3901

Congratulations! Here’s to extra helpings of fun and exhaustion!

3902

Congrats! Got any good horror stories or did everything go super smooth?

3903

did you have any fertilized eggs for hors d’oeuvres?

(congratulations!)

3904

After 16 years I shaved off my beard.

3905

Thanks, all!

The church wedding coordinator was a complete Nazi, who was constantly shouting down members of the wedding party when we were asking for clarification on her instructions, treated everyone like 5-year-olds (including the parents and godparents), and was about one stern shush of my 8-year-old niece away from my brother punching her in the face. One of my groomsmen simply whispered to another at the back of the line, “she’s scary”. She also managed to lose the veil and cord, with no effort to find a replacement until the deacon stepped in when he noticed that it was missing. Overall, the deacon was very nice, and gave a really great homily, but everyone there wished great bodily harm on the church wedding coordinator.

Due to miscommunication, we ended up not having one of the two limos available to bring the bridal party to the reception hall after the ceremony, and although it meant we didn’t have to pay as much, it also meant there was a last-minute scramble to find transportation for 6 of the 7 groomsmen, 2 junior bridesmaids, and 2 of the 7 bridesmaids (there was room in the remaining limo for me and my wife, my brother/best man, her sister/maid of honor, and 4 bridesmaids).

The reception was fantastic, though, with a great DJ, great service and staff, and delicious food. The photographer didn’t even go overboard with the photos, which we feared would happen.

Oh, and the limo that was supposed to pick us up from the reception to take us to our hotel never showed, since apparently the hotel valet just up and forgot to call for it. Luckily one of our friends was there to drive us to our hotel.

It was a stressful, wonderful, and exhausting day. And totally worth it.

3906

Oh, Neddy… That was a hell of a beard. Be sure to keep us apprised of any interesting developments, post-disbeardment.

3907

The thing about facial hair is you ignore it for two weeks and presto, it’s back!

But yeah, I impulsively opted for change.

3908

Yeah, I have to agree, which I know puts me in a cynical minority. Hell, I think I’m still pissed at my parents. 11 years of deceit? Isn’t that a bit much? I just don’t see the reason for treating them as real.

</sperg>

Ned-Two weeks? I expect results in two days!

3909

I just finished my last grading for the semester. Grading for three calculus courses was a real bear, as I just plowed through 300 final exams.

3910

Enjoy your vacation.

3911

The vacation where I’m on pins and needles waiting to see if funding came through for me to start grad school in January because if it didn’t I don’t have much of an idea of what I am going to do?

Edit: Sorry, I am severely stressed about that right now. I really appreciate the sentiment. Good luck with your finals, unless you’re done, in which case you should enjoy your vacation.

3912

Yea, I’m done. I’m in the process of trying to figure out how to enjoy myself during my own ‘vacation’. I’ve decided to read several chapters ahead in my programming texts to prepare for next semester, and I bought the required math book and am in the process of getting a leg up on Calculus for next term as well.

I’m the type of guy that could do without all the time off between semesters and would prefer it if classes would just start up again on the Monday following finals. I’m 35 (36 later this month) though, so I’m just in a rush to get this stuff over with and move on.

Good luck with the grad school funding (and all the future plans that hinge on it), I can easily relate to being in situations like that. I can’t think of much that stresses me more than waiting to find out news as important as that.

3913

Good luck, tiohn!

I’m quite happy to be having a break from school for a couple of weeks. I worked my ass off this term and barely gave myself time to relax. So I’m making up for it at the moment. Lots of knitting, reading, and hanging out with friends. It’s great. I’m only taking thirteen hours this next semester instead of seventeen, so hopefully I won’t be quite as swamped this spring and can enjoy what I used to call “free time”…

3914

Got back from Jamaica last night and DAMN was that fun. Highly recommended. It’s now my favorite spot in the Carribean, without question. The weather and the people combine to create this incredible vibe - LOVED it!

Oh, and I got banned for a few days but it’s all good now. Heh.

3915

I’ve only got on final, in elementary german on friday morning, so I’ve more or less been in vacation mode for the past few days. Thursday was brutal though, up all night doing a paper. Sunday was awesome, helped throw a Flash Rave in our library that was insanely successful.

3916

From jamaica or from qt3?

3917

Geoff just gave me my Christmas present (we’re leaving on vacation tomorrow) and I can’t stop crying. It’s the most beautiful thing.

I told him a while ago that I wanted a diary with 365 pages so that I could write one line each day and reuse it year after year, because I wanted to remember all the wonderful things that happen. He commissioned a bookmaker to make it for me, and it’s so stunningly beautiful. It’s navy blue with dogwood blossoms on the front (my parents planted a dogwood tree when I was a baby), and it says “The Diary of Margie Mive,” on the cover. It’s just perfect.

3918

You need to illustrate that first page, to prime it properly. Is that your handwriting? Man!

3919

Oooh, no, it was printed by the bookmaker (who is AMAZING! Her work is here: http://www.fineblankbooks.com/). Geoff wrote a special note on the front page.

3920

Thanks for that link, Marged!