Only 19 hours…

Until FK and I are boarding a plane to sunny Paradise Island! HURRAH!! I’m quite excited–I have been checking out the Club Med website and found that the resort is a series of old historic homes and mansions that were turned into a very cool Club Med village. I can’t wait to be sitting on the beach, enjoying the sunshine and relaxing with Frank!! YAY!

Preparing for our trip, we had a few last minute things to pick up. After work, Frank picked me up and we went to the mall. We wandered aimlessly, picked up a few items, ate dinner in the food court and just enjoyed the people watching.

Which brings me to the 15 yr old with her pants down to her knees wearing a thong. Okay, I exaggerate. She was wearing fashionable low rise jeans. And a white thong. I know this because about 4 inches of her thong were exposed. I guess this is the norm.

But then there was the girl that just cut to the chase and wore her red underwear OVER her jeans. That was pretty cunning.

All of this really just means that we are not going to have kids for at least one more year now. On top of how long we were going to wait anyway. Hrmph!

On another note.

Last night Frank was in desperate search for his beloved sandles. He was searching high and low throughout the entire apartment, absolutely focused on finding the old brown birks. Well, after some time, I hear him grumble, “Well, this is what stinks about being married.” My ears perked up.

“Excuse me?” I asked. “What did you just say about being married?”

“Well, see,” he said, “When I was single, I could always find stuff because it was right where I left it. Now, who knows where you put it*.”

“Whatever,” I said dismissively. Then after about 2 seconds of thought, I added, “Check your car.”

Frank’s car is a notorious final resting place for many things. Tupperware. Clothing. Documents of any variety. Which is why I wasn’t surprised to see Frank come back into the house ten minutes later with his arms full of clothing and, of course, his birks. He sheepishly looked at me, holding out 3 pairs of dockers, a dress shirt and two well-loved birks.

“What do you say, Frank?” I demanded (smiling, of course).

“You were right,” he admitted.

Which is how it always is, isn’t it?

That’s what I thought. 🙂

*Portions of the conversation may have been slightly altered. But you get the idea…

What a weekend!

Well, this weekend Craig and Jamie got married–hurrah! Frank was a groomsman and I was a reader, so we were both at the rehearsal dinner and then, of course, the wedding.

Okay, first things first: it was a beautiful wedding! Jamie looked just like a snow princess! Craig didn’t look nervous, but according to the Father of the Bride, his hands were cold and clammy–how cute!!!

As I was watching the ceremony (and alternately checking out my husband–ow ow!), it occurred to me how things have really changed since high school. I mean, one would hope things *would* change between high school and now. But it was like stepping back and looking at my life like it was a still life painting and I was watching myself in high school and college and now. It was amazing to see how everyone changed, but still remained friends. And how some of the friendships deepened, some of the grew apart and how we all remained friends in the end. It was very cool to see.

So here we are, Craig and Jamie M are now happily married!! Way to go, guys!!!

Another one bites the dust. 😀

It has been far too long, my friends. Far too long.

First of all, appropriate kudos (like the candy bar) to Jane P for finally updating her journal. It was 2 months in the making, but all in all a fantastic recap of the adventures she has been on in Australia and all over this lovely planet. Jane, I didn’t know you were born in the land down under–this is news to me! Wow–a real live Aussie and I didn’t even know it!!

On to other things. As Jamie mentioned in her blogger, this weekend was her bachelorette party–rock! It was a very good time indeed! Frank says that he had a great time at the corresponding bachelor party. This made it at least a little bit easier to get out of bed on Sunday and drag our sorry butts to church the next morning.

Since we had the bachelorette & bachelor parties–a wedding is not far behind! Jamie and Craig will be married this Saturday, January 24th, 2004. Hurrah! After their wedding all of the appropriate festivities will follow, ending, we hope, in a night of passion for someone, somewhere.

These past two weeks have been very trying at work, but I will surivive.

Bye!!!

Happy New Year!

…. and Happy Birthday Papa! As my dad said in an email to me, “A special prayer goes up for Papa on his 79th birthday on Earth and his first birthday in heaven.”

Well, not too much has been going on this week. Just working hard and trying to get through the first full week I have worked in nearly 2 months. I think I sneaked a full week of work in during a week in December, but I’m not certain. Anyway, it’s Wednesday and it’s kinda rough.

Last night Frank and I booked tickets for a trip to San Francisco in March. We are just crazy travelers!!! I think after that trip, all will be quiet on the traveling front until June when we go to Florida for Garrick and Jill’s wedding. Hurrah for them!!!

Okay, I have to go. Work calls!

Merry Christmas and a HAPPY New Year!

Well, this was our first married Merry Christmas! It really gets a lot more hectic when you factor in two families and their traditions AND try to do it all in the same time frame–eek! Fortunately our parents are flexible and basically told us that we should do whatever we wanted and that would be fine with them. Let me tell you, that sure makes it easy!

Christmas Eve

Well, we thought that we were going over to my Aunt Janyne’s (in Lake Zurich) for hors d’oeuvres. (Sp?) We figured we would hang out over there for a few hours and then drive down to Oak Brook for church. Heh. Sometimes even the best laid plans just don’t work out. Turns out that Auntie Nee-nee (my name for her when I was little), decided to have a full turkey dinner instead. That would be okay if we ate around 6 ish. But since some family wasn’t getting there until 6:30, we didn’t eat until 7. We should have just left at 7:30 like we had planned, but we felt bad eating and running. We could have left at 9 or so and gone to the 11pm service, but FK was flying the next morning and had to be up at 4:30am. Yes. I’m not joking.

So our plans on going to church completely unraveled. Gr.

Christmas Morning

I vaguely recall FK getting out of bed and leaving for work. I do know that I told him he looked nice, to which he replied, “Emily, it’s completely dark in here–how do you know I look nice?” And I responded by rolling over. Hrmph. How can he be so sure I don’t have night vision???

I woke up around 7ish, cleaned up, showered and then had some pancakes ready for Frank when he came back from his flight to Milwaukee. Being 5 years old at heart, I couldn’t fathom the idea of Christmas morning without opening SOMETHING. So FK caved and let me open our gifts. He opened his first. I gave him several movies and CDs. Then I opened his. Oh my gosh–I thought I had been extravagant for the several movies and CDs–but he really went over the top!!! He gave us both a trip to Nassau in February! A five day, all inclusive trip to the Bahamas!!! OH MY GOSH!!! I’m sooooooooo excited!! eeeeek! I jumped on his lap and kissed him all over his face. He likes it. 🙂

Christmas Day

After I calmed down, we drove up to Antioch to visit FK’s family. I love them–we had a blast watching Luke, our favorite form of entertainment. See, Luke, is quite the little character (he is my 1 1/2 yr old nephew). He was taking grape tomatoes and jamming them in his mouth until he had 5 or 6. Then, when he finally bit down, juice and seeds came spurting out of his mouth. Panicked, he ran over to Grandma K and spit the rest out in her hands. OH MY GOODNESS. Too funny!!!

After the K house, we drove down to Palatine to see my side. We opened gifts and ate prime rib and had a jolly old time! 🙂 My parents got a pool table and a hockey game. It was surprising to see how good my grandma is ate the hockey game! Even with Parkinson’s, she scored SEVERAL goals!

The Day After

After our awesome Christmas, FK and I had tickets to go to the Hawk’s game. We hadn’t been to a game yet this season, so it was exciting to finally get to go! We went to the Locker Room for dinner and then watched the Hawks lose to the worst team in the division, the Blue Jackets. That team hadn’t won any games on the road, so I guess they were bound to win eventually…

The Day After the Day After

We drove down to Metamora, IL to watch my cousin David M marry Angie S in a very sweet winter ceremony. Not very wintery, though. It was 55 degrees!!! eeek! We had a lot of fun with our family, too!

Love, Babies and How the Former Can Sometimes Make the Latter

… and boys and girls, please, remember, birth control is YOUR FRIEND.

Thank you.

So anyway, I thought I would drop that in there since I was just reading my brother’s band’s website and these teens were discussing birth control on the message board. Apparently the band members (this, sadly, includes my darling brother), are well versed in birth control and we needn’t worry about them.

Thank God. Wait until I tell Mom….

Speaking of birth control in all of its glory–I went to Erin & John’s wedding on Saturday. Actually, I was in their wedding. I have to say, it was absolutely a fantastic wedding! Everyone loves their own wedding, but their wedding made me want to get married all over again. Or, at least, have another big party! woohoo!!! Aside from the other Maid of Honor (as a married hag, I was MATRON of Honor) blacking out at the altar (ladies, let’s keep those knees LOOSE!), the day went off with only one hitch: the bride and groom (cue cheesy laughter). See, they got hitched… hitch? hitched??! Ha!

Erin’s dress was beautiful–scoop neckline with beading on the bodice and a chapel length train. It was ivory and absolutely stunning! She had her hair up in a MASS of curls (if you know Erin, you know she has 5xs the average amount of hair on her head) with a beautiful crystal crown. I’d say tiara, but there was just so much sparkle, it was definitely a crown!

They had SO much food at their wedding, too! Oh my gosh–we just ate and ate and ate! They served appetizers, soup, salad, pasta, filet AND chicken, twice baked potato, vegetables, international coffee service, chocolate mousse, cake and a sweet table. HOLY COW–I have never eaten so much! 😀 Well, maybe I have, but this just tasted so good!!

At our wedding, our DJ forgot the music for our first dance. It was tragic because Frank and I worked hard to choreograph our first dance and then–woosh–no song! eeek. At Erin’s wedding, the DJ had our song and we danced our dance to it before the other guests arrived. It was very happy! 🙂

So this weekend I am going to run down to visit my sister in St. Louis for a couple of days. I can’t wait to see her!!! I LOVE HER!!! EH EH EH EH!

Okay, gotta be productive… must go get some lunch!!

It's coooooold out there!

… And this is just the beginning!

Last weekend we had Thanksgiving (first to FK’s house then to my house). We followed that up with a little birthday party and washed it down with some church–yippy!

This weekend is my dearest friend Erin’s wedding–oh my gosh! After 2.5 years of engagement, they are FINALLY going to tie the knot! I cannot wait! 😀 YAY FOR ERIN AND JOHN!!!

92% Done with 2003

So with 8% of the year remaining and a new year just a few weeks away, it seems like now is as good of a time as any to have Thanksgiving.

I know, my stamp of approval was needed to affirm a national holiday.

It just seems like a wise idea to kick off the busiest month with a holiday that gives time to pause and reflect. And energize for crazed “Green Friday” shopping. Of course, I doubt the Pilgrims were chomping down on their splendid dinner thinking, “Great, I’ll fuel up now and I’ll be able to hit all of the sales from 6am till 9pm. Can’t wait!!” Anyway, ’tis the season to rush, rush, rush!

A girl my senior year in high school once asked the class of ’98 why we were counting down the best days of our lives. Why were we so eager to hurry through this carefree time? But no one cared. Besides, her question came too late–the last day of school our senior year. Rah! Freedom!!!

But I think she was a little right. Maybe even a lot. What was the rush?

So this year, I am going to savor every minute of frantic holiday shopping. I think I’m going to make cookies. I am going to let every day drip by as slowly as I can. Because what is the rush? Where are we going so fast? As an old woman (23), I don’t have a Barbie I am anxiously waiting to open on Christmas Day. There is no post-present high on Christmas morning. And that is just fine by me.

I get to start and finish this holiday season with weddings–one of my dearest friends, Erin B, is getting married on 12/6 and my cousin Dave M is getting married on 12/27. There is a lot to celebrate this December. Our first Thanksgiving kicks it off. Our first Christmas. Our first New Year.

There is so much to be said for a fantastic husband, a wonderful family and terrific friends. I can’t wait to spend time with everyone this holiday season!

So–it’s cold. I moan a lot about that. But after I’m done whining, I’m going to heat up some soup, make a sandwich, curl up on the couch and watch time slide by…

ahhhh…

Peak-a-boo!

Yes, I am still alive. Since the last time I wrote, I have aged–I am now an ancient 23. Eeek!

Frank and I took a 4 hour nap yesterday. I am still recovering today. I developed a cold over the last week, but am feeling MUCH better today.

I’m sure I’ll have more to write later…

Picture Perfect

We got our pictures back from the photographer and they are AWESOME!! YAY! I love them. We didn’t have time to do a lot of the pictures that we wanted, but what we got is incredible–rah!!

It’s amazing that I am now looking back on my wedding. It felt like the day would never come and then, woosh, there it went! It truly flies by.

How’s Married Life Treatin’ Ya??

That is the question of the ages. My response is a resounding, “Great!” But what does that “Great!” mean?

Only two months into it, and I can tell you that being married is the greatest thing. Frank and I have a fantastic time together, laughing and generally enjoying eachother’s company. And Frank is a fantastic husband! The other day I came home and he was vacuuming and running the washer and dryer. He makes the bed nearly every day. He eats the food I make him with little to no hesitation (brave man). He tells me that I’m cute in the morning, even if my mascara has run all over my face and my hair has developed new and interesting cowlicks.

It’s also one of the toughest things, too. There is life before marriage and life after marriage. The priorities I had before marriage are definitely different from the priorities since marriage. You realize that you are your own little family and you have your own little family problems and traditions and quirks. You realize that it’s not as easy as signing a marriage license and throwing a little party.

And this brings me back to the night Frank proposed. For a long time I have been trying to put into words the feelings that came over me that night. I felt incredible joy that we were going to take our relationship the next step. I felt delighted and giddy and excited and nervous and surprised and content. This is how things were meant to be.

But there was another feeling, a feeling of awe. It was as though I walked into an ancient church with bright, ornate stained glassed windows lining either side and pews, uniformly assembled, solemn contemplative rows in front of a lavish alter. And the ceiling is several stories overhead and old, tender light filters in from every perfect crack and crevice. But even more awesome than beauty of the old space is the overwhelming sense of history in the room. How many lives were announced, merged, celebrated and mourned here? What words could you possibly use to sum up the experience of standing in this church? And it’s such an experience that it must be experienced with another person, if not for the reason that when you walk out of the church and you lack words to describe it, you can look at that person and know that they understand.

After he proposed, Frank examined my ring on my finger for along time. Then he said to me that it was amazing to think of what that ring will have seen 50 years from now. It will see children, homes, pets, people coming, people going, grand children. Maybe even great grandchildren. Who knows? And maybe in 50 years the ring will be given to a grandson. And maybe he will ask a young woman to marry him. And who knows–maybe she will be filled with the same sense of awe and wonderment.

What a very great thing, indeed.