Thoughts on marriage...

The political climate being what it is and the recent decree by Governor Patterson has made me realize I shouldn't take for granted the ease as to which we walked into City Hall and got a marriage license.  

June 17, 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court case of Loving v. Virginia.  And on its anniversary, Mildred Loving (the wife of the inter-racial couple) issued this statement: 

"Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the “wrong kind of person” for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights.

I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about."

$5 savings plan

While at pre-cana, we had a talk about financials.  And the moderator talked about having to get creative about saving money.  She read an article about how five dollar bills had the least amount in circulation and that you should never spend one.  So she started stocking away every five dollar bill that came into her possession.  In three years, she had saved $12,000.  

Me being the consummate saver that I am, I jumped on yet another way to save money.  So since late April, I have been following this savings plan.  And I also set up a fine system meaning that if I use a $5 when I shouldn't, I owe myself $10.  Though things like buying a $5 charity raffle do not get fined.  

It is my system so I can make the rules.  However, here is an article about this savings method.

To date I have $515.  Not bad.   

E-pics are in!

And I love them!!!  The color, the lighting, the finishing, everything except my stomach or arms in certain pictures.  But she can't control that...

After the make up disaster it is such a relief that there are many pictures I want to have printed.  

Time to shut up...

A new book out says that verbal communication may not be the best thing. I guess it makes men shut down - oh really?? like that is news. An article on cnn.com says that it is about nonverbal communication with many men.

Statistics, statistics, yay!

So I promised you some RSVP trends.  And here they are... [some percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding].

The main thing I find interesting is that 2/3 of couples are ordering the same main course.  I would think people would take one of each.  

68% have picked beef compared to 21% for chicken and 11% for the kids meal.

• 77% of B's guests have selected beef compared to 57% of mine. 
  

We sent invites to 79 households for a total of 164 people.  This is an average of 2.1 guests per invite.  

Overall, 32% of households have responded and that is 33% of invited guests.  Of all the invited guests, 29% accepted, 4% declined, and 67% have yet to respond.

• B has an overall household response rate of 27% and I have one of 37%.
• I have heard from 36% of my invited guests (27% accepted, 9% have declined, 64% no response).
• B has heard from 29% of his invited guests (29% accepted, 0% declined, 71% no response).

Make up continuation

Shout wipes are a great make up remover. Just be careful not to get too close to the eyes.

Dressmaker, dressmaker...

...fit me a dress!

First fitting today and I don't really have shoes. I am wearing flats so the length really won't be an issue and I bought a pair of cheap shoes as stand ins.

I really have to stop procrastinating.

I said natural...

I said I don't want make-up at all.

I said I want to look natural.

I said I don't want to feel like I have a lot of make-up on.

She said I need to have a spray tan because I am pale.

She said my eyebrow shape needs to be redone because it does nothing for my face.

She said I need highlights.

She said I need to get a facial before the wedding.

After an hour (I only had 30 minutes to give her so now I am late)...

B said I looked like Krusty the Clown.

On to plan b...

Wild weekend

So B and I have just gotten back from a whirlwind weekend. While we didn't get everything done with got most of it done.

So I had my hair trial and loved it - messy bun that looks very nice. I know it sounds like an oxymoron that something messy looked nice but you had to be there.

Our engagement pictures with Sarah Tew were a blast. We had fun even though it was awkward at times. Sarah is very patient and the few pictures we saw on her camera looked great. My favorite so far is a picture of us at the end of a tunnel and we are in the shadows and jumping.

We had fun at B's sister-in-law's surprise party Saturday night.

On Sunday we went to Long Island and hung out with the brothers and Jackie. The DJ had to cover for an employee who got sick so we are meeting him next weekend instead. THis actually worked out for the best.

This morning we got out marriage license! We can get married in NYC sometime afte 9:28 tomorrow but before November 21. So we are ready to go. We got to the Brooklyn city clerk at 8:44 and left at 9:30. Not too bad since the line was looooooong as we were leaving.

I have not mentioned the make up trial and that will be coming in a day or two because it deserves its own post.

The British are coming...

Well actually one Brit and her transplant of a husband. I have become used to finding RSVPs in my mailbox when I get home. But yesterday all I had was a returned invite (sorry Jody I guess the USPS doesn't want you to attend). However, our houseguests (hi Sarah! hi Pete!) arrived and in their hands was an RSVP. It was carried on a pillow all the way from England. I think it had its own seat on the plane. If it didn't, well, it should have.

Lucky for them it was an acceptance (they are having the beef). They are staying at our place while we drive to New York. I had to make sure I hid all my unmentionables because I didn't want Pete to try them on.

According to the knot...

We have 59 days to go and 61 to dos...

Getting a lot done...

While I have been remiss in my blogging it is not because I don't want to tell you what is going on it is just that a lot has been going on and the next few weekends are jam packed with wedding stuff.

We have:
Ordered glowsticks to light the path from the picnic house to the bus at the end of the wedding (we will be handing that job out to someone but don't worry it is most likely not you).
Ordered luminaries for outside the Picnic House.
Confirmed our ceremony musicians, picked out the processional music.
Talked to the pastor of the church and everything looks good there and he told us how much the church costs. Apparently it has not gone up in decades. I guess they are just happy for anyone who wants to marry in the church these days.
Scheduled my hair trial, make up trial, and first dress fitting.
Decided on a new first dance song.
Filled out the DJ paperwork.

Next up this weekend is:
Meet with DJ.
Have hair and make up trial.
Get marriage license (scary! makes it very real!).
Have engagement photos taken (which reminds me we have to pick a place).

Shout outs: Happy birthday Drippy and belated wishes to Jody.

Up next: stats on the RSVPs and some interesting trends. I know you can't wait...

B's Bachelor Weekend

This weekend B is out partying with the boys. Last night about 15 guys met up for the Mets game but the weather decided that they should just hang out in the Shea parking lot for 4 hours. The game was rained out but now Gerard has 15 tickets to trade in for any game this year or next. And my only fear for this weekend was B falling to his death like this guy at Shea. So the weather calmed my fears. The other funny thing was my two brothers were there hanging out with B's friends and I just find it bizarre. I can't picture Rich talking to Bill H. without laughing.

Now he is on to Atlantic City and I just have to worry about how much he will lose...

RSVP trends

Beef is getting picked over chicken, the ratio right now is 2:1. The comment most often written on the RSVP card (when there is one) is Rare (for the beef).

Interesting stuff.

B is a landlord

While B did not sell his condo, he did get renters in there for a good price considering the timing (September 1 is the date of most leases so it is harder to get tenants after that date). So he is now a landlord. I hope he does not become a slum lord.

RSVP

B and I guessed who would be the first to get the RSVP in and we both picked the same person. Well, said person's RSVP arrived today. Yay!!!

I also added a new widget to the blog near the countdown - RSVP counter. So for anyone interested, you can see the progress of my mail. If you are not interested, then just don't scroll down.

They are hitting mailboxes!

I have received word that certain people in Mass (Keith/Jen) and NYC (Erica) have invites in hand.

I hope they have all the parts. Erica can most likely figure it out but Keith is a crapshot.

B's new job as a pundit

B came up with this tidbit all by himself (it is a dig at Sarah Palin so if you are sympathetic, do not read further or if, you know, you don't have a heart. Hi Hillary - glad you have one). He may be brilliant. I said MAY.

1.5 million US troops have served in Iraq.

As of 2006 Alaska's estimated population was 670,000 or to phrase it another way - if Sarah Palin sent every man, woman and child she has ever governed to Iraq she would still need to find 870,000 people to make up the difference.

Trying to convince B...

that I should be a stay at home wife.

My last day at work was yesterday-actually I left at one to go to the Red Sox game. But I did get a note of "thaks" from my boss.

Today I have successfully let the cable guy in, plugged in our phone, did two loads of laundry, ran 4.5 miles, took chicken out of the freezer which I will cook and made the bed. I could that all the time.

They are out!

I just dropped off the invites at the post office. Rather I put them in the box outside the post office because I wanted them out of my house. I just hope that all the envelopes have all the pieces they should. I am confident that they have the invite and the RSVP card so it can't be too bad.

B and I have rsvp'ed yes and we put it in the spreadsheet. We wonder whose RSVP will be the first we receive. I figure it has to be someone from Mass just because of the short amount of time to mail.

Also Ann called to tell me she received the invites and all is well.

I have a picture of them but I couldn't download it but hopefully I can fix that tonight.