St. George Island

Our camping excursions are cursed! Every time we go camping, it rains. Well, both times. We've only been twice. But it's rained both times! We come home soggy and happy for a warm bed. Chase and I decided that we need to plan these things better and pick a weekend and a destination that was not expecting rain. But then.... what would be the fun in that?! ;-)

About the only positive outcome of the rain was the fact it kept the mosquitoes away. Of course, it also kept us away from spending time outdoors. Although, we did spend a few hours at a pavilion on the beach. But since it's all open to the elements and it was storming, we got wet anyway from the horizontal rain. We had to hold down the cards we were playing with so they wouldn't blow away. The Chinese checkers set started pooling water in the dimples where the marbles go. It was almost pathetic and sad. But when you're sitting across from the most handsome red headed man... these pesky little distractions like sitting through a monsoon tend to fade away.

But I enjoyed camping at St. George. I haven't been there in ages. I mean, that used to be THE spot for Tallahasseeans to spend time at the beach. But since we have the awesomest hook-up at Indian Pass, that's where we go now. I think next time Chase and I get the urge to go camping, we'll hit up Cape San Blas. Maybe closer to fall when it cools down and the mosquitoes aren't so bad. That's another place I haven't been in AGES.

When Chase and I take excursions of this nature, we like to pick up a Christmas ornament to remember our travels. We have one from St. Augustine and St. George Island. Apparently we only visit holy sites. ;-}

Our very first official wedding gift! WOOT!

So, Chase and I are very excited about our very first registry gift! It came in the mail about a week ago and by the size of the package, you'd have thought we were getting the entire china set. ;-) We were thrilled to get two of the (newer) style square plates in the Lenox solitaire pattern.

When my mother married my dad in 1970, she registered for Lenox solitaire. She has since inherited and bought a few more china patterns! The woman is crazy about dishes. I didn't see a need to register for a pattern (where one plate costs $50 or more!) when she could give me one of her sets (which I'd get when she kicks the bucket anyway). That may sound cruel, but I tend to view these things in the practical sense.

Practical observation #1: She has literally four sets of fine china.
Practical observation #2: She prefers to use a different set of china to entertain and rarely uses solitaire these days.
Practical observation #3: I'm going to get it in the end.

Conclusion: Bless the bride with the set and let her register for the stuff they've added to the collection in the last 39 years. For example, the new square "accent" plates.

End result: Everyone's happy and now mom has more room in a china cabinet to display more dishes.

Seriously guys, she has three china cabinets. It's time to lighten the load.

Making things happen.... sorta

Well, we're getting things done for the wedding. Got us a jazzy DJ. Chase is currently scouring the internet for an ultra-fabulous-one-of-a-kind tuxedo. And I am supposed to be cleaning the house and doing my laundry.

The laundry part is getting done... but there's not much cleaning I can do with my bottom in a chair and my fingers on a keyboard. I am cleaning the dust off my keyboard, though. And that is important. Just maybe not right now. My boss is FOREVER riding my case about "time management" and my lack thereof.

Back to wedding stuff, my mother and I are going to talk to a lady about some flowers today. And hopefully check off another item on the "to do" list. Then tonight Chase, my mom and I are going out to Havana for some cake eating and decision making on that. Then there would be TWO items checked off the "to do" list! That would be OUTSTANDING. Once we get the heavy hitters out of the way, we can focus on the details... like invitations and decorations and other mind-numbing stuff.

And don't get me going on the chore of collecting addresses. It's heinous. You know what I need? I need minions. Minions to carry out my biddings. Then this whole wedding planning stuff would move on a whole lot smoother. I wonder where I can collect some minions? Maybe someone is done with theirs for the time being and would like to share and help a poor girl out. I wonder if I can advertise for some minions on Craigslist? Apparently, stranger things are on there already.

Hmmmm.... I'm also thinking about late December when all the family starts arriving at the steps of ole Yorktown Drive. Where are we going to put everybody? I might have told our German exchange student from 2002 that she could spend Christmas with us and stay for the wedding. I mean, I'd be delighted to have her, I just don't know where she's going to sleep! There will be Chad, Mel, Patrick, Alison, the people who already live here, Julia, four bridesmaids, four groomsmen, possibly another exchange student we've hosted... and there's just no telling who will show up on the doorstep. It doesn't help that I invite everyone I meet. It's a tendency of the Keens to be inclusive rather than exclusive. Which is great if you live in a motel and have a place for everyone.

We'll just have to see what happens....