The first week of August has come to its conclusion. The flight has been booked for some time. A flat has been secured, courses secured, a small job secured, books ordered. In short,
Everything seemed to be fitting together nicely. The entire process of moving to Minnesota has gone so pleasantly, in fact, that I was able to worry about tea cups, coffee makers, and even arrange for such minor necessities of life such as tooth paste, razors, and a drying rack for dishes to be delivered in advance of my arrival in order to avoid any difficulties or stresses.
Things went so well, in fact, that I did not make sure to review all my paperwork. Oh, paperwork I’ve reviewed
in large quantities. Forms I’ve filled out aplenty. Long, dull, soul-sapping heaps of legal documents have been filled in and completed, turned in well before the due date. Then something came to my attention today…
My financial documents for the next year, while turned in early, missed one minor detail… Namely, I seem to have failed to tick a button. Now this does not seem to be a matter of grave concern. It’s several weeks yet before the term starts, the university has noted that I completed the forms and has not yet cancelled my course registration. But the deadline was last Friday and only this evening did I notice that something was amiss. I ticked the button and filled out a minor form, something which I will either fax or send via express mail in the morrow.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Ah, Christopher, beware the “computer says” syndrome and phone them forthwith, in the hope of finding a human contact to ensure your correction is registered and acted on. And good luck with your akshull move – it sounds as if you’ve got it nailed.
Good Luck – although I agree with Janus – find a human to ensure that all has been duly noted!
The concern is that the funds will not get released. They know the funds have been allocated,
but I seem to have forgotten to release them. I was certain that I had, the form I filled out for the smaller
part of the funding looked very familiar — as did the address on it — but I can’t be certain at this point.
Those of you who remember my life over the past 3 years would find a fitting irony that, despire having managed to survive everything that has gone wrong and still do quite well for myself, I would have a major issue rising out of a small oversight in a process that had gone so wonderfully well.
Diabolus in singulis est, as the Roamns used to claim!
To err is human. To really screw things up you need a computer. 🙂
OZ
Oh dear, but good luck that it will all work out, Christopher.
Just when you thought it was all sorted…. 😦
I know you are a different generation but sometimes printing things out helps!
I telephoned the finance office early this morning. I got through quickly. The woman who answered sounded a bit tired, old, and grumpy. This, odd as it may sound, was reassuring. People like her are the most likely to be straightforward and honest in their assessment of any situation. They also are the ones most likely to know how things will come together in the end.
The biggest portion of money will be processed shortly. I still had a few weeks before the deadline on that passed. The smaller amount, not absolutely necessary but enough to tide me over at the end should things be difficult, may or may not be cancelled. They had not cancelled it yet and, should I send them the missing form, will probably be processed — albeit at a later time. Not that I can complain…
CO: under California law an electronic signature is considered legally binding for all purposes. Most colleges and universities prefer it this way as it makes their job easier. Minnesota law favours hand-written signatures in many situations, hence the need for me to fill out the form. No worries, though, the form was posted with the first of the morning mail and should arrive tomorrow.