Loving the way you write...very entertaining, very much my style.
Sadly, we acquired our passports with big Christmas in Thailand plans that some how demoted themselves to holiday en espanol, i.e. Mexico. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a tequilia hangover...
DShan
· 6 months ago
That's very true about Christmas and tequila, isn't it?
doniree
· 6 months ago
I've actually never had a passport, but it's on my to-do list to have one before the end of the summer. Last time I traveled outside of the country (Mexico, 1998) all you needed to do so was a visa. First place I'm going to go WITH my passport? Looking like Costa Rica.
DShan
· 6 months ago
Mmmm, the Rica. I'd prefer Jamaica, personally. Or Cuba.
Facebook User
· 6 months ago
I don't have a passport, but I'm ready to get one. I have my photo and everything! Just need the money :) The first place I'm going when I get it is either Canada (my grandmother grew up in Quebec and I really want to visit family) or Italy.
DShan
· 6 months ago
WHY ARE YOU SHOWING UP AS A FACEBOOK USER? There are 250 Million FB users.
mattstratton
· 6 months ago
Ha! I am not an anonymous Facebook User like @freeandflawed...
Oh wait. I actually did have something to say on this topic. Anyway, back in the late 90s, I had to get a passport quickly (my passport had expired since I got it when I was 11 to visit my aunt in Denmark). Since I had to travel to London within three weeks for work (yay for late 90s economy when my company would send me to England for two weeks just to carry a CD over there), I had a very small window to get said passport. Basically, I ended up in the passport office on the very last day in which I'd be able to get my passport in time for my flight. Of course, I got there five minutes before closing. The fee for my "expedited" passport (again, such things existed pre-9/11) was $95. I attempted to pay with five 20's (all I had).
I was informed that I had to pay with EXACT CHANGE. I even suggested that the passport office could keep the five bucks. No such luck.
Fortunately, the person in line behind me was able to break one of the 20's...and I got my passport. And I got to go to England. I even did about two days worth of work while I was there.
DShan
· 5 months ago
Way to figure out FB. It must hate @freeandflawed. Poor young lady.
It's the 'getting the passport quickly" thing that makes life so difficult. And you're money issue, completely happened about five times last Friday when I was there. The whole room was swapping out bills with one another. I mean...is it really necessary?
phampants
· 6 months ago
Last time I used my passport, it was the trip that you missed out on last month. Stamps in Ireland, England, Belgium & Germany. The Italians were too lazy to stamp.
Additional stamps on current passport: Australia, France & USA.
DShan
· 5 months ago
I'm surprised the Italians didn't stamp. That was before our soccer team beat them, too, I believe.
And, yes, I missed out.
Iva
· 6 months ago
oh MAN! those wait times are such.a.drag!! WHY SO LONG ALWAYS! ick. The last place I used my passport was in Germany not too long ago. It was actually my first trip with my new passport all fresh and clean :) Although thankfully I didnt have to wait in line, I didn't need it in too much of a hurry so I went to the post office because my old one was about to expire. hmmm that reminds me I need to make one for me little baby girl. (thanks for the reminder) :) I hope you have a great weekend!
DShan
· 5 months ago
A lot of people seem to have been in Germany as of late! I lived there for a month once.
So now I have a fresh and clean new passport! Exciting. It's not expired until 2019!!!
I did have a great weekend. You?
Cheddar
· 6 months ago
Entering the passport office is like willingly walking into hell. I feel for ya.
I haven't used my passport in three years. Post-graduation trip to Europe which inspired me to one day live in Spain. Now that I've realized how long it's been, I think I will make it my goal to use it once a year.
DShan
· 5 months ago
I hope this inspired some to travel soon. That's always a good thing.
Obviously I hadn't used mine in quite a while, considering I had no idea it was expired.
raeleighbsg
· 6 months ago
alright, d. i never comment. but for this, i had to. *eye roll* the little girl wasn't bashful, dumbass. you're cute and you smiled at her and even at five she's still a GIRL and when a cute boy smiles at you, sometimes you fall over. :)
DShan
· 5 months ago
Ha! I appreciate the compliment:) She was adorable, really, and if you're right she's definitely the first I've ever made fall over!
verybadcat
· 6 months ago
Sadly, I have never had nor needed a passport. I came close last fall, when the CFO of the company inquired as to whether or not I had visited the plant in Nogales, Mexico. Unfortunately, at the time, a cute white girl was worth approximately 40 hundred bazillion dollars and people were being shot dead in the streets, so it was decided that maybe it wasn't imperative that I visit.
Daddy says he's taking Mom back to Tahiti for their wedding anniversary next year, and he wants me and the baby sis to come and get a room of our own. That sounds like a kick ass reason to need a passport.
DShan
· 5 months ago
Tahiti is more than just a kickass reason to get a passport. Wow. Go on that trip!
Leahchristine
· 6 months ago
The last (and first) time I used my passport was to go backpacking across Europe after I graduated college. Paris, Barcelona, Munich, and a few places in Italy. I'm actually planning a trip to Canada in the next few months, so I can use it again (and so I can see the SHOE MUSEUM!) What part of Canada are you going to?
DShan
· 5 months ago
I may head to Vancouver. I'm pumped because it's my top interest in Canada, so that's nice. Where are you heading?
SHOE museum? Off to look that one up:)
erini
· 5 months ago
The last time was South Africa... back in 2006...
I'm not sure where I'll use it next, or at this point, when.... I'm hoping to return to China some time within the next 5 years. I also want to get back to Africa, Zambia this time, to visit my cousins who are living there. I'd like to spend more time in Europe -- more than an 8 hour layover in Germany... Not sure... I'm glad the travel bug hasn't bitten me too hard right now since I can't really afford it...
DShan
· 5 months ago
Those are some sweet trips. My sister's in Japan...spoke with her this morning. I've never been (and want to go) to Asia.
Maybe when we open up 20SB to multiple languages:)
Kate
· 5 months ago
I don't even have one...
My sisters-in-law (who are Thai and Colombian) are appalled by this fact. I've been all over this country, driven into Canada back in the days when a Montanan could just up and do such a thing, but never actually been anywhere else. According to Tang and Maggie (The S-I-Ls) this is okay, but not even having the *option* is bordering on criminal.
And according to one of my best friends: "but...what if I get into trouble and have to escape to Mexico?? How will you come help me hide the evidence!?"
DShan
· 5 months ago
You're friend has a good reason to go get one, although she should have to sit in line with you, because it's miserable!
DanielleRF
· 5 months ago
Just got back from Japan a couple of days ago...can't wait to get a few more stamps in Europe next summer!
DShan
· 5 months ago
Wow. Welcome home!!! Super jealous...where in Japan were you?
Mel
· 5 months ago
I haven't used my passport since I was a child and now it's expired. I must get a new one and will hopefully go somewhere great!
DShan
· 5 months ago
If you still have it, that helps. Otherwise just do it through the mail BEFORE you need it. You'll thank yourself when you do need it.
ashley_TINTLIO
· 5 months ago
Last time was to Germany and I can't wait to use it again in a month when I go back!!
DShan
· 5 months ago
More blogger travel! Germany's great. What towns?
ashley_TINTLIO
· 5 months ago
I've been to Munich, Fussen and a town I can't even begin to figure out the spelling. This time around I'm going to Munich, Freiburg (and surrounding area), Berlin and Hamburg. Then I'm off to denmark, england/scotland and Ireland.
DShan
· 5 months ago
That's such a great trip! Never been to Ireland...definitely on my list. Have a great time!
ashley_TINTLIO
· 5 months ago
I love ireland, i've been twice before and its the most gorgeous country i've ever been to! You have to check it out. And if you want to travel in the fall, feel free to join me!
All Comments
Sadly, we acquired our passports with big Christmas in Thailand plans that some how demoted themselves to holiday en espanol, i.e. Mexico. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a tequilia hangover...
Oh wait. I actually did have something to say on this topic. Anyway, back in the late 90s, I had to get a passport quickly (my passport had expired since I got it when I was 11 to visit my aunt in Denmark). Since I had to travel to London within three weeks for work (yay for late 90s economy when my company would send me to England for two weeks just to carry a CD over there), I had a very small window to get said passport. Basically, I ended up in the passport office on the very last day in which I'd be able to get my passport in time for my flight. Of course, I got there five minutes before closing. The fee for my "expedited" passport (again, such things existed pre-9/11) was $95. I attempted to pay with five 20's (all I had).
I was informed that I had to pay with EXACT CHANGE. I even suggested that the passport office could keep the five bucks. No such luck.
Fortunately, the person in line behind me was able to break one of the 20's...and I got my passport. And I got to go to England. I even did about two days worth of work while I was there.
It's the 'getting the passport quickly" thing that makes life so difficult. And you're money issue, completely happened about five times last Friday when I was there. The whole room was swapping out bills with one another. I mean...is it really necessary?
Additional stamps on current passport: Australia, France & USA.
And, yes, I missed out.
So now I have a fresh and clean new passport! Exciting. It's not expired until 2019!!!
I did have a great weekend. You?
I haven't used my passport in three years. Post-graduation trip to Europe which inspired me to one day live in Spain. Now that I've realized how long it's been, I think I will make it my goal to use it once a year.
Obviously I hadn't used mine in quite a while, considering I had no idea it was expired.
right she's definitely the first I've ever made fall over!
Daddy says he's taking Mom back to Tahiti for their wedding anniversary next year, and he wants me and the baby sis to come and get a room of our own. That sounds like a kick ass reason to need a passport.
that trip!
so that's nice. Where are you heading?
SHOE museum? Off to look that one up:)
I'm not sure where I'll use it next, or at this point, when.... I'm hoping to return to China some time within the next 5 years. I also want to get back to Africa, Zambia this time, to visit my cousins who are living there. I'd like to spend more time in Europe -- more than an 8 hour layover in Germany... Not sure... I'm glad the travel bug hasn't bitten me too hard right now since I can't really afford it...
morning. I've never been (and want to go) to Asia.
Maybe when we open up 20SB to multiple languages:)
My sisters-in-law (who are Thai and Colombian) are appalled by this fact. I've been all over this country, driven into Canada back in the days when a Montanan could just up and do such a thing, but never actually been anywhere else. According to Tang and Maggie (The S-I-Ls) this is okay, but not even having the *option* is bordering on criminal.
And according to one of my best friends: "but...what if I get into trouble and have to escape to Mexico?? How will you come help me hide the evidence!?"
sit in line with you, because it's miserable!
BEFORE you need it. You'll thank yourself when you do need it.
Have a great time!