FAQs for bored, web-surfing friends

About our run-off-and-get-married plans...

Are you still getting hitched at that place on the blog, the Miliken?

Nope. Our party grew beyond the five that they are limited to for a small wedding but we found an excellent B&B, La Belle Epoque (pic left), in Napa to host our merry marrying crew.

What time?

We are partial to early evening, but still flexible. We just want some time to enjoy the location with our family before they head home. We'll have a leisurely, nice meal out after the ceremony, then cake back at the B&B.

Who's coming?
Our sisters, brother, plus an animal doctor and a chubby baby. We'll greatly miss the batch of brother-in-laws, newphews and niece, parents, and a grandmother that can't be there but we're eager to celebrate with most of them in Ohio the following weekend.

What are you wearing?

Right now? A charcoal slacks and... Oh, the wedding. A dress, of course. Paul is getting a new suit.

Getting married in wine country, eh? You guys going to be drunk all week?

No... we are too poor for that...but we do plan to be gluttonous.

Will you stay in Napa for awhile?

We are actually heading for the Sonoma Valley shortly after the gang takes off. Healdsburg sounds amazing.

Calendar-a-Go-Go

The days are slipping by and our "to do" list - a concept with which Paul has been vigorously introduced-- is filled with plenty of crossed-out items but an equal, perhaps growing, amount of uncrossed tasks remain.



We haven't helped ourselves any by seriously contemplating becoming homeowners-- a long saga for another day. We have learned loads in the last couple of weeks about financing and realtors and "the market". Whether this knowledge is useful now or needs to be shelved until after May... that still remains to be seen.



One item still to do is "register". Or decide not to register. Paul and I have found ourselves in an interesting debate about what it means to be adults with functioning households, with respectable jobs, and what a wedding gift registry means. The retailers haven't helped, in my opinion, either as they've created options for separate registries, a bride's and a groom's. To me, it's not a wedding registry then, as wedding implies the couple. Take the groom out of it, and I have no wedding. Just a pretty dress. Call me old-fashioned but the original purpose was to prepare the young couple for leaving their families homes and start a household together... not a bride's household and a groom's separate household.



Another thing that we've discussed is the determination between needs and wants. We, as a couple, do not need a Swiss ball for our household. I, Shannon, want a Swiss ball to... you know... do those weird ball exercises. Paul may surprise me, but I don't think he'd use the Swiss ball, really. Therefore it shouldn't go on the registry. But do we really need anything?


Perhaps if we get a house...

With all the beauty

As we sit here trying to figure out which is more pressing, to take the recyclables to the recycling center or take a walk on this most beautiful spring day, I can not help but be most pleased with my company and the thought of doing either while in her company. For that matter any number of things in her company. It is indeed "A cup overflowing" for me this and every day forthcoming…life is beautiful! 

Paul 

PS: I think we might go with a nap ;-)

Marchese Madness

On Saturday night, as the Tar Heels were well on their way to secure their Final Four spot, I found myself unexpectedly sucked into the madness. Marchese madness, rather. Paul took advantage of our on-the-fly trip to Summit County to find a lovely spot and ask if I was open to making all this wedding planning legit and might I like to wear this gorgeous ring. With Dickie V. enthusiasm, I told him: "Yeaaah, baby!"

For the uninitiated, Marchese pronunciation is found here http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/audio.pl?marche04.wav=marchese.
And I'm not sure if Paul is kin of this fella - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Marchese - but country of origin is the same and they share similar rugged good looks, don't you think?

We have a week!

Paul's vacation week was approved today for May 18th! Yahoo! Let the planning commence...

Milliken Creek in May

Okay - the skinny is this - we are running off to Napa Valley in May to get married. No, we are not engaged. {it's really just a racket developed by Kay Jewelers, anyway} We don't know which week for sure because Paul's waiting for vacation approval from his boss-types. It sounds all very fishy and vague but that suits us just fine.

The boutique inn below is our first pick for knot-tying digs. Swanky, isn't it? I'm not sure they'll let us stay there, but we will wave plastic at them enthusiastically and ask.

http://www.millikencreekinn.com/

If not the Milliken, the beauty of the plan is that plenty o' places in wine country do this kind of thing and are aces for a romantic, love time.

Also... while in Napa, at the tip-top of our wish list is to visit Thomas Keller's The French Laundry restaurant. It would be a once in a lifetime type of treat for amateur foodies like ourselves.

http://www.frenchlaundry.com/

Welcome to the new digs

Paul mentioned the other day sending out e-mail with video & pics of the Springs to friends and family back at home... but this seems like an easier way to do it... and keep everyone's mailboxes pristine and tidy.

We have "move" pictures that are on their way, other various goodies, but after this post, I'm putting up a link to the Napa Valley inn when hope to visit in May. We won't be confirmed in that for awhile, but it's at the top of our list thus far for ideal nuptial swapping.

Thanks for stopping in... come back and see us again.

S