Terin is totally invited.

So, as I've already shared with you, a co-worker had agreed to brew up some of his apple wine for myself and the Boss Lady to use as wedding favors. About $40 will get me 25 bottles. Pretty sweet deal, huh?? That comes out to $1.60 for a bottle of yummy home-brewed apple wine, bottled and corked. I'll have to figure in labels, too, for the bottles, but I shouldn't be breaking the bank over this.

Thus far, the most expensive things I'm dealing with are the dress (which is couture, ooh la la) at $1,118 before alterations and such, and the reception site at Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center, which charges $45 a plate for the Silver Wedding Package, their least expensive one, which includes the following:

• Champagne toast for the head table
• Mirrored tile centerpieces with votive candles (I wonder if I can choose the color??)
• All guest, cake, gift, and guest book tables
• White table linen (maybe if there's enough money leftover, I could throw in black and red napkins)
• All china, glass, and silver
• Dance floor and skirted DJ station (To book a DJ, or not book a DJ??)
• Complimentary night's stay for bride and groom for weddings of 100 people or more (I was originally aiming for that, but that would put a serious strain on the budget. It would be cheaper to just pay for the room ourselves.)
• Cake cutting service (I did mention my cupcakes, right??)
• 10 % discount on Sunday Breakfast Brunch for wedding guests (applies to Saturday evening weddings...oh, wait, like mine)

The menu options are decent for the price, and there's a four-hour hosted bar that serves more than just cheap beer and boxed wine. Srsly, there's Bacardi, Smirnoff, Seagram's, etc. And they serve wine from their on-site winery. I'm hoping to get a wine-tasting in when I visit.

And who can forget the 18% service charge (Can you say "gratuity"?? Check out The Waiter's blog post on tipping and how it corrupts our world.) coupled with applicable tax?? Hooray.

I've been using the The Knot for all my wedding planning needs. I first came across it a few years ago when my cousin Christine got married, she used it herself. The Boss Lady is using it as well, and we love what we've seen on there so far. I even made up a wedding budget on there using their awesome budget tool, AND I have my very own semi-personalized to-do checklist.

As I said, I have my heart set on that apple wine for the favors. But then I started looking at different wedding favors on the site today...and I am torn, I tell you, torn!!

First off, I REALLY REALLY want this in burgundy for myself and the bridesmaids.

Pretty!!

But they also have coasters, and candy, and on and on and on...

I will definitely be investing my money in one of these. Because if anything, even the tiniest thing goes wrong the day, I will probably blow a gasket. I'm such a drama queen sometimes.

I saw a tattoo cover-up kit advertised on there. I'm still debating whether or not to cover up the two on my shoulders, but this one was so-so in the reviews. If I go that route, I'll need to find one that matches my skin tone, instead of one that'll leave a pink patch on my shoulder, as it did for one reviewer.

I was browsing online for pearl chokers, not really holding out much hope that I'd find one in red. I might just commission my mom to make something for me, she makes jewelry as a hobby, and has even sold a few pieces. She's pretty good.

And if I may, here's the dress Dee Dee is looking to wear (won't let me do a screen shot, gr). Becky wants something to show off her legs. And I want this dress for the rehearsal dinner!! Hawtness.

Alright, that's my wedding vomit for today. TTFN.

THE DRESS...and other details.

THIS IS THE DRESS I WILL GET MARRIED IN.

*drool* And no veil. Definitely no veil. It's perfect as is. I would love to find a wine-colored pearl choker to wear with it, or something similar. Definitely a choker-type necklace. And I wanna buy this beautiful ring from Premier Designs Jewelry for myself and the bridesmaids (Dee Dee and Becky) to wear on our right hands. (When I get a picture of it, I'll post it on here.) It's a large rectangle-shaped black stone surrounded by small white stones, and would look PERFECT with my dress and whatever dresses they pick out (they will wear black, but I'm letting them choose the style that best suits their figures).

So, my colors are gonna be red and black. Instead of a cake, I'm thinking...cupcakes. Red velvet, and dark chocolate, both with cream cheese icing. Also, as favors for the guests, a guy in my office has agreed to brew some bottles of apple wine for me. It was totally my idea, but I am willingly sharing it with the Boss Lady, who got engaged one month before me.

It will be summer wedding. I want the wedding part to be outdoors. We have asked his best friend (and Becky's boyfriend), Deacon Osborne, to officiate. It will be a brief, non-religious ceremony (Fiance is an atheist, I am vague), and then I want us to head indoors for the reception. I want to keep the guest list small. I'm going to be inviting between 60 and 100 people in the hopes that about 40 to 50 of them will show up. (I have learned, after many failed party attempts, to always over-invite if you want a decent showing.) Dee Dee and I will be going sometime in August to scope out the potential wedding/reception site.

Wedding details aside, I couldn't be happier. I love my ring, but I love him more. And now I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him.

Who says you can't have a second chance at happiness and dreams-come-true??

My apologies.

For the absence. But, really, how many people read this??

The Fiance was in town from the 7th to the 22nd of June. He flew in several hours late, which meant I had the pleasure of driving out to the airport twice. We swung by the living establishment of Deacon Osborne (no religious affiliation) so that he and the Fiance could catch up before we headed to the rural town we have recently taken up residence in.

We left Friday to drive a few hours north to see his friend Blue. The next day, we drove the rest of the way to Chicago. We ordered room service and stayed up watching TV. The next morning, we headed out to track down Deluxe Tattoo (which currently employs Hannah Aitchinson of LA Ink fame). I got tatted up by Chris Smith, the newest member of their crew and an entertaining fellow. I told him what I was looking to get, he got a little creative, and this is what I got:

I LOVE IT. It's my first color tattoo.

Afterward, we ate at a "meh" seafood place. Then, I managed to convince the Fiance to take me to the Navy Pier, a place I have wanted to visit since I first laid eyes on it four-and-a-half years ago. We had a BLAST.

We drove back home on Monday. We got in late afternoon/early evening, and I called Dee Dee to see if she wanted to go get a mani/pedi touch-up. She was busy, so we made plans to do it the next evening. When I got off the phone, he was standing in the doorway of his game room and said, "Come here." I went into the room, and he stood there facing me with his hands behind his back. I knew then what was coming, but I tried to play it cool. I walked out of that room with a ring on my hand.

We hit up a hibachi/sushi restaurant that night to celebrate.

And now I just have to wait three more months for him to come home.

This is about to turn into a wedding blog, ha ha.

How low have I sunk??

Oh, about as low as someone in my position could sink. I'll be on hiatus.

There goes my heart again.

He's in the air on his way to DC, and onward halfway 'round the world from there. Three-and-a-half more months.

Whoever said parting is sweet sorrow can suck a dick.

Don't know when I'll have time to sit and blog before next week, so here's a quick update from my phone for those of you who read this. I got a new tattoo on Sunday, pictures coming soon. We spent the weekend in Chicago and it was a good time. All four of us are happy in the new house. And... I am engaged

I'm still alive.

True story.

Epic combo of Chi-town and a new tat. Pictures and updates coming soon.

Did you know "Chicago" comes from a Native American word meaning "smelly onion"??

Flags of our fathers.

Oh, dear. Aren't we touchy??First, I want to stay…stop referring to the “Hispanic community” as a single entity. I am a member of the Hispanic community, however I am also a legal citizen and an active duty member of the armed forces. So don’t lump us all into the same category and then accuse all of us of disrespecting this nation that I defend, that my aunt defends, that my father and uncles and grandfather defended. As I said, I am a legal citizen, I have been since birth. My parents are legal citizens. My entire family, uncles and aunts and cousins and what have you, is made up of legal citizens of the United States. And we have no complaints.

Secondly, perhaps the business owner was not aware of the guidelines governing flags?? I mean, at least he was flying the US flag, which means he must be happy and proud to be living here. And obviously he was flying the Mexican flag to show where he originally came from. Yes, he was doing it wrong. He should not have either flag above the other, because the US and Mexico are two sovereign nations, neither bowing to the other. Really, would it have been so hard to knock on the guy’s door and say, “Uh, dude, you’re doing it wrong.” This “veteran” that tore down that Mexican flag?? I am ashamed to have to think of him as a fellow veteran. He’s an idiot. He does not represent what this country is about…diversity.

I just don’t understand why we all have to conform to this perfect, American mold. I don’t hang American flags outside my home, I don’t run around berating people for speaking their native tongues on American soil. I show my patriotism in other ways. I serve my country honorably. I vote. I never forget the sacrifices of those who came before us. And if I hang up a Puerto Rican flag, don’t criticize me. That flag, to me, is a representation of my ethnicity and its rich history and culture.

My dad got me a neat little car decal this past summer when we were in Puerto Rico. It’s still sitting in my wallet, because I’m saving it for when I have a nicer car. It’s a Puerto Rican flag…next to an American flag. Beneath it the words read, “Orgulloso del las dos.” In Enlish: “Proud of the both.” I don’t think that business owner meant anything malicious by flying the Mexican flag above the American flag. I think he was just flying the both to say to the world around him, “Orgulloso de las dos."

Coming to America, making this country your home, shouldn't mean that you have to wipe from your mind and your heart where you came from.

I have a boyfriend. And he's standing right next to me. :)

Too much!!

What a week!! I had the workload of someone two paygrades higher (srsly, where's my raise??), I've been trying to move all week, I had to wait THREE DAYS to use my awesome new garden tub (it is the SHIT), AND Rich's fucking car battery died on me. Ugh. Oh, did I mention that less than a week after getting paid I was already broker than a joker?? True story.

And today I had my first honest-to-gawd migraine. Nausea and everything. Fortunately, Excedrin kicked its ass.

But who cares?! In less than fifteen-and-a-half hours, I'm picking up Rich from the airport!!!! The bastard has been partying it up this last week in Germany...but he's forgiven as long as he takes me to Europe someday. Fifth anniversary?? Tenth??

And soon, I shall have exciting news to share...

Four out of five doctors agree, being in love is a good thing.

I did it wrong. I did it very, very wrong.

I think we've been driven into the comm version of a perfect storm. Oh, boy.

There is a cherub in my bathtub. She's wearing a Sponge Bob t-shirt.

Another day, another five-hour energy shot. I want a new phone. And camcorder. And coffee pot. Sigh.

BTW!!!!

I love you, Rich!! We hit some nasty bumps in the road there, but we got away with some fast-healing bruises. I am thrilled with how everything is turning out, and you make me happier than I've ever been. Loving you makes me whole; you put all the little pieces of me back together. I love you, and I can't wait to see you in less than TWO WEEKS!!

and when I wake
to your sweet kiss
I’ll know at last
just what I’ve missed

and when the darkness
let’s me go
I’ll see your eyes
and I will know

and when I wake
to your sweet kiss
I’ll know at last
just what I’ve missed

and when I see
that smile of yours
my heart, it leaps
my heart, it roars

and when I wake
to your sweet kiss
I’ll know at last
just what I’ve missed

and when you wrap
your arms ‘round tight
I know we’ll win
in any fight

and when I wake
to your sweet kiss
I’ll know at last
just what I’ve missed

and when I feel
your lips on mine
I know for you
I’ll walk the line

and when I wake
to your sweet kiss
I’ll know at last
just what I’ve missed

and when we walk
here side by side
my soul from you
it cannot hide

and when I wake
to your sweet kiss
I’ll know at last
just what I’ve missed

and when your face
so sweet, I see
I know right here
you’ll always be

and when I wake
to your sweet kiss
I’ll know at last
just what I’ve missed

and when I feel
your gentle touch
what flows through me
is such a rush

and when I wake
to your sweet kiss
I’ll know at last
just what I’ve missed

and when the darkness
lets me go
I’ll see your eyes
and I will know
(c) 2008 almighty-davi.deviantart.com