I do not regret the things I have done

But those I did not do.

Tomorrow, Jerry and I will be married one week. Man, how time flies.

We have been full of nerdiness, with him calling me "wife" and me calling him "husband" during the course of normal conversation. I even geeked out a little when, talking to a co-worker, I said, "Now you're just sounding like my husband."

But something has been bothering me about being married... that I don't feel married.

I got semi-emotional just 2 times in Vegas: once when I saw my flowers while waiting for the wedding to start (they were SO pretty!) and a second time when we were looking at our video photo album during our pro-picture appointment on Friday.

Last Thursday felt like any other day to me... You know, the kind where you sit in hair and make-up for hours, throw on an expensive and pretty dress, and utter some vows before posing for a gazillion pictures. Just another Thursday.

Last night as Jerry and I attempted to go to sleep (easily falling asleep used to be my hobby, but now it's essentially my enemy), I asked him if he felt any different... if he felt married? He responded with, "Do you?" (Already a pro at answering a question with a question)

Nope. Not really.

There it is!

I thought for a second that maybe we made a mistake by living together, or at least by sharing a bed, before marriage. Like it would somehow change the impact of that day.

We have essentially been living as an old married couple for a year. The only thing that's changed is the legality... and my facebook relationship status.

But while that's been bothering me, I think it's great as well. I think it just goes to show that it was always right for us. It always worked before, and transitioned nicely into a marriage.

I could only wish that for everyone.

Getting Married

I was all busy getting married and enjoying Vegas that I stopped writing in my blog.

Look for a new entry soon.

Until then, enjoy these pictures of pugs in costumes:

Spider-pug... Spider-pug...

W - 2 days

Uh oh... getting close!

Tuesday in Vegas was kind of nice - a little on the cool side, but nice for strolling down the strip.

I was up at the crack of dawn. I wanted to take a stroll around the resort property, but I was up SO early that a lot things weren't open yet. So Jerry and I kind of lounged around the condo for a bit.

After a bit of miscommunication, I found my hair and make-up artist and she came to the resort to do my hair and make-up trial. Loved it. It looked so great! And even when I took my hair down, I could pin up pieces on the sides and it still looked amazing. Lori was awesome. We chatted just about the entire time about nothing. She is very easy-going and gentle with my hair. There were points where I could have fallen asleep while she worked.

All of that was in my hair!

While I was being pampered, Jerry went for a walk to the strip and was gracious enough to bring my back a nice coffee to wake me up again.

Once Lori was finished, Jerry and I grabbed our Fat Tuesday mugs and headed to Planet Hollywood for sandwiches and 32 oz of margaritas - I mixed mango and regular margarita while Jerry tried amaretto-pineapple and margarita. I think I liked his better. We will have to create some new mixes today ;)

We then returned to the resort to get ready for photos. In the mean time, Jerry's family and the rest of the Hoell clan and the Dashleys arrived.

Engagement photos were less than stellar. I was not a huge fan of the outcome and felt we were incredibly rushed to get them done... but that's also because there were MANY other families looking to take photos at the LV sign. Hopefully when we work with the same photog on our wedding day, he will take a bit more time. We also stopped to get our marriage license and then back to the resort we went where we stopped in to see Jerry's parents before heading back to our room.

We kind of gave in at this point - popped some frozen pizzas in the oven and flipped on the TV for the remains of NCIS. By 10:30, I was flat out spent and headed for bed. Unfortunately, that meant an early morning for me, even after taking Advil PM when I woke up around 11:30 with horrible pain in my knee.

It's still early here so I am waiting for Jerry to arise so that we can map out our day. I'm really looking forward to seeing all our friends and family who arrived yesterday.

W - 4 and 3 days

Didn't have time to do an update yesterday because we were traveling and exploring Las Vegas. But here we go...

Sunday, April 4 (W - 4) - Easter Sunday

Nothing terribly exciting to report. It was Easter Sunday. Since Jerry's car is already at the shop to be worked on while we are out of town, I drove him to work and then came home to get some cleaning and packing done.

Mindy came over in the afternoon and we headed to the family Easter party. There really isn't much to report from the party. Once again I was super glad to have my sister, brother, and cousin LB there. I felt kind of bad though because everyone was asking me if I was excited for Vegas and getting married. And I am, I just don't think that I am fully there yet - as excited and happy, and nervous as I should be.

I am happy that so many people are excited for me, and a little sad that many of the people we were hanging out with weren't going to be with us this week. There are a few that I REALLY wish could make it and it truly makes me sad that I don't get to see them. Then there are those that I would be very happy to have with us, but am not so sad that they aren't. It would be mildly awesome to have the entire family together vacationing as adults!

But I am so excited about the people that will be joining us! To have my family and Jerry's family, a few extended family members, great friends (and a few friends of friends) celebrating with us, and getting to take a break sounds like it's going to be a blast!

Monday, April 5 (W - 3 days)

Three days?!?!?! Ok, maybe I'm starting to hit that nervous point. Jerry and I have had many difficulties sleeping - unfortunately it was not nerves/excitement, it was just allergies.

I was up and moving early finishing a few last minute things... one of them being forgetting to pack our wedding cake topper! Oh well, if that's the worst thing that happens, I'll take it.

I loaded up the car while Jerry showered and got ready. Around 8:15 we were off to the UDF for a few morning snacks and then on the road to Columbus. It was a smooth ride and we we were able to use the cruise control most of the way, arriving at the airport around 10 am. I was kind of stupid happy to see another bride toting her dress on our flight.

As we lined up for the Southwest cattle call, a woman walked by and asked me about my dress and told me of how she met her husband on a southwest flight to Vegas. Cute. The flight attendant greeted us with a smile and wished us luck. The lady in line at the bathroom (I HATE using airplane bathrooms, but holding it is so much worse!) asked us a million questions about the wedding and planning and again wished us well. As we landed in Vegas, the flight attendant announced that there were a few couples here to get married this week and we got some more well wishes by the other flyers. And traveling with the dress was not bad at all. If I had a bigger dress, it may not have happened, but everything seemed to work out well and it looks like I won't have to do any additional pressing/steaming.

Mom and dad brought us to our resort and we have a pretty sweet 2-bedroom condo. After checking in and settling for a minute, we were back on the road to the grocery store and then to dinner with mom and dad, and special guest Bridget! We tried the cheap dinners and craft beer at Ellis Island. Despite our waitress being a space cadet, it wasn't too shabby.

Although Jerry was very tired, I suggested that we hit up Fremont Street for a light stroll. While cruising Fremont, we caught the end of the Butler/Duke game (SO close Butler!) and the filming of a new TV series, The Odds, starring Donald Faison. Kinda cool. I'm pretty convinced that they are just filming the opening sequence since they did about a million takes of the cast walking into a casino - no talking.

Bridget introduced us to a cute bar, The Griffin, on East Fremont. After one beer, I admitted defeat and we returned to the resort. I needed to shower and wash my hair in preparation for my hair trial today (Tuesday). By the time I finished showering, Jerry was down for the count. And about 5 minuted later, I was there too!

More adventures today! I think (since it's still VERY early) that I am going to take a solo stroll around our property.

W - 8...7...6..5... What day is it?

I have been slacking a lot lately loyal reader(s?). But with good reason.

I constantly talk about how busy I have been at work. It has been stressful! On Friday, the boss took the day of and the other AE worked from home. That left me, the art director, and the writer - and we took the opportunity to put all our frustrations on the table...over a couple of beers (yes, in the office!). The 3 of us have been working LONG hours (they much more than me). This past week, I had at three 10-hour days and two 9-hour days - and those were the hours that I actually clocked working on client projects. Including the drive to and from the office, and lunch, I felt like I was barely home. Add to that the fact that Jerry and I really need to go to the grocery store but didn't want to stock the house only to go out of town - so we spent a lot of time in restaurants. After which, we would return home and I would bust out the work computer for another hour or two of business.

I have never been so in need of a vacation... well, except when I went to Vegas for the first time in '05 and promptly returned to Texas to quit my job a week later.

Jerry had a bachelor night out with some friends at Habits. I stayed long enough for dinner and Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat (the Fruity Pebbles beer) and then returned home to my cozy company laptop. I did not have any kind of bachelorette activity. I tried to round up some people to go out last weekend, but to no avail. Oh well because we are having a good time out in Vegas and that will more than make up for it.

Nothing terribly exciting happened this week so you didn't miss much in my blogging absence.

I spent this morning getting a manicure, pedicure, and eye brow wax - followed by picking up my wedding dress at the seamstress, accessories at mom's, and a few last minute gifts. I may have scored a free lunch for me and Marilee today as well.

Jerry and I finally tried the local establishments of Hold the Nuts (Ice Cream shop) and the Italianette (pizza, pasta, hoagies). Jerry's real food smelled delicious and my cookie dough was excellent, though a little weird.

We've been packing and doing laundry like it's our job.

I found the most comfortable pair of army green capri pants and have sworn to wear them every day that I can on vacation. They are a little big, but they are easily the best pair of pants I have worn in a long time. Really, I think I'm rather enamored of them.

I paired them with a Las Vegas shirt (gotta get in the spirit) and fielded a barrage of questions about Vegas today and my choice to get married there. So let me clear up a few things...

It was 100% my idea to go to Vegas. I could have done everything by the book here in Cincinnati, but I'm not. I wanted to go away, and I fell in love with Vegas a long time ago. I decided before marriage was even a consideration with Jerry that Vegas was where it would happen for me. I'm lucky that Jerry cares for little more than the fact that at the end of the day he and I will be married. The when and where and how of it all don't matter to him, and quite honestly matter only slightly to me.

Why Planet Hollywood? This one's a little harder to define. I loved the casino when it was the Aladdin and I found myself attracted there once it became PH. It's one of those places that draws me in, but I can't say. My last trip to Vegas was with Jerry in 2008. We seemed to end up at PH at some point every day... often sharing a drink from Fat Tuesday. As far as the Chapel, it is one of the simplest on the strip. My wedding can be whatever I want because the chapel is so basic, and modern, and simple. And I immediately found a package that would make planning so easy... though I was freaking out not long ago when wedding coordinators there were in short supply.

Why now? I always wanted a Spring wedding. Though I would be happy to marry Jerry at any time. It's his fault that he waited so long to propose that in order to have a Spring wedding, we would only be engaged 6 months (and 1 day if you want to be exact). There's almost no way that I could make that happen in Cincinnati, but you can in Vegas. Plus, I don't think that I could have handled having to plan all this out for even longer... I'm ready to go now!

So they're not deep seated reasons, but that's why we are headed to Vegas after only being engaged for 6 months.

Now, what time does that plane leave?