Lycorne With an I instead of the Y it's French for Unicorn. I just like this spelling better.

Saturday night after checking into our hotel room, we decided that we were hungry, but we couldn’t get anyone to deliver after midnight. And when I looked in my suitcase I found I was missing my shorts, and my normal shoes. Sure I had everything else I needed but I’d look rather silly with out those. The last time I saw my shorts and shoes, was at the Omni Center before the ceremony, although I knew the locker room we changed in had been cleaned out prior to our leaving the Omni Center. I ended up going to Walmart in my wedding dress, to pick up something for us to eat, shorts for me, a tagless T for him, and tried to get another pair of shoes for me since I didn’t want to have to wear my slippers the next day. (The heels I had gotten rid of as soon as we arrived at the reception, in favor of some purple knit or crocheted slippers.)

Since Bob was flying back to Montana around noon on Sunday, Shane and I met him for brunch at Mr. D’s. Bob had hit it off well with Andrea and invited her to join us as well. And then John Uling and his family were invited to join us as also, so we all met at 9 at Mr. D’s. When leaving there, Andi and I each drove to Mom & Dad’s, Shane dropped Bob off and then joined us at Mom’s. While Shane was driving Bob ended up calling his cell phone, because the flight was canceled. Luckily Shane’s phone was in his mother’s van, and someone answered it. They were able to pick up Bob on their way to my parents for the gift opening and then we had to razz Shane about just leaving someone at the airport without even checking to see if the flight had been canceled.

We received many, many gifts, and the only duplicates were the 4 coffee pots, and 3 toasters. We did have one of each of those on our list but either people were unable to read the registry correctly, didn’t get the items marked off, or had printed a list and then decided later what to get us without updating their list. Oh well, we can deal with that. We also receiver quite a number of cards, for which we are naturally very very thankful.

We used the van to take the gifts home, do some packing, and got ourselves ready to head back up to my parents (we had left my car, and our new camcorder charging there) . By the time we arrived back there, Andrea had already dropped Bob at the airport for his later flight. (She had said she could do that without a problem, if we didn’t arrive back in time to give him a lift ourselves.)

We picked up the camcorder and car and made our way to the airport to return the rented van. It was getting a bit late when we left there so we stopped for a quick bite at Taco Bell and then departed for Green Lake. While we were driving it was getting darker and I didn’t seem to have any dash lights which was not a good sign. We made it to the Super Walmart in Tomah while there was still some light. We bought an assorted box of car fuses, but when attempting to change the fuse that didn’t seem to do any good. So we went on our way with him watching the speed by monitoring the GPS, and we’d filled up the tank so other than speed there was little we needed to keep an eye on.

When we mostly here, we passed a county sheriff outside of Princeton. Just after we passed him he turned on his lights which really confused me/us. We knew that we weren’t driving too fast, I had slowed down when I saw him in the road, and made sure to give him any necessary room when we passed him. After requesting my license, which I naturally handed over after retrieving it, I politely requested to know why we had been stopped. He said, we didn’t have any tail lights, naturally this had greatly startled us. I mentioned how Shane had been looking over the fuse box earlier because of the dome light (which had been out for months, but he bought a new bulb for it while we were getting the fuses, and the bulb didn’t solve the problem nor did changing that fuse). Shane who was more familiar with the area, asked if he could follow us to the gas station in the next town so that he could take a look at it there. The officer agreed and we carefully drove to the next gas station, which was closing in about 30 minutes after we arrived. While I went inside to try and get a philips screwdriver in case we had to work at getting at the wiring, Shane played around with the fuse box, and finally got the tail lights and dash lights working. Apparently when he changed the fuse for the dash and it didn’t appear to work, he had switched it back to the original fuse. Once that was fixed we were once again on our way arriving at Joanne and Bob’s cabin a little later.

After arriving at the cabin we took some time to settle in, but not too much since it was getting late.

On Monday, we slept in, took some time arising for the day, and then finally decided that we would go to Oshkosh for a bit. We had purchased a cooler when we at the Walmart in Tomah, with the intent to use it for our groceries and such. So while we were out to Oshkosh we ran a few errands and found a nice family style restaurant to have lunch at. They had good prices and great food. On our way back to the cabin we stopped in Rippon and purchased groceries for the week. Once we returned to the cabin after a bit of relaxing Shane made burgers from what we had bought home, then we had a pleasant restful evening at the cabin.

All and all I believe that the wedding on Saturday went wonderfully. We definitely made a good decision when we moved it to the Omni Center, the few pictures that we had taken outside only confirmed that, even if I don’t know how hot it actually got, or what the actual heat index was. The ceremony started a few minutes late since Shane was waiting for some relatives to arrive, but it wasn’t bad. Since the minister allowed it we really personalized the ceremony to suit us. I had found a ceremony online that was not your average run of the mill traditional ceremony, changed a few bits to better suit us and to have better flow, added a “flower ceremony” where we gave our mothers’ each a rose, and then had a “rose ceremony” (where we traded roses while the minister talked about the responsibilities of a good marriage) rather than a unity candle. We also each did our own vows, which sounds great, worked well ….. well it worked well until I was up there in front of everyone needing to say my vow. (Stage fright on your wedding is not a fun thing.) Yeah, the ceremony was a bit heavy on roses, but I love roses, and it worked for us.

After the pictures there, Adam (the photographer), took Shane and I to Riverside Park (where we originally had wanted to have the ceremony) for some more intimate pictures with just the two of us. After those pictures we met the wedding party at the Ice Cream Parlour on Pearl. After staying there for a bit with them, we went to Loon’s on La Crosse where we had the reception. After removing the torturous nylon slip the rest of the evening went well. All the kids who went to the pizza party, decided that as a thank you, they’d earn us a gift with the tokens they’d received. They ended up giving us a large stuffed Blue’s Clue and striped hats. (Yes, I was a party pooper and did not wear the hat, but Shane wore his the entire evening, so I guess that makes up for it, doesn’t it?)

At Shay’s suggestion instead of having people clink their glasses to have us kiss, we had a large bucket for them to put dollar bills in that were then donated to cancer research. Upon hearing the suggestion to use it as a donation to a cause, I knew that for me it had to be cancer research. Loosing both my grandmothers to cancer still has an effect on me even though they’ve been gone for more than 25 years. We collected $100 for cancer research so I think we did well.

I tried to mingle and talk with everyone, but I just wasn’t able to get to everyone before they left unfortunately. Some had other things commitments, and others had their own various reasons, but they cared enough to make an appearance which was appreciated.

Shay DJed for us and as per our request did not do the chicken dance. Both Shane and I absolutely abhor that song and so did NOT want to hear it, that we were appreciative that Shay did not play it. Although we did forget to request no polkas but he only played one, so that wasn’t too bad. Apparently, Shane lost me a few times during the reception and did end up paging his wife a time or two, (I was either upstairs in the loft, or near where the kids were playing pool and the restrooms), all I really had to do when I wanted to know where he was was look for his blue and white striped hat. That did make it easier for me.

[Minister] We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Laura and Shane. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls, has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.

Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Laura and Shane have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. Others would ask, at this time, who gives Laura in marriage, but, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and if she has her family’s blessing.

Laura, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?

[Laura] Yes, it is true.

[Minister] Whose blessings accompany you?

[Bill] Her mother’s and mine.

. . . . . [FLOWER CEREMONY -- While Laura & Shane give their mothers' a rose.]

[Minister] Linda and Bill, Karen and Paul, just as these beautiful flowers have been nourished and cared for throughout their fragile season, so have you done with your children, so that they may add beauty to their world, stand strong against the pain of bad weather, and so they may learn to bend with the wind rather than break with the storm. Accept these flowers as a symbol of their love for you and achievement in them.

A child and a rose are very much alike. Both need to be cared for, nurtured, and protected. When full grown both reflect the beauty of creation and the wonder of life.

[Minister] Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember…

Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.

. . . . . [Song -- Forever by the Beach Boys]

Shane, I have not the right to bind thee to Laura, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand.

[Shane] It is my wish. (pause, handing her the ring, then taking her hands in his) I used to be afraid of falling in love, of giving my heart away. How could I trust a woman to love me, to give to me all I wanted to give to her? Laura, when I met you, I realized how much we could share together. You have renewed my life; today I join that life with yours.

[Minister] Laura, if it be your wish for Shane to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger. (places ring on Shane’s left ring finger) Laura I have not the right to bind thee to Shane only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.

[Laura] It is my wish. (pause, handing him the ring, then taking his hands in hers) Shane, the words I say to you now are ones I have waited a lifetime to utter, ones I say in love and confidence. I see in you a strong, caring, loving partner, the person with whom I wish to share my life. I offer you all the days before me, no matter what may come our way.

[Minister] Shane, if it be your wish for Laura to be bound to you, place the ring on her finger.(places ring on Laura’s left ring finger)

. . . . . [Words of the Rose Ceremony:]
“Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings – which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman—the title of “husband” and “wife.” For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose. In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing—it meant the words “I love you.” So it is appropriate that for your first gift—as husband and wife —that gift would be a single rose. Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife.

In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose – and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life —one I hope you always remember—the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

Laura and Shane, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future – whether it be a large and elegant home – or a small and graceful one – that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage – and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love.

In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some times to find the words to say “I am sorry” or “I forgive you”; “I need you” or “I am hurting”. If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have elected—for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words. That rose says the words: “I still love you.”

The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today. Laura and Shane, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure.”

Laura and Shane, as you stand upon this great mother earth, surrounded by nature’s beauty-below the wide open sky-may you weave together a life of beauty.
- – Bright as the morning
- – Red like the sunset.
- – May the fringes be the falling rain,
- – May the boarders be the standing rainbow,
- – May the spirit of all life and all love be with you this day.
Go forth to meet all your tomorrows gladly.
May all that is noble, lovely and true abide with you forever and may the words
you have spoken here be a source of courage and affection throughout your lives.

With the blessing of your family and friends, I now pronounce you husband and
wife. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you.

Friday morning, I slept in. Shane and Bob decided that they would meet a friend for breakfast at 7 am, a time I decided that was unreasonable for me to join them. I wished them well and happily slept through it. Since Shane and I had discussed changing our honeymoon plans the night before, I changed the vehicle rental. I met with my bridesmaids at 1 pm for lunch at Baker’s Square which allowed us time to get together and talk about the upcoming day. When I was leaving there I made sure mom was receiving a copy of the guest list for our side of the family so she would be able to let them know we changed the location of the wedding. I at a 2:30 appointment for a brow wax and pedicure which I hadn’t been able to do the day before, and while I like how my brows turned out, I still don’t see the big fascination of a pedicure. Both Kathy and Mary Jo love pedicures but I don’t see the allure. Perhaps if I had it done by a professional rather than a student I might have seen the difference, I certainly know my wallet would have!

I managed to also schedule in an hour massage at 4 pm which made me feel wonderful and ready for almost anything. When I was heading for the Omni Center for rehearsal, I also needed to stop in at the florist. Apparently rather than just ordering our Bluebird roses, she also ordered purple roses from 2 other suppliers just to make sure she had everything covered. She liked all of them, and wanted to know which I would like in my bouquet. After taking a look at all three, Bluebird, Purple Rain, and Blue Song, I figured the best would be to have my bouquet made out of all three since they were all so beautiful that I was unable to choose just one.

Rehearsal was scheduled to begin at 6 pm, and as far as I know it started pretty close to on time. I was incredibly surprised when I arrived and Shane gave me a small bouquet with one of each of the three roses in it. The reason that it surprised me so much was that Shane does not believe in cut flowers. He believes when you cut it from the plant you’re killing it, not realizing that when you cut it, that allows the plant to put more effort into it’s other blooms. After the rehearsal most of the kids went to High Rollers to have a roller-skate /pizza party while the adults went to Porky’s in Coon Valley for bbq. When I say most of the kids, I mean all except Will and Kathy’s two boys, Teddy is 2½ and Max is 3 months.

My aunt Mary Ann watched the children at High Rollers she had: Brandi (14), David (14), Heather (14), Bessy (12), Christopher (11), Cheyanne (8), Drew (8), Brandon and Derek (twin 6 year olds), and Cody, (3). Better her than me I thought, but at least she had lots of help with the older kids too.

I was driving the rental so when we left the Omni Center, Mary Jo and Andrea rode with me, so after we enjoyed the fine ribs and bbq, they naturally rode back with me also. This meant that while I needed to stop at the house to pick a few things up, we had to leave earlier then I wanted to be able to pick the their kids up by 10. I drove the 4 of us back to the Omni Center then went to the Onalaska Walmart. I still needed a slip before the ceremony. The absolute worst part is that Walmart had next to nothing for a selection of slips and worst of all only had nylon slips. (I am allergic to nylon.) I had made sure that my gown was self lined so I wouldn’t need a slip, I hated the idea of a slip, and what ends up happening? Even with the self lining the material was still rather thin and needed another layer. If I’d know it with enough time before I would have purchased more material and made a slip out of the silk, or perhaps a heavier weight but same type of silk. No, I find out with less than a week to the ceremony and I didn’t have any money until that Thursday to try and purchase anything. When I finally get everything I needed from Walmart, I recalled what I still needed from the house. I was going to have all the bridesmaids wear mineral makeup, and all my samples of mineral makeup were in the back of my car. I ended up making a trip to the South Side of La Crosse so that I could pick that up so I’d have it the next day when we needed it.

I stayed at Mom & Dad’s on Friday night, sleeping in Chris’ bed … once I was finally able to go to sleep.

Since the first of the week we had watched the weather forecasts for Saturday, but on Thursday morning, the forecast was now saying, 95°+ temperatures and heat indexes of 105°+. At this point we decided enough was enough, the men of the wedding party were to be in black wool tuxes, (my dad included), I don’t do well in heat anyway, and we had a others who would have problems with the heat. We changed the wedding to our alternate location of the Onalaska Omni Center. Shane started the process by letting the Omni Center and our wedding planner know while I ran errands that morning (including a trip to the DMV). Shane’s Best Man, Bob Brant flew in from Billings, Montana, arriving shortly after noon on Thursday. Unfortunately it took longer than expected to get through the line at the DMV so Bob ended up waiting for a bit. Once I was finished at the DMV, I picked Shane up from work, and then we drove to the airport. Besides retrieving Bob at the airport we also needed to pick up a rental car. After a few false starts (with them attempting to charge much more than needed for the rental to the debit card), I finally was able to drive away with a Ford Freestar minivan.

It took a little bit to get the hang of the new vehicle since it sat differently, and it wasn’t a standard transmission, but soon I was able to adjust. Thursday afternoon, I had a nail appointment, with Kathy from Shane’s BNI group, and I believe she did a lovely job with my nails. After my appointment with her, I had another one for what the local beauty school calls a scalpie. Basically, they brush or comb the scalp to stimulate it, wash the hair, moisturize the hair in a cap under the driers for 15-20 minutes, treat you to a scalp massage, wash the hair out and then dry your hair. I love them, and at only $5 I can easily justify the cost to myself. (The sad part is that with the beauty school’s current policies it makes it almost impossible to get an appointment if you work full-time. The last appointment of the student’s day is at 3 pm, and you can not book Saturday appointments unless it’s for a wedding or birthday party.) Originally I had intended to have a pedicure and eyebrow wax when I had the scalpie done, but time did not allow since the students day always ends at or before 4, and my earlier appointments had taken longer than expected.

After my appointments, I met up with Shane and Bob at Margie’s on Rose since I had finally remembered that I hadn’t eaten more than a granola bar around 8 am. Shane and Bob next went to ABC Hobbies while I went home for a bit, my next errand not until 7:30 that evening. Although after relaxing a bit in the Central Air at home, I recalled I had things I still needed from Walmart. Before I had time to get everything I needed I ended up needing to leave to pick up the Flower Girl so that she would be able to try on her dress a second time. (The dressmaker had totally destroyed it when she first made it, and had to reattach the skirt.) After retrieving Cheyanne from Bangor, we went to my mother’s who I wanted to take along for moral support (and chewing out the dressmaker if needed). The dress was better, but with it being her second attempt at it I would certainly have hoped it would be. It was almost 10 pm by the time I dropped Cheyanne back off at her home, and while I had wanted to stop at Target or Kohl’s to see if they had a white cotton slip or half slip they were already closed.

I received some wonderful news on Wednesday (aka yesterday)! His grandmother will be going into Senior Housing soon. She will be moving sometime during the week that he and I are on our honeymoon.

Now if we could only get his mother to move out as well…. Or at the very least go for the idea of buying a duplex, with her living in one half (smaller half hopefully depending on type) and us living in the other.

This of course is dependent on what they do with the land contract from grandma’s house out in Montana. If they sell the contract they’ll only get a one time portion of $29,000 (there abouts) or get a partial buyout they may get $22,000. Whatever they decide to do, they can’t put grandma into a nursing home for 3 years after whatever deal is completed, since nursing homes can go back for property owned for 3 years.

As for Karen (his mother) I guess I can’t say, “You also have to go into senior housing.” But I know I want to live with my husband and NOT with his mother. If it means doing owning a duplex, (grandma’s money would have to go for a down payment), with her on one half that would be better than sharing the same house. I NEED to be able to consider the house mine. I NEED to be able to what I want on the walls and in the living room. Currently 97.5% of my things are in totes in the basement. What isn’t in totes is either in our Bedroom (which has a smaller closet than my last place and now I only have half of it), or downstairs. I have ONE african violet in a decorative pot in the living/dining area (which she moved from the kitchen window) which isn’t getting enough light. I don’t dare move the plant to my lights because then I’d never get it back in any other part of the house. I still have consumables in a tote in the basement because there isn’t room for them in the kitchen cupboards. (I moved in the first weekend last October, and the consumables are dried or canned goods, spices and other staples that you always have on hand like flour, sugar, etc.)

I couldn’t put up any Christmas decorations because I thought her having 3 trees was TOO MANY. I don’t care if she has the better furniture. I’d rather sit on the floor than have her things in my living room sometimes.

His grandmother is currently living with us also. Her second husband died last August, at which time she was living in Montana. Her granddaughter, Cathy Sue, whom she and her husband raised, is an over the road truck driver, and she bought a house in Tennessee, and grandma was living there. Well it turns out the Cathy Sue is bi-polar and neglectful. (Apparently she lost her two children due to neglect.) Cathy Sue would be gone on the road for long periods of time and would refuse to buy food for Grandma or take her shopping to get any. Grandma ended up afraid of Cathy Sue and was eating very poorly, and her borderline diabetes grew into full-scale insulin dependent diabetes. This was also affecting her eyesight.

Grandma was brought back to La Crosse, WI, the end of February and was living with Shane’s sister, Shawnadee. Shawna had room, and grandma had her own bedroom there. Shawna worked during the day and the children were in school (I believe that was before Shawna’s husband, John, was laid off.) A few weeks later Grandma became very sick. So sick she has hospitalized, but the never determined the cause of her illness. This was when it was determined that she did have insulin dependent diabetes though, and because her diabetes was effecting her eyesight, she couldn’t be left alone. Since Karen, (Shane’s mother), is disabled, and can be home all day, she brought her mother to live with us. It was SUPPOSE to only be for a few days while she needed the 24/hr care. That was in mid-March. Sometime around mid-April she was moved into Karen’s room, so she is no longer living in the living room, but she is still under the same roof. Apparently she didn’t want to move back there when she got better.

Grandma is suppose to be going into assisted living, or a nursing home. (Originally it was assisted living, but it may have since changed to a nursing home.) Apparently though, there is no rooms/units available in La Crosse, currently. And while Charity (Shane’s brother Scott’s wife), found a place for her in Arcadia, (where Scott and Charity live) that for some reason isn’t good enough. Even though her doctor also practices out of the Arcadia clinic (as well as La Crosse). Grandma also creates her own reality, or as Shane puts it, is a chronic liar. Which ever way you want to look at it, both are true. So it can make living with her difficult.

Hopefully there something will open up soon, or things will change in a way to give us back a bit more space.

Yes, Yes, I know that’s not my legal name yet, but I figured with only 10 days left until the ceremony I’m allowed to anticipate a little. Besides, this way I don’t have to change it later!

There are so many little things that still need to get done before the wedding, that sometimes I wonder if it will all get done or not. One of my major concerns is about the gowns currently. In January, I found a seamstress to make my gown, 3 bridesmaids gowns (same pattern but tea length), and the flower girl’s dress. That should be plenty of time right? Well with one thing or another we were down to 6 weeks before the wedding, and then my seamstress’ autistic son ended up with 3rd degree burns.. (More on that here.) Needless to say since the gowns weren’t cut out, and only mine had been started at all, panic ensued about the dresses.

Deb was good enough to help me find another seamstress to take over the making of the 3 bridesmaid gowns and the flower girl’s dress. (I had one bridesmaid who was making her own dress.) It took a while for the fabric to get where it was suppose to be, and needless to say more worry here. The first part of last week the seamstress was cutting out dresses and ended up short of fabric. (I had allotted 2 yd for the flower girl’s dress without having the pattern, and it took almost double that.) I placed an order for 2 more yd of silk from the same vendor as before and can only hope that it’s the same dye lot. (I ordered 22 yd last time.) She will be receiving that material later today (Wednesday, July 6), and then should have everything cut out. The flower girl’s dress and part of at least one of the gowns was sown when I last spoke with her on Friday. Oh, the bridesmaid who was going to hand sew her own dress (she does beautiful hand sewing!), decided that there was going to be too much of a time crunch and has turned that over to the seamstress as well, who assured her it wouldn’t be a problem.

I also have the bridal party jewelry to make. I want to make something that is a cross between this and this. I like the double tail of the first, but with the simple cable in between beads of the second, I won’t be using pearl or round beads, and make do a series of three at a time periodically space but with the double tail of the first.

If I want everyone to wear mineral makeup, I’d best get that order in ASAP, since it’s now 10 days to the wedding. While I rarely wear makeup, I do like mineral makeup when I do wear it for several reasons. For some great information on mineral makeup and the company I like is Aromaleigh. While I naturally wear a moisturizer with sunscreen in this day and age, I love the fact that when I do wear the mineral makeup I am giving myself additional protection.

I also have a counted cross stitch wedding sampler, that is in the form of a wedding certificate with cherubs and flowers around it. I changed much of the original coloring to suit my preferences and the colors for the wedding. I had hoped to get it done before the wedding, but I haven’t worked on it enough lately to have a hope of doing so unless, I could spend all day on it for several days. With working full-time, errands for the wedding, and life in general that just isn’t possible so I’ve resigned myself to the fact it’s not going to be done before the wedding. If I wasn’t the one doing the driving for our honeymoon trip, I’d work on it while we drove. So I’m just not sure when it will be completed, but I would like to be able to say soon.

I have recently started collecting named African Violets (you wouldn’t believe the number of named varieties and the range of differences in them). My collection is coming along nicely, but now I have several that could use a repotting, and some personalized attention, but I’m not sure when I’m going to find the time for that either before the wedding. The have needed the attention for about a week now, but I haven’t had the time. With having an extra day off for the 4th how could I not have the time, one asks. Simple I was out of town over the extended weekend.

After work on Friday, we drove to Green Lake, WI to spend the weekend at his aunt Joanne’s, and we didn’t return until Monday evening. We when boating on the lake twice, went to Rhythm and Booms at Madison and generally had a wonderful weekend. The only fly in the ointment for me was the fact that his mother came with us. To understand better I probably should back the story up a bit and say that when I moved in with Shane he was living with his mother for financial reasons. He has had several of his own businesses, and his mother allowed him to live with her for eight years rent free while he was running in various businesses. Now that she’s disabled and on a very fixed income, he feels obligated to her. While I do understand this, he doesn’t seem to understand my need for time alone with him. He kept saying that his mom needed time away from her mother because grandma is driving mom crazy. But apparently he doesn’t see that his mom is driving me crazy! Anywhere we plan on going if she wants to go she just invites herself along.

From the time we left LaCrosse, Friday until we returned on Sunday, the only times we weren’t with voice range of her, were when we went to town on Saturday for groceries, and when we went boating on the lake on Saturday. She was there for the boat trip on Sunday. Needless to say I wasn’t too thrilled about that.