Our Wedding Plans

“Has it sunken in yet”? That is the question we have been getting a lot lately as we are coming down the home stretch of being only months away from the ringing of wedding bells. As every newly engaged couple gets, we get the rundown of questions every time it’s been two weeks since we’ve seen someone at Miller’s Alehouse. conversations usually go something like this: “Hi! How are you? Have you set a date yet? Oh my God, that’s so exciting! How many people are you inviting? Have you picked your theme? Are you ready? Has it sunken it yet”?

Seeing as though it is a “My Life Monday” I felt it was appropriate to answer the many interrogative posed to us as we are turning the corner into marriagehood (not a real word). The 14 month engagement all comes to a close as a new anniversary is born on The Seventeenth Day of June in the Year 2011 (I tried to write it fancy like some people do on their invitations). Danielle andf I both have huge families and lots of mutual friends. However, we set a few rules for ourselves to keep the wedding to people we love and want to be there for us on that day.

One rule we like was that we didn’t want to both be introduced to anyone at the wedding. If after four years we still haven’t met people of supposed importance then there is a good chance that they aren’t “too close” to one of us and therefore, they don’t “need” an invite. Unless of course they have deep pockets and in that case I will disinvite one of my friends my taking him to lunch. Also, with close friends being invited we limited their “+ 1s” to needing a six month dating requirement. There are plenty of people we would love to have at the wedding but can’t invite due to Roman Numerals. We don’t want people bringing “+ 1s” who we could care less about and who are just there to take advantage of the open bar and re-gift us a gift card they’ll never use.

Now, the next most popular thing we are asked is what our theme is. The theme is my favorite part of the wedding. Danielle and I are both very casual people. It is outdoor summer night wedding so it will be cool at night but at the same time we don’t want people wearing gowns and tuxedos with tails and tophats. We want people to be as comfortable as possible (I tried pulling for basketball shorts but the warden shut that down quick) so the mens attire will be light summer suits and “linen shorts so my balls don’t get hot.” (1:16)

I could really care less what the women wear and I don’t think that will be an issue. When we were discussing the kind of wedding we wanted to have it was an easy compromise. We both wanted good people, good music, and good food. Danielle wanted rustic/vintage and I wanted a tailgate/BBQ. So what we both wanted was possible and “we met halfway right at the borderline is where we’re gonna wait for you.”

Right now I’m working on getting beer pong tables signed off on but don’t hold me to it. I’m trying to position them as “cute” beer pong tables that will match the “vintagey” theme of the wedding as it would be fun to watch Grandparents try to play flip cup.

There is no question that both of us are ready but I don’t believe it has really sunken in for us yet. We have made tons of plans, gone through tons of save the dates/invites, booked plenty of transportation, but we haven’t really seen the effects of the planning and picking yet. I think once the house shopping begins and the parties/showers start rolling in over the next few months, that is when it will really begin to feel like we’re getting married.

Only because it’s not like much has really changed in our daily lives as of now. We still reside in our respective residences, we haven’t bought all of the pending furniture yet, and now it is kind of just a waiting game. We both are really excited for all the happenings that will occur over the next few months. Danielle is excited to see it all done and I am excited for all the envelopes and cool appliances because our church pre-marital counselor’s test said “I feel loved when I’m given things.” (cough Tri-Kegerator cough)

Now, that I am conveniently on that topic we are registered at NBA.com, Macy’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, and are opening a Bank of America account to make gift deposits into if anyone would like to get me any birthday presents (only 3 weeks away).

http://store.nba.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10853040&cp=2482948.2806588

http://store.nba.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10813504&cp=3045636.11045252

That pretty much covers the basics as we obviously want to leave some things to the imagination. If you girls are looking for more insight into what the wedding will look like (because us guys don’t really give a shit)  you can go to http://greenweddingshoes.com. That website has been like Danielle’s wedding Bible and she checks it more than she checks her voicemail and/or text messages (which she reluctantly apologizes for).

Finals Procrastination Tips and Material

I don’t really know where I want to go with this blog but being a “Chooseday Tuesday” I figured I would let my mind flow into my index fingers (because I still look at keyboard and type with two fingers) and whatever comes out, well comes out. It is that time of year where college students around the world (on a semester schedule) fill the lounges of Starbucks and invest in 5 Hour Energy Shots.

It wasn’t until my super senior year  of college that I realized what good studying actually was. It involved going to class, paying attention in class, taking decent notes, reviewing them frequently, and going over them again in-depth prior to the final while upon receipt of the study guide. Another good trick is to only study in 45 minute increments because your brain can only focus at full strength for that amount of time.

So, in this educational week it is my fiduciary duty to pass on this knowledge to all students. Study for 45 minutes and then take a 15 minute break. Then repeat. However, I cannot take credit for this wise information and the credit is due to my good friend and world renown studier, Nick Wesling. Now the only remaining question is how will you utilize your 15 minute breaks to maximize the retention of the information applicable to your finals?

That’s where I come in. I have compiled a short play list of non H1N1 viral videos to keep you on your toes and your heart light in what can be a very stressful week. These videos are intended to give you a quick little smile break from studying. However, they do come with a Surgeon General’s warning that they are contagious, so do not watch in excess. Side effects may include: songs stuck in head, random laughter outbursts, and sneezing.

The “Harlem Shake,” the “Stanky Leg,” and the “Douggie” have nothing on this new dance craze. The “Bernie” is the hottest new form of interpretive dance that is sweeping the across the Bible Belt. It is recommended that this dance is done prior to a final to loosen up all of your muscles in preparation for what could be a tense hour or so. The quality is not up to par quite yet but I’m sure it is only a matter of time before Wiz Khalifa and B.o.B. hop in da boof for a remix.

This next video is almost as ridiculous as the “Bernie.” I recently came across three young gentleman from the prestigious University of Oregon, who go by the name of Supwhitchugirl. These three young men make me wish I would have gone to the U of O, met them playing intramural basketball, and thus transformed the trio into a quad because they remind me a lot of myself anf friends. This video has gone viral and become the official “fight video” for the Ducks’ championship run.

This next video is also off from the rap supergroup, Supwitchugirl. Behind the quick lyrics and jerker outfits there is an unheard amount of talent. From the writing of the songs, to the production of the videos, to the search for early 90s Nike windbreakers, these three kids are the reason I want my sons to grow up in the Pacific Northwest, despite never setting foot outside of an airport there.

This other hit from Supwitchugirl brings me right back to my childhood. Well my teenage years, where we would hop the fence of Selma Bartlett Elementary to play basketball on the eight foot hoops. I still believe in  my heart, that when on eight foot hoops, I am the best dunker in the world, pulling creative dunks out of my ass that would have Luke Ridnour and Luke Jackson wishing they showed me around campus on recruiting trips. I also have a special place in my heart for this video because I too still save all of my Champion (brand) NBA jerseys in a kids size 40 from middle school.

This next video comes to you from the best History AP teacher in America, Mr. Jeff Johnson. Mr. Johnson and I hit it off ever since Junior year of high school, when I showed up on the first day of school wearing my Larry Johnson UNLV throwback. From that day forth we had a bond held together by a respect for local basketball excellence. We both held similar positions in UNLV’s student government and he still is UNLV’s #1 fan from the net-cutting days of the early 90s, to the grey days of the Early 2000′s with Mark Dickel, to our current ascending return to greatness.

This last video I will leave you with is something to get you in the holiday mood. It twas the night before Christmas of 2006 and our hearts were open wide and these two comedic and musical geniuses gave us something that was on their mind. They were wise enough to when a gift needs giving and they knew just the one. It’s their dick in a box!

Places I want to explore…

Throughout my childhood I had the privilege of traveling across the country with my uncle going to various sporting events. Super Bowls, All-Star Games, etc… I’ve been to pretty much every major city but was not really able to experience all they had to offer. It is hard to really explore when you are on an extended layover or have a set and busy itinerary. So, I have compiled a collection of places I would like to visit and really experience.

Chicago, Illinois: It seemed like a nice city from the huge terminals of O’Hare and is one of those places I feel like I should go. I hate the wind, their teams, and deep dish pizza but I feel like I will have never really lived and can go on with my life hating Chicago teams even more after being there. I gotta go to Wrigley and watch a game from across Sheffield, watch a Knicks vs. Bulls game and take a picture in front of MJ, and eat a Chicago style hot dog.

Nawlins, Lousiana: Obviously during Mardi Gras. Not only is it the biggest party in the world but it is as far away from hurricane season as possible. I wanna rock an LSU Shaq jersey all week to match my purple and gold beads. I want to have full-on conversations with rednecks fresh off the bayou, where I cannot understand a word they’re saying. I want to go to Emeril’s and have crawfish gumbo and help rebuild a house flattened by Katrina. I want to wear my seer sucker suit and light blue gators and to a black gospel church and dance in the aisles. Tell me this video doesn’t give you the chills…

Savannah, Georgia: I love me a good southern drawl. I want to release sea turtle from their eggs into the ocean like Miley Cyrus did in her last movie. I want to go to Paula Deen’s for brunch and eat some deep-fried butter with butter on top. I want to see some Civil War shit. I want to get bitten by a mosquito sippin’ my sweet tea on a front porch rocking chair and then have to sleep with one of those nets around the bed.

Portland, Oregon: For our honeymoon we’re going to do Napa/Sonoma and Pacific Northwest wine country with the second stop being in PDX. I want to start my day off with a maple donut covered in bacon from Voodoo Donuts. Hit up Nike for a new pair of Air Max 95s. Stack some cheddar at the Tilamook Cheese factory because there aren’t many things better than cheese. Well, beer is better than cheese and then drink a pint of Oregasmic Ale from Rogue Brewery.

Seattle, Washington: I want to get a Venti Iced Soy Chai from the original Starbucks. I want to climb the rock wall at the world’s largest REI because that is as outdoorsy as I get. I want to throw and catch a fish from Pike’s Place Market and then have someone turn it into bomb spicy tuna like they did on “The Real World.” I want to get a Shawn Kemp jersey signed by “The Rainman’s” 8 kids and 6 baby’s Mamas. I want to wear a flannel and not shower for the three days I’m there.

Sydney, Australia: I’m not big on leaving the country but I would make an exception for here and one other place. I want to go to an All Blacks match. I want to board the S.S. Steve Irwin and help save a whale. I want to go to the Syndey Opera House that looks like a bunch of clams. I want to eat a Vegemite sandwich with the Aborigines. I want to be weirded out by watching the water flush in the opposite direction. And I want to go for a kangaroo ride if you can even do that.

Rome, Italy: I’m not big on tourist attractions, so I would do the staples like the doing the Leaning Tower of Pisa picture, The Coliseum, and maybe say what’s up to the Pope at The Vatican but when I go on vacation I want to relax. So, when I’m in Italy I want to do nothing but eat thin-crust Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto pizza and have purple gums from drinking so much Pinot Noir. This will be done on a few wine tours and tasting and not much else.