Mishaps and other haps

Today we applied for our marriage license.  The waiting period is six calendar days in Wisconsin, which can only be waived if you are an out-of-state resident, are terminally ill, or if you are in the military and are about to be deployed.  So we will be legal to marry on October 5th– just fine timing for the wedding.

I have had a lot on my mind lately.  It has been a big project to plan this wedding, even keeping it as simple as we have.  “WEDDING!” has been our general reason for ducking out of things lately and the rest of life has taken a big pause.

But I can see the end now– or at least the beginning– and we are planning a fun trip to New Orleans to celebrate afterward.

Thanks to the many people who have been supportive, understanding, and helpful throughout this process.  I am lucky to have you in my life.

Last Sunday, I had a very calm and mellow day.  Michael was helping a friend move and I ran several errands and relaxed part of the day.

Monday morning my brain was in motion, as I realized that there were less than three weeks left before the wedding!  Phone calls were made and emails were sent this week.  We have squared some things away and more will be squared away next week.  I have appointments set on a few evenings and am waiting to hear back from a few people about balances we owe or meeting with them to confirm details.

One highlight of the week was dropping in at Craig’s cake shop to pay the remainder on the wedding cake.  The entire shop was saturated with the delicious smell of lemon poppyseed cake baking.  Mmm!  What a pleasant and calming aroma to inhale while you’re working.  I felt a little envious of the cake shop staff.

Last night after work I put together a three-hour reception playlist.  Michael was playing World of Warcraft, so I still need him to add more selections from his music.  It’s amazing how our music tastes have intertwined and overlapped in some ways.  Still, at this point there is more Lisa than Michael represented in the playlist.  But it’s a good start.  I feel much better about playing music we have chosen than having someone else play random wedding songs that don’t really mean much to us personally.

Around 9 we were both done with our respective activities, so we headed out to the Claddagh for dinner and then went to see a late showing of Tim Burton’s 9, which was a pretty good movie (NOT for kids), but not quite as satisfying a story as we had hoped.

We set aside this weekend to help with some home improvement chores Alice was hoping to accomplish, but that will depend on the weather, as it is currently damp and may rain, which completely nixes anything involving painting or staining wood.

I think this next week will fly by with even more preparation for the wedding taking place.  Next weekend, Michael is hoping to have a drinks and see a movie on Friday as a sort of informal bachelor party.  I think the drinks are going to be at the Fitchburg Great Dane, but you should probably email him if you want to find out the time and further details (details in progress).

We need to shop for decorations next Saturday morning.  Saturday evening some female friends are throwing an 80s-themed bachelorette slumber party for me at our house.  I think Michael plans to run away to visit Matt in Chicago sometime Saturday afternoon and they may have a last bachelor’s night blow-out at Ron of Japan.  Sunday will likely be a recovery day for both of us.

Now, this weekend I must finish paying bills, do some chores and shopping, and see what I can do to make sure next week goes as smoothly as possible.

We have some.  We are booked for 5 nights and 6 days in New Orleans, LA.  I don’t know what else we’re going to do yet, but I expect that a lot of cajun/creole cuisine will be devoured.

We met with our wedding organizer, Althea, and our officiant, Jack, yesterday to figure out where we are and what needs to be done in the next three weeks to make the wedding ship seaworthy, Arrr!

Yesterday was, coincidentally, Talk Like a Pirate Day.   I don’t know what kind of popularity it is gaining nationally, but in Madison it seems to receive more and more attention every year.  I stopped by the library at the end of the week and the library express check out computers featured a Talk Like a Pirate Day themed screen saver.

As far as wedding plans go, we have some details about the ceremony to still decide, lots of phone calls to make and organizational things to do (get information to Person A, pick up Object B) and we have a bunch of details to confirm and bills to pay in the next few weeks.  But we’re getting there and things are really coming together pretty smoothly.

I am not feeling too much stress about the upcoming event or the change in our lives.  It feels pretty natural and exciting.  All along, we’ve felt very happy and comfortable with the decisions we have made about the wedding.

About this time one month from now, the wedding will be wrapping up and we will be heading to the Hotel Ruby Marie to spend the first of two nights before our week off.

We are considering honeymoon plans for that week. More details will be forthcoming later.

Michael and I had pasta at Noodles and Company tonight and browsed the bookstore for a while. I found a movie and a bag of “Autumn Reserve” coffee and he found a book to bring home.

Back at home after our outing, I ordered a veil online (much cheaper than bridal shop prices and more convenient for me than making one or having someone else make it).

In a week or two, we must start making appointments to FINALIZE details and pay for everything!

I think I will be making a list or two of things to do this weekend. Can’t forget that blasted wedding license.