...Cause I'm a Dork Fish....!!!

You are asking your self....why would she call herself a dorkfish? Yeah, well here's the reason...I decided to go lay by the pool for a little while to get some sun before Jason and I go to the Bahamas. You'd think that after years of burning myself I would know better but apparently not. I thought I wouldn't be out there too long so I wouldn't put any sunscreen on except my nose and knees. 50spf. I'm a cooked lobster. My arms, upper chest and legs (except the knees)!!! OH!! and half my face....the lower half. I wore sunglasses and a hat and sunscreen on my nose...don't forget that. So right now I'm in a little bit of pain. I've aloed up and tried not to wear anything on the legs and other burnt parts of my body. I'm a dorkfish!!! and there is NO WAY I'm going to shave my legs for a few days. Sorry, Jason!!!

Speaking of Jason...he's my husband now... :D Cool to say!! I'm a wife!!! Yippeee!!! I do feel a little different. Except my ring is being soldered together so I have a temporary one on my finger. :( Hopefully it will be done by this Saturday. Here's what our rings look like:

We are also waiting on our wedding photos and they should be online very soon. We will let you know so you can look!!! Here's a group shot of our wedding party!!! FUN!!!!

We did have a blast and it was a little bit of a blur and not enough time with family and friends!!! But here's how the whole shindig went down:

Tuesday, June 10th:
Mom arrives and we hang out and have pot roast.

Wednesday, June 11th:
Mom and I go crazy shopping. Got some goooood stuff including shoes, capris, dress, sunglasses, purse and shirts...
Jason, Mom and I went to El Tapitios for some good Mexican food. We also rent some movies: Charlie Wilson's War and Juno; both were good.
While watching movies, Mom and I tied little ribbons on the bubbles and made a list of things to do on Thursday before we left for Arlington.

Thursday, June 12th:
Mom and I leave for Arlington after doing all the things on our list. I'm having a little bit of anxiety over the "rehersal" dinner. I wanted to get everyone's order in before we got there so we wouldn't have to wait so long!! People also started to arrive, which was fun. Mandy and the girls got there and we all went swimming. Pat and Alex got there soon after. So much fun!!! Pat got a portable internet device and played with it A LOT!!!! We decided we needed to go to Wal-Mart and so he found one but it actually took us a lot longer than we expected. It turns out there was a Wal-Mart about 5 minutes in the opposite direction that we could have gone to. Oh well...it was an adventure and I got to hang with my brother and Alex!!!!

Friday, June 13th:
Actually didn't do much in the morning....I laid there texting Jason every five minutes asking him to bring stuff :D I didn't mean to forget some clothes and contacts...honest!!! He arrived around noon and Jason and Drew (who arrived Thursday night) went to go pick up my Aunt Paula and Uncle John. Angie and Chris arrived and then Angie, Mom and I went to go get nails done...Mandy came a little later! That was fun but I still had some anxiety about this dinner thing!!! I still needed to come up with some orders. I actually got everyone's order except, get this, JASON's!!!!! I felt really bad!! How could I forget him??? I honestly don't know. But by the time we got to the restuarant and I got to direct the waiters at who had what, everything was fine! It turned out extremely well and so much fun!!! It was great to have so much family there! After the dinner there was a girly get together in my room. We had a blast and laughed a lot!!! I got some really nice things and just had a special special time. THANK YOU, ANGIE!!!!

I didn't have too much trouble getting to sleep, the only thing I regret was not washing my hair that night because my hair was not all that great the next day for up-dos. Oh well, it's over and can't do it again!!

Saturday, June 14th:
The big day!!! Got up and went downstairs to get some breakfast and Jason was there, so I sat with him. My cousins were there too so I got to visit with them for a bit. After breakfast the girls getting their hair done all piled in the car and went to the salon. That was fun (except my crappy hair thing). Then we went straight to the chapel where we stood around and then rehearsed (girls first, then guys), got dressed and got married!!! The reception was fun and beautiful. It went by very fast!! We walked out under bubbles...very fun...and got into a car with several sayings on it... such as GO HOGS and HONK!!!, JUST MARRIED and BRIDE AND GROOM. So much fun!!!!! We dropped off the tuxes and headed for our hotel near Six Flags. Wish we had the Garmin thingy cause we could see our hotel, we just couldn't get to it. We finally did and literally crashed into bed. We were so tired!!! We did get up to Jason's stomach alarm clock...we did plan on going to a German restuarnt in Ft. Worth, called Edelweiss. It was good and had good atmosphere, I just wish Jason was willing to go out on the dance floor and do the chicken dance with me!!! ;) Oh well....we still have the Bahamas...

Sunday, June 15th:
We got up, did breakfast and waited for Pat and Alex cause they were going to go to Six Flags with us! That was very very fun. We lathered up on the 50SPF and I missed a spot but didn't fry too bad. It was freaking HOT!!! That was a lot of fun... Jason and I had reservations for Texas de Brazil in Ft. Worth that night so we got cleaned up and dressed up and ate up, cause it was GOOOOOOD!!!!! Yum!!!!

Monday, June 16th:
We packed up all our stuff and headed home to recoup before Jason had to go back to summer school on Tuesday (he was teaching...). We did open all our presents and that was fun.

Now it's on to married life...and what that will bring...I'm excited about it! However, I have come to realize that having nothing to do at home while your husband is at work is very boring and I've had some depression about it. I'm not sure what to do. I need things to do and NOT housework. I do go swimming so that is good (but not since the sunburn...ouch!). I definitely think I will do some volunteering/working part time next summer. I need to get back into some hobbies that do not require TV or computer, something outside the house...

Anyway...I know this was a long blog, but it was really for me to remember everything so I wouldn't forget!!! I'm super excited about the Bahamas for our real honeymoon!!! You can bet there will be blog about THAT!!!

For those of you who were at the wedding and in the wedding....THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. It was sooo very special that you were there and I couldn't have done it without you! You all looked fabulous!!! Love you!!!

She posted another blog...

I know, I know....it's like I have more time or something!!! Well this week was interesting!!! I'll have to tell you about Monday a little later...I'll keep you posted...!!!

Tuesday I started a teacher institute called Great Expectations, which I loved!!!! Great Expectations is a professional development program that provides teachers and administrators with the skills needed to create harmony and excitement within the school atmosphere, elements that are basic for inspiring students to pursue academic excellence. With a focus on the human quality of teaching and learning, Great Expectations provides renewal and inspiration for teachers who may have lost their way and forgotten why they became teachers in the beginning. (I didn't write that, the website did.)

Anyway, in a nut shell, GE taught me how to be humane to younger humans!!! It's weird but that's essentially it. AND also how to teach any subject matter using different methods. It was awesome since I was a first timer, I had to go to the methodology class to get the foundation down before I can take elective classes which focus on very specific subjects. Anyway, the methodology classes usually have 30-40 people and we only had 4 which was AWESOME!!! We really got to know everyone on a personal basis and heard some great stories. It's also a small world because our instructor, Tim, is from McAlester, OK where Jason is from. I mentioned Tim's name to Jason and he started laughing. It turns out Jason's sister is very good friends with Tim's sister. It was a cool connection. It was also an emotional experience. Tim found out his mother has breast cancer this week. Keep him and his mother in your prayers. That aside, I'm really excited about starting the new school year!!!!

So that took up some time this week. It was all day from 8-4, Tuesday through Friday. Today we got to sleep in and rest. I had a lot of things I wanted to do, including swim but that didn't work out. I did get to run some major errands. I was going to get my dress to the cleaners but I got there too late so I decided to make an appointment to get my hair trimmed and highlighted. She couldn't fit me in until next Thursday but that was pushing it. I got in my car and stopped and went inside again and said if she had an opening today and she said yes!!! Whooppie!!! So I got my hair did. We were the only ones in the salon and I think she talked more than me!! No big surprise, though. I told her I was getting married and she said she was too. We both met our future husbands on eHarmony... and so that was a big talking point!!!

Speaking of hair. The thing that was a realization was what my hair dresser said. She had already been married twice. The first divorce being her mistake and the second, the husband was apparently just awful. What she said about the first divorce being her mistake was this. She believed that the husband was there to take care of her and that's the way she acted. She was the one who left him. She learned that she had to chip in too. But she realized that way too late and has actually apologized to her kids dad. I thought that took guts. I may not have agreed with her on everything she said but I understood that expectation. While watching Return to Me tonight, I realized I too want to be taken care of. This is not a bad thing. But if you don't reciprocate, then there's a problem. I can't be waited on hand and foot. I wouldn't actually want that either. I want to be able to do things independently too. However, one of the greatest things that Jason does for me is carry in the groceries. I can totally do this. I brought in my own groceries for over five years up the stairs in Waco!! But it is great to have someone else do this for me! Thank you, Jason!!!

But wait!!! Hold the press!!! Before I even got out of the apartment with my dress to go to the cleaners, something else exciting happened. I open the door holding my dress above my head and for some reason I look down to my left and I see a tail wiggling. I'm thinking to my self, that's one big lizard! It had faint orange markings like diamonds on it. I step out a little more and realize it is a GIANORMOUS snake. I calmly step back inside the apartment and freak out. That's what Jason would call it. I put down the dress and told him. He said he couldn't see it. I was trying to call emergency maintenance. He still couldn't see it. I cautiously opened the door and it wasn't where I left it...it had moved down a little further and this time I could see its head and THEN Jason saw it. Maintenance calls back and I tell him about the problem and he says he will call animal control. I told him it looked like a two footer. The snake proceeds to crawl further out into the open and it is not two feet long...it's more like three to three and a half feet long. HOLY MOLY!!!! I still wanted to get to the cleaners (before I found out it was already closed) and it was far enough out for me to walk in the opposite direction and that's what I did. I let Jason deal with Animal Control. Whew!!! That was exciting!!! Drew, my brother would have freaked more than I did!!! Animal control came while I was getting my hair done but they never found it.

I know what I'll be dreaming about tonight!!! AND I'll be alone. Jason is in OKC having a bachelor party. That's why I'm writing this at 12:45am, plus I drank some caffeine today. I'm probably going to play a round of Age of Empires III after I post this too. So I think that's it for now. I'm really excited for the festivities to begin!!! It will start with my mom coming Tuesday night, and then shopping on Wednesday and then to Arlington on Thursday! Yay!!!!! What else...I dont' know...I'm getting a little nervous I think. It might be the snake and it might be the fact I watched Silence of the Lambs tonight and then Return to Me while flipping to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I'll keep you posted whether or not I dreamed about anything...

Toodles!!
Jessica

The Weekend...

Well hidyho!!! Can you believe it? I'm writing ANOTHER blog!!! Friday was a big day for us. We traveled to Arlington for a couple of things: the marriage license!!!!! That took no time at all, Jason getting his hairs cut, and me looking for a place to get our manis and pedis taken care of the day before the wedding!!! There were some interesting conversations throughout the trip and I think Jason forgot about looking for a nail place and that frustrated him a tad bit.

We then headed down to Waco for two events. The first being one at the Dr Pepper Museum. Jason and I didn't go to the night event because 1) we were too tired, 2) it cost $200 per plate, 3) we wanted to go eat with Angie and Chris. So that's what we did! We met Angie and Chris at Carino's (not Johnny's anymore, apparently he left the company). Good food, great conversation!! Afterwards we went to Starbucks to get something and not a second later after we sat down with our drinks did we hear a screeeeech, BANG! I was in the position to see most of the terrible car wreck. After the bang I see a white van flip over and land on it's side, only stopped by an SUV who was waiting at the stoplight. I caught a glimpse of a green car careen over the curb and almost crash into the Jack in the Box fast food place. OMG!!!!! This took place in a matter of three seconds. I stood up and said "Oh my gosh! Someone call 911!" This was a huge intersection and and there were a lot of people outside who already had their phones out. Hopefully they were calling 911 instead of their friends. The police, firefighters and ambulances all came within in a matter of minutes and we rubbernecked for the next 15 minutes while drinking our mint frappachinos.

So after that Jason and I went back to Mary Beth's place to crash because the next morning was the main event. Ribbon cutting of the new exhibit that I helped begin. Breakfast and tours. I talked about future exhibits in the new building. Keep in mind there were past presidents of the Dr Pepper Company and multi-millionaires peppered about the place. This was a BIG shindig!!! Not only was it a ribbon cutting but also a fundraising opportunity. The Friday night gala we didn't go to had Lee Greenwood there for entertainment. God Bless America!

Anywhooo, it was awesome to be there and see all my friends from work and talk, talk, talk talk... :D The other part of the weekend was to go to a wedding that afternoon. It was for a PEO sister and therefore I got to see all my PEO sisters and that was a lot of fun!!!! Some of them are coming to our wedding only 13 days away!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!! So after that, we came home and talked furniture, as in we need a new bed kind of thing.

The End!!! The weekend is not over yet, so I may update this later on...if anything exciting happens!! Don't get your hopes up!

Later taters,
J