Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Not much to share today. I’m at work for a little longer - got the final tasks that needed doing here done. Then I’m heading out for my final manicure pre-wedding. Then I’ll go drop off the last 60 bead stems to the florist and head home. I will be heading to my parents to work on wedding stuff tonight.

Beau is soon hitting the road to go visit his our friends in West Virginia since they can’t make it to the wedding. From there he’ll go to H’burg to run final pre-wedding errands, including picking up his tux. He’ll be back on Thursday, in time to pick up his parents from the airport that afternoon. And then things move into 4th gear as we count down the hours to The Big Day.

One item of note on our wedding day is that at the time our ceremony is set to begin, there will be an extra second of time observed to account for a lag that occurs over time. It is called the Leap Second.

A leap second is an intercalary, one-second adjustment that keeps broadcast standards for time of day close to mean solar time. Leap seconds are used to keep time standards synchronized with civil calendars, the basis of which is astronomical.

Cool.

Monday, December 26, 2005

This was taken when I was still living in my parents’ basement. I think I took this back when I was printing the envelopes for the wedding invitations. Mr. Kitty wanted to be with me. How can you resist that?

Unrelated, I’ve updated my post-Christmas post below - scroll down for pictures (linked).

We’re kicking into high gear on the wedding prep.

1. I just finished printing the blasted announcement envelopes here at home. We tried that on Dad’s printer with equal lack of success as I had at work. However, I had little problems this morning and they are all sealed, stamped, and ready to be mailed on Saturday.

2. We worked on some reception decor stuff over the weekend. It’s going to be sparkly and pretty. Mom’s done a great job of putting everything together. At some point I should get a picture of her dining room - you would not believe the stuff in there that is all for the wedding. Crazy.

3. We will head back over to my parents to work on more wedding stuff - the first priority is to map the agenda for the week. That way everyone knows what they need to do, when it needs to be done, and nothing will be forgotten. Time is short!

We’re all excited for Saturday. We’re all stressed about Saturday, but as our pastor said the other day - at midnight when we’re ringing in the new year, the important thing is that Beau and I will be married. Yes, indeed.

Since I left my office on Friday I haven’t been near a computer - I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas weekend. To my Jewish friends, I wish you a blessed Hanukkah.

LATER: OK, so here’s how our Christmas weekend went:

Friday night - I got home and Beau and I made a Shepherd’s Pie, which we took over to my parents’ to share with them. We ate dinner, then started working on various wedding things.

Saturday - I spent the whole day at church, serving on the worship team for our three Christmas Eve services. They were great and all well attended. Our pastor was bold in proclaiming the Gospel and quite a few people received Jesus, the babe, as their Savior. Good stuff. Mom, Dad, and Beau came to the last service and then we all went back to Mom and Dad’s for a great dinner. We watched the Redskins-Giants game, which Dad was patient enough to record on the DVR so that I could see it “live.” Merry Christmas to all Redskins fans everywhere with that much needed victory! Hail!

Sunday - I woke up early to move some large gifts “under” the tree for my parents. They had put a large gift under the tree for Beau and I - a lovely church pew that Mom’s best friend’s mother had offered to me. I was just waiting for the right time to buy it. It was a great surprise Christmas gift and we love it. Beau came over at about 7am and we snuggled for a bit while we waited for Mom and Dad to wake up. They were up at about 8am and we opened our gifts. Then we had a yummy French toast brunch and then Beau and I headed back to our house so that I could shower and dress for the family gathering in the afternoon. We went back to Mom and Dad’s for Christmas dinner with my Uncle Bill and then we worked on wedding stuff while watching A Christmas Story.

All in all a great Christmas, although I owe them all a huge apology for my mini-meltdown last night. Bridezilla has entered the building, folks, and she ain’t pretty. *sigh*

MUCH LATER: Oh, I almost forgot to mention a couple of things.

1. My brother-in-law always finds the most creative things and this year was no different. Mom and I both got The Food Loop, which is both awesome and hilarious. I opened mine first and it took a second for my brain to make the connection of what it is. Great kitchen tool!

2. Usually my brother-in-law is the one to give me some kitchy George W. Bush thing, but Mom hit that this year with the George W. Bush Jack-in-the-Box. The tune is Hail to the Chief, of course. Awesome and hilarious.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Speaks for itself, no?

Merry Christmas!

[via Jaynee, of course]

Not good = (PMS - Midol PMS) + wedding in a week + printer that won’t accept announcement envelopes

Makes for a cranky bride.

Beau and I are still making our way through the Firefly DVDs. We watched two episodes on disc three last night. To date, I have to say that the most unfunny of the episodes is now my favorite - Out of Gas. Just ... wow.

So I ordered a few little stocking things last week - online and I requested faster shipping in order to receive them in time for Christmas. I realized this morning that I still had not been charged for that order and it had not arrived at the house. I just checked my account with that vendor and my order is shown as “pending.”

I’m a little ticked because I’m paying for the items to arrive before Christmas and I’m seriously doubting that will happen. But I’ll see if the box arrives tomorrow before I name the vendor and make an irate phone call.

What sux is that my family’s stockings will be a little light as a result of this snafu. I’m not happy about that.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

She chose wisely, imho.

The following snap assessment of the Martha-Alexis relationship is show spoilerish. Look away if you haven’t seen the show yet (Mom).

My favorite part of the episode was when Martha, Charles, and Alexis were in their car on the way to visit both charity events/tasks. Martha and Alexis were in the backseat and Alexis was saying some pretty inciteful insightful stuff about the two finalists while Martha busily played with her Blackberry.

Alexis: Are you listening to me or are you emailing?

Martha, without looking up: I’m listening.

The look that Alexis then gave her mother was pure ice. Only Martha was oblivious and grinning like an idiot at her toy.

There’s a lot going on with that mother and daughter.

Anyway, I liked the show and I’m mildly sad that there won’t be another season. I guess I’ll be reduced to the train-wreck of her daytime show, for however long that lasts.

Remember when I did the “Fold or Scrunch” Which is Better? post? I can’t find it. I’ve found the “Over or Under” post (I’m too lazy to link it), but not the “Fold or Scrunch.” Weird.

I thought since I have a bunch of new readers that I would bring back the “Fold or Scrunch” question for further review. Just as a reminder on why this subject came up, going back to my Young Life staff days a bunch of us were playing Over the Mountain (we also called it “Switch if...") on our camp assignment and one guy’s “Switch if...” was “...you fold your toilet paper.” Only the guys jumped up to switch their chairs. The discussion that followed was hilarious and the gals all comfirmed that they scrunched the toilet paper. So…

Which is Better?

Fold

Scrunch

Leave your vote in the comments.

LATER: I had a Bonus Survey question that I chose not to include. However, the first comment opened the opportunity, so I’ve added it to the extended section. Click the link only if you’re brave enough and ready for something rather crass. You’ve been warned (and I’m not kidding, this is not for the faint of heart)…

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Beau emailed me earlier to let me know that the airline we will be flying home with? on? what is the right term? - anyway, remember that they’re in bankruptcy - called him with an update to our flight status. Instead of leaving Las Vegas at 11:30AM on our departure day, our flight is now at 11:30PM with an arrival in DC at 7am.

Good. Freakin’. Grief.

On the up side - Beau came up with a good Plan B for our extra day in Las Vegas and my boss told me to go ahead and take the Monday after our return to recover from my jet lag. It’s all good.

The Chronic-WHAT?!-cles of Narnia

[via Bryan]

The dress has been picked up and is hanging in one of the bedrooms at my parents’ house. I got a chance to really look at the train and it is so pretty.

I’m still working on loose stems for the florists to use in their arrangements. I will be taking whatever I’m able to get done by tomorrow morning to the florist on my lunch hour tomorrow.

I think that Mom may be ready for us to begin work on assembling the favors? That could be a fun family task for Friday night. Speaking of Friday nights, my Dad is looking forward to getting back his Date Night with his wife. Hang in there, Dad, just 10 more days!

On the Chastity Watch, now that Beau is in our house permanently, I am sleeping over at my parents’ house. Just sleeping - where normal people just head upstairs to bed, I hop in my car for the 15 minute drive and then I head upstairs to bed. Last night was my first night - I left my house in my jammies and this morning I rolled out of bed, put on shoes and coat and drove back home to get ready for work. This will be the routine until after Christmas, although it worked really well today, so maybe this will be the routine until the day before the wedding. Who knows? Anyway, we’re doing well with the waiting.

Mom recounted our list and we will have 164. Fun!

10 more days…

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

For those who are curious, Beau told me that his elf name is Floppy Fruitcake.

Merry Christmas!

Hey Mom! Ith has the recipe you mentioned you wanted to try.