Passport? What Passport?

So getting a passport is proving to be more difficult than I had imagined. I started researching what I need in order to get my first passport, which created my first problem. I was doing some research online and travel.state.gov said that I need a "certified birth certificate".  I read the document wrong and I thought I had to have my original birth certificate. Apparently not. The original one just had to be filed within a year of my birth. Luckily my parents decided to have me in a hospital, so that's not an issue. So I spent an entire day trying to figure that whole thing out.

Next, I started looking for the birth certificate that I know I have. I just saw it a month ago. But do you think I can find it? NO...  That's the problem with being a disorganized person. My method of filing paperwork is throwing it all in a shoe box. Take my word for it. BAD IDEA. So I spent all evening tonight trying to find my birth certificate, to no avail. This means that I have to go to City Hall and get one. This involves an hour of driving each way, and waiting in line to actually get my birth certificate. I'm not complaining. It's my own fault and I recognize that. I'm mostly annoyed with myself.

This is how I actually "file" paperwork...

Then there is the issue of the passport photo. I'm going to apply for my passport at the United States Postal Service. Most branches allow you to take your passport photo there while you wait. I told my sister this and she said "What if you hate your photo?!? Then you are stuck with it!". So now I have to find somewhere else to have it taken. I'm a nanny and I work 9am-6pm Monday thru Friday. It can make having a passport photo taken or getting a copy of your birth certificate difficult. When you work "normal business hours" and places like City Hall close at 6pm, this means dragging the kids you nanny for with you. Also not fun.

So this whole thing is turning out to be more difficult than I had anticipated. I have my passport application filled out, which is a plus. Hopefully I will be able to actually file the application in the next couple of weeks. I leave for Florida on Friday of this week, so it may not happen until I get home. Despite all of the unanticipated hoops, I'm actually really looking forward to having my passport. I live an hour from Canada, and you can't even go there anymore without one. Up to this point, I haven't had a reason to have one, but you never know what is going to happen.... Plus, I definitely need one for India!