Thursday, July 31, 2003

Leavin' Louisiana in the broad daylight

The week since the return from our honeymoon hasd been hectic, to say the least. Busy at work, busy (and a mess) at home, plus we are traveling to Helen GA this weekend to attend my sister's wedding (which I only found out about two weeks ago; GRRRRR!). And, This-or-That is on hiatus.

In its stead, I present:

The Top Ten Things I Learned on My Honeymoon

1. A train is a cool as hell way to travel, but if you get a sleeper car, make sure your travel buddy doesn't eat any foods that even remotely cause gas at least 48 hours before the trip.

2. If you're planning on staying in the French Quarter on a trip to Nawlins, pack some earplugs. That is, unless you don't plan on sleeping or are one of the 3 people on Earth who can sleep with rented Harleys roaring by your hotel room every 7 minutes and 38 seconds (trust me, I timed it).

3. The muffuletta is THE greatest sandwich on Earth. and the best place in the world to get a muffuletta is at Central Grocery.

4. If your goal is to get as drunk as possible on Bourbon Street, then a Hand Grenade from any of a number of to-go vendors is the way to go.

5. Pat O'Brien's is not as jockish as its name might imply. However, their world-famous Hurricanes are definitely made for two people to consume.

6. Don't wander into St. Louis Cemetary #1 unescorted, day OR night. And for God's sake, don't mention the fact that the Superdome is built on top of an old cemetary.

7. There is nothing like being serenaded by a gay waiter at a burger joint at midnight in the French Quarter while you're on your honeymoon.

8. Rasta Superman rules the night.

9. A Branson t-shirt will not get you beaten up if you wear it in New Orleans. Bring an overshort with you, though, just in case.

10. Sex shops in the Big Easy? Surprisingly underwhelming.

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Oooh, pretty!

The link of the day:

You can make flowers grow with the help of your mouse and some clouds!

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement

That dweam within a dweam (I love the Impressive Clergyman!)

As you can tell from this post, Kathy and I tied the knot this past Saturday. It was an incredibly beautiful ceremony. Throughout the years, I have dreamed of what my wedding would be like: the bride, the guests, the location, the cake. Many times throughout the day Saturday, I found myself looking at the assembled ceremony and thinking: "This is it, this is the wedding I've always wanted." And to tell the truth, there is very little that I would have changed about the wedding, save for having a few key people there. :)

The trip to New Orleans was great as well. This was the first time (not counting Tweetsie) that I ever traveled by rail, and for those that have never done it, I highly recommend it if you have the time. We traveled first class, got free meals and bedding, and for less than it would have taken to fly. Of course, we also found time to cuddle and coo as honeymooners are wont to do.

So far, New Orleans has been all I thought it would be. So many sights sounds and tastes to absorb, and I've a feeling when we leave Saturday, we won't have scratched the surface.

At one point, I looked at Kathy and told her that I had never thought I could possibly love her more than I did before the wedding, but I was wrong. Since then, my love for this woman has only grown exponentially. I just look forward to the next 50-60 years with her. I'll write in more detail later, when I'm not buying Internet time by the minute. See ya!

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

Three days was the morning

Okay, unless I find an internet connection ready and willing for me in Boone or New Orleans, this'll be my last post until the 28th, so I'd better make it a good one.

We are set to go to Boone this evening after we both get off work. No one else has dropped out yet; emphasis on YET! Mom and Dad had a present all set for us to pick up from Best Buy (a TV, we think), but after they gave them a bunch of grief about picking it up, they changed their minds and got us something else.

The last day before my 12 day vacation has been SLOOOOOOWWW! I feel like the clock is just crawling towards the 5:00 mark. Of course it'll be here before I know it, but still I feel just a bit drowsy.

I'm getting married!!! WOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!

Tuesday, July 15, 2003

This That and da udder Ting!

Yeppers it's Tuesday, and you know what that means...

1. Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck?
The wabbit, though I felt sorry for Daffy sometimes (especially when he was pitted against Speedy Gonzales)
2. Tom or Jerry?
Tom all the way!
3. Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck?
Donald. I used to dream of satrting the "Donald Duck Club" when I was a kid.
4. Rocky & Bullwinkle or Boris & Natasha?
Rocky and Bullwinkle
5. Road Runner or Wile E. Coyote?
Wile E. Coyote... Superrrrrrrrrrrr-Geeeenius!
6. Sylvester or Tweety?
Sylvester. Hmmm, I'm sensing a trend here.
7. Popeye or Bluto?
Popeye!
8. South Park or The Simpsons?
Ack! Why must I make these choices? Why couldn't it be South Park vs. Spongebob? Ummm... both!
9. Jetsons or Flintstones?
The Jetsons. I want a flying car.
10. And finally, the eternal question asked by all good Scooby-Doo fans: Velma or Daphne?
Yikers! Ummm, Velma. Brainy chicks get me.

Four days left

It's coming and I couldn't be happier. :)

Last night was interesting. First, Kathy and I got into an argument over what songs should go on a CD of love songs we were doing for the wedding. We started listening to each of our selections, and when it came to the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris", we both burst out crying. Needless to say, that one's going on the CD.

Then, when I was out getting a copy of a photo made at Walmart, my mom called Kathy and told her that they had bought us a "big present" at Best Buy and that it was waiting for us in Roanoke. The problem is, though, that Roanoke is 45 minutes away, and we are busting our butts in the time we have to get everything ready for our departure tomorrow. Hopefully they'll hold it until we get back from New Orleans.

Then my friend Ian called me. Unfortunately both of us were using cell phones while there was a thunderstorm in his area, and we kept getting disconnected. He called us back about 8-10 times trying to get info on hotel space in Boone and details on who from USCA was coming to the wedding. *sigh* Craziness.

Otherwise, things are going well. Our photographer may even show up for the wedding. How about that? LOL

Monday, July 14, 2003

dang it!

Accio, logo!

5 more days

Yep, the numbers are getting smaller, and the excitement, anticipation, and flop-sweat is growing! The wedding is almost upon us, and it's, well, if you've been married before, I hope you can empathize.

Wedding presents have been coming to the house via UPS for the past few days. It's like coming home and finding our Santa Claus has been to visit. So far we've received several dishes in our pattern, a couple of cool frames, and a book on... well, I'm not sure, but it's very technical and I fell asleep and drooled on one of the pages while trying to read it. That last little gem was from one of Kathy's ex-boyfriends; he has a DRY sense of humor.

Kath went to Boone this past weekend to take care of some last-minute details and to do a test-run of her wedding day hairdo. She called me Saturday evening to tell me that she was going to wait until early Sunday AM to come home. This is significant since her birthday was yesterday. I sighed and went to bed Saturday night, disappointed that I wouldn't be able to spend all her birthday with her.

Imagine my surprise then, when at 6 AM I heard the screen door closing. I thought either the cats were getting out or the house was being broken into, but it was Kathy coming home from NC. Turns out she decided to leave at 2 that morning because she missed me so. We had a good birthday together, even if I had to work at Ruby's that evening.

Oh yes, and before I forget, I am now a member of the North State Blogs ring. Thanks, guys!

edit: Hopefully the logo will show up to the right here. Let's see, hmmm?

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

This or That Tuesday 7-8-03

Not a bad one, I must say:

1. Strawberries or blueberries?
Blueberries... mmmm, blueberry cheeeesecake!
2. "Legally Blonde 2" or "Terminator 3"?
Ehhh, Terminator 3, but I'd much rather see The Matrix Reloaded.
3. Hamburgers or hot dogs?
Don't make me choose, please! Gimme both, and a lotta potato chips!!!
4. Boating or hiking?
Let's go for a hike!
5. Suntan lotion or sunblock?
Sunblock. As I've told Kathy numerous times (as stolen from a comedian), "I'm Irish. You put me in the sun, it's like putting tinfoil in a microwave."
6. "Big Brother" or "The Amazing Race"?
Ew, neither, but I'd watch The Amazing Race first.
7. Beach Boys or Jimmy Buffett?
Shoot me now.
8. Grow your own produce or buy from supermarket/greengrocer/farm stand?
I'd love to grow my own. Maybe I can someday.
9. Drive with car windows/top down, or with air-conditioning on?
Put the top down, crank the tunes, and ride, baby, ride!
10. Go away for vacation, or stay at home?
See the above answer!
********************
More wedding stuff later.

Sunday, July 6, 2003

13 days (and it figures!)

Another person has dropped out of the wedding party, and it was my best man.

Steve Palmer was supposed to be my best man, and when I asked him to do it, he agreed, saying "There's nothing that can keep me from it." Unfortunately something has.

A couple of weeks ago, he and Matt Garland got jobs at a time-share resale place. They both asked for time off to come to the wedding. Their boss told them that only one of them could go, and Matt told Steve to ask for the time off and let him worry about making money.

Then Matt got fired a few days ago for not meeting quotas. Steve is "on the bubble" as he put it, and so he has chosen trying to keep the only job he has now over my wedding. And although I understand having to make that choice, I am still a little steamed that it had to happen so soon before the wedding, especially in light of my brother and sister-in-law not coming (see below).

Anyway, I called Cliff Dyches to take Steve's place, and he agreed to do it, with the warning that he's done this twice before and both couples later divorced. But hey, third time's the charm, right?

Er, right?

*sigh* I need a beer.

Thursday, July 3, 2003

Bunny came home with a vengeance

Well, Kathy finally made it home last night from maine, and boy was I glad to see her! 'Course, she managed to bring an unwelcome guest with her, in the form of, err, "digestive problems". I won't go into it any further; just work with me, people.

It looks like we're dropping the part in the ceremony where my sister-in-law and my uncle were going to sing. He said he'd prefer not to sing by himself in the wedding, but would if we really wanted him to. We're going to look at the program and decide what to do today.

Thankfully, I don't have to work at Ruby's on Friday night. I was so afraid that I would, and have to choose between it and the paper. Frankly, the paper would have won out, if that had been the case.

I may do This-or-That later on today. Keep tuning in. :)

Tuesday, July 1, 2003

Not feelin' too good myself

Ugh.

I called my parents to find out if any of our non-responding relatives were coming to the shindig on the 19th. As I was talking to him, Dad asked if I had heard from Stacie, my sister-in-law. I hadn't talked to her in a couple of months, so I said "no".

Dad then proceeded to tell me that she should have called me because my brother Steve had been denied permission by his employer to come to my wedding. Apparently he had asked for the time off, and the foreman or whoever told him that "we hired you to work this shift, and you're gonna work it no matter what." Steve was seriously thinking of quitting this job, which he's had all of 6 months, but Dad talked him out of it. If it comes down to feeding his kids or attending my wedding, I'd rather Steve missed it. Doesn't mean I won't miss him, though. :(

As a side note (and a VERY significant one at that), Stacie told my folks that she wouldn't feel comfortable going to the wedding without my brother, and it looks like she (and the kids) won't be coming to the wedding either. It's all the more important because Stacie was supposed to sing at the wedding. Now we have to figure out what to do about that. Crap.