The Ties That Bind

So much has changed since the last time I posted on here. It has already been a whole year since my wedding... And my wedding really was the catalyst that changed some things for me.

My family life and relationships have really gotten better. Thinks have greatly improved with my father's family. I actually feel like now that they are my family as well, not just his. I never really had a solid father-figure in my life when I was younger, and I missed out on a lot of things because of that. But the wedding really seemed to change things for all of us. For the better... He feels bad that he missed out on a lot of my life. And is genuinely happy to have me around. They even invited me to visit them up in New Hampshire. Bob and I did go, even though I was immensely anxious about the trip, not sure how we would be received. But everyone was really gracious, and did not treat us any different than the rest of the family. My step-sister even asked if I would want her children to consider me as there aunt...

My Mind Is Made Up

I was struggling with my decision as to if I should or should not invite any of the Yannuzzi family to the wedding. So with the suggestion of Chrissy's dad I wrote a letter to Steve telling him exactly how I feel in the situation, what all of this was doing to me and has over the years.

Well today I got a response. And in true asshole fashion he is just trying to pin everything on everyone else. "There are two sides to every story..." Well I've heard both, because my mother has always been open and honest with me. And I know what has happened to me in the past. But still he thinks it is all my fault. That getting a shower invite from me was like getting one from a stranger, or so his sister said. Well news flash!: Your sister told someone that I know after the engagement announcement ran in the paper, that and I quote "my neice is getting married!" God, I hate all of you so damn much. I have finally made up my mind, not a SINGLE one of them is invited. Not him, his bitch of a wife, or his parents. NONE OF THEM!!!!!

Falling Into Place

Wow, I really haven't updated here in quite some time. Not since the dreaded Snow-pocylps back in early February. But it is April now, and I have a little over 4 months to go on the wedding countdown. It is amazing what has been accomplished but still how much there is to go...

All of my bridesmaids have officially ordered their dresses. I didn't want them to wear the same thing, because lets face it, they do NOT have the same body types at all. Laura will be in a lovely little, strapless bubble dress in plum. Rebecca bought a cute tea-length strappy dress with a chiffon overlay in wisteria. And Chrissy, who was the most difficult in this ordeal, got a floor length halter satin dress in lavender with a ribbon detailing in purple. I even got myself a cute little pair of purple heels, with at least a 3-4 inch heel on them! I need to get some gel inserts for them, that is for sure...

I met with my florist, Puhlman Flowers in Carnegie to go over my ideas for the bouquets and centerpieces. I am doing something relatively simple when it comes to the centerpieces, just daisy heads in white, yellow, and lavender scattered around the mirrors and candles that Cefalo's provides for us. It will add some color to the mix while still keeping it simple and classy. Which is totally what I was going for.

This week I have my finalization appointment with my baker, Bethel Bakery. Bob and I know from our tasting appointment what flavors and design we want. Now all we need to do it put it down in writing and sign the agreement. My mom is even giving me $100 dollars to help, $50 for the cake and another $50 for the flowers.

But there are still big things that have not been tackled. Bob's mom is supposed to be handling the photographer and the dj but I haven't heard anything diffinitive on either of those and it is starting to worry me. Bob and I also sat down to do a preliminary menu plan, but we need to meet up again with the reception site. And we still need to look into invitations as well.

But one more thing is settled on, my Aunt Tina is letting me have my bridal shower at her house in Natrona Heights. This will help me save a ton of money since I don't have to pay to rent some place and my family is chipping in to help make food and favors and such.

I guess that is all for now. More to come later, that is for sure.

Snowed In

We had many things we were planning to do today, and this weekend in general. Unfortunately Mother Nature was not willing to cooperate with us!

There are like almost 2 feet of snow out there right now. Huge snow drifts in our yard. Some of our trees are literally bent over from the strain. It is very, very bad. If we were to try to leave, even after Bobby finishes shoveling the driveway, the streets are completely impassable. We had to try to shovel a truck out earlier when it got stuck halfway in the street. I just don't know what we are going to do at all.

We were going to go out to my mother's house today to get my baptismal paperwork. I had to go to the bank to cash my paycheck. But none of that is going to happen this weekend. It seriously hasn't been this bad since the blizzard of 93. And I was in elementary school at that time! This is really, really insane!!

Quiet Contemplation

It is hard to believe that it has only been a week since the car accident. Monday itself felt like it was a week long... It is very jarring when you come face to face with your own mortality. I don't know if I will be the same person again. I was not hurt but now I am just more cautious.

We had to pick up our rental car on Thursday. So I was thrust back into driving faster than I would have wanted to. Bob in the new rental and I in his dad's Colbalt to drop it back off in Moon. Somehow I managed okay, but it was a harrowing experience.

On Wednesday we had our meeting with Father Ken Keene at Holy Trinity's rectory. He really does seem like a nice guy, but unfortunately he is unavailable to preform our wedding. Apparently he will be out of town during that week and the week afterwards. He did start all of our paperwork, including the request for a mixed marriage with the diocese, and said he would ask Father Barry if he were available for our date. If not he would help us to find a priest that could help us out. I have to pick up my baptismal information from my mother's and have two people contact Fr Ken as witnesses to my character. So this should all be very interesting...

Accidents Happen

I really don't know how it happened at all. I was minding my own business, going back to work from the Sheetz with my lunch in the car. And then all of a sudden this car stops in the middle of the road. The car behind it slams on its breaks and ends up running into it. And then the car in front of me does the same thing. I try to stop, honestly I do. I slam on my breaks as fast as I can, but still it is too late. I end up running into the car directly in front of me. All of this in Bob's Car! The cops show up and take all of our statements and give out everyones information. I called my work and told them, and one of them went to the house to pick up Bobby, since he was off for the holiday. They ended up towing the car, the front end was dragging on the ground... *shakes head* I don't know what I could have done differently. No one was hurt but everyone was really shaken up. My boss ended up driving Bobby and I home. We reported it to the insurance company but Lord only knows how much this is going to cost us. And Bob wants me to pay for it, but where am I getting that kind of money... I just don't know anymore!

Miss Shann Goes To Washington

We spent this past weekend visiting Bob's sister Rebecca in the Arlington, Virginia / D.C. area. Sadly the weather did not cooperate with us very much. Bob and I left straight from my work on Friday evening, only stopping at the bank to cash my paycheck before setting off. MapQuest told us it would take around 4-4 1/2 hours to get there. But that did not take into the account that it was raining the whole entire car ride down there. It was literally like driving through one of the circles of hell. I do not know how we made it alive, but we did. Crossing through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and finally into Virginia.

When we got there, it just continued to rain, rain, rain. Bob's sister took pity on us and came with us to this little diner in Arlington, Silver Diner for dinner. It was this kitschy little fifties style eatery, decked out with mini juke boxes in each of the booths. Just what I needed after a long car ride there.

Rebecca's place was just a little efficiency apartment in the Virginia Square neighboorhood of Arlington. It was nice, but a little cramped for three people. Bob and I had to sleep on the floor and her heat was not on either. So it was very chilly and hard to sleep the first night there.

When we woke up the next morning we new exactly what we wanted to do, go to the Smithsonian! Well mainly the Natural History part at least. It was still raining when we set out for lunch and the Metro station into D.C. We stopped at this little Vietnamese restaurant on a side street in Arlington for lunch, Nam-Viet. It was yummy, yummy. I had Seafood Pho, which was a noodle soup, Vietnamese coffee, and Bobby and I split an order of Pork Spring Rolls. It was the perfect way to start a horribley wet, rainy day. After lunch we walked down to the Claredon Metro Station and caught the metro to the Smithsonian station. So many people got of the train there! The Metro Station was right near the Mall and we could see both the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building from there. Finally we made it into the Natural History Museum. All I really wanted to see was the Hope Diamond but much to my dismay almost everyone else wanted to as well. It was completely crowded around but I got as close as I could. Bobby took pictures for me though. After the museum we walked towards the Washington Monument. Bob had never been there before, so it was interesting I had been somewhere he hadn't. Then we checked out both the World War Two Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. But by that time we were all sopping wet and decided to go back to Rebecca's apartment. For dinner that night we drove down the street from her place in Arlington to Taste of Morocco. It was interesting to eat there, they had couches for you to sit on!

The next morning we got up and went with Rebecca to the 11:00 am mass at her church, St. Charles Borromeo. It wasn't your typical catholic church at all. They sang some of the songs in both Spanish and English. And apparently the 1:00pm mass is completely in Spanish! After church and going to change into jeans, we hopped on the Metro this time to Union Station, a funky little shopping center in a the Train Station. They had an art exhibit going on there were everything was made out of or inspired by Red Bull cans. For lunch we went across the street to Capital City Brewing Company. Finally had a Maryland Crab Cake sandwich there and a pumkin beer as well. We stayed in D.C. until only 3:00pm that day before finally heading back to Pittsburgh.

And now that we are back we have to pack again. For this weekend's destination, Niagra Falls!!!