So yesterday was sort of a blower - Brooklen's grandmother (Wendell's mom) died.  It defiantly put a damper on everyone's day.  She started having seizures on Friday and they didn't know what was wrong with her so they wanted to open her up and find out.  When they did, she died on the operating table.  It turns out that she had cancer and it had spread to her brain.  She didn't even know she had cancer.  When my sister called me, Brooklen was in the background hysterical and it broke my heart.  My sister was crying and upset too... I told her that even though it sucks, it might be better because she didn't really have to suffer.  I mean when Pap-Pap had cancer, he was in pain for years, had to go through a dozen rounds of kemo, and when he did finally pass he had been in the hospital for a month or so, just in pain.  The doctors did everything they could to keep him as "comfortable as possible."  So it might be better that she never knew that she had cancer and she was taken fast, without much pain.  I don't know.  It is just sad.  You never know when it is your time to go.  Never. 

I didn't really do much of anything last night - I am still trying to get back into the swing of things... waking up at 4:20, working a 9 hour day.  Blah.    It sucks because I felt so rested on vacation and now I am back to pumpin my viens full of coffee...

So last night I went home and made a wonderful dinner.  My sister had to take Brooklen to dance so Joe and I got to babysit their puppy.  She is so flipping cute.  Love her.  It is the smallest dog I think I have ever seen and it just has to be around you at all times... too cute.  But yeah so while I was cooking it was at my feet...  Joe swears that he doesn't like the dog, but when he was sitting in his chair, she was sure cuddled up next too him!!!

After dinner, I played around with the invitations.  I want to get them out next Saturday so I really needed to get motivated.  For some reason my dumb butt bought a 100 of them and I only need maybe 25, if even that!!!  Joe and I were also going to mail out invitations for the afterparty, so we decided that will just use the remaining 75 for that - which I know I am still going to have leftovers... many, many leftovers!!!  Dang it!  But ah wells... it is exciting.  So I have my wording all figured out... I just want my mom to come home (she is in Denver) so she can look over it and "approve" it.  LOL. 

Speaking of my mom, she is the big 5 - 1 today!!!  I wonder if that is why she ran away to Denver for the week so I couldn't call her an old lady.  I was told by one of my friends at work that John (her ex) sent flowers out to the hotel she is staying in.  I got a little annoyed and my friend (who's name is Tullio) was like I don't know if you should warn her or not.  I just don't understand why John just won't let go - he is a retard and it is probably going to piss her off because he probably wrote something stupid on the card like I love you and wish you were still mine... too bad he was an idiot and lost her!    But ah wells... what can you do?

Tonight I gotta go to my dad's.  I really hope that his house is clean because I don't feel like doing all that tonight.  Joe is going to deweed his garden some more and I found this new recipe I am going to try for squash.  I hate squash... blah.    But yeah my dad gives Joe like a million pieces though everytime we go over there so I have to cook it - I just don't eat it! 

So it is day 2 of reality.  I think I like it a lot better when I am at the beach just sleeping on a towel, listening to the waves crash.  Yes... I really do.  This waking up at 4:20 is not my idea of fun!!!  But at least I have so far made it to the bus stop every morning to catch the van so I can sleep for an hour into work and a hour home. 

Yesterday I wrote the DJ and told him that we would like to book him.  I am wanting for him to send me the contract and all that good stuff so I can start paying him.  He takes half the money upfront and half the money the day of the ceremony.  I have to put someone in charge of giving it to him because I am sure my mind will be elsewhere.  So I have a location, a pastor, and a DJ - what else do you need (haha).  Cassie talked to the cake lady and she said that she is most defiantly doing my cake.  She is going on vacation for two weeks, so when she gets back we are supposed to get together to talk about everything.  I need to go talk to a florist and order flowers, still need to talk to the tent people, go to Honey Baked Ham to order food... but other then that everything is falling into place.  Cassie is also supposed to get me the address to this place that sells cases of wine and champaigne for a good deal - hopefully she will be able to do that soon because Jessica said that she would ride up there with me to pick it up, probably will do that next weekend just to get it out of the way!  But yeah so far - there is 8 weeks to the wedding and I have yet to start stressing.  I keep waiting too... but I am not.  I don't really feel like stressing... I just want to have a fun laid back day!!!  So hopefully all will go as plan.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Last night I didn't really do anything.  I came home exhausted.  My sister was going somewhere and Brooklen wasn't feeling good, so she ended up coming over.  Joe had to work late and didn't end up getting home until almost 6.  I didn't really feel like cooking, so I made some spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread.  For not trying to cook, it for some reason tasted really good.  Not sure why... I think Joe and I might have just been starving!!!  Then we started to watch that movie "The Bucket List" but half way through it Dee came over to get Brooklen and I was just so exhausted that I decided to go to bed.  Tonight I am going to make salmon, brocolli, and some sort of pasta... we will see how that turns out!  I love me some salmon!

So here I am - well rested after a weeks vacation, wishing that I was still waking up to the waves hitting the beach.  Work sucks.  Getting up at 4:20 sucks.  Blah.    Vacation was good - it was a lot of fun.  We did a lot of stuff, met some new fun people.  Let's see what all did we do - we were total beach bums, well at least Jessica and I was.  Joe isn't really a laying out soaking up the sun kind of guy.  So he would come to the beach and go into the water with us and then right when we hit our towels, he got bored very quickly and had to go do something.  Then when he saw us packing up our stuff to head to the pool, he would met us down there for another swim.  But right when we headed to the pool chairs to lay out again, he would have to go do something else.  He couldn't believe that Jess and I layed out almost everyday for 5 to 6 hours just soaking up the sun.  He found it boring.  HAHA.  But lets see... after we were done soaking up the sun, one night we headed to the Comedy Combana which was freaking funny as hell.    The comedy that night had us cracking up for the whole hour.  It was great.  After that we went down to the Irish pub right down the street from the apartment and just hung out, met some people, danced, played pool - you know the deal.  Then one night we went shopping at Barefoot Landing and then another night we went shopping at Broadway.  There was this little bar that Jessica and I loved called Cowboys that closed down so I looked it up on the internet to get their new address because we thought they might have relocated.  Well the address that they gave us was in a neighborhood and turned out to be a townhouse - so that was quite interesting, we figured that they didn't move the bar there so we gave up on that.  We did however find another great country bar down there - I forget the name of it.  But we went there and had a great time.  I love country bars!  They are so much fun. 

On Saturday we left early to come home and when we got here, Jessica and I headed over to Amy's because she wanted us to ride with her.  So we rode her horses and then went home to get ready for the tractor pull.  I didn't realize how exhausted I was from the drive until around 10 that night.  We ended up leaving the tractor pull because I felt like I was going to fall asleep in the mist of it and let me tell you right when I hit the bed I was out. 

Yesterday was a busy day, running around doing all sorts of things.  My mom came over early because she was leaving for Colorado that afternoon so she wanted to see us.  We got motivated and actually headed to her house to do laundry.  Then Joe had some fund raiser thing he had to go to at 1:00 for his Aunt that has liver cancer.  I had to go meet with the DJ that I believe we are going to use for our wedding at 5:00.  He said that usually he charges $600 for four hours, but his girlfriend and I are friends so he told me that he would do 8 hours for $600.  See the plan is that we are going to start the ceremony at 3:00, then we are going to eat food and what not, dance with our close family and friends... then around 7ish we are going to celebrate the rest of the night with anyone and everyone that shows up.  We aren't inviting everyone we know to the ceremony and reception, but we will invite everyone we know to show up at 7ish.  So he told me that he would cover from 3pm - 12pm for $600.  So Joe and I are deciding about that.  I did look up other DJ pricing and receive more quotes and it seems that for 4 hours $600 is the going price in this area.  So getting 8 hours for that seems like a good deal.    Yay.  PARTY.  I love a good party. 

Well I have to go check my 100 million emails that are waiting for me... great!!!  I hate work. 

So last night we went and talked to the pastor that is going to marry us.  He is so flipping nice - I wished that we would have talked to him before we talked to the Catholic one!  So everything is set now - we have a date, we have a time (3:00), we have a date for the rehearsal.  Everything is good.  He said that he isn't going to charge us to perform the ceremony so Joe and I decided that we are going to make a donation to the church and then get them a gift certificate to their favorite restraurant.  Good stuff.  Other then that - nothing got accomplished.

I still haven't packed and we leave tomorrow.  Tonight is going to be so flipping busy, running around like a mad woman trying to get everything in order before we leave.  I have to take my bunny up to my moms, got and get the horses set up for my dad to take care of, pack, got to Target and pick up a few things... it is nuts I tell ya!  NUTS.  Joe wants to get an early start on the road tomorrow - but I seriously don't see that happening.  We will see.  Jessica is going to spend the night over our place tonight so she just can wake up and we can roll out. 

Onto some exciting news.  Some lady called me from Indain Head telling me that I have been selected for an interview!  Exciting - right?  The only problem is they are trying to do the interviews next week and obviously I will not be here.  I need to call her and see if she will do mine the following week.  I would love to get down there - no commute!!!  HOLY CRAP!    I also stood on the scale today and I have lost 5 pounds!  Woo-hoo!  I will probably gain it all back by the end of our trip - but ah wells... at least I have lost it! 

So yesterday I called Mr. Tire to schedule an appointment to get my tire fixed.  They told me that they had the tire I wanted and that I could bring it in.  When Joe got off work, he went and picked up my car to get it fixed.  Well turns out they lied to me and they don't have the tire I need and they have to order it.  Supposedly it is going to be in by Friday - but I guess we will have to wait and see.  I guess that is what I get for waiting until the last minute to do everything. 

After I got off work, I went home changed into my PJ's and then went over to my dad's.  He was having Joe out in the front garden deweeding it.  Mr. Phil came over and was giving me the latest gossip on his sons and his ex-wife.  He is animated when he talks, I think I could watch him talk for days.  Then he went onto painting my dad's back door.  I went in, did my dad's bills.  I have never met a man that had a different bill every week and then I went onto cleaning up the house a bit.  I think my dad needs to buy a maid.  He just doesn't know how to do anything.  Joe came in and vacuumed for me because I HATE my dad's vacuum.  I seriously think the thing sucks... but yeah anyways... my dad seriously needs to buy a maid.  We ate some food then left.

Bridget came over to pick up the pictures - she is going to photoshop them while I am gone and I will be able to get them when I get back from the beach.  Cassie said that she is going to try and set something up with the cake lady today so I can met her when I get back and tell her what I want.  Since I am not a cake person, I just want something simple, but elegant.  I am seriously going to ask if she can make a huge cheesecake!  hahaha. 

Tonight I get to met the pastor that is going to marry us.    Then I get a set time and then I will be able to print my invitations so they are ready to mail out in August!  So much to do... so little time to do it in!

So I am going to be leaving for the beach on Saturday!  YAY!!!  So exciting.  I think Joe is excited too... seems like the week of course is dragging, but it will be here soon enough especially since I am still running around with my head chopped off trying to get everything done that I need to get done.  Tonight I am going to stop by Mr. Tire on the way home and get my tire changed.  Then I have to go to my dad's to write out his bills.  Supposedly he is getting rid of that dog finally!  He doesn't really need a dog because he doesn't ever want to bother with it.  I guess he called Suzanne's mom and told her to ask Suzanne if she wants it and Suzanne's mom called him back saying that yes she does - so tomorrow my dad is supposed to tie Sadie up on the front porch and then Suzanne is going to come get it after he leaves for work.  I don't know how Suzanne plans on keeping it - but whatever.  That dog is so annoying... I told my dad that I would have gotten rid of her a long time ago!  But at least she will be gone and my dad won't have to bother with her anymore. 

Lets see what else?  Ummm???  I still need to clean out my trunk and my car for the trip.  Joe needs to check all the fluids to make sure we are good to go.  I have my mom watching my bunny, my dad watching the horses.  I am pretty much all set besides packing and what not.  We have to met with the pastor tomorrow and I think he is going to tell us that we are going to hell for living in sin!    My mom swears that he won't - but she also said that the catholic priest wouldn't either, but yeah we all remember how that didn't go very well. 

I got my invitations last night and Joe told me that he is getting nervous or whatever.  I was like there is nothing to be nervous about... but he says that all eyes are going to be on us for that one day and I was like CORRECTION - All eyes are going to be on ME!  hahahaha... I am so bad.    But ah wells... it is going to be here and done with before we know it so it isn't that big of a deal.  I haven't even started to get nervous yet - I will probably be nervous the day of the event... but who knows?  I guess we will just have to wait and see.  So after tomorrow night I should be able to print up my invitations, put them in envelopes and have them ready to mail out come August 1st.  Yay!  So much fun - right?  Right. 

I still need to make an appointment with the cake lady and the florist.  Then order the food but I think I can wait to order the food until the end of August or even the beginning of September.  Oh yeah I still need to get the tents but that is probably going to have to wait until my next Friday off and then my mom and me can go get that done... so I am not really even stressing about it.  I just want a laid back day, something fun, something memorable - not stressful.  I am not even trying to stress about anything... Yippy! 

Well I need to go find coffee... I am a yawning fool today! 

Shew - so this week is going to be busy!  There is so much that I must accomplish before I leave for the beach!!!  Geez... I feel overwhelmed!  Bridget is coming over tonight to pick up the CD of engagement pictures so she can make them beautiful.  Tomorrow I need to get my tire changed that has a bubble in it because I don't want to drive a long distance like that.  It has had the bubble in it at since last summer - but I just don't think it is wise to drive a long way with it like that... so change it must be!  On Thursday, Joe and I are meeting with the pastor that is going to marry us.  On Friday, I need to pack, buy some miscellanous stuff for the trip and be in bed early so I can be rested for the 8 hour drive.  YAY!  Good stuff... I am exhausted just thinking about it!  Oh and at some time - I want to get my toes done.  Don't see that happening - but I can wish can't I?  I need to drop my bunny off at my mom's and buy feeder fish for my fish so they have something to eat while we are gone.  And then I need to talk to my dad to make sure he is going to be able to stop in on the horses once or twice to check their water.  There is plently of grass in the field so I am not really worried about them starving or anything like that - I just want to make sure they have plently of water.  Busy, busy little bee... buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Last night I had to met my mom at JoAnn fabrics because we didn't get enough supplies for the bubbles.  We went there and then I was supposed to go to Michaels to return some stuff - but I was lazy and didn't feel like doing it so I am doing that tonight.  So then I came home and made dinner.  After that I finally got around to watching that movie, "P.S. I love you."  It was a pretty good movie - but it totally butchered that book.  I was so disappointed.  It didn't even barely follow it - I think there was like maybe five scenes where I was like, "Yay that was in the book..."  Other then that totally butchered it.  But it was a good story line - as long as you have never read the book.  Ah wells... what can you do?

Well I have to go wake up - I defiantly could lay my head on my desk and take a nap... hahaha... that would be nice. 

So the weekend was pretty relaxing... I thought it was going to be a crazy one - but it turned out not to be.  Lets see on Thursday I went up to my grandparents to visit.  Then Thursday night I went out with Jessica and Brittany, we had a pretty good time.  Jessica ended up losing her phone, which sucked.  Friday morning Joe went crabbing with his sister's dad and Brooklen.  They were out there all day and only caught like 20 crabs.  They were pretty disappointed, but the crabs they did catch were pretty tasty so I had fun eating them.  I told Joe that I could get used to him going to crabbing so much and that he should buy a boat so he can go every weekend.  haha.    I love crabs! 

Saturday my mom, sister and Brooklen started shopping for the wedding.  We went to JoAnn fabrics and got material for Brooklen's dress.  While we were there I picked up some heart charms and some ribbon so we could decorate the bubbles.  We ended up going to A.C.Moore and buying bubbles and baskets.  I am putting all our favors in baskets instead of putting them on the table.  So yesterday my mom and me sat at the table with the bubbles, ribbons, and hot glue gun making my bubbles beautiful!    My momma is so creative... I wish some of that would have rubbed off on me!  She was trying the bows and I was hot gluing the charms.  We got this ribbon that says "With Love" on it so we cute it perfect so it says it just once, then hot glue that to the charm, then my mom tied a navy blue bow around the the neck of the bubble bottle, then I hot glued the charm to the middle of the navy blue bow.  My brother thinks that we are retards wasting all this time on bubble bottles... hahaha.  I thought it was cute though!  It was fun making them too.  We got 1/2 through them...

I got the rest of my grades - all C's for the quarter.  A bunch of C's.  I do have to admit that I am totally happy with that.  The classes were hard and got on my nerves.  It was a lot of freaking work and I am happy that I pulled C's in all of the classes.  So yeah for me!

Well since this is the week before my vacation - I know there is going to be a ton of stuff for me to do... Plus I am going to try to fit in as much wedding stuff possible.  I am going to try and go rent the tent sometime this week to get it out of the way.  We will see how it goes.  I schedule a meeting to met with the DJ and I need to call my mom's cousin today and try to schedule something with them.  My mom said she talked to them over the weekend and they said that we just can go out to eat or something.  What else do I need to do???  Find a florist, talk to the cake lady, order food - so many things, so little time.  Fun stuff I tell you!  Fun STUFF. 

So yesterday, while I was working VERY, VERY hard... I came up with a theme for our wedding.  It is a little corny, but it will work good.  Since we are going to get married in the fall, our theme is going to be "Fall in love... we did!"  I want everything to be fall colors, deep reds, deep greens, deep blues... oh yeah and a splash of gold... you know how I love gold.  So then I went and found our invitations.  They are perfect.  They have a gold bolder and then at the top there are two hearts.  So I bought them and now I have invitations out of the way.  YAY!  So exciting.    So that is that.  We have a theme... so exciting.  Joe thinks I am crazy, but he knows that it is better just to agree with me... hahahaha...

Now I just need to start booking stuff, but I haven't gotten that motivated.  My friend is dating a guy that is a DJ, so I am thinking about just getting him for the wedding because he already told me that he would cut me a good deal.  Cassie is supposed to get back to me about the cake.  I already know where I am getting the food from... I need to go up to the party store and book the tent and all that good stuff.  Ummm... ummm... then what is left?  Small details, like decorations and what not.  Nothing big.  I came up with a favor idea that I like a lot and I think that we are going to do it.  But that is going to be a surprise except for those people who have to help me of course... good stuff I tell ya.  Good stuff.  I picked out my 2nd favorite picture too... here it is:

So flipping cute.  I love it.  We defiantly had too much fun that day.  Yup, yup...

Yeah so other then that my ming is basically overrun with wedding thoughts, I never thought it would be this exciting.  It defiantly makes a lot of stress go away when you are just thinking that you want a fun, laid back day and not really trying to impress anyone... I am just so flipping exciting.