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Just Jen
Careful with the pretty things

Friday, May 28, 2004
Oh happy, short, beautiful, animation-worthy weathered Friday.

I think I shall have a manicure on my lunch break.

Yesterday, I woke up with this line from a dream stuck in my head:
He ate until he was too full for anything anyone else had to say. Or so it seemed.

I don't know what that's about, but I wrote it down and found it interesting.

Happy Memorial weekend!


Thursday, May 27, 2004
I'm getting bigger every day.


Tuesday, May 25, 2004
I'm having an allergic reaction to returning to Dallas ... to returning to Dallas or to returning to work, I'm not sure which at this time, but the drainage system in my head is not working properly.

My ears are stopped up, and they itch way down in the ear canal. My nose is running, and there's something running down the back of my throat causing a terrible cough. I awoke at 5:30 this morning with a sore throat, probably from mouth-breathing all night.

Besides all of this, my bladder felt like it was about to explode as I made my way toward the bathroom. It's impossible to sleep through the night these days without getting up to go potty.

And I don't care if this is TMI.

Otherwise, there's really a lot of great things happening this week. Not the least of which is an early closing time on Friday to start the Memorial weekend!!


Monday, May 24, 2004
I don't think I'll ever be able to summarize all the events of the wedding, nor do I think I'd really want to via this outlet, but below are a few random things I'd like to note.

We arrived in Santa Fe the Friday before the wedding and stayed two nights at the local Holiday Inn. We were in room 420.

Robin and Jonathan, Chip & Amy, and the McClain crew arrived Saturday. All but Chip & Amy joined us at the Holiday Inn. No one else had interesting room numbers.

Baby Seth won $775 on the blackjack table. During the same time, I managed to sit down with $40 and leave, nearly two hours later, with exactly the same amount.

We ate a lot of food.

My last meal as a single person: Hot dog from Chicago Dog Express. Jonathan dropped Rob and I at the stand so we could grab something before heading back to the Hacienda. I was craving a dog.

Brian's last meal as a single person: Hot dog purchased at Sandia Peak. Isn't that weird? I think it's quite weird.

Two nights at the Hacienda with multiple family members, and really, there were no glitches.

My dad sported the traditional firefighter handlebar mustache the whole trip.

My hair looked awesome.

Oh, and my dad and I two-stepped to Billy Joel. Yeah.


Thursday, May 20, 2004
We're baaaack! And we're married!

I'll catch up here later, but it was amazing.


Thursday, May 13, 2004
You know what's weird? Telling old boyfriends that you're getting married and are permanently off the market. Yep, that's weird. I'm talking about old boyfriends that you dated and remained friends with. I have a few of those.

It's sort of like watching a series finale.


Current Conditions for Cerrillos, NM: Check it out


He reminds me of the character "Ducky," from Pretty in Pink. He's punk like that, with that new wave sort of way about him.

I'm sure it's going to make a come back eventually. There's even that Cure remake they're playing on the radio now.


Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Our guitarist is going to play Van Morrison's Crazy Love during the lighting of the unity candle. That's one of the little things that excites me, along with the seed packets that I love, and the bookmarks with the Browning poem printed on them.

All the little details are coming together.


Random
Our neighbors are taking care of the house and animals. They're nice folk.

I'm becoming an egg snob. I seem to only really like them if Brian makes them.

Where's the sunshine today?

I had blood taken for an AFP test yesterday.

I'm really tired.


Tuesday, May 11, 2004
I don't wanna work.
I wanna lay in the sun all day.
And I want someone to pack for me and run all of my errands.

Holy frickin' smokes, I'm getting married! Soon!! This is about the only thought going through my mind these days, so if my posts are infrequent and stale (in your opinion), you'll have to overlook it. I mean, I'm getting a new last name. This is the big shit.

Wow. Walkin' on Sunshine, eating Cheetos, because that's what it's all about these days.

Two more days of work for me, then 10 days off. Ahhhhhhhhh.


Monday, May 10, 2004
How Do I Love Thee?
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.


We had a good weekend, and it was our last free one before the wedding. We're getting married in one week.

We've finalized the programs, selected all songs for the ceremony (we were stumped on a recessional selection for a while, as well as a song for the lighting of the Unity candle), and I picked up my dress. YES, I have my dress, and it FITS! If it fit yesterday, I'm confident it will fit next Monday. My weight gain seems to have slowed a bit, and my chest hasn't swollen any larger. I think we're good.

There are still lots of little things to do, like get my ring cleaned, get everything packed, set a nail appointment, make arrangements for the animals, etc., so it's quite difficult to focus on work right now. I just have to get everything wrapped up before heading out. This week is going to be nuts.

We had a great Mother's Day lunch, spent time in Fort Worth, visited my grandmother's grave, picked up the dress (as mentioned previously), then I did some shopping with my mom. When she dropped me off at home later that day, my sweet fiancé had flowers for us both. He and I had a nice dinner on the grill last night, and before I knew it it was time for bed and then up and off to another week.

Things are moving fast. I'm ready to be in Santa Fe.


Friday, May 07, 2004
I just told the big boss, the regional president, that I'm pregnant. It was an awesome conversation. Seriously. She's an amazing woman, a mother of four, and an impressive leader within our organization.

Damn, I'm feeling all high on the company Kool-Aid. A job elsewhere? What?

I've got more than just myself to think about now.


Today, I am Ph-balanced. It's a good day.


Thursday, May 06, 2004
No. 1
I'm wearing men's deodorant today. Yeah, OK, it's Brian's Old Spice.
I hope to have time to buy something Ph-balanced for a woman this evening.

No. 2
Lorie is right; I'm luckier than I think.

No. 3
Email

From: Jen
To: Jason
Subject: Your RSVP
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 09:35:05 -0400

Home slice: While I'm assuming you likely aren't attending the upcoming wedding, I've not heard from you for certain. Can you let me know? Final headcount due very, very soon.

Hope all is well, dear. Me? I'm now 13 weeks pregnant and worried about fitting into my gown. YIKES!!

That's about all the news on my end. Just little news, right? ;) Nuts.

Oh yeah, and I got a new vehicle ... a baby-toting 'mobile ... :)

Where are you??!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 5:40 PM
To: Jen
Subject: RE: Your RSVP

I'm so sorry, jen, that I have been so out of touch and all, and how I would love nothing more than to attend your wedding, but alas there are a few factors standing in my way, mainly the lack of funds to get there. I will
send an RSVP all official like. I will also have you two recreate the magic moment at my own personal ceremony that I am throwing together as we speak.

13 weeks? Did you get an Astrovan? I'll write back soon when I have some time to really talk. If you are bored any evening, call, 512-xxx-xxxx!
Love, jason

-----Original Message-----
From: Jen
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 9:12 AM
To: Jason
Subject: RE: Your RSVP

Oh, tell me about this shin-dig you are planning! ;)

I'll try to buzz you, but my evenings have been filled lately with many errands ... almost everyday after work.

Yes, an Astrovan.

I miss Jack Daniels. I'm afraid he may be sore with me for disappearing on him.

15 weeks tomorrow, and we go to the doc again to knock at the baby door and see how he's doing. I'm eager. Four weeks is a long time to wait to hear that little heartbeat again.

Send more email/news when you can, and I'll try to telephone soon. Wedding is about 1.5 weeks away!!

No. 4
Apparently, I've missed Blogger.


What do you do with an unofficial job offer when no one on the work front knows you're pregnant yet?

I'm assuming everyone thinks I just got a boob job.


Also from Monday ...

Apparently I’ve messed something up with Blogger, so I’m trying to get that worked out. But I’m on a plane now anyway and don’t have Internet access. I’m bored. I forgot to bring a book or magazine for the two+ hour flight to Chicago. I also managed to forget the charger for my wireless phone, which died on me just before boarding the plane … in mid-conversation. But it hasn’t been all bad.

I left work 30 minutes later than intended to head for the airport, but I still managed to have a bit of time at the airport to grab something for lunch and board the plane. Yes, I’m that person we all despise who brings smelly McDonald’s on the plane (it’s worse being the person who didn’t grab something and is starving though). I wasn’t going to get anything; I swear. Thirty minutes before take off I went to board, but the man tearing the boarding passes must have seen me eyeing the food signage; he informed me that I had plenty of time to grab something, if I wanted. “You think?” I asked. “I know,” he said.

Funny thing is, on my way to the airport I was sort of praying that I wouldn’t run into any trouble … wouldn’t it be nice if things went smoothly, if someone could throw me a bone? Enter Juan, ATA customer service rep extraordinaire. OK, that’s not his official title, but according to his card buried deep in my bag, it’s something like that.

So I ran down the corridor to the McD’s and returned in time to catch the flight. “Is it full?” I asked him. “No, no, there are about 60 seats open,” he said. “Where are you sitting?”

“19A, I think.”

“Hold on, I can get you closer to the front,” he said while looking at the computer. “You’re in 1C now.”

I thanked him, and took his card when he offered it, telling me to let him know if I had any trouble.

Once the plane was in the air, I learned that the airline offers headsets to listen to the radio or watch the little descending screens. I figured that was a nice distraction and worth the two bucks, until I realized there’s only one video program available. I’ve learned an awful lot about Cracker Jack’s (the prize was added in 1912; “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was written in 1908) and Bazooka bubble gum (unfortunately the Bazooka info wasn’t retained; I was never a fan of those stupid comic wrappers).

The radio stations are pretty interesting … “I’m burnin’, I’m burnin’, I’m burnin’ for you. Burn up the day; burn out the night …” AND
“Stay the night … why don’t we call it a day. No one can stop us, and nothing is in the way …” AND
“I keep a close watch on this heart of mine; I keep my eyes wide open all the time; I keep the ends out for the tie that binds; b/c you’re mine, I walk the line. I find it very, very easy to be true; I find myself alone when each day is through; Yes I’ll admit I’m quite the fool for you. Because you’re mine, I walk the line.”


Monday, May 03, 2004
Blogger has been really weird ... not letting me update for some reason.


Sunday, May 02, 2004
Don't know where to start, don't know what to say, and it's not for lack of things going on, that's for sure. There's just so much ...

The weekend was a busy blur, for the most part. And tonight I have to get packed for a brief trip to Chicago. This next week is my last full work week before taking time off for the wedding.

I swear, every day Brian and I look at each other and laugh aloud, "We're getting MARRIED!"