Oh My

These were the words that slipped out when my google count down gadget greeted me on my home page.

19 days.

Oh god.

I'm not stressed, really. I'm not worried. I just can't believe the day is finally at hand.

OK, I lied.

I am stressed and worrying, but not for any good reason. It's just what I do before any event. At work, just as everyone else in the office is calming down, I get stressed. And then, a day or so before the event, a great calm comes over me. While everyone else is suddenly plagued by last-minute worries, I float by, competely serenly. I worry about the planning, not the execution.

In fact, back in high school when I did theater, I didn't suffer from stage fright until I walked off the stage.

Jon is fine, I think. He participated in the last big planning session: the ceremony. We now know what happens when and who says what. I think Jon feels the event could happen tomorrow and we would be perfectly ready.

This is not true, of course, but I'm glad he has that much faith in my planning skills. (Of course, I am the one who got really excited about camping because it was a chance for me to make lists. And my friends will never let me live down the "road trip binder" from our senior year spring break trip. Hey, we were prepared. That's all I'm saying.)

I'm taking lots of deep breaths. And trying not to look at my count down gadget.

19 days.

Oh boy.

The Count Down Rolls On ....

There were two delinquent groomsmen I had to harass on Tuesday for not ordering their tuxes. I didn't like having to send them threatening emails (I believe the phrase "plague of locusts" was used in one case), but things are getting serious, people.

I've scheduled hair appointments for 6 (one bride - ahem, me - and 5 maids) and convinced Dear Mother to do likewise (well, just 1 for her, that is). Mom also finally decided on her outfit - and she looks smashing, I must say.

This Saturday I'm doing the trial run of hair and makeup. What do I do for the rest of the day after being made to look so pretty?

Next Wednesday Jon and I meet with Rich-the-event-guy to finalize the plans for the ceremony and reception.

Speaking of the ceremony ....

I've decided that I will walk down the aisle to Handel's "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" and Jon and I will walk back down the aisle to the fourth movement from Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

It's all so exciting! We can't wait ....

Busy

I'm not sure when I last posted. I've been too busy working on the wedding to write about it!

ONE MONTH AND 14 DAYS! EEEK!

Last night Jon and I picked out two readings, and we each choose someone to read. I won't spoil the surprise by saying what readings we have chosen, but I will say that one is by Shakespeare (and, no, it's not the sonnet you're thinking of) and one is by ee cummings (and yes, it's one of the readable ones).

As to ee cummings, I will say that it's not:

• "she being brand"
• "kitty"
• "next to of course god america"
• "nOw"
• "l(a"

Although, I love all of those (go look them up yourself if you're interested. Lazy people!)

Also, we did not choose "Walking Through the Woods on a Snowy Evening," a Robert Frost poem proudly on display at the function center called Promises to Keep which is up in New Hampshire, and where I Jon and I attended a wedding last year. The phrase "promises to keep" appears in the aforementioned poem, but that same poem - which I love, by the way - is one of the most depressing poems ever. The gist of which I feel is "my life sucks; but nature is peaceful; if only I could just lay down and die right here in quiet and solitude; but I've got too many things pulling me on; I have no choice but to trudge on, exhausted."

But this is about weddings, not literary criticism.

And I'm at work, not home, thus I shouldn't be writing this at all!

(P.S. I scheduled a meeting with Frank-the-DJ to discuss what to play and what not to play. Music requests gladly accepted, although I will not promise to honor them!)

Oooh! Mail!!!

The reply cards are rolling in! How exciting! Not only are we getting "real" mail every day but I get to make a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone's answers.

I love spreadsheets.

Slowly Jon and I are whittling away at the LIST OF THINGS TO DO. It's really the only thing I still use The Knot for - it is a handy reminder for all those little things (oh yeah .... we need to get a marriage license ....).

And I'm about half way through the thank you cards for the second bridal shower. Whew.

Jon and I also survived our first camping trip together. We managed to set up camp, weather a storm, and break camp without any shouting or bloodshed. I think that pretty much means we ace the compatibility test.

Less than two months to go (eek!). I have a lot of paper flowers to make .....