

 

[magiroux]

GIVE NOTHING BACK!!!!!

 

[magiroux]

Tom, did your pirate just mis-fire ?

.......again

 

[radioclash2]

I got hit by the "same post in 5 minute rule" which then invoked another 40 seconds, otherwise I would have had it...

Congrats

Me Too !!
I shot my self in the foot. Stupid pirate gun !!

 

[radioclash2]

All right, I'm outta here.

Tom, thanks for the hotel/transportation info. You might have just pushed me off that fence.

 

[tom31b]

Rolling Summary for posts 71,001 to 72,000

Lots of info on passports and some horror stories (hint - get it NOW!)
Weather for August 16, 2007 in LA (think compare to August 2008)
One year from today (pictoral tour of Magic leaving LA) - begins at bottom of page and goes over next several pages
Excursions from 2005


justmestace sneaks in for the
Wenches: 39 Jack: 4 Swabbies: 28 Evil Twins: 1

 

[tom31b]

All right, I'm outta here.

Tom, thanks for the hotel/transportation info. You might have just pushed me off that fence.

You have until mid-sept to make this decision as that is when airfare comes on line, so if you want to be ready to pounce on cheat airfare, you need to be ready then...

 

[magiroux]

All right, I'm outta here.

Tom, thanks for the hotel/transportation info. You might have just pushed me off that fence.

See ya, Lisa

 

[micmse2003]

Congrats!!!!!!! Glad you just got on!!!

Well played !!

TAKE WHAT YOU CAN !!

Give Nothing Back!!!!!

 

[magiroux]

Congrats!!!!!!! Glad you just got on!!!




Give Nothing Back!!!!!

Thanks, Cheryl!!

 

[tom31b]

Happy Birthday Shannon (wheelerkidz3)

 

[sopandbass]

Hi, Everyone ~

Just like everyone on this board, we're excited about the August 2008 cruise through the PC! This itinerary was announced while we were on another cruise so we put in a paper reservation for it and were lucky enough to get a stateroom for this cruise.

I also talked some friends who had never been on a cruise to join us and they made a reservation online on that crazy morning when reservations started. Anyway, they are pretty sure they can't go now. I know there is a long waitlist for this cruise. Is there any word about how many people are waiting? I was just curious.

 

[tom31b]

Hi, Everyone ~

Just like everyone on this board, we're excited about the August 2008 cruise through the PC! This itinerary was announced while we were on another cruise so we put in a paper reservation for it and were lucky enough to get a stateroom for this cruise.

I also talked some friends who had never been on a cruise to join us and they made a reservation online on that crazy morning when reservations started. Anyway, they are pretty sure they can't go now. I know there is a long waitlist for this cruise. Is there any word about how many people are waiting? I was just curious.

Rumor has it that the cruise was overbooked, how much its not clear. DCL stopped taking a waiting list for the cruise, so its also not clear if there is anyone in "waiting list" status.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Happy Birthday Shannon
aka wheelerkidz3

 

[jonesing]

Can someone help me with a quick passport question? I'm sure it's a dumb question, but I'm new to the whole passport process.

What happens if your name is spelled wrong on your birth certificate?

When I was born, my mom wasn't allowed to fill out the forms. She told the nurse how she wanted my name spelled, but the "woman" wouldn't listen. Instead of spelling it LaTanya she spelled it LaTonya.

It's spelled correctly on all other document (SS card, permit, insurance policies...)

Am I right in assuming I'll have to get it legally changed before applying for our passports?

Well my first suggestion isn't about "hoping" that they'll produce your passport with your desired name, my suggestion is this: Go to the vital statistics office and find out how to get your birth certificate corrected! It doesn't matter that you've got IDs with your desired spelling because I can almost garauntee you that somewhere down the road, some gov't wonk is going to see the misspelling and create a huge hassle for you! My dad went through all his life using "Jones" as his last name. It wasn't until he was getting investigated by the FBI for his first TS clearance that they caught it...Jones isn't the name on his birth certificate! Actually, he was surprised that he even had one filed, they weren't exactly up on paperwork back then in rural Texas. Which is evidenced by the fact that his birth certificate was filed when he was 2 or 3! Anyway, since everything was done with "Jones" they left it alone. He got out of the military and went to work for Lockheed. He was at Skunk Works and if you know anything about that place, that tells you the types of clearances he held. For those that don't know...it's simple, even the janitors had to have at least a Secret clearance!

He retired from Lockheed and went down to Social Security to get ready for filing to collect from them. Guess what? They wanted his birth certificate! DD-214 military discharge papers, US Armed Forces ID card, VA disability certification paperwork...all of it useless--birth certificate or no claim! Oh, b/c isn't in the name he'd been using he entire life? Well, then change the b/c! So yes, he paid a lawyer some $300 I think, took an ad out in the newspaper (part of the process) and got a legal name "change" to the name he'd been using all along. The court sent an order to Texas which then updated his birth certificate to reflect his "new" name.

The upside is not only can he collect his SS money, but he can also now get a passport! He didn't need one for his overseas assignments, he traveled on his US military ID.

Thanks for all the passport help.

Of course another issue popped up.

The State of South Carolina issues small, credit card size BCs. There isn't a seal on the darn thing.

I called one of my aunts last night since she and her husband just went through the passport process last year.(both were born in SC) They didn't have any problems with their BCs.

On top of all of this, the passport application says I need someone to appear with me to vouch for who I am. Why? I don't have the proper government issued ID. See, I'll be 40 in January, but I never learned to drive. According to the application I can't present my permit as ID.

I call another (thank goodness my mom has so many sisters ) aunt who never learned to drive but has a passport. She was able to use her nondriver ID card which was issued by DMV. She said the agent never questioned it, so maybe it's common here. So she doesn't have a driver's license and her BC doesn't have an official seal(yup, she was born in SC) yet she has a passport.

She recommended that I do everything at the main post office downtown Brooklyn.

I had planned to get the ball rolling around Christmas. I'm going to start in October.

Yes, every state issues a state ID for people who don't/can't drive or otherwise qualify for a DL. The documentation requirements for getting a state ID are pretty much the same as for getting a DL (because many states like CO require their state-issued ID for getting state benefits). Some states will issue both (CA used to issue both to one person but the DL/ID numbers were the same, TX issues both and the DL/ID numbers are different--I still have my TX ID card and haven't lived there in over 10 years). However, many states only issue one or the other.

As for the short form of your b/c. If your current one doesn't have a seal on it, how about getting a current one?

http://www.scdhec.net/administration/vr/birth.htm

"The State Office of Vital Records located at DHEC, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina issues different types of birth certifications: (1) a short form certification (birth card) and (2) Computer-generated long form. The birth card is a wallet-size certification that contains the birth certificate number, the name of the person whose certificate is being issued, the date of birth, sex, the county of birth, and the date the birth was filed. The computer-generated long form contains the following information: 1) State File Number, 2) Name of Registrant, 3) Date of Birth, 4) County of Birth, 5) Father's Name (if listed on the original birth certificate), 6) Mother's Maiden Name, 7)Date Record Filed, and 8) Date Issued. The computer-generated long forms can ONLY be issued at the State Office location – DHEC, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. "​

Note that SC isn't the only state to do this short form/long form deal. CA is one...but the CA short for IS NOT sufficient for State Dept to issue a passport! I was born before the short/long form business so that's moot for me. If you get a new birth card, it'll have a state (or county) seal and would be okay for getting a passport.

"Each of South Carolina's forty-six (46) counties has a vital records office in the county health department. In 2000, the Statewide Birth Certification Project was completed and allows all forty-six (46) county vital records' offices to issue short form certifications (birth cards) for any South Carolina birth, regardless of the county of birth. Statewide birth certification allows a customer (if entitled) to obtain a birth card from any county health department regardless of where in South Carolina the birth occurred."​

 

[tom31b]

Well my first suggestion isn't about "hoping" that they'll produce your passport with your desired name, my suggestion is this: Go to the vital statistics office and find out how to get your birth certificate corrected! It doesn't matter that you've got IDs with your desired spelling because I can almost garauntee you that somewhere down the road, some gov't wonk is going to see the misspelling and create a huge hassle for you! My dad went through all his life using "Jones" as his last name. It wasn't until he was getting investigated by the FBI for his first TS clearance that they caught it...Jones isn't the name on his birth certificate! Actually, he was surprised that he even had one filed, they weren't exactly up on paperwork back then in rural Texas. Which is evidenced by the fact that his birth certificate was filed when he was 2 or 3! Anyway, since everything was done with "Jones" they left it alone. He got out of the military and went to work for Lockheed. He was at Skunk Works and if you know anything about that place, that tells you the types of clearances he held. For those that don't know...it's simple, even the janitors had to have at least a Secret clearance!

He retired from Lockheed and went down to Social Security to get ready for filing to collect from them. Guess what? They wanted his birth certificate! DD-214 military discharge papers, US Armed Forces ID card, VA disability certification paperwork...all of it useless--birth certificate or no claim! Oh, b/c isn't in the name he'd been using he entire life? Well, then change the b/c! So yes, he paid a lawyer some $300 I think, took an ad out in the newspaper (part of the process) and got a legal name "change" to the name he'd been using all along. The court sent an order to Texas which then updated his birth certificate to reflect his "new" name.

The upside is not only can he collect his SS money, but he can also now get a passport! He didn't need one for his overseas assignments, he traveled on his US military ID.





Yes, every state issues a state ID for people who don't/can't drive or otherwise qualify for a DL. The documentation requirements for getting a state ID are pretty much the same as for getting a DL (because many states like CO require their state-issued ID for getting state benefits). Some states will issue both (CA used to issue both to one person but the DL/ID numbers were the same, TX issues both and the DL/ID numbers are different--I still have my TX ID card and haven't lived there in over 10 years). However, many states only issue one or the other.

As for the short form of your b/c. If your current one doesn't have a seal on it, how about getting a current one?

http://www.scdhec.net/administration/vr/birth.htm

"The State Office of Vital Records located at DHEC, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina issues different types of birth certifications: (1) a short form certification (birth card) and (2) Computer-generated long form. The birth card is a wallet-size certification that contains the birth certificate number, the name of the person whose certificate is being issued, the date of birth, sex, the county of birth, and the date the birth was filed. The computer-generated long form contains the following information: 1) State File Number, 2) Name of Registrant, 3) Date of Birth, 4) County of Birth, 5) Father's Name (if listed on the original birth certificate), 6) Mother's Maiden Name, 7)Date Record Filed, and 8) Date Issued. The computer-generated long forms can ONLY be issued at the State Office location – DHEC, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. "​

Note that SC isn't the only state to do this short form/long form deal. CA is one...but the CA short for IS NOT sufficient for State Dept to issue a passport! I was born before the short/long form business so that's moot for me. If you get a new birth card, it'll have a state (or county) seal and would be okay for getting a passport.

"Each of South Carolina's forty-six (46) counties has a vital records office in the county health department. In 2000, the Statewide Birth Certification Project was completed and allows all forty-six (46) county vital records' offices to issue short form certifications (birth cards) for any South Carolina birth, regardless of the county of birth. Statewide birth certification allows a customer (if entitled) to obtain a birth card from any county health department regardless of where in South Carolina the birth occurred."​

See, I would have done all that research for you, but its Monday and I'm being lazy.....

Great Job Mr. "Jones"

 

[jonesing]

you know... hadn't thought about it but DITTO!
Same exact situation here. Mine is one letter off- similar to yours except it's a letter missing (Shelly on BC, Shelley on SS/DL/Etc.) They didn't give me any trouble at all with DL and BC on the last cruise- but I'm not sure how it's going to work with passports. (yet another reason I hope they don't require passports past the point of this cruise. )

Well quit hoping. Having worked my entire adult life in, for and around US government agencies, I can assure you of this: the summer Travel Accommodation will not be repeated next year! I'm surprised they actually had some out of the box thinkers come up with this plan in the first place! Well, not that someone thought of it, that it was approved...I'm sure State went groveling to DHS (ICE) and had to do some backroom dealing to get ICE to go along with the plan. State may issue the passports, but ICE is the "deciderer" as to whether or not you get back in the country. Oh mind you it is indeed the absolute right (one of very few absolutes) of every US citizen to return to the USA...but that doesn't mean getting in is always painless.

START NOW!!!!! Start getting those passports NOW rather than wait until later when the rest of the passport mandate kicks in and cruise pax have to get them. As sure as we're getting a new president in 2008, there will be hordes of flooding State with passport applications because they didn't know they'd need a passport. You don't have to get them all at one time, start with the easiest (ie the kids) first since all the documentation should be in order. Then apply for another a month or two later.

The idea of going to the federal passport office is kinda sound. They are not the post office or court clerk etc. The US State Department has 14 regional Passport Agencies around the country: Boston | Chicago | Colorado (Denver) | Connecticut | Honolulu | Houston | Los Angeles | Miami | New Orleans | New York City | Philadelphia | San Francisco | Seattle | Washington DC. The DC location also houses the special issuance center for diplomatic and official (government) passports. There isn't one in Dallas, it's in Houston.

These facilities should be used as a last resort: they only see people by appointment and they only give appointments to those traveling within 14 days! Now, if you're willing to play the waiting game then going to a PA is the most foolproof way of getting a passport...so long as your documents are in order! If you go there 8-14 days from your trip (the week before) then they will mail you your passport. But if you go the week OF your trip (1-7 days prior) then you will walk out of the office with your new passport in your hand as they take 2-3 hours to make.

You can also use a passport/visa expediting company like Travisa or CIBT (my organization uses CIBT). Mind you, these services charge money BUT, they will send people down to the PA for you to wait in line, submit your docs, pick up your passport and then send it to you. You can use them starting 45 days prior to your trip.

 

[jonesing]

See, I would have done all that research for you, but its Monday and I'm being lazy.....

Great Job Mr. "Jones"

Why thank you kind sir.
And the name is "Smith"

 

[Sarangel]

So I guess I am here all by myself this morning....

Nope. It's just too early for some of us.

One of the bigger ones, Perseids (sp??) every year at this time. Sat night was a bit early (peak was last night) but sky was crystal clear and no moon....

See, we live in San Francisco - too much fog. Some year we'll take the little one someplace that's clear to watch 'em.

No, come back this afternoon.

My, aren't you in a mood...

I also talked some friends who had never been on a cruise to join us and they made a reservation online on that crazy morning when reservations started. Anyway, they are pretty sure they can't go now. I know there is a long waitlist for this cruise. Is there any word about how many people are waiting? I was just curious.

I dunno about the wait list, but we have friends who are *very* interested in going, but DCL isn't taking any waitlist names. We're just going to keep an eye on things as we approach the final payoff date & keep our fingers crossed for them.

Just BTW about the passport situation, DH (RenKnt) works for DHS & he says that while there might be an extension for Mexico and/or the Carribean, since we're travelling to South America (Colombia) the chances are REALLY high that we're going to need passports. Just a random thought for those waiting on passports.