catching up

Wow. Almost a month since my last post. But I've been busy, busy, busy, so I've got an excuse.

First was finishing up school. I got about five hours of sleep in three days and then couldn't sleep very well the night before driving home (for the ENTIRE SUMMER!). I was so not interested in school anymore that I (of course) waited until the day before grades were due to submit my students' grades and didn't even check my own grades until last week. Instead, after arriving in Michigan at 3 a.m. and then got up six hours later to get ready and go to my first wedding shower. Yes, I said first, because some friends of mine decided to throw one for me too (in addition to my family shower).

The shower was nice and relaxing. No games, no structure. I wandered around talking to family members for an hour or two, then my aunt made me open her gift so she could leave and watch the Red Wings game (no kidding). I interrupted the formal gift-opening by going to the bathroom. After the shower we celebrated my brothers' and sister-in-law's birthdays (Erik - April 29, Ryan - May 9, Rachel - May 11) at La Shish, a great Arab restaurant in Dearborn, and after that all of us siblings went to Erik and Meaghan's house for a fire and to check out their new patio. By the end of the night I was exhausted.

Since then, it's been a very little bit of schoolwork (even with my major professor wanting me to call in, I'm managing to put it off as much as possible), a lot of housework (painted the bedroom, working on one bathroom), laundry whenever I want without having to pay $2.50 a load, lots of evenings in the hot tub, an evening out at Doc's and an evening out at Luna. Oh, and the second wedding shower, lots of lunches with friends/family, and a little bit of relaxing. And, of course, wedding plans.

As for the wedding plans, they're coming along. I went for my first fitting of my dress and go back again Tuesday. We met with and paid the photographer, and just yesterday we got the marriage license, bought my wedding-day jewelry, met with the baker and designed the wedding cake, and called Al's cousin (?) in Ireland to set up a time to meet with her when we're over there. What else have I done? Um, working on thank-you cards (yes, they're coming!), keeping track of who's coming to the reception, and talking with the florist (he was supposed to call again Monday or Tuesday--I'm going to have to call him back). And just trying not to forget anything.

Bottom line: I miss Dana and Steph, and I can't believe (although I know) they won't be in Iowa when I get back. It's going to hit me hard in August. But I love, love, love being back in Michigan and have a bachelorette party to look forward to tomorrow. Well, got to get back to painting. That spackle should be dry enough to sand now!