Post wedding high

Better than alcohol anyday. Holy cow! I can't believe it's all over. I can't believe that somehow, we managed to plan a wedding in less than 5 days and, somehow, it was beautiful. The day of the wedding I woke up, told my friend that was visiting that 'of course we will take you to the REI Flagship store so you can shop' even though it was across town and we still needed to get a cake, amongst other things. lol Apparently, someone was smiling on us because, after dropping her off there, we walked into Larry's Market on lower Queen Anne and we went to the bakery looking for a cake and we met Amy. She works there. She looked sort of like I used to in high school - kind of a black makeup, black nail polish, Doc Marten boot wearing sort of girl - so I liked her right away. She wanted to help us out so badly but we hadn't even thought about what we wanted. So the two of us went to the coffee shop and went through some books of pictures that she could project on the cake and then draw. We had all sorts of goofy ideas but came to a good conclusion, which she was able to help us with in under 30 minutes. You'll have to wait for the photos though, because I haven't gotten them loaded to this laptop, which is a work computer!

Anyhow, we managed to get myself, my mother, M's 'best man' (that same friend of the REI store), and my maid of honor to the nail salon where we proceeded to have manicures and pedicures. We were literally flying out of the salon and to the house at less than an hour to go before people arrived and Anne still had to take a shower. Thank god for the fact I have short wash-and-go style hair and my fiance (now husband! eep!!!) is used to seeing me without makeup. Anything would be 'dressing up'! I got ready in less than said hour, we had champagne flutes out and champagne poured as the guests were arriving. In total, there were 12 of us.

We had a nice toast on our deck with the sun setting in the background. Photos were taken and that sort of thing. Then we climbed into the limo (woo hoo!) and headed to the courthouse. There was more champagne in the overcrowded limo (that's the way it should be!) and we made it to the courthouse with 15 minutes to spare. We got to the designated courtroom but it was locked! lol The 'best man' ran off in search of some answers but after about 5 minutes the door opened and Judge K stepped out. She called M and I into her office, chatted with us briefly about where we met, her own trip to Peru, how she got to doing what she's doing (in between trying criminal cases) and how much she loves this part of her job. We could hear laughter in the courtroom - our friends and family - we found out later there was banging of the gavel and some attempt at singing in the microphone at the front of the room. lol The judge gave a really beautiful speech - including an excerpt from an Anne Morrow Lindbergh book - I'll write bits of it later when I think about it. I wish I could remember more but it all went in one ear and out the other. It had to do with being best friends and blah de blah de blah. Take my word for it, it was beyond anything we could have imagined. She even blew bubbles at us when she was finished!

After the ceremony, we hopped back in the limo and back to our neighborhood. We had found a lovely, intimate local Italian restaurant for dinner. It was a tiny place. We started in the bar which was barely big enough for the 12 of us but couldn't have been more perfect! We moved into the restaurant and had a small upper level to ourselves. There was a bottle of champagne waiting for us... M's sister had called.the.restaurant.to.order.it. (It was 3am Dublin time) and she even called back to congratulate us. It was pretty darn cool. The food was great, the cake turned out wonderful, the party ended about 9:30 - limo taking everyone back to our house, then taking us to the W Hotel in downtown. Pretty swanky. It was so lovely to hang out in bed and watch tv this morning and not have to do a thing. We stayed for the late checkout, then took our friend C out for lunch to thank her for loaning us everything but the kitchen sink during this holiday. It was great fun! I'm exhausted and heading to bed. I just wanted to let everyone know I'm Mrs. C now.

(ok, I'm not really changing my name but that's what I'm calling myself!)

What day is it again?

What a week (or two) this has been. We have shopped and shopped and shopped and shopped. I really hate shopping. And there's more to do. I mean, we only shopped so the house had some furniture, sheets, towels, pots/pans, toaster for when my parents arrived (which was a day early since they decided to fly at the last minute) and for Thanksgiving food. We still have this wedding thing...lol...and we are so unprepared. I was so hoping to have a dress before T-day so I didn't have to go out in the madness known as post-Thanksgiving shopping, but we didn't make it. So I have to go today. Somehow, I think I can get a wedding outfit and shoes in less than 5 days! We only make decisions to buy houses in less than 5 days, I've never shopped FOR a dress and found it so quickly. Maybe this will be my year. :) We have the justice/judge doing the ceremony, we found the restaurant (a little local italian place with gorgeous food, who don't want to charge us $3/person for slicing a cake that we will bring!), we are hoping to arrange a limo (we don't have a big enough car to transport ourselves, my parents, and my friend B) and then a hotel downtown for the two of us. As my lovely fiance is downstairs sawing into the pipe that drains our tub/bathroom sink, I am sure this will fall to me. As I seem to have a sinus infection or bad cold anyhow, I just want to sit around and do nothing. Ain't gonna happen. B arrives today, my mom and I are going shopping, my dad and M doing the work. It's pouring rain and I want to stay home!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaah. Ok there, I'm done with the pity. Again, can I say, what was I thinking???????????!

Oh, but this is sweet. My fiance's sisters, brother-in-law, and 2 couple friends of his are meeting for dinner on the 29th - to be with us in spirit on our wedding day. I thought that was pretty darn cool and I loved it. Even though we aren't there, they are celebrating us. :) Nice idea!

I haven't had a chance to weigh myself or work out in a couple weeks. When all this settles down, I will go. I'm doing okay with eating, although it's been harder with being out all day shopping and now my folks are here but I'm determined to keep going. So, I haven't given up. aside from yesterday, I haven't really indulged, I don't think. I guess I'll see the next time I get to the gym. But I won't be discouraged because, this time, it just has to continue. I love the weightloss and I want it to continue. The stress and the wackiness of this time has really thrown me off but I don't feel like I've collapsed, like I've given in, just that I've enjoyed myself and we'll get back to normal really soon. Well, until Christmas, when we are headed to San Diego! But that's another story for another time.

I hope you all had a great turkey day. I'm going to have a bit now, myself.

I'm here!! I'm here!!!!

(waving from seattle)

Sorry everyone, for the delay. We'll see if anyone is still actually reading my blog by this time.... lol

Weight on Nov 14th: 167.4
Weight lost: 7 pounds?

I can't actually remember what I weighed 2 weeks ago... (and god forbid i read my own blog....)
I spent 2 weeks on the road, eating really well with all the planning I did, and somehow managed to drop a few pounds. Now, truth be told, I know that's a lot to lose in 2 weeks, which means there's a distinct possibility that now that I am home and working out, I'll gain a bit back this week. But I'm satisfied that the scale is heading in the right direction! I think I've reached one of my goals too, so I get to buy myself a new workout outfit. Cool...

So the trip to SF was great. I have some great friends and they took good care of me, even though I was working 12 hour days and couldn't spend too much time with them. They provided couches, entertainment, food, gym workouts, coffee... They were wonderful. It's funny if you've lived some place, you never spend *that* much time with people, because you probably always go home at the end of the evening, and it's good to get a different view of them when you stay with them. In my case, this was good!! lol

The work for that area was finished and I got home in time to pick up my irish pressie (present, like Christmas present, for you americans) from the airport. He, of course, was the last one off the plane and on top of that always stops at the bathroom and 'freshen's' up - which is a nice thought but makes me start to wonder if he missed his flight or something. He looked as adorable as I remember and it didn't hurt that he said, 'wow! you look great' and patted the butt that has lost a few pounds. Girls, there are these men out there! Joe, I think you must be one of them. ;)

It's been nonstop shopping ever since he got here. Most girls would love that. I'm not most girls. I don't really like shopping but this hasn't been a bad experience. We are shopping for furniture, serious purchases for our new home and we actually agree on things! It's so cool. And we both won't settle so the fact that we manage to find things we both like is a pretty awesome thing. We've got a long way to go though, so I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

I need to run now. Off to get the hair highlighted and cut. Yes, you would've thought I'd done it before the boy arrived but I just couldn't fit it in. So he's had to see my skunk stripe of gray and wearing a stupid girlie clip to keep the hair out of my eyes. He'll be thrilled when he sees me tonight! hubba, hubba.

Talk with you soon!

Capturing a moment

...on my trip to say hello!

I *do* see to be the queen of spam! At least, that day. ..spamspamspamspam (always reminds me of monty python..)

So I've made it to the Bay Area... I drove down (don't ask me why but it was a lovely drive. well... except for the first 4 hours when it was pissin rain and everyone was still driving 75 mph. including me.) and the last 9 hours were in gorgeous 70 degrees temps. I know I've said it before but southern Oregon is gorgeous this time of year. Leaves changing, that sort of thing.

I've been here since Monday, I'm doing incredibly well with keeping my eating in control. It's truly organization, I have a cooler, I bought food, I have snacks and healthy things to eat every 3 hours or so. It's been working great actually. It would've been a disaster if I didn't prepare... Still.. there will be a couple lunches out and dinners out. The true test. Ah well. There will always be that, won't there?

I've enjoyed seeing my friends too. The one I am staying with now is probably as close to a best friend as I've got. She's actually managed to get me up at 5:15am to head to the gym to work out with her workout group... and I'm going to do it again tomorrow! I'm nuts. Must be all that healthy eating... This weekend I'll stay with a more sedentary friend and eat out. lol And the last two days with a vegan, gluten-free friend so I'll most likely be desperate to get home after that!

As M says, 8 more sleeps! (til he gets there that is!)

And Joe, the food is in the mail! Enjoy!