Tomorrow will be exactly one month since MJ and I decided to get married, and what a month it has been! I am so grateful for the week we took to enjoy the news for ourselves and not tell anyone about the pending nuptials. We originally waited to tell people because we wanted to tell our families first (his by phone since they are so far away and mine in person because they’re within day-trip distance), and it took about a week to arrange everyone’s schedules. At the time, I was bursting with excitement and was really frustrated about keeping the news quiet, but now I appreciate that quiet week of celebrating together, getting used to the idea of getting married, and talking about what our wedding priorities would be.
Because, as soon as people heard the big news, things have been anything but quiet! It’s been a big shock to move from our normally very private day-to-day lives into the “wedding planning spotlight.” Who knew that announcing an engagement was code for inviting everyone you’ve ever met to get super-involved with every part of your life? Of course, I don’t mean that in a bad way because nearly everyone has come forward with copious amounts of love and support and helpful advice. Fully 98% of people’s reactions have included things like trying to run me down with a shopping cart in Kroger to give me a hug or getting phone calls from long-lost friends or being offered (unsolicited!) help with venues/favors/food or having our having our sisters offer up their wedding planning expertise. And, really, 98% is a pretty freakin’ awesome winning average in any field. So, yeah, life is really pretty good.
I just had no idea what happens after you tell people you’re getting married. And, if I (who grew up in the middle of the wedding business) was surprised, you might imagine that MJ (who never gave much thought to weddings before the last year or so) has been really, really, surprised. The good news is that we have a wonderfully solid, healthy relationship and that wedding planning stress certainly isn’t the worst stress we could have. So, we’re taking deep breaths and trying to get used to the attention. As long as we end up surrounded by loving community on our big day, we’ll be happy. Right? Right!
As far as actual wedding plans go, though, we have actually managed to make a few decisions in the midst of the madness. YAY! More on those plans later.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
This Good Life
Some days just feel like good days for no reason in particular, and today is one of those days. I figure I should just roll with the good day because, sometimes, a not-so-good day will roll around. Here are the things I’m grateful for, in a randomly generated (aka in my brain) order:
1) Babies and Friends. Last night, we took dinner over to our friends’ house to feed hard-working new parents and meet their new bambino. We had a lovely time, and it was really good to spend time with them because they are all three wonderful and amazing human beings. I also got to hold the little one for a long time, and (I won’t lie) that made me positively giddy.
2) Tasty homemade vegetarian food. As part of our general wellness plan and wedding prep (i.e. saving $ and shaping up), we are eating a lot more home-cooked healthy meals. Last night, I made vegetarian shepherd’s pie, a spinach salad, a raspberry clafouti, spicy summer vegetable soup, hummus wraps, and a carrot cucumber salad*. Tonight we’ll eat the soup and a Spanish zucchini torte. Nom nom nom.
3) Wedding possibilities! I actually have a call this afternoon with a potential wedding venue. I’m not going to talk about how excited I am about the possibility of throwing a party at this place because I have no idea if it’s actually a possibility or if it costs a million dollars. But you should check out The B Complex here.
4) A short work day! Because I’ve been working my pants off for the last couple of weeks, I have a short work day today. No further explanation of excitement needed!
* Clarification: Even though I cooked all of these things last night, we did not actually eat them all last night. We’ll be fed for 3 meals and will have plenty of soup to freeze.
1) Babies and Friends. Last night, we took dinner over to our friends’ house to feed hard-working new parents and meet their new bambino. We had a lovely time, and it was really good to spend time with them because they are all three wonderful and amazing human beings. I also got to hold the little one for a long time, and (I won’t lie) that made me positively giddy.
2) Tasty homemade vegetarian food. As part of our general wellness plan and wedding prep (i.e. saving $ and shaping up), we are eating a lot more home-cooked healthy meals. Last night, I made vegetarian shepherd’s pie, a spinach salad, a raspberry clafouti, spicy summer vegetable soup, hummus wraps, and a carrot cucumber salad*. Tonight we’ll eat the soup and a Spanish zucchini torte. Nom nom nom.
3) Wedding possibilities! I actually have a call this afternoon with a potential wedding venue. I’m not going to talk about how excited I am about the possibility of throwing a party at this place because I have no idea if it’s actually a possibility or if it costs a million dollars. But you should check out The B Complex here.
4) A short work day! Because I’ve been working my pants off for the last couple of weeks, I have a short work day today. No further explanation of excitement needed!
* Clarification: Even though I cooked all of these things last night, we did not actually eat them all last night. We’ll be fed for 3 meals and will have plenty of soup to freeze.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
House keeping.
I've been admonished by my sister (a much more experienced and witty blogger, btw) to keep this blog current. So, I'm going to try. That's been hard this week, though, because:
1) The last two weeks have been really, really hectic at work. As you might guess, summer is a busy time in the outdoor recreation world, so I've been spending a lot of time outside in the crazy heat and getting significantly less sleep than I need. I've apparently been working enough to lose my voice, and I think I've fried a little brain, too.
2) The last two weeks have been really hectic in our personal lives! I had no idea that people I haven't heard from in YEARS would come out of the woodwork upon hearing that we're getting married. We've also been fielding a million calls and emails from friends and family who want to know all the details. I think we knew people would be excited, but we are truly overwhelmed. This, I think, is a good thing.
3) I don't really know what to write about! I've got a couple of ideas, but I wonder what you'd like to read about. Thoughts? Ideas? Leave a comment, and let me know!
Okay, so now that I've finished making excuses, I'll leave you with a little story about why MJ is so wonderful and why I've decided to keep this guy.
------------
This week has been pretty tough for me (see #1). I just got back from a week at the Bike Ride Across Georgia, and I had a week full of special events and pesky administrative work. I woke up at 4:30 AM on Saturday to go to Muddy Buddy, spent the day outside there, and spent the night working and playing at the annual Possum Show in East Point (which was amazing). Then I had to get up early today to work three events at the same time. By the time I got home tonight, I was about FALL OUT - for real.
MJ and I had plans to get some serious house cleaning done tonight, though, so I asked him to let me have a 30 minute nap. I fully intended to get up after 30 minutes and get to work, but I didn't wake up for more than three hours! I was pretty grateful to be let off the chore wagon (even though they really need to be done), but I didn't feel too guilty because I assumed MJ probably took the time to catch up on the internet or something. But NOPE.
While I indulged in a Sunday evening nap, MJ spent four hours scrubbing every surface in the kitchen AND cleaning out the pantry AND making a delicious dinner. THEN, he washed all the dishes and cleaned the top of the fridge and the cleaned microwave cart and organized the pet supplies. And for the absolute best part, he didn't even give me guilt trip about sleeping through the work! Instead, he said he was glad I got some rest.
Best.Guy.Ever.
I don't have a before picture, but just trust me when I say it was a HOT MESS. The newly cleaned pantry, though, is super organized with separate shelves for everything. I have promised to try and keep it that way. HeavenHelpUs.
1) The last two weeks have been really, really hectic at work. As you might guess, summer is a busy time in the outdoor recreation world, so I've been spending a lot of time outside in the crazy heat and getting significantly less sleep than I need. I've apparently been working enough to lose my voice, and I think I've fried a little brain, too.
2) The last two weeks have been really hectic in our personal lives! I had no idea that people I haven't heard from in YEARS would come out of the woodwork upon hearing that we're getting married. We've also been fielding a million calls and emails from friends and family who want to know all the details. I think we knew people would be excited, but we are truly overwhelmed. This, I think, is a good thing.
3) I don't really know what to write about! I've got a couple of ideas, but I wonder what you'd like to read about. Thoughts? Ideas? Leave a comment, and let me know!
Okay, so now that I've finished making excuses, I'll leave you with a little story about why MJ is so wonderful and why I've decided to keep this guy.
------------
This week has been pretty tough for me (see #1). I just got back from a week at the Bike Ride Across Georgia, and I had a week full of special events and pesky administrative work. I woke up at 4:30 AM on Saturday to go to Muddy Buddy, spent the day outside there, and spent the night working and playing at the annual Possum Show in East Point (which was amazing). Then I had to get up early today to work three events at the same time. By the time I got home tonight, I was about FALL OUT - for real.
MJ and I had plans to get some serious house cleaning done tonight, though, so I asked him to let me have a 30 minute nap. I fully intended to get up after 30 minutes and get to work, but I didn't wake up for more than three hours! I was pretty grateful to be let off the chore wagon (even though they really need to be done), but I didn't feel too guilty because I assumed MJ probably took the time to catch up on the internet or something. But NOPE.
While I indulged in a Sunday evening nap, MJ spent four hours scrubbing every surface in the kitchen AND cleaning out the pantry AND making a delicious dinner. THEN, he washed all the dishes and cleaned the top of the fridge and the cleaned microwave cart and organized the pet supplies. And for the absolute best part, he didn't even give me guilt trip about sleeping through the work! Instead, he said he was glad I got some rest.
Best.Guy.Ever.
I don't have a before picture, but just trust me when I say it was a HOT MESS. The newly cleaned pantry, though, is super organized with separate shelves for everything. I have promised to try and keep it that way. HeavenHelpUs.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Words are important. So is silliness.
I'm not how this poem would fit into a wedding or an invitation, but I just found it. We love it, and it's sending me to bed in a good mood.
As a bonus, it kind of matches our favorite Johnny Cash song, too . . .
ARTIST: Fred Small
TITLE: If I Were a Moose
If I were a moose and you were a cow
Would you love me anyhow?
Would you introduce me to your folks
Would you tell your friends, "No moose jokes!"
If I were a moose and you were a cow
Would you invite me to your club
And risk a cruel bovine snub
Would you lead me down the receiving line
And boldly boast, "This moose is mine!"
Would your parents watch us graze
Shake their heads, "It's just a phase"
Or would they thank the stars above
Their precious heifer's found her love?
Would your grandparents change their will?
They'd really expected a Holstein bull
"For this we toiled before the plow
You bring home someone who's not even a cow
"There's lots of proper stock around
Like that nice young Guernsey at Farmer Brown's
Or that last one we ridiculed and cursed
On second thought you could do worse
"But if you think this thing will last
Could he learn to moo and eat our grass
Shed his antlers in the dirt
Could you persuade him to convert?"
If our anatomies did not quite fit
Would you make the best of it
Would you nuzzle up so near
And hum sweet cow tunes in my ear?
Or would you sadly break it off
When all the hillside sneered and scoffed
"You know these moose are all the same
They're lazy, they're stupid, they come from Maine"
It's true things slip a moose's mind
That cows remember all the time
Bulbous nose and knobby knees
A coat that harbors ticks and fleas
But a moose can be a handy thing
When hungry wolves come visiting
In icy gust of winter storm
Our fur is deep and dry and warm
And someday should your milk run dry
And farmer stare with baleful eye
In dead of night I'd slip your noose
And lead you home to the land of moose
If I were a moose and you were a cow
If hunters came to do me harm
Would you hide me in the barn
Would all the herd come on the run
And glare until they dropped their guns?
Might you permit a goodnight kiss
Could you learn to love wet moose lips?
If I were a moose and you were a cow
If you were a cow and I were a moose
Maybe moose and cow cake toppers are in order. I'll have to search Etsy later.
Night, y'all.
As a bonus, it kind of matches our favorite Johnny Cash song, too . . .
ARTIST: Fred Small
TITLE: If I Were a Moose
If I were a moose and you were a cow
Would you love me anyhow?
Would you introduce me to your folks
Would you tell your friends, "No moose jokes!"
If I were a moose and you were a cow
Would you invite me to your club
And risk a cruel bovine snub
Would you lead me down the receiving line
And boldly boast, "This moose is mine!"
Would your parents watch us graze
Shake their heads, "It's just a phase"
Or would they thank the stars above
Their precious heifer's found her love?
Would your grandparents change their will?
They'd really expected a Holstein bull
"For this we toiled before the plow
You bring home someone who's not even a cow
"There's lots of proper stock around
Like that nice young Guernsey at Farmer Brown's
Or that last one we ridiculed and cursed
On second thought you could do worse
"But if you think this thing will last
Could he learn to moo and eat our grass
Shed his antlers in the dirt
Could you persuade him to convert?"
If our anatomies did not quite fit
Would you make the best of it
Would you nuzzle up so near
And hum sweet cow tunes in my ear?
Or would you sadly break it off
When all the hillside sneered and scoffed
"You know these moose are all the same
They're lazy, they're stupid, they come from Maine"
It's true things slip a moose's mind
That cows remember all the time
Bulbous nose and knobby knees
A coat that harbors ticks and fleas
But a moose can be a handy thing
When hungry wolves come visiting
In icy gust of winter storm
Our fur is deep and dry and warm
And someday should your milk run dry
And farmer stare with baleful eye
In dead of night I'd slip your noose
And lead you home to the land of moose
If I were a moose and you were a cow
If hunters came to do me harm
Would you hide me in the barn
Would all the herd come on the run
And glare until they dropped their guns?
Might you permit a goodnight kiss
Could you learn to love wet moose lips?
If I were a moose and you were a cow
If you were a cow and I were a moose
Maybe moose and cow cake toppers are in order. I'll have to search Etsy later.
Night, y'all.
Caution: This is a wedding blog.
Well, it’s sort of a wedding blog. Since MJ and I recently decided to get officially hitched, I’m sure weddings will be all over my mind and will occupy a lot of this page. But, it’s also not exactly a wedding blog. I don’t want to write about weddings all the time for the next year because I think that would make me crazy. In fact, I’m counting on all of you to keep me accountable for not becoming (too) obsessed or starting to act like one of those engagement-induced fools – a la Bridezilla.
And, I won’t promise that everything I say about weddings and marriage will be all sweetness and light. I’m sure I’ll share some of the awesome things I find and how happy I am to be getting married, but I also have a lot of distrust for the “institution” of marriage and for the wedding industry (not to be confused with how excited I am to be getting hitched to this amazingly amazing person and have a big party with our friends and family). So, some of those things might sneak in, too.
Anyway, dear readers, welcome to our story. Thanks for being a part of it.
p.s. I have officially made two wedding-related purchases: a domain name for our future website and an Offbeat Bride (www.offbeatbride.com) t-shirt. AND I entered them into the wedding budget spreadsheet, which is pretty amazing if you know me. YAY!
And, I won’t promise that everything I say about weddings and marriage will be all sweetness and light. I’m sure I’ll share some of the awesome things I find and how happy I am to be getting married, but I also have a lot of distrust for the “institution” of marriage and for the wedding industry (not to be confused with how excited I am to be getting hitched to this amazingly amazing person and have a big party with our friends and family). So, some of those things might sneak in, too.
Anyway, dear readers, welcome to our story. Thanks for being a part of it.
p.s. I have officially made two wedding-related purchases: a domain name for our future website and an Offbeat Bride (www.offbeatbride.com) t-shirt. AND I entered them into the wedding budget spreadsheet, which is pretty amazing if you know me. YAY!
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