Dying

I want it to be documented, so I'm writing it here in cyberverse where nothing ever really disappears.

I was talking to my mom on the phone Thursday before going in to work. We were talking about getting old, aging, taking care of yourself, etc. She said she wondered recently if there was any one out there whose heart would possibly never stop beating. I guess I had never pondered that scenario. I don't think that medical condition exists. She said my dad used to jokingly say he was going to live to be 110 but that recently he has said he wouldn't want to. I told her maybe she and dad would have that "condition" she speaks of. She said "i wouldn't want to die because of you two (meaning my sister and me) but if it weren't for ya'll, I'm ready right now". I think I was in too much shock to say anything so I told her I needed to get in the hospital and get to work. Afterwards I got to thinking about what she said, and analyzing. It came across that she is miserable. That she is truly ready to leave this world. I can not conceive or comprehend that. I have SO much to live for! I take into consideration her age, 61, but that still seems young to say such a thing. Maybe I am putting too much thought into it and she was just meaning she's ready to go, in a religious sense. But she qualified it by mentioning my sister and me, so I know what she REALLY meant. She has never been a happy person, so it's fitting she would say such. My dad once told me a long time ago that if it weren't a sin he would have done something with his own life.

So...when my mom and dad are no longer here, I can come back to this post and KNOW they were ready to go, almost WANTING it. It makes me sad.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I need to play the lotto, slots, or a game of 21. I won Natasha Bedingfield tickets from a social networking site. This is the third thing we have won in the last few weeks. I am so excited, I love her music!! "A-N-G-E-L..." The concert starts at 9 pm...and I have to be at work at 7 am the following day. Can you say coffee?? I bought a My K-cup off ebay this week. Hoping I will use my Keurig more now.

We booked $40 flights to Chicago. We're going to stay with my cousin. That will be late September...hopefully the smell of fall will be in the air. We will most likely be on a budget...serious budget, but life is too short to sit at home and worry about money, right?

xoxo

This is life...

So the biggest difference in the life I had before my Wife and now...MOVIES! We rarely watch them. There never seems to be time. Our DVR is constantly full, and we feel some sort of mysterious pressure to watch something from the DVR queue when we are home. I miss my movies...We had planned for a date night, Saturday. I could hardly wait...a MOVIE!! YAY!! My Wife got cheap groupon tickets, and I also found more this week from living social. That means two movie date nights!!

I registered for free Bonnaroo tickets on a social networking site. I WON!! I couldn't believe it. I didn't even know who was playing but after looking at the list I got excited, then I began thinking about the reality of the event. The sweat. The no showers. The crowd. The heat. YUCK! We have been planning a little min-getaway with my MIL and her BF. After the Wife and I talked about it, we decided to sell our B'roo tickets and use the money for our vacation. We put them on ebay and craigslist. After several no-shows and scams, I finally sold them to a girl who was "thinking" about going. $400 cash in pocket. Funny thing?? Our vacation rental was exactly $400!

The same day I won the B'roo tickets, the Wife received a 4 day pass (minus 1 day because her boss was going to use them) to the music festival downtown from her boss. How lucky could we be? We should have played the lottery. I was MUCH more excited about this, at least there were assigned seats and some sort of organization to the event. The main people I wanted to see were going to be there. We got there at 8 pm Thursday night. I saw "looks" as we were making our way to our general admission seats. I even saw a girl whisper something to her friend and the friend said "shhhh". My wife always gives the benefit of the doubt, and told me they could have been talking about ANYTHING but us...but I just had a feeling they had an issue with us. We never show any PDA but my Wife wears guy clothes, and that is what gets the looks. I like what she wears, but it seems that sometimes when we are going to place that would be more conservative she wears things even MORE masculine. I honestly don't think she does it consciously, but I don't think she "thinks" about what others might say or think, either. Good for her. I wish I could be less observant...less noticing...less worried someone is going to SAY something. I often think if they say something...what will my response be? I never have to worry if my Wife is with me because she will spout some four letter obscenities at them in a heartbeat. That's not my style. I would rather ignore them or possibly embarrass the person saying the negative comments. Not her, she's always ready to spout from the mouth. I'm not saying it's a bad thing...I'm just more the type to let someone run over me. I think it comes from her competitive days of sports. She's just not gonna take shit off anyone. Most of her family is the same way, they grew up not afraid of standing up for themselves, or their family members. Something I will have to get used to.

I worked at the hospital the next day, oh was I tired!! I got a text right after lunch from my Wife asking if I could call her. I "guessed" that she was going to tell me her boss couldn't use the tickets that night. She wouldn't confirm, so I called her. She said "he can't go...do you want to?" OH MY GOSH! I was so excited because my fav band was going to be there (Sugarland). I'm totally convinced the female singer is a lesbian, and a very nice looking one at that!! We chose to enter the stadium and go to the gen. admission area a different way from the night before. WOW we got AWESOME seats!! We were parallel with the stage and had a great view, much better than the night before. The people that were sitting around us were SO friendly, what a much better night!!

Saturday we got up and went to the riverstage area and listened to Crystal Bowersox sing. Then we went to meet Robin Meade at her meet and greet booth. What a beautiful lady!! My Wife's aunt is infatuated with her, so I had been trying to think of a way to get Robin to say "hello" to her. First I thought about a phone call, but she wouldn't be able to replay that over and over, so I thought about the Flip I got my Wife for our anniversary and see if she would say hello to the camera, afterall, that's what she is used to! And she did!!! Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uOjKhCGXmg

Aunt Judy about went to heaven when she viewed the video. We really made her day, I was so glad. She thinks we ROCK!!

Saturday night was date night...we used a wedding gift card and ate at Olive Garden...then we went to see Bridesmaids. We laughed for two solid hours. What a funny movie...think we'll have to buy that one!!

Sunday we went back down to the festival and listened to Robin Meade sing on the plaza. She's a great singer..awesome voice!! My fav was her cover of "Dirty Laundry". The songs she has written were also good.

Work for me is slow...wish it would be more consistent. I've got baby fever. I don't want to have a baby until I am certain of how much $$ I will bring home every month. Thankfully, my Wife has a very consistent income. I've been picking up more days at the hospital, which helps. I am hearing that insurance companies are not pre-approving people for surgery as readily as they once were. Hope this is a phase.

Great weekend....Great life.

Honeymoon Part Deux

A little hungover, we got up and had coffee and a ham & brie croissant at Gregory's Cofffee that was right across the street from the hotel. We then headed to Little Italy, thinking we were hungry. When we got there we decided we weren't. So we walked around Little Italy awhile and over in Chinatown. Did I mention I was PMS'ing? Had to find a Duane Read for those supplies, ick!

We walked enough to increase our appetites and decided upon lunch at Da Gennaro and dined al fresco. I had manicotti and my Wife had chicken fetuccini. It was very delicious. We walked over to Ferrara's Bakery and got 2 mini canoli's to share, yum!!! After this, we just walked around site seeing. Walked up to So Ho - I saw Dash, the Kardashians store. We saw a store called Teno that had some really amazing jewelry inside and we decided to check out their website when we returned home to see just how expensive it was! I stopped at a little store side mini cupcake place and we shared 3 mini cupcakes. It was either called Designs by Melissa or Cupcakes by Melissa. Very cute idea and very good and fresh. In thinking, I guess we got the mini cupcakes prior to going back to Little Italy and eating lunch. We then took the subway back to Times Square hoping to see the naked cowboy, but no luck. Then we headed over to Rockefeller Center and hung around while drinking mango smoothies from Ben & Jerrys. We saw the NBC plaza and walked around in the concourse below the plaza. Afterwards we headed back to the hotel to get ready for our play.

We got tickets for The House of Blue Leaves at the Walter Kerr Theater. We picked this one based on getting online and looking up broadway shoes with celebrities. This one sounded very good to both of us. Had Ben Stiller, Edie Falco, Jennifer Jason Leigh in it. We decided to take hire a pedicab to take us over to the theatre. It wasn't far, but we were a little short on time and I had very sore feet and was not wearing the most comfortable shoes. It was fun - I had to hold my dress down due to wind, and had to use my Wife's assistance at times! Good stuff!! We got drink in the theater, wine and beer. They serve each in glass with a sippy cup top on it! It was hilarious. Not sure the reasoning, but funny nonetheless. It was very cool to see the celebrities up close. Ben Stiller's dad ,Jerry, was there and we also saw Hank Azaria there, as well. If not for the celebrities, I would have been very disappointed in the play. It was alright, but wouldn't have been if we didn't get to see the famous people. In talking, my Wife said she felt the same way. It was still a good time. We left the theater and got another (too expensive $17) pedicab to take us to our reservations at Bar Americain. It was only a few blocks from the theatre, but too far to walk with my shoes.

Bar Americain is one of Bobby Flay's restaurants. Our reservation was for 10:30pm, so it wasn't very crowded. We started with a shrimp cocktail that was good. It came with a mole/wasabi type sauce that neither of us were extremely fond of. I got sea scallops for my entree and my Wife got a filet. We ordered a side of Fries Americain which came with a very yummy dipping sauce. But, the fries weren't anything special - just normal fries. Guess I expected a little more. We also got Hot Potato Chips w/ a Blue Cheese Sauce. It was pretty good. Not better than Stony River's blue cheese chips, but good. I loved my scallops and my Wife's steak was very good. Too full for dessert. We took a taxi back to hotel and off to bed.

Saturday morning we decided to go to Central Park before we had to head to airport. We got up and got coffee at Gregory's again. Checked out of hotel and had them hold our luggage. We decided to walk up instead of subway. Was good b/c we got to walk up 5th avenue and see all the shops. Saks 5th Ave, Versace, Adana. There was an Abercrombie and Fitch that we decided must have been having a grand opening or something. There was a line waiting to get in at the door and it went around the corner of the block. There were models standing inside the doors - literally like the models you see on the sides of their bags they give you. Crazy! We saw St. Patricks and got some pics. Made it to central park and decided to do a horse drawn carriage ride - was very romantic (bargained for $40). We walked through more of the park after. Saw part of the Central Park Zoo, Wolman Rink, mall and fountain. Stayed here a couple hours and headed back to hotel. Got almost back to hotel and realized we must have looked out our watches wrong, b/c we still had an hour before we had to head to airport. Decided to go get coffee and people watch in Times Square and maybe look for the naked cowboy again. Starbucks was packed so we walked across the street to Europa Cafe. Decided to get a bite to eat here as well. Sat in a window seat and watched peeps walk by. I mentioned going up to AE and getting a NY shirt so we headed there. Ended up with several shirts, a hoodie, and a bag! Stopped at a souvenir store and found my Wife a cool NY hat and we also got a picture frame, too. Sadly, it's time to get to airport.

Walked to hotel and got cab to La Guardia. The airport was dead!! We decided Saturday is a great travel day! Got on the plane and made our way back to Nashville.

Home on Sunday and I am having a very lazy and wonderful Sunday with MY WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could not be happier and could not have had a more perfect wedding and honeymoon.......except if it had been longer and never-ending. I am the luckiest and most fortunate woman in the world.

Our Slideshow

It will only be up a few more days, but thought I would share. Our online gallery will be available soon. I will post as soon as all the photos are edited and uploaded. We also received our reception photos...can't wait for you to see them, as well.

http://www.kellyprizel.com/slideshows/AmandaBrianne/

Images by Kelly Prizel Photography

Honeymoon in the Big Apple

We took the hour long train ride to Grand Central Station. What a beautiful evening. The sky had a mix of clouds with the sun setting and it looked "heavenly" outside. It was the kind of sky after it has rained all day, and everything looks brighter and more crisp. Beautiful.

We hopped off the train and walked back to our hotel. We were going to taxi it because we had luggage but after we began walking, we figured we might as well keep going as we were only a few blocks away. We checked into the hotel, the Algonquin. What a nice boutique hotel! It was much nicer than the one I had previously stayed in, and several square feet larger. I could actually raise my arms above my head in the shower to massage the shampoo into my hair. We changed clothes. I put on the dress (several posts below) with the champagne ruffles and my Wife put on her suit. We took a taxi ride to the restaurant (Quality Meats) as it was too far to walk in heels. The restaurant was super cool inside. Three levels, thousands of bottles of wine, and lovely romantic ambiance. I ordered wine and my Wife ordered a beer. We split the fillet as we didn't see any appetizers that grabbed our attention. We had read reviews about the cream corn brulee and Parmesan gnocchi. Both were to die for!! So delicious. The steak was "okay", but I have certainly had better. For dessert we split a chocolate banana bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a sauce that was oooey gooey goodness. We had stated in our online reservations we were celebrating our wedding night. What I assume was the manager, brought us a complimentary bottle of champagne! I do not care for champagne, but the gesture was appreciated.

We went back to the hotel and decided we wanted another drink. We went into the hotel bar (The Blue Bar) and were seated promptly by a scottish bartender. What a jovial fellow! After our first drink, we were warmed up to him and told him it was our wedding night. The evening manager brought us a bottle of red wine, on the house! Sweet!! He also told us we could have breakfast brought to our room the next morning...I think we were drinking a bit much to remember to order it. We made friends with another couple standing at the bar from Arkansas. We talked to them for a long time, then stumbled our way to our room.

I'll leave out the TMI details, but, there was nothing disappointing about our wedding night.

We set the alarm to go to the Today show, but when the buzzer sounded, we turned the tv on and realized all the Today show news crew were either in London for Will & Kate's wedding, or in Alabama, covering the tornado damage. We rolled back over and went to sleep for a couple of more hours...

Wedding Day is HERE! Part 2

Our wedding day is HERE! We set the alarm so we could meet my MIL at 9:15 am. We grabbed coffee and juice then headed to the town clerks office where we would swear in. Just the three of us went, it was a short walk. The clerk's office had the paperwork printed and ready for us to look over. We had faxed our application in earlier in the week to expedite the process. We both raised our right hand, signed the certificate, and paid our $30. Voila! We were married...ALMOST! The town clerk (super nice guy) gave us the certificate to give to our justice of the peace (JOP). We headed back to the hotel to get ready. We had a few minutes before we needed to start our showers so we sat in the lobby with my MIL and chatted a few minutes. While we were sitting there, our FLOWERS arrived. They were stunning!! My bouquet was an arrangement of mango colored mini calla lilies wrapped in burgundy silk and pins that matched. My MIL had a white calla lily nosegay wrapped in ivory silk and pins that matched, and then my girl had a mango

orange corsage with subtle greenery and a couple stephanotis flowers in front.

Around 10:30 we headed to our room. It was HOT in there, and the air conditioner did not seem to be working. My girl went to the hotel desk and asked if we could get ready in a room where the A/C worked. They kindly gave her a room key to a room across the hall, and beside my MIL and aunt/cousin. We grabbed our goods and commenced to getting ready. We initially wanted to get ready in separate rooms, but that didn't work out, which was fine. I played music while we got ready--Amy MacDonald, one of our

favorite artists.

First was makeup. A friend had bought me all the MAC makeup I would need, and gave me a full set of Trish McEvoy brushes. I may be tooting my my own but I thought my makeup looked damn good. Later in the day our photographer even asked if I had it professionally done. That made me feel SO good, as she sees brides on a weekly basis! It took awhile to get my hair extensions in. I called my MIL in to help me...she was supposed to have watched my stylist at the Aveda salon but I could tell she wasn't really paying attention. Next we called in my girl's aunt...she has an eleven year old girl so surely she can help do hair, right? Well, between the three of us, we got it in, and secured. I thought it looked great!

We took the hotel shuttle to the south train station where we met our photographer for pre-wedding photos. We had overcast skies, which our photographer said was synonymous with God smiling down on us, from her perspective. We stayed there for about an hour and a half shooting pictures. The forecast for the day was 80% chance of rain and storms. So far, not a drop all day...until we were wrapping up the photo shoot at the train station and the bottom fell out. It was okay because we went inside and took some photos next to a pedestal clock. I can't wait to see those photos!!

Kelly offered to let us ride in her car from the train station to the estate mansion. Our three guests caught a cab ride over. When we arrived it was raining. The AARP meeting was finishing up but the ladies were so enamoured with us they were chit chatting with each of us about our wedding. One lady offered to let us borrow some large umbrellas she had in her car. We took her up on that!! I went inside the mansion to see if I could see any covered areas in the back where we could get married. We had made a verbal agreement

with the parks and rec department to only be outside, and I wanted to keep my promise. I could see the tea room out the side window that I had been told about. It was PERFECT.

My girl and I began walking down the rock walkway towards the tea room and I heard footsteps behind us. I asked my girl if someone was following us and she turned around to see a strange man. My girl said "Are you the JOP?" He said he was and gave each of us a hug and kiss. We stood under the umbrella talking for a few minutes then we proceeded down to the tea room and stood under the covered porch. Our three guests were scrambling to get their purses and goods off the porch (pictures were going to be made) but they wanted to keep them dry. After a few minutes, and us ready to begin...the JOP asked the peanut gallery to join us. My girls cousin started playing the wedding march on her ipod (how cute!) and we began our ceremony. We had put our vows together by piecing several of JOP's suggestions together. Then we each had written our own vows to each other. This is where I began to cry...and had to fight back the tears. The

words she spoke to me touched my heart. I had not expected to cry, or be emotional, but making such a huge commitment to one another, and pouring our life and soul out in a few short moments, I couldn't hold back the water works just a bit.

We finished the ceremony and Kelly took more photos of us at the mansion. So many shots and poses!! After about another hour of pics, Kelly took us to the town hall (our guests called for the hotel shuttle to pick them up), where we picked up our marriage license and got a few more pictures. When we were walking outside the sun popped out and we saw a gorgeous row of cherry blossom trees where Kelly thought we could get some wonderful shots. There were also some magnolias in full bloom, and these turned out to be awesome pictures from what we have seen so far. I got my dress and shoes SO dirty here, but the pictures were worth it. From there we went downtown and had more shots in front of some of the cute shops and streets. I took my shoes off for all of these photos, I couldn't take it any longer!! We finished up around 5 pm and Kelly took us back to our hotel...but not before noticing she had a parking ticket!!

Oops!!

Once back at the hotel we packed our belongings and talked about having a drink in the hotel lobby but realized there was no time, as we had to catch the train back to the big city. My MIL had rented a car by this time and took us to the train station. We were starving (hadn't eaten ALL day) so we stopped at a drug store and got chips and drinks for the train ride. Our family took us to the east train station where we gave both of them thank-you cards. My MIL talked to my wife for awhile, in private, and said some meaningful words to her. We finally caught the train and enjoyed our hour long ride, in daylight hours, back to Grand Central...MARRIED.

So far...it's been a perfect day.