Friday, May 30th - Day before the WEDDING

I got up at 7 am. Ok. I am on vacation for 2 weeks and I keep getting up earlier than I would for work. I squeal "It's the day of our rehearsal dinner! Weeeeee!" Todd laughs at me. Busy work. Pace. Pace. Pace around the house. Vacuum. Vacuum. Keeping busy. Finally..... I hop in the shower. Shave. Head to Zuri Spa in Cherry Creek for a Pumpkin Skin Treatment. Oh my GOD! I loved this treatment. Basically they exfoliate your whole body then paste a pumpkin treatment on your body and wrap you in foil....then you take a hot shower....and she puts lotion all over your body. My skin was so soft and wonderful....it was amazing. She put some on my face and gave me a facial.....my skin was super smooth. I am 100% addicted to this deal at Zuri.

The rehearsal dinner is a blur. We were late. Sweet. (Thanks Todd....kiss) So many people. So many hugs. So many pictures. I didn't have enough to eat. People kept putting cocktails in my hand. Poof. The night was over and Todd and I were in the car driving home.....shaking our heads....wow...it's already over. I wore this fabulous dress. Strapless party dress. White. Tool material over the top with black roses embroidered on the tool. Gorgeous. Fabulous shoes. I wore a party dress to a pizza party...but it was our party....and I wore what I wanted to. FUN!

Dear Diary,

I am going to post a day by day recap of the days before the wedding, the wedding & the honeymoon....for me. I want to be able to remember as much as possible. These posts are for me...but you may read along if you wish.

These things happen in 3's....right?

OK. Please tell me that these things happen in 3's. To start off....Todd's best friend and best man in the wedding Rog had a death in the family. Rog lives in California....and came out last weekend to host Todd's bachelor party. Yesterday he was taking his Dad to the doctor because he has not been feeling well....and he had a heart attack and soooo horribly died in the garage of their house. I am freaking freaking freaking out. How sad. I have tears streaming down my face.....how horrible. The ONLY saving grace is that Rog was HERE and got to spend several days with his dad (since he lives in California).

Now....my grandma A can't come to the wedding. She strained her back and is in so much pain she can't walk. She was crying on the phone with me today about how sad she is to miss the wedding. I will call her moments before I walk down the aisle to tell her I am thinking of her.

And....one of Todd's other groomsmen spent yesterday in the hospital. Come to find out he had a kidney stone.

Someone.

Tell me.

These things happen in 3's.

I can't take any more.

Update on the Bachlorette Party

I loved it. Started with lunch at Beau Joe's Pizza in Idaho Springs. Then to the hot springs and spa. I admit, I was a little freaked out about the naked part of the spa day...in the hot springs. But it was not weird at all...it was like changing at the gym. Not weird at all. First...I was with my bestest friends. Second...it was dark and everyone had a huge sheet to wear while walking around. Of course the ones who should NOT walk around totally naked without their sheets....did. But who cares? (shrug) It was a wonderfully relaxing day. We all got massages...and I was so relaxed I did that snort-breathe-in noise....like when you are 1/2 asleep and start to wake up...snort snort....mouth breather. It was funny. I had a blast and my girls made me feel super duper special. Hugs!

Top 5 Friendliest City

Denver is one of the Top 4 Friendliest City per The Today Show. I have to agree.

....see watching The Today Show and blogging on a weekday at 9 am is so nice.

I'm Free

I have that song that goes like "I'm FREE to do what I want...any ol' time...cuz I'm FREE!" Don't know who sings it (besides me) but I love it. Picture me dancing around my house pumping my fist in the air like a total dork. But....I AM free. I worked my ass off and got all of my stuff done on my exit book for MOD until late last night..and now I am free. I have 2 freaking weeks off. I have never had 2 weeks off from work....ever. I am so excited. I start my new gig in radio on June 11th. So excited. Here's the irony of the first day of my vacation. I got up at 7 am. WTF? Oh yes....I did. I have stuff-to-do. Stuff for ME. Today I am getting a high light and hair cut. Bliss. Then picking up my wedding dress. Love it. Then going to get waxed. Ouch. But necessary. Then to tan and run some errands. Weeeeee!

...."Cuz I am FREE...to do what I want....any ol' time.....I am free!" :)

Sex AND the City

I am a huge fan of Sex and the City. Love it. I am gonna try to see the movie on Friday before the rehearsal dinner. Can't wait. The media coverage on the movie has been frustrating me. Well...ok...two things are frustrating me. 1. Every time I see a movie trailer or hear an interview...I learn more than I want to about the plot. Save SOMETHING as a surprise folks. 2. I am sick and tired...tired and sick of hearing dee jays and tv hosts say..."Sex IN the City"...not "Sex AND the City"....makes me crazy.

ONE week from today....

.... is our wedding day. Friends and family are starting to arrive in town. Wowsa. I am so happy.

On the map

Our little part of the world is finally on the map. We have a Starbucks 2 miles from our house. I mean if Starbucks has noticed our little part of town...we must be important. I don't necessarily love Starbucks...I could take it or leave it...but the symbolism of its presence in my neighborhood means tons to me.

I find entertainment in giving Todd constant updates on the other businesses opening up around us. Last fall tractors started breaking ground on something down the street from our house. Literally less than 1 mile away. I was in heaven. Every time I drove by that place I would say, "All I want is a yoga studio, nail place, a liquor store, small convenience store, gas station, mexican restaurant and sports bar. Make it SO! POOF!" I am not THAT demanding. Anyway. A few months ago...a liquor store opened. Sweet. Then, a Dominos Pizza. Nice. Just this week, a Chinese Restaurant AND a Dry Cleaners. Woo hoo! (Pumping my fist in the air) AND...there is a new sign up that reads "Elite Nails". OH MY! There are still 5 empty businesses to be filled....there's still hope for my yoga studio, sports bar and mexican restaurant. We had chinese food last night...that place was packed...standing room only. I love it.

Genius

My future husband is a genius. Last night I was painting my nails. I handed him a bottle of polish that was being a booger to open. He tried and tried to open it. No luck. He stands up and starts pacing around the kitchen opening drawers...closing drawers.....opening drawers...closing drawers. Then the A-ha moment! He raised in the air the rubbery end of our turkey baster like a trophy. He put the top of the polish bottle inside the turkey baster hole...twists...victory! He opened my polish! He's a genius and should market that idea. Just gotta love that guy.

Water Works

I am too loyal of an employee. I worked my ass off yesterday at my OLD job until 6:30...office closed at 12 noon. And to add insult to injury, I was total water works all day yesterday too...crying every time I told someone I was leaving. I was baffled by the tears. I am so NOT a crier. I am so NOT sad I am leaving. I am so NOT going to miss anyone there. So what is up with all the boo hoo's? I figured it out last night (as I laid in bed wide awake excited that the wedding is one week away...and more importantly...the honeymoon is one week and 2 days away)...I think I was crying because that job BEAT me. It beat me down...and I don't like to lose. l basically had to quit. ...or it was going to kill me. Silly??? Hell and yes it is....but that has got to be it. Oh well. Shrug.

Letting the cat out of the bag

I am gonna let the cat out of the bag before the "official" announcement this Tuesday. I am leaving MOD for a General Sales Manager position with KEZW. I am so pumped. I can picture a few of my friends rubbing their eyes and looking back at the screen...What? Did I read that right? Emily is going into SALES? To the DARK side? :) Yup. It's true...and I can't freaking wait. Isn't it just like me to do 5 million BIG things all at once? Get married. Go on a honeymoon. Get a new job. Ah...such is my life.

Somebody tell me WHY

Somebody tell me WHY the f-ing Osmonds are EVERYWHERE? How did that happen... really? For 25 years...nuttin...thankfully. I didn't have to see an Osmond on TV for 25 years. Now, I can't watch any gossip or entertainment show without some piece on the Osmonds. Their new tour. Marie has lost weight. Donny sings "Puppy Love" to homeless pets. Marie is moving on after her divorce. Marie's son is a good person...even though he's a drug addict. Pleeeaaasse make it stop. I can't figure out what is so interesting about these crazy Mormons??? Humpf.

Money Tree

Todd had one plant when I met him. Slowly but surely it started to die. I would water it when I was there...but to no avail. I thought it was odd that he was working so hard to save this plant when he realized it wasn't doing well. All of the leaves fell off...and in a pot...stood...a single stick....just a stick. He watered it and loved on that plant until it came back....now it's a huge plant. One single stick and at the top....a huge sprout of leaves. I recently pointed out a similar plant in my friend's office saying, "we have one of those plants." My friend told me that it was a MONEY plant. I went home that night and said, "Amy has one of those plants too...it's a money plant." Todd said, "See! That is why I worked so hard to save that plant...you can't let a MONEY plant die!" Amen....Amen.

Teak

I had never heard of Teak wood before. Todd's family owned a furniture store for 25 years...so he knows a ton about great furniture. Todd found a listing on Craig's list from a woman who was selling all of her furniture. She had an interesting list of goods...so last Saturday...we rented a cargo van and went to her house to shop.

Gorgeous stuff...for very inexpensive. We got $1,500 under worth of goods (per Scandinavian Designs website) for $400. Sweet. I am a new fan of Teak. We are going back this Saturday for the sweet solid teak coffee table...for $150.

I think its funny that Barkley keeps getting in all the pictures.

Ignore the ugly chair in front of the new desk....need to find a new one...but this one will do.

Frank Sinatra Jr

This morning on the Today Show, Meredith interviewed Nancy and Frank Sinatra Jr. Well....Jr. was in a very bad mood....and was downright nasty to poor Meredith. She was trying to include Mr. Grumpy Pants in the interview...but he was not interested. I laughed.

Carly Simon reads my blog

Well...Carly Simon must read my blog. I got a comment on my post "Carly You Suck". Funny.

Fraud protection

I was at Kmart yesterday purchasing $1,300 in gift cards for work. I swipe one card. Declined. Sweet. I swipe a 2nd card...and now the clerk is looking at me weird and calling over managers. Sweet. Kmart is one of our national sponsors...and if some who-ha happens with me or my credit card...or whatever....let me assure you....the story will be told all the way up to our national office. It just works that way with them. So. Sweat starts pouring from my head and I start thinking, "dang, I know I paid my bill...I know I have the credit line to pay for these...what in the HELL is going on here?" Then seconds later, my cell phone blows up...I have 2 incoming calls. I pick up #1...its the fraud department of card #1. I listen to the voicemail from the 2nd call...it's the fraud department from card #2. I am sooooo happy for the protection...but dang. We got a call at 8 am this morning (yes on a Saturday) from card #1 to verify my attempt to use the card....yet AGAIN. And...I just spent 20 minutes on line with card #2 clearing that up (after spending 45 minutes on hold yesterday trying to clear it up). Again...love the protection....but lesson learned is that if you are going to make a big purchase at a Kmart....call your cards and alert them....because no one ever spends that kind of cash at Kmart. I know MY purchasing history doesn't include 'em.

Rehersal dinner

Our rehearsal dinner is causing a load of drama on my side of the family. Now help me out here folks....a rehearsal dinner is traditionally attended by.....the bride & groom (duh), their immediate family, the wedding party and out of town guests. OK. My aunt (who is A. not in my immediate family. B. not in the wedding party. And C. not an out of town guest) is PISSSSSED OFFF that she is not invited to the rehearsal dinner. So pissed in fact that she made some shitty excuse as to why she won't host Mother's Day at her house this year. Good freaking lord. And to add insult to injury....she threw a fit (to my Grandma not to me or my mom) that I hadn't invited her freaking high school exchange student to the wedding. WTF? I have met this kid twice. But apparently she is pissed because "He is part of our family." Your family maybe...but come on. SOOOO...I hear she is pissed....I pick up the phone....I call her. I tell her that we are too close to each other for her not to call me about this before it got blown out of proportion. I invited the freaking exchange student and asked that she call me if something else is not being handled the way she wants. Now this. Now she is pissed again about the rehearsal dinner. Did she call me? Eh. No. She was sure to tell my anyone in my family who will listen...but me, my mom or my dad. Whatever. I have been a bridesmaid 14 times....so I have been around my share of weddings. And there is always ONE (or 12) who have to make issue of everything. I guess she is my one. I am most bummed that she didn't call me....I thought we were closer.

Bachelorette party

Today is my bachelorette party. Me and my girls are going up in the mountains to a spa to soak in the hot springs and get massages and a myriad of other spa treatments. Very excited....need the relaxation and recharge. The one part of the day that the jury is still out on whether or not I will like this....is that the soak in the springs is apparently a naked one. Wha? I found that out about the nakedness after this was booked and the invite had gone out to the girls. It will be a new experience....so I love that...love new experiences. I have to keep an open mind.