Honeymoon? CHECK!

So after MUCH debate, we decided on a honeymoon that makes both of us happy.

A 7 day cruise on the Disney Fantasy - a new cruise ship that is taking to the seas March 2012. The cruise will take us to several islands in the Caribbean. The cruise leaves the Sunday after the wedding (October 20th), and we'll be adding some goodies to the registry this week. Since we pretty much have everything that a household would require (and this is a destination wedding - so we don't want to haul gifts everywhere or worry about shipping), we're requesting that anyone who wants to get us a gift - use the honeymoon registry.

Next week's tasks? Finishing the Guest List and getting the Save the Dates out!

Snow Day!

Click here to check out a short video of Sean and Clydas playing "Catch" with a snowball!

"So, what did you finally decide on for Bridesmaids Dresses?"

Having been asked this question several times - I went and bought some of the fabric for the dresses. Yes, they are PRINT. The wedding isn't necessarily a "stuffy" sort of formal event, and every wonderful woman standing up for us has a different body type and comfort level. So instead of picking out one "dress", there are 3 dresses available in this fabric. I suggest going to Alfred Angelo and trying the dresses on in person to get any idea of what length, neckline, ect. works best for you!

Dresses are in the green (clover and creme) color! I grabbed a swath of the black and white for a possible crafting idea.

While we're very excited to have a date, it's challenging to do much on the amount of sleep that's going on over here. See, I work days, and Sean is working nights right now. Which means we get about 2 waking hours together/day - and I'm usually working during one and a half of them. But we'll get over this hump! We make small decision whenever we have time to chat and move forward! Look forward to official "Save The Dates!" coming out next month!

The Pet Took Over This Post

Clydas decided I haven't shared enough of HIS news lately, so he pretty much decided to high jack this post.

In case you didn't know, my dog is a bit on the... unique side. I mean, every animal is unique, but Clydas came with his own very unique personality - as any Boxer owner knows.

One of Clydas' greatest (and most recently discovered) quirks - is that he never needs to be brushed. And he never needs to be brushed, because he has a special relationship with the Dirt Devil (see above video).

Clydas and I also had a new adventure together today. We woke up at 9am this morning to SNOW! There was 1/2 an inch on the ground and it was actually snowing! Now, this may not seem like a bit deal to many of you readers, but it's a big deal to us! Clydas and I have seen snow before. We've visited it when it's been on the ground for days, but today was our first experience enjoying freshly fallen snow. It was a big, big hit with me. Hopefully Clydas will get more into it tomorrow.

BIG BIG NEWS! WE HAVE A DATE!

It's official! We have a wedding date now! Wahoo! That is, unless the Navy throws us a curve ball last minute, but let's focus on what know, aye?

I'm so excited to get to work on Save The Dates, invitations, and all the other pre and post wedding events! We're making it a weekend of fun, so feel free to stay as long, or as short, as you like!

Mark your Calendars for October 18th, 2012 at Shades of Green in Florida! Hen/Stag and rehearsal will be 1-2 days before the wedding.
Ladies, that means you should HAVE your dresses in your hot little hands by the end of September. That means altered, fitted, whatever, so I'd suggest ordering around June just to be sure everything goes smoothly. (You will be getting a care package upon arriving which will include a pashmina.) (Ladies, keep in mind you get a discount when you mention that I'm an Alfred Angelo bride!)

Since Sean has duty tonight, I'll be spending the evening tweaking "save the date" cards, and looking at some order of ceremony goodies and options that are out there.

Just thought I'd share the good news!

Vows, Ceremonies, and More

I haven't updated this blog in so long! It's about time. Actually, it's OVERDUE! I was hoping to post photos of Sean's homecoming, but we're not sure when that is currently, and I've been assured that cameras are certainly not allowed. So there won't be any pictures of coming fresh from the can...er... sub. ;) But I'll be sure to let you all know when he's home safe.

But in other news - we've asked a very dear friend of mine, Jonathon Rossal, to officiate our ceremony. He's been a friend of mine for several years, and life has seen us play important roles in major turning points in each other's lives. It seemed only right that he be involved, and, since I met him through theater, I trust his public speaking skills. Though we're both very busy and don't often chat, he very quickly became like a brother to me. I sang at HIS wedding last year - and did he pick a winner! His wife is a woman who's drive to better the world and make a difference matches his own, and who's beauty inside and out will continue to enhance his life. Seriously, a perfect match, and I can't wait to get to know them better as a couple.

The Newly Wed Rossals, June 2011, Yosemite California

It takes a good friend to be willing to stand up and do this for us, so I want to make sure he's as well prepared as he can be. So here comes the fun part (well, at least for Sean and I), building our ceremony. While Sean is away, I've been doing research on different types of family wedding ceremonies and celebrations of lifetime love and commitment. I'm excited to see what we come up with, as there are so many ideas out there. We're not quite a conventional couple (nothing about a military life is conventional - every day is a new adaptation), so this shouldn't be a conventional ceremony. We've written our vows, so we have some place to start, but we're looking at doing something like a wine box tradition, a hand ceremony, or something else all together that blends it all together.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what we come up with. Which tradition will touch us and be a part of our lives and memories forever? 

That's the fun part!

Happy New Year!

A few updates from Port Orchard

Fall has arrived in Port Orchard!

Here's a long awaited update!

"Why Isn't Sean Getting Back To Me?"

Yes, Sean is underway now. Thank you all for sending your notes, letters, and donating towards his Nook/iTunes fund! He's well stocked with entertainment to keep him from missing home too much. Everything was much appreciated! I do have his cell phone, and will check it daily for any important messages, but if you really want to chat with me, email me or call my phone. Don't forget that I can Skype as well!

"How's Clydas doing?"

MUCH better. His bandages have been off for almost a week now. Okay, so his crazy new foot was a bit shocking to me the first time I saw it, but every day more fur grows back and he seems less and less bothered by it. He still does the Tri-Pawd dog hop (nicknamed "The Clydas Hop" since he's the only dog in the development with his own pimp-dog style - he he he), but he's doing really well, aside from a little stomach upset due to a prolonged stint on antibiotics. Here's a little montage with some updated videos of his hop. Be forewarned! There IS a photo of his re-designed foot as taken in the vet's office when he got the bandages off. It's not so red and angry now. Currently, it's pink and healthy looking. Amputations take a LONG time to heal, and foot amputations are prone to infections, but he's a real trooper - ready to run less then a month after surgery!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

"How am I doing with all of this?" 

Well, thankfully I spent several years living alone. While it is an adjustment, I'd like to think it's not as hard on me as it would be on those people who have never lived alone. I also have a great example of how to stay sane with your partner far away. My dad often travels for work, so my mom managed to raise my brother and I, take care of her mother, work full time, and get her master's degree, while dad traveled the world for work. She's one of the most ambitious and accomplished women I've ever met. I've learned some amazingly helpful survival tips from my parents.

For example:

1) Working from home is great, but you CAN feel trapped and isolated. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE TWICE A DAY. Even if it's just to go for a walk or grab a hot tea at a coffee shop. Interacting with people, though it may seem meaningless, are immensely helpful.

2) GET BUSY. Work keeps me really busy. Clydas has kept me busy lately too, with bi-weekly vet trips. Hopefully his last visit will be next week. I have a few other goals I can focus on without distractions.

3) MAKE PLANS. My parents have graciously offered to kennel Clydas and fly me home for the holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm really looking forward to getting out of dodge for a while and spending some quality time with my family and friends in So Cal. I'm also trying to get my best friend to come up and visit for a weekend. Add to that YMCA trips and care packages I'm putting together for the fall/winter for family and friends, and I'm busy alright!

4) SET GOALS. I have a weight loss goal for while Sean is away and 2 writing projects in the works (in addition to the magazine I regularly write for click-here-for-shameless-plug). Since I'm eating out a LOT less, I'm sure I'll drop the unwanted pounds in no time - and it helps that I love working out and hiking and all that. I've found keeping physically active helps the body and mind deal with all sorts of stress.

5) Be GENTLE with yourself. This is the perfect time to do my nails, take bubble bathes, and finish a few books, work on wedding stuff and all that without driving Sean nuts with details.

IF YOU SHOULD NEED TO GET A HOLD OF SEAN, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

In the mean time, give a wave to the ocean the next time you happen to see it.

Thanks all! Hope you're enjoying a beautiful fall like I am! - JD