Even though Mrs. Bridey picked on me for my long previous posting, I figured I would add one more thing. At the Galleria and at dim sum Cuteoverload.com was mentioned. This is the link to the absolutely adorable, rolly-polly pug puppy tummy - http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2007/11/mila-r.html

Who'd a thought the first dance would be the thing that ended up causing me more stress than pretty much everything else relating to the wedding, potentially more than everything else combined!

Months ago we agreed to take some dance lessons, partly for the wedding, but more so that I can actually do more than fumble through any dance, especially seeing how much we both enjoy it. Unfortunately, Angel has had a head start and knows a lot of the dances that we would look at. The first stab was taking salsa lessons. We went to a dance studio where we took a group lesson every Saturday for a month. Angel took the intermediate class and I was relegated to 'Salsa for dummies'. The classes were fun, and I did manage to pick up at least the basics, but did I then put it to use? Nope, never initiated an evening out to go dancing, so forgot a lot of it.

About 2 or 3 months ago we go an offer for a free private lesson at a local dance studio, so we took them up on the offer. We had one hour with Luis, who is a sweet old man with tattoed eyebrows (I kid you not). We did the basics of the Waltz, the Foxtrot, East Coast Swing and maybe something else, can't remember. Anyway, was a lot to take in for one hour.

We then signed up for a set of three lessons a couple of weeks ago at the same place, with the same teacher. We decided to focus on Waltz and Swing, with more of a focus on Waltz as that was what we figured to do for the first dance. The lessons were fun (we just had the last one last night) but the teaching style was maybe not the best for me. Everytime I screwed up he would shout at me, causing me to stress out more, losing my step more and I would have to stop and regroup. Angel would get more and more annoyed because I kept stopping instead of just keep on going, trying to regain the step. It all culminated last night. We had selected a potential list of 5 songs, and they were all a much faster Waltz than the ones we had done before. Result was I was having a hard time getting the steps, and combinations. Luis shouting that I was doing it wrong, as well as trying to give me the tempo of '1, 2, 3... 1, 2, 3...' except he routinely did it off beat resulting in me getting confused and he would then shout that I got it wrong.

Well needless to say I just got more and more stressed out and Angel got more and more annoyed. Finally we got to the point were we just ignored him, and I tried to just listen to the music and work with Angel, which worked a lot better.

WOW... this has been a little rant right? Well, not over yet...

I need to practice, and will be doing so with Angel, but last night I nearly just crumbled and walked out, but managed to make it through... Now if I screw up on the day of the wedding, I ask only one thing.... Have a laugh at my expense and let me fumble my way through it, cause there is a distinct possibility that if you don't, I could end up in a crumpled ball under a table in the corner rocking myself (off beat of course) with a drink in hand repeating my mantra of '1, 2, 3... 1, 2, 3.. MUST BREATHE... 1, 2, 3... 1, 2, 3...'

Thursday, October 18, 2007, 8:53:54 PM
alia
: why you no answerphone?!?

Sherwin
: ddddddddddddddddddddddd
: dammit, that just knocked me out of my game.
dddddddd means I was trying to run to the right

alia
: sorry!!

Yes, we are now officially allowed to get married, at least in the eyes of Harris County! It was a slog to get license... mainly because parking is bad and I drove into the first parking lot, and they refused to let me out without paying $8 for driving around their lot. I then parked, and that cost me a total of $15 for the 30 minutes we were there!

When filling out the application the lady got Angel's last name wrong (Angelique Siq anyone?), they got my address wrong (although it is the same as Angel's) and they got the address on the license wrong... They fixed all the issues except my address, which in her words 'was un-important!'

We now have 30 days to do the deed and get it signed! TICK TICK, TICK TICK!!!

... with just over 3 out of 4 people accepting! Still 126 people (including kids) not responded yet!

I just hope the website problems did not stop too many people from replying online!

As mentioned in Angel's post below, the invites arrived, look great, have been addresses and stamped, and are on their way out the door. In addition to that, we tried the house Cava of Rockefeller Hall as well as an alternative suggested by Angel's department director. Turns out the alternate is not only the nicer one, but is also slightly cheaper... now we wait to see if Rockefeller can get it from their suppliers.

Last but not least Angel has also finished making what will be our guest book. Photo is included below in case you are not sure what to look for on the day!

(Poster's note: This has absolutely nothing to do with the wedding, per se, but was momentous (sp?) enough to post anyway.)

Last night I went to Bissy to have dinner with Angelique and admire the organizing she's done in her office area at home. We went downstairs to look for something in Mike's office, and, low and behold, there was Ms. Camilla on the sofa top. She was totally shocked out of her sweet, pretty head and did not move AT ALL while I was there, except to swivel her eyes around. I joked with Angelique that she was hoping if she didn't move I wouldn't see her.

Then, to add to the shock and awe, a little while later when we were back upstairs, the Wazzles herself came for a visit. She didn't come close to me and still looked at me with much trepidation, but this is a major step in our relationship, so I wanted to share.

Someday, in the far-far future, Cami may actually let me pet her. Maybe.

As promised, I have more to say now that I went to my friend's wedding this weekend. The wedding was beautiful, and she looked amazing. I have discovered, however, that I am not alone in being terribly impatient. The ceremony was about an hour long - seems good if you're Catholic but long if you're a lapsed Protestant. The non-cocktail hour (it was a dry wedding) was actually more like 1.5-2 hours. We were seated in the reception room an hour before the meal actually started. While everything was fabulous, I was restless and definitely not alone. So, my main advice for Angelique and Mike is that if long delays between activities are expected, tell us all ahead of time. Maybe a proposed timeline on wedding bloggity with the understanding that all is fluid and the times are best guesses.

My personal list of things to remember if ever getting married has gotten a bit longer. 1. Must be able to wear normal bra with dress (all women reading this know what I mean). 2. Must be able to go to the bathroom and sit down/stand up without help while in dress (big trains and lots of material on the dress = help needed. I had to help a bride go to the bathroom once by standing with my back to her and holding big pieces o' dress. Not ideal). 3. Pay for it myself so parents' opinions are easier to ignore. 4. Keep it small (good for budget and for a more intimate, private feel). 5. Keep it indoors (avoid heat, cold, rain, bugs, etc.) 6. Limit time with parents before ceremony (my friend stayed at her parents' house for several weeks before the wedding and almost had a total meltdown). 7. Keep things moving (see above paragraph about patience and my lack thereof).

So much I have learned. And now I have shared my wisdom with you all :) Now back to work.