...well, i'm back folks...but it's not really me...it's a new me...it's a mrs. d. me...that's right! i walked down that aisle like i said i would, and here i am...a new name and everything...

...i won't go into the details of the wedding right now...it's been super busy...i don't have all the photos yet...but here's a photo taken by my friend nanette sawyer who did the scripture reading at the ceremony...she has the exact same camera as i do and from the few photos she's shown me, she's got a great eye!

...on an entirely different subject, teddy & i went to see bill mallonee @ schubas last night...here is my first concert photoshoot as mrs. d....

...more later!

this is my last post as a single girl...in less than 24 hours, i will be mrs. dxxxxxx...i will also be very full after a gazillion course meal @ maggiano's...

it's raining in the windy city...they say that rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck, showers of blessings if you will...i think that's a story someone made up to console a soggy bride...rain or shine, i am walking down an aisle tomorrow afternoon...

i am exhausted from nonstop preparations...but soon it will be over...and i'll be able to sleep in monday morning HOORAY!!!

say good by to sarah jane rxxx folks...tomorrow a new mystery unfolds...

p.s. thanks for the lovely voicemail caleb & kathy!

...so i have a new toy...it actually came from the timeless toy store in lincoln square by our new apartment...that place RULES!! anyways, i got these bug eye lens thingies that distorts images but in a cool way...i'm using them as special effects filters for my camera...pretty nifty, eh? the store also had all these instruments for kids...teddy fell in love with a toy accordian...and i found a country-band-in-a-package! comes with a washboard and everything! that i definitely need...not want...NEED!!! we were actually shopping for a 3 year old girl's bday present, but we walked out w/ toys for us instead...oh well...we're going back there to get gifts for some of our wedding participants too...i love toy stores!


...saturday teddy & i went downtown to buy him a suit...he got himself a nice dark grey one from the men's warehouse...he's gonna look so sharp in that, esp. with the electric blue tie he bought to go with it! we also tried to buy gifts, but we were hopelessly indecisive and didn't get too much done in that department...

...we took the brown line into downtown...it's our new train now...no longer on the blue line...we decided that we really like the brown line because it's all above ground, so we get to see the sights as we ride...there's just something so chicagoan about riding the elevated...teddy mentioned that a person could really fall in love w/ chicago by riding the trains and seeing the city...

...well, it's 5 days until the wedding...i still need shoes...we got makeshift rings @ the mall yesterday...the ceremony program is coming together...we're going to use rosie for the prelude, denison for the processional, sufjan for the special song, and VoL for the recessional...i'm also making a mix cd that will play before and after the ceremony with songs by big star, belle & sebastian, the postal service, mojave3, the promise ring, the velvet undergound, the zombies, nick drake, etc...songs that i like, ya know...

...it's been a bit hairy keeping the headcount to the maximum of 50 which is what maggiano's can accomodate in the room we rented...we had a lot more family on ted's side who decided to come than we were expecting...i really wish we could have done a bigger wedding w/ our friends there, but hopefully our 2nd reception in june will make up for that...this one is more for family...and at this point, i just want to get it done already...

...everybody pray for a nice warm sunny day in glenview, il for this coming sunday, ok? thanks y'all!

...10 more days and counting...

...well, so far i have a dress...it's a dress...it's pink...it's obviously not a wedding dress...we have a minister (that would be rand)...we have a bride & groom (that would be me & teddy)...we have a place (that would be my aunt rebekah's back yard)...we have a date (that would be april 25th)...we have a place to eat afterwards (that would be maggiano's @ old orchard)...we've got flowers (that would be lots of lilacs & hyacinths and lavender and rose petals)...we've got the guests (that would be mainly family)...

...so what are we missing? well, i need shoes...ted needs a suit AND shoes...uh, HELLO?! RINGS!! we don't have the RINGS yet fer cryin' out loud!!! then there's gifts for everyone...a PROGRAM...VOWS...you know...stuff like that...

...to complicate the complixity of it all, ted's schedule between now and the wedding is totally messed up...he was supposed to be off this whole weekend, but it turns out he's working today til 9, tomorrow til 9, saturday til 7, sunday til 9, off monday, and then working tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday and saturday...that doesn't leave much time before the 25th...

...the weather is supposed to be mostly clear and 66 degrees...i can live with that...i'm requesting more like high 60's, low 70's though...but 66 ain't bad...i'd be happy with anything above 60 and no rain...

...and if the stress of an imminent wedding weren't enough, i've got sinus stress to worry about as well...i've had this head cold that had me unable to breathe through my nose the past couple days...i've taken to sleeping in an upright position and keeping a glass of ice cubes by my head to keep my mouth from drying out all night...the skin around my nostrils is pathetically frayed...i just hope the skin grows back in the next week...

...i got to tell bill yesterday all the big news going on when i saw him on AIM...when i told him i had big news, he immediately guessed ted & i were getting married...i thought tim had told him, but he said it's cuz we seemed so in love when he saw us...he was really happy for us and about the baby too...i told him how much he & brenda have meant to me in terms of showing me what a marriage can be...i'll be seeing him the end of april when he plays a couple shows in chicago...by then, i'll be mrs. d.! about time!

...a couple nights ago, i dreamed i had a little baby girl, and i was dancing with her and twirling her in the air high above my head, and she was laughing and gurgling the way babies do...she was really cute too...brown curly hair and chubby cheeks...

...well, the wedding is just around the corner now, and i'm totally ready for it to be today...except i don't have a dress yet...but that'll get done soon enough...we found out today that teddy's brother charles & his wife ali are coming from seattle for the wedding! thank you ATA! flights are only $170 from seattle to midway round trip! it'll be the first time i've seen the whole clan together with all 5 siblings...

...teddy & i looked at maternity clothes yesterday, but i didn't have the gumption to buy anything...he keeps telling me to get some new clothes cuz i keep complaining how small everything feels these days...i just really hate wearing big oversized stuff...yuckityyuckyuckyuck! the good news is that i had my 2nd prenatal visit on saturday, and my doctor says i'm a boring patient cuz everything's so normal...i'm officially over my 1st trimester, so my chances for a nice healthy delivery get better as the days pass...

...we registered at crate & barrel yesterday, but we're so indecisive we only registered for like 12 items...we were there for over an hour, and i got so stark raving mad hungry that we gave up after those 12 items to get something to eat...we met my mom for dinner @ maggiano's where the dinner after the wedding is going to be...their banquet rooms are actually really nice...and my mom loved her minestrone...so it's all good...

...i am so ready to be mrs. d.