It’s May and by the way, I have a son.

Not that anyone is reading this, but I do have an adorable son.  He’s been through a lot of trouble, soul searching, girls and more girls, parties and more parties, schools and more schools, cars and more cars, jobs and more jobs in the past 6 years.  This month is graduation!!!

My son has gracefully and without choice taken a back seat to his sister and her exciting life and plans.  However, after 6 years, 5 moves, 4 campuses, 3 majors, 2 countries, 1 happy guy is completing this phase of his life. 

But wait, I hardly have time to fit this in my schedule.   Aunt Dorothy is turning 85 and I need to visit Chicago to go to her surprise party.  Then from Texas to CA for the graduation and let’s squeeze in a wedding, albeit conveniently planned…..for me.  Another child of a Veronica is getting married.  To put things in perspective of my behind-ness in this blogging thing, the happy couple NOW has a baby. 

Garrett’s graduation ceremony was on a hot, sunny day at an outdoor stadium at CSF.  Of course Stephanie came in but although he did not plan to come, Michael did….smart guy.   Joy and more joy can describe this time.  Oh yes, and a keg and Italian food and an impromptu party can describe it as well.  Perfect!

This month came to a close with the celebration of one friend’s 50^th birthday IN Dallas.  (It’s about time, Kim.) It was also nice to meet new friends at our Four Seasons in Dallas from Chicago.  The hardcore tattoo of Chicago Bears “C” on Mark’s arm, many tropical drinks led to quick get-to-know-you with fellow transplants from Chicago. (what is this?! a vacation? No, just our country club life.)

April - Starting to feel the whole year is a blur

Hence, the blog. 

Well, the decision has been made to have the wedding in California, particularly Laguna Beach.  These areas represent our family getting together, as well as down time for those that work….aka …..everyone except me.  But HEY, Surf and Sand, I know you think you are all that, but if you can’t book us for the date we want, when we want (1 year out), then Seeeeee ya……wouldn’t want to be ya…..  We will be spending a lot of money and not with you. 

What do you know; they made an “exception” for us.  So another plan is DONE.  April 30^th 2011 is booked, YAY!  I think I’ll go to the Bahamas.

And so I did.  I joined Mark, Susanne, Sylvia, friends and children at the beautiful Atlantis for a 4 day weekend and it was a great family, fix. 

But of course, April still had some days left in which to do something big like fly to New York, have seven female family members join us and go try on wedding dresses at  Kleinfeld’s.   Stephanie said “yes” to the dress.   WE should have been on that show, there were so many of us.  Sylvia, as always, was dressed to impress and looked absolutely adorable as she zipped through the racks and darted across the showroom floor, b-lining towards a dress I noticed minutes prior.  My thought was, this dress is lovely, however, nothing like the dresses pictured Stephanie’s notebook of preferences. 

However, when Sylvia suggests something, you comply, because she us usually spot on!  She suggested Stephanie try on this dress and this was it!  I hesitated to be overly excited because I am so demure, I did not want to interfere with my daughter’s decisions.  Well, that is not very true, but as much as I loved the dress, it was the 4^th frickin dress that she tried on.  AND we still had an appointment at Saks.  Plus it was over budget but no worries because we had Susanne reassuring Stephanie that she should spend whatever she needs, it IS her day. 

Did Stephanie make the right decision to commit to that dress?  Absolutely!  All I had to do was see the pictures of her beaming and showing happiness inside out.  Thank you Kleinfeld!

Still emotions hit me a different way.  How could Stephanie not ask Garrett to be in her wedding.  He is her partner in crime, her closest friend and confidant in the entire world.  Although I was right about what Stephanie should do, (and I’m always right), it was when her Grandmother, cousin, aunt and Father felt the same way that she figured it out sooner than later.  She would have eventually come to her senses, but I don’t have time to wait.  I don’t have time at all.  

March of 2010 was a blur.....

…..but a productive Blur.  As I begin to recall March 2010, I barely remember Stephanie’s birthday but we had fun and we had margaritas and Mexican food.

Apparently, a lot was accomplished wedding wise.  Thanks to pictures on my computer, and my pocket calendar we did the following, I can revisit our progress:

Looked at 7 Degrees – not available for preferred wedding dates

Looked at  Surf and Sand – does not reserve weddings more than 9 months out

Booked the Salt Creek Grill for an engagement party.

Had the engagement party and it was great!  We were all so happy to have visiting family to include Bob and Melinda from Idaho, Jen and Bill from San Francisco and one hot Sylvia from Connecticut.   We had quite the turn out to include a couple of people stopping in from the beach.  Hmmmmm.  I Hope that doesn’t happen at the wedding.  Mark’s first of many speeches was touching and funny.  I’m always happy for funny, so as not to cry and/or deal with crying.

We went to a couple of different places as possible venues, met with a photographer - Tom Baker Photography, and florist, La Tulipe Floral…..done and done.

Michael added to our collection of “things to keep” in our garage.

And the month ended with Michael, Stephanie and Winston leaving the state of California for life in the Big Apple.

Emotions were very much in tact until literally the last 10 minutes of Stephanie’s California residence.  Personally, I think she should have been nicer to me by keeping her stress in check because after all, her moving so far away was emotional for me.  AND this was the very first Easter EVER in which our baby girl was not with us.  Yes……I should pay some mind that she was emotional about leaving her life in CA for this adventure of a move.  That and the fact that she was responsible for transporting the dog, crate, luggage and life while Mike left sooner to work or something small like that.

The Engagement PARTY!!

Yesss.  The engagement party at the Salt Creek Grill was so nice.  Just about everyone invited acctually came.  Christy Carson was so helpful in helping us decide on shrimp, cheese platter, wine and beer.  Everything kind of had a NY theme with the yankee Blue and White in flowers, napkins, and M & M's.  Instead of a cake we had Chocolate covered strawberries and red velvet cupcakes in which the proceeds went to Haiti Relief for a project headed by my girlfriend Donna's daughter and St Margaret's.

I'm organized.....Really!

After several months, I revisited a document saved on my computer.  This document was started several months ago in my attempt to keep an almost daily account of being the MOB.  My daughter was engaged on February 13th and my last entry was February 19.  HAHA
Now that I have read this document, I realize that my initial instincts, thoughts and ideas are much better than taking the time to think.  Yes, thinking too much does not work me.  Venting, I mean writing does.  So this is my account of February:

February 14, 2010 - Happy Birthday, Mark (oh yes, Happy Valentines day, Jo)

Happy Valentine’s Day.  My daughter is engaged one day!  Love is in the house.  Olives are in my martini.  Wine is flowing with dinner.  Stephanie’s cell phone is ringing. Michael’s cell phone is ringing.  Mark’s cell phone is ringing.  Happy Birthday to Mark!  Garrett’s cell phone is ALWAYS ringing.  What about me?  Yes I got a couple calls.  Thank you.   I did get kind responses on Facebook about my news, I mean my daughter's news! 

February 15, 2010 - Aaaaaaad back to Dallas. 
Things will sink in to include but certainly not limited to the fact that Stephanie will be moving to NYC with her fiance.  I KNOW she will find a great job, She already loves NYC.  But this is alot.  I'm so exhausted just thinking about everything they have to do.  But the planning must go on.  Does it count as planning if we make a wedding list on the back of our boarding passes?  I think it does.  Whew, no wonder I was exhausted, alot of planning already.

February 16, 2010 - Already doing things
Fortunately, I had a camera the day of the Proposal.  My to do list: Upload the pictures.  Make an album to share on  Kodak and Facebook.  Correspond with Michael’s parents.  Bob and Melinda are my new favorite people.  It is now clear to me why Michael is so great.  It is also so clear why Stephanie loves him.  Such joy comes over me at the fact that they found each other.

February 17, 2010 - And doing more.
Ok……got the planner/organizer/guides.  Now what?  If I have to read thru these books first, I may be off schedule.  Idiot's guide books are great.  They make one for everyone involved in the wedding.  There is one for the bride and groom as well as MOB and FOB, Maid of Honor, Mother/Father of the Groom.   I wanted to buy everyone one.  However, it would be rude to call that many people "idiots".  So I did not.

February 18, 2010 - Not exactly a nooner.
Noon, I’m in my jammies.  These last few days I slept approximately  5 hours a night.  So I think I just made up for it in sleeping in this morning.  But as I’m getting ready to run errands and do my walk, Mark comes home stressing.  Why? You ask?  He was running late for lunch at the Four Seasons Golf Club to which he would have to eat fast to make his tee time.  I just love this amazing man.  Or should I say, it’s amazing that I love this man.  (Just kidding)

After bouncing a few things off of Mark, in regard to my wedding plans, I mean Stephanie & Mike’s wedding……Let’s just refer to it as “The Wedding”….. Mark was of little help.  I can expect my brain will hurt if I start thinking too hard or too much without Mark bouncing back his comedic logic.  Regular exercise and massages will be necessary.  And Yoga.  I should do yoga.  Also, considered...is the fact that the newly engaged have little time in their current work schedules to prepare for a cross country move.  Trying to coordinate with them  will be so much fun.    

February 19, 2009 - Sunday Dinners are my favorite
A lot of families that I know have certain times in which they set aside for traditional, special or bonding reasons.   Couples have date night.  Sunday is for Church.  Morning coffee or a breakfast/brunch is nice.  Growing up, I had Sunday dinners.  No matter where you are, or what you are doing, you had be seated for Sunday dinner.  My mother had it, with my grandma.  My uncle Charlie then had it (with my grandma).  I had it with my little family in Buffalo Grove, and also in Laguna Niguel home where my tomato plants were perennials!  Just the 4 of us, Sunday dinners turned into Sunday football.  And then these kids grew up, damn them!  Our schedules were daunting; Sundays were the only free day in which my family (not necessarily me) got to do what they needed, whether it is to shop, do homework, and see friends outside of school or just veg.  So…..now I have to plan something traditional, special or bonding as empty nesters.   I did not plan on living in different states from my family and I miss those Sunday dinners.    

Mark and I go to Via Real almost every Friday night in Irving.  Call it a date night, but really we enjoy a close convenient place.  Edgar recognizes us and brings us our frozen margaritas.  The food is excellent and appetizers usually suffice.  Then we come home, light some candles and watch television.  Tonight was just that and it was fun talking about wedding plans.  And we decided on nothing. 

A MOB cannot help but reminisce about her wedding, especially when it was great like ours.   It became clear to us that of my bridesmaids, Susanne, at age 14, was the most helpful of them all.  My bridesmaids also included my sister, a work friend (don’t talk to her ever anymore) and my closest Chicago friend till this day.  AND they were great!  But, need hairpins?  Susanne.  More ice?  Susanne.  Where are the flowers?  Susanne would call.  What the heck are the boys doing?  Susanne found out.  The limo is late?  Susanne called the front desk.  She was the backbone of my wedding party throughout the morning and afternoon.  I’m sure she would have continued to be supportive at the reception, had she not enjoyed her cousins and “soda”. 

The irony…, Stephanie was a teeny bopper when she was in Susanne’s wedding and now Susanne’s daughter, Isabella, will be a tween in Stephanie’s wedding.   Therefore, to me, it makes sense for my daughter to have the support and logic of teeny boppers.  

February 22, 2009 - I don't have time to do taxes this early.
This weekend was productive, productive and productive, but not in a wedding way.  I’m nesting, I never have, but this has been my quest of late.  I go to California, and need to conform and refresh my surroundings.  I come back to Dallas and I love doing the same.  It requires a lot of shopping too.   My nesting ritual is affecting Mark.  In a much needed organization of his clothing our weekend was consumed.  This was a no brainer task compared to completing our taxes and the kid’s taxes.  Done and Done. 

It was also a welcomed diversion from the first of many spats with Stephanie.  In our latest phone call, Stephanie was a bit testy.  She is stressing out just to stress.  To date (it’s only been a week) she has been calm, cool, excited and …ahem….mature about the process of changing everything she knows as her life.  Being the effervescent mother that I am, my support was unparallel.  Words of wisdom conformed Stephanie to calm and understanding.  The logical enlightenment cleared all doubt, erased all speculation of what might be.  Sometimes I wouldd like to be the aforementioned mother, but I am not.      

Naturally frazzled, I expressed my frustration by harshly and loudly explaining to Stephanie the reality of planning a wedding.  Brashly, explaining what is more important than getting her engagement portrait done.  Little decisions like where, as in what frickin city, and when.  Are we capable of pulling this off?  Stephanie is the organizational diva. And Michael is the plan-man.  So absolutely, we can do this and bond!  But to make it easier on me which translates to easier on all of us, just one or two decisions need to be made soon.  Therefore, the where and when needs to be decided.  This makes sense to me and so it should make sense to the world. 

February 23, 2010 - The first Party to plan!
And so today I can finalize…. invites to the engagement party, contract  at Salt Creek Grill, for engagement party.  In addition, check out favors maybe or cake, or flower vases or Yankee M & M’s.  You read right.  It’s the least I can do, while Stephanie pursues job opportunities, Michael, searches for the perfect apartment in which dogs are allowed.  In their case, a building with an elevator and possibly a sunny terrace would be the perfect home for Winston.  Hopefully, it’s close to a subway or bus in which to commute to work.   That is not to say walking distance to doggy day care?  They have their hands full.