p.s.

5 days and counting!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Map

Paul mentioned a map to the 5oth street building parking lot [pointing to post below] and, guess what! The map's been here the entire time!

[*gasp*]

Over to your left are links to things you need to know [pointing to the left of this post]. Click on "Ceremony and Reception Site" then click on the red star with "Mars Hill Fellowship" printed right over it. Not only do you have a map to get you to The Wedding, but if you zoom in, you'll see the 5oth Street Building! Now, for details:

The 50th Street Building (as named by those of us at Mars Hill) is an old brown warehouse located on the corner of 5oth and 14th. It has it's original "Nuvant" sign out front and looks kinda abandonded (it's not). There's a small lot in front and a very large one in back. Feel free to park in either one. There's also plenty of street parking around. However, couple of things...1) I probably wouldn't shimmey up next to an old RV or car with it's windows covered in cardboard, and 2) if you see a Mars Hill Church "Do Not Park" sign in a business parking lot, uh, you probably shouldn't park there. We have a partnership with a few of the shops around the building to make sure people don't use their lots if they're heading over to the church for anything.

Happy parking!

xo
Claudine

The Word of the Day? PARKING!!!

Hey - just a heads up. Our church is on a mission - to buck the trend of big churches moving to suburbia. We want to be right in the middle of this glorious city of ours - the city of course, is Ballard, a hardcore fishing community 10 minutes north of downtown Seattle proper. This can lead to some issues, both of which we expect to see some evidence of on the night of our wedding - parking and homeless dudes.

Neither is the hugest deal - we have services of over 1300 people and their cars go somewhere. Feel free to park at the church, or the lot directly north of the church on 50th, or on the street, but please be sure to pay attention to signs - we'd hate for anyone to have to fork over cash on a ticket that could be going to the Mexican Dollar Dance! Check back here - I'll see if I can get Claudine to put up a map for all y'all.

As for the homeless guys, we don't expect any issues, but as we are having a late reception, it will be even later when you are walking to your cars. If you happen to be coming alone and don't want to walk back to the car that way, let the DJ or MC know and we'll get you an escort! Don't worry about putting anyone out - they are looking forward to doing it!

See you in, what, ten minutes?!?!!?!

Wax On, Wax Off...

Just taking a break from grading finals and thinking about where the hell I am at - figuratively.

I have less than three weeks to wait to marry my Cutieous Maximus, and as we are in the home stretch, we are both being bowled over by the fact that so many of you are making time and spending money to join us. It's truly humbling. Some of you we haven't seen in a long while, and we can't wait to get you all into a room together!

At the same time, I can't help but think about how much things have changed in the last few years. Three years ago, would you have believed any of the following?

a) I'm drinking a glass of WINE?

b) I own a CAT? (What up, AT-AT!!!)

c) I wax poetic on a BLOG?

d) I'm smoking fine imported Brookfield tobacco in my pipe? Thanks, Dino! Funny thing - I brought my pipe with me to the bluegrass fest Claudine and I went to this summer and was told by MANY of my friends that they didn't think I was "allowed to do that!" Get used to it - we're bringing it back!!!! Get your own at www.deadmenspipes.com!

e) I'm getting MARRIED to a spit-fire Kor-exican beauty who spelled Phish with an "F"?

Don't worry. The more things change the more I...

a) Have dreams about hanging out with super heros (both Marvel and DC, no joke!)

b) Dance like no one is watching and yell at band from the front row like I was IN the band

c) Hate String Cheese Incident.

All is well! 20 days!

Oh Yeah, The Invite!!!!

Ok, so we screwed up.

We got our lists mixed and matched, forgot to send invites to some dear friends, and sent others to their old houses. Bottom line - we're sorry and we love you, and we hope you'll still come!!!!

To the right you see a reasonable facsimile of the invitation (our writing was red!) that tells you all the fedooski you need to know about our pedooski. Thanks to all of you who gave us kudos on its simple design - we're fond of it and we totally did it together!

If you didn't get the paper version of the invite/RSVP and you are able to make the wedding, please drop either of us an email ASAP.

We've stopped counting days and have moved into hours - we'll see you in just a few of them!

"And so it begins..."

This morning I woke up and realized the following:

1) In 4 weeks I won't be waking up alone anymore.
2) In 3 weeks I move the remainder of my things into Paul's
3) In 4 days the first of the many parties kicks off with my bridal shower.
4) I haven't watched "Goonies" in a long time.
5) Crap. There's so much that needs to get done in the next 4 weeks.

Snowstorm '07 has hit and I'm sitting here trying to warm up after a long walk to the lake. While sitting here, I've been catching up on my phone calls, girl-talked with Chris (she's my soon-to-be new mom), and plotted out how I'm going to do my hair for The Big Day. I've also been trolling Craigslist for new furniture for the house, procrastinated on braving the cold again to get dvd tape for the video camera, and priced-out how much it would be to rush a passport so the Mexican government will let me leave their country after the honeymoon. Speaking of the Mexicans, we're having a Mexican dollar dance at the reception so bring dolla bills. Anyway, time for me to stop being a wimp and get out in the cold.

p.s. I forgot about #6: In 4 weeks we get to party together again! Get fun!

While You're in Seattle - The Shanty!!!

The house I've been living in for several years, which Claudine and I will be calling home until we outgrow it, is a modest one. This has meant I've had to forego a "ManLand" and the acoutrements that go along with it. Luckily, the Shanty Tavern (my second living room, my Moe's) is right down the road!

This family owned bar - a total dive in the best sense of the word - is run by a dad and daughter who have come to know Greg, myself, and our friends, and have helped us to host many everything from birthday parties to Bible studies. We pre-funk there before concerts, and go there after movies. It's the place we take out-of-townies if we have one night to catch up and have a blast. They let us decorate, bring food in, and allow dogs. They love Claudine. There's always, room, it's never too loud (except for the night the UW Huskies were hiding out there after a loss - at the peak of my weight I was asked if I was on the team!!!), and they have three pool tables, darts, pinball, free pretzels, and $6.50 pitchers of PBR.

We love this place, and would love for you to see and enjoy it with us. We are looking for opportunities to spend some quality time with each of you during this crazy wedding weekend. so plan on joining us there on Friday night the 16th for some beer, billards, and our last night as single people. Show up, meet some folks, and save the tables at 9, we'll come by as soon as we get out of the rehearsal dinner - by 10. See you there!

"_____"

Just thought I'd pop in and say "hey." That's all. Off to take At-At to get her shots.

p.s. Keep on the lookout for a small red envelope in your mailbox this week. It contains something very special just for you!