NotTheRock Musings

Did you ever see that movie, Deep Impact? It came out the same year as Armaggeddon and was the same basic story; a massive asteroid is hurtling towards Earth and mankind is trying to defend itself. Well, during Deep Impact, they would occasionally put up on the screen a reminder of how much time was left before humankind was going to be obliterated. Something like:

"August 6: Eight days to impact."

Well, that's kind of how I'm feeling these days. I feel like on a day like today, when I get up in the morning, there's a little digital readout beneath me and it says:

"June 15: One week to impact."

(I suppose it would be obnoxious of me to say something like "One week to detonation." Hee.)

I imagine people get very nostalgic and introspective during the final days and weeks before they get married. But I haven't had much of that. Fact is, I've been so balls-to-the-wall nuttily busy, I can't think about much beyond when I get to sleep next. Work is blowing up like crazy, we have all those typical last-minute craziness details to do, plus we're always in the process of improving my house... so really, I've not had time to think too much about things.

I had to sit down and carefully do my personal vows the other day. I had started them several weeks ago and had to get that wrapped up. And I wanted to make sure it wasn't, like, during a break between to work-related things I was writing. You know, probably wouldn't be the right frame of mind as I rushed through it, making sure to use the writing style the Fremulon Insurance* prefers.

I also think that it's interesting that some people freak out right before they get married. (Or maybe that's just years of TV and movies making me think that.) I mean, if you haven't flipped your shit by this point, why would you once you've got the tux on?

I was talking to a friend about this a while back and I commented on that fact. And how it felt more like a committment when I bought the diamond ring and when I asked her to marry me. From that point on, I felt like we were more "committed" than anything that happens on the actual wedding day. My friend pointed out that, no, I was committed a couple of days earlier when I spoke to her father about his permission. Point taken.

I go to pick up the wedding rings today and that's pretty cool. I love what we designed and am looking forward to us wearing them. Another thing I'm looking forward to? Our honeymoon. Nearly two weeks of fun in the sun, relaxing, snorkeling, eating, drinking, swimming, maybe a little hiking, parasailing, etc... I mean, the idea of going away and NOT having to be concerned with the next step of wedding planning is simply a heavenly thought. It's funny how you get to a point where, even in a short engagement, you simply can't remember your life before you were planning this grand event. I mean, really, our lives must have been so much easier then. They didn't necessarily seem like it, but they do now. Just like when you have kids, you wonder how much simpler your life must have been before them.

We make our final payments to the reception hall on Sunday, along with delivering all the things that have to be at the reception (centerpieces, favors, cameras, etc.). After that, we're actually hoping to be able to take a breath and sort of enjoy the final week. We have a few more payments due but for the most part, we'll have the big things (and most of the small things) squared away.

One of the things we feel like we should do is create at least some semblance of a list for our photographer so that when we're asked what we want pictures of, we don't just stare blankly and say, "Uhhhh, I dunno." So I've been doing some Web searches for wedding photography checklists. Some have been way more than we would need, some have been less. But one is kind of haughty looking and kind of vague in its suggestions, which isn't helpful at all. And then there's this little gem:

Tip: Ask your photographer to take some shots using a slow-shutter speed so the
movement blurs the image a little. See the example to the left.

The example to the left? Well, go to this link and take a look at the blurry, piece-of-shit picture they use as an example of artsy photography. It's purely awful. And it's kind of funny. Haven't we all known someone who thought they were a lot more artful than they actually were? Well, this Website appears to take it to a higher form. Fun.

Anyway, no matter how much you prepare, you still end up feeling like the host of the event for the entire weekend, making sure people are on time and comfortable and having fun. And I think that's actually normal but we sometimes forget that. I mean, you are, after all, having a reception, which means you're receiving people. So yeah, we are the hosts. And we think it's going to be a hell of a good time.

One more crazy week to go.

*Not the real name of one of my clients.

Labels: obliteration of mankind, wedding