Journal

Wedding Shower

So on Wednesday, Shannon joined me at work and my co-workers threw us a wedding shower. This one was was put on by Deb (in my group). She setup the breakroom in our wedding colors, took care of getting the cake and collected money from our co-workers and went out and bought us presents.

It was pretty nice. She seperately asked Shannon and I questions and had a little contest to see who knew us better (turned out to be Michelle). Out of five questions, I think we both missed 1 when we were asked what the other thought..maybe it was two.

I was surprised at how much they had gotten us. It was pretty cool.

Thanks a bunch Deb for spearheaded that for us!

ahhh...another speeding ticket

So on my way to work this morning...I was gliding down a hill (not in gear) on Grand, headed towards 63rd, and I got pulled over...I apparently was going 10 over. The mini-van in front of me was going 8 over, but according to the cop, he doesn't pull over anyone unless they are going at least 10 over. I must say, like last time he was very efficient in giving me a ticket.

So here is what I learned. Don't go more then 9 over or Cops would rather pull over a sporty car then a mini-van.

First Present and the Iowa State Fair

So we got our first present (via UPS) late last week. It was from Shannon's uncle and aunt. Pretty nice....wasn't expecting it, but it looks good on our kitchen counter.

Sunday we headed out to the fair. We had gotten pre-sale tickets for cheap, but were also given tickets from Patrick that he had gotten through his work.

We parked near the capitol and headed to the fair on the shuttle.

It was nice, we wandered around, looked and animals (including cats). In our wanderings we ate some fair food. First Shannon had a lamb burger (ok) and I had a lamb-ka-bob (very good). We had some fried cheese curds (good). We stopped by the Bauder's Ice Cream stand and got some shakes. Then we found the fried sweet stuff stand, and since we neither had not tried anything, we got Fried Oreos (ok), Fried twinkie (I can't eat plain twinkies, I find them disgusting) (good), and a fried snickers bar (very good). We sat down, had some lemonade.

We then headed in to an air conditioned building, ran into Lindsay and I signed up to give blood (today). We headed over to find Josh, Adam, Tiff, and Courtie at the arm wrestling tournament and after getting lost, we eventually found them. And the rain started.

Arm wrestling..is...boring. 30 minutes of action, 20 minutes of waiting. If it was poor planning on their part, or whatever, I just got bored quick...Shannon was bored even quicker.

We said good-bye to the group and headed out in the rain...we got turned about, directed in the wrong direction by the information booth, but eventually found our way back to the shuttle stop and headed back to the capitol...or so we thought. We actually got stuck in a line of busses waiting for a train to cross the road...

By the time we got back, the rain had stopped and we headed home.

That night we put together two more invitations and sent out announcements with a picture to my mom's side of the family (32 envelopes, yes, big family, lots of people, can't afford to invite them, not that they'd probably show up anyways).

We are actually almost out of one of the types of stamps that we bought (5 remaining).

Wednesday, we've scheduled time with Brandon (as a witness) to go down to get our marriage license.

You wanna sell your car?

So yesterday we ordered some chineese food for delivery and when the driver got here he was talking about my car (RSX type S) and expressed that if I was willing to sell it that his friends mother was willing to buy it (looking for a used RSX type S, which is kind of hard to find in this area).

I said no.

Mmm...chocolate...

So Wednesday night we stayed in and packed M&Ms We mixed up the colored M&Ms (3 5lb bags) with the custom printed M&Ms (7 of the 8 8oz bags), and then put about 1/4th of a cup of M&Ms into the tins to go on the table. Taped the sides so they wouldn't open and then in a box...

It took us...about 2 hours to do it. I thought it would take much longer.

Last night, we headed over to Chris and Pat's to watch Rear Window. It was pretty good. I had seen many paradoies of the movie so I had the general idea of what it was about. It was good. I enjoyed it. Shannon did too. Afterwards we hung out for a bit and then headed home.

Weekend in CR and some other things

So Friday night we went and saw Talladega Nights with a bunch of cribbers, in celebration of Josh's Birthday. The movie was funny, I enjoyed myself. Afterwards we headed over to Josh's to party down. We did, to some extent. He had the DDR set up and the X-Box 360. Much fun and sillyness was had. Shannon and I had to go home early, since we had to leave for CR very early in the morning.

Saturday morning, we left he house, and drove to CR to make it in time to be photographed by 10:30 AM. When we got there, we hung out for a bit and the photographer arrived. Now the house was full, being that all of my Parents, brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters in law, and nieces and nephews, except for two brothers in law and one sister.

First up they tried, their darndest to take a picture of the nieces and nephews...this was a chore. Babies sliding off laps, children running out into the yard, crying and etc. Eventually through some sort of magic, the photographer was able to snap a few. Then we tried for a few entire family shots, and then some Original family shots. After the children shots, it went relatively quickly.

We then had a birthday party for Maren (niece) and Isaac (youngest brother). We were joined by the Roundy's (Maren's Dad's side of the family), which contained an army in and of itself. We all feasted on grilled hot dogs and the things to go with it. It marked, probably the first time I had a hot dog...in probably 10 years...

Afterward, in bringing up help in setup and take down of the wedding reception and etc. I got quite a few volunteers to help from my family and my oldest sister (Cara) also offered to make a picture album of my life.

Shannon and I headed out, stopped to pick up a new kitty carrier, and then headed over to the Mattas. We ate with them at the Genghis Grill and then had dessert at Cold Stone Creamery. Genghis Grill was a whole lot like HuHot, with a few diffrences.

We then headed the their house and played a game of Trivial Pursuit.

The next morning we ate at Granite City for brunch...good as always...The main diffrence between here and there, being that they only had one line for the brunch buffet and here had two.

Afterwards, we headed over to Shannon's parents, where she tired on her dress, while I read the paper or watched TV. And then we headed home.

I setup a meeting with the baker for Thursday morning to finalize cake things.

House List

Must Haves
1. 2 car garage, automatic doors (not outdoor parking spaces, shared garages are kinda lame, but still acceptable)
2. 3 bedrooms
3. if townhouse needs a basement
4. No external maintenance (lawn care, etc).
5. Must have place for dining room table (without over taking the living room)
6. Must accept kittys (2)
7. Must have Central A/C
8. Space for or Washer and Dryer Included
9. relatively easy driving distance to Jordan Creek Animal hospital (no interstate travel)

Would like to have
1. two sink bathroom
2. bathtub & Shower separate
3. sun room
4. Big tub
5. Bigger Kitchen, More Cabinet space
6. Stainless steel appliances
7. Some place creative (not a huge fan of repetitive buildings)
8. high effeciency appliances/furnace/air conditioning

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeen

So last night, I headed home, ate some food, and then got picked up by Dave.

We then headed to get me some money, headed back to my house to pick up my forgotten ticket and then over to Dave's to pick up Jan.

We all then headed over to the Val Air Ballroom, and met up with Brandon and a few of his Friends.

We went in, sat down, and had a few beers and waited for the show to start.

Near that time we headed up towards where Brandon & Co were camped out. To my surprise, one of my past roomates was up there. Jake Froelich (sp?). It's been years since I've seen him.

Eventually Ween took the stage and they played very well together. Not necessarily the most planned or a steady stream of music, but certainly a very good very well played show. A lot of it seem very dream like, due to the use of the lights and the huge amount of smoke effect that they used. It was something. They covered a large range of the albums that I have, and a few songs that I didn't know. I had a good time.

Part of the show for me was certainly the crowd around me. I have found that there are few things funnier then stoned people trying to hid the fact that they are smoking weed. Holding your hands over the joint so people can't see it, In my opinion, looks more suspicious...but what do I know. I saw pipes, one hitters, and several joints. But the crown of the night was the couple near me that made out...and not just kisses mind you, during the ENTIRE show. I suspect they were on somthing...

After they came on for an encore, and after they said good night (but before most of the band finished), I was too hot and wanted to head out.

I found Dave and Jan near the back and we waited for a bit longer (of them doing a phish style repetive music type thing) and then We headed home.

You know it's hot in a place, when it's cooler outside then the inside...and the city is under a heat advisory.

I got home a bit before midnight, and took a shower and went to bed.

Great Show, Wanted to see wheen for 10 years or so...so It's cool.

It's hot...to hot to leave the house

So this weekend has been obnoxiously hot. But we have still maintained a productive weekend.

So Shannon went down to Action Accents, to buy herself a swimsuit...since she didn't really have one, and we are going to Florida. They were having a sale...50-70% off, not to shabby...so she went (without me, since I find shopping dreadful), and was able to find something that is not only looks great on her, but was 1/2 off too...so not to bad (though certainly more then I've ever spent on a swimsuit).

Afterwards, we headed over to That Irish Shoppe to buy some gifts for our wedding party. We got some nice things that I think they'll be happy with. Shannon's Dad was the toughest one to shop for, but I did point out one thing that'll probably go over well.

Afterwards we headed over to Ingersol Wine and Spirits to pick up Ingersoll Wine and Spirits to pick up some gifts...One for Josh's Birthday (which he already got (10 Cane Rum)) and other things for my boys Josh, Brandon, Ben and Nathan. So you guys don't know what you are getting, but you do know what kind that you are gonna get. :-P I gotta say that Ben Jung was a huge help there.

Anyhoo, we dropped off the stuff at the house and headed to Target. Hoping to find some shorts and pants on summer clearence (I had some luck, Shannon had none) and a present for Sean.

Afterwards we went for some pizza (brick oven style) and headed home. While we were there we got a call from Josh and went over there to watch a movie.

Sunday, Shannon went out in the heat to go look for a pair of shorts or two and some pants. She had some luck, found some nice shorts at younkers for 75% off or so (like 7$).

The day didn't go so well, I smoked out the house by burning a bit of cooking oil on the pan (to much heat, to long on the stove) and then also mostly ruined the pan by thinking that I could get it to stop smoking by putting it under the faucet...which then super cooled the pan making the bolts holding the pan on, now loose. Luckily...it was probably the cheapest plan I own.

But it teaches me a lesson...not to be so quick to run the pans under cold water.

After airing out the house, I continued on...it still can be used for some things...but the seal is broken so if the pan gets a certain amount of full, it'll leak...anyways...

It's hot...going upstairs (Where it's not as air conditioned), it's obnoxious. We've done a lot of laundry. Shannon wrapped a present (most of which were wrapped, already). And now we're thinking about making the wedding program...