The day has arrived!!!

Well, it's finally here, our wedding day. I've wanted to update the blog throughout the week, but since I forgot the cord to connect our camera to the computer, I haven't been able to post any pics, which sucks. But, we just received this picture of our rehearsal dinner at La Bodeguita last night, so I wanted to share it with you all. It was an amazing party put on by my parents, and my mom did an incredible job planning it. Great Cuban food, great speeches by all, great music from the mariachi band, and a great night overall. Tania and I even got home somewhat early to get a good night sleep.

Tania's over at Villa Mediteraneo right now getting ready with the girls while I'm at our friends' gorgeous villa (with the most spectacular view of the town and bay over the end of the infinity pool). All the groomsmen are about to arrive, so I need to start getting ready, and then we're off to the chapel for the big ceremony. I can't wait.

I hope everyone is having a perfect day, and we'll update soon!
Craig

A little wedding music

Here's a little taste of what we'll be dancing to at the wedding, in honor of my mom, who I know will tear apart the dance floor when it comes on (not because her name card says she has to dance to it).

Less than one week until we're officially married!!!!!

We just walked back from Scott and Emily's over to my parents' rental house in the Biltmore. Crazy to think that in less than a week, we'll officially be married. After so much work to plan the move, the wedding week, and the trip, it's all about to come to fruition. Unloading all of our stuff into storage and returning the uHaul was a nice first step, but I'm ready for the big events. I know the wedding week is going to be perfect, and the trip is going to provide more surprises than I can even imagine. And that's the beauty of it....and the reason we're doing it.

Off to bed so I can go back to the storage facility to get my running shoes and orthotics, and to come back here to watch my fantasy football team kick JJ's ass. And maybe some more wedding planning to do. :)

Night

The last night in LA :' (

I'm about to drive over to Sasa's place with Trace to drop off our bed. Once that's gone, all of the items we've sold or given away will be gone. Well, except for the couches, dining room table and chairs, and two bedroom dressers that our landlord Janis is buying from us. Thank God she stepped up and bought the couch and chaise for the next tenant since we weren't guaranteed to sell them by tomorrow. We had some prospects on Craigslist, but nothing guaranteed, so it's nice to have it all gone.

Now I just need to pick up the Uhaul in the morning at 9am and bring it back here so we can pack up all the boxes. I pray to God the 10 foot van will hold all of our stuff bc that would be a pain in the ass to empty it and exchange it for a larger van. Damn it, now I'm reconsidering the size. I think Uhaul is already closed, so it's too late, so pray with me.

Alright, Trace's moster truck just pulled up with some emo punk music blaring out of it, so I need to head down.

See you tomorrow night in Phoenix at my parents' rental house. Oh, and saw pics of the real house, and it's basically demolished. Crazy that it's in pieces just like that, and that it'll be a completely new version of itself when we get back in late March 2010. Can't wait to have a private bathroom in the room I grew up in. Why couldn't they have done this 17 years ago????

Night!

The look of despair

Tania ran outside today when the UPS delivery truck pulled up, but as you can see in the picture below, the delivery was not her (our) new MacBook Pro. I hope the look on her face on the altar will be a little happier.


We'll be hitting the road for Phoenix in exactly 2 days from now, leaving behind an empty apartment and the greatest group of friends we'll ever know. I thought I was sad to sell my car this morning. I have a feeling Thursday will redefine that feeling.

But, on a brighter side, it's exactly 2 weeks until we fly to Puerto Vallarta!!!!!!!!!

Final Sunday Funday

We're about to head over to Sonny McLean's for our last day of football watching, beer sipping, and boneless buffalo wing tasting with our friends in LA.  It's very surreal that this is our last week in town, and that in four days, our apartment will be completely packed up and we'll be driving towards Phoenix with whatever we haven't sold.  The only items left are the couch and chaise, and our cars.  I've got an offer on my car now which would be a great help, so hopefully that comes through tomorrow.  We'll probably keep Tania's car for the move so that we can install a hitch and use it to move everything to AZ.  I love that we're worrying about these final minor details knowing that so many aspects of the move, wedding, and trip are finished and behind us.

Hopefully everyone has their passports ready and swim suits packed because the big week is only a few days away.  So cool!

Go Cards!

Jack Penate

By the way, here is some great new music for you. His name is Jack Penate. Tania, Dave, Sabrina, Rich, and I went to see him open for Miike Snow the other night at the Echoplex. I highly recommend getting his album when you get a chance. Here's a sneak peek:

Tick Tock Tick Tock

The big day is getting ever so close and Tania and I couldn't be more excited about it. We're finalizing details for the wedding with our planners Stewart and Vanessa. We're doing constant investigative work for the Asia trip. And we're selling everything we own at our estate sale this Saturday (3pm on 10/10 if you're around and looking for some great items for your house). Tania has been done with work this week while tomorrow is my last day at Deutsch. She's been running around getting loose ends tied up, including ordering our visas for China. We've already got the visas for Vietnam, so we should be set after all of that is done. Nuts.

There is still a ton we want to do in LA before we drive off into the sunset on 10/22. Restaurants to eat at. Hikes to hike. Naps at the beach. Friends to spend every available second with. And just taking in this amazing city of LA. We will remember it fondly.

Speaking of remembering fondly, my Uncle Michael passed away last week after a long bout with cancer. He fought like a soldier until the very end, and made sure that he did everything possible to make the transition as easy as possibly for his family. I flew back to the NJ shore to be with everyone, which really made the whole thing easier. Nothing like family to lean on in tough times. I hope Jo, little Michael, Nat, and Sammy are all coping well and finding the brightest parts of their days. I love and miss you guys.

Well, back to getting things ready for our departure. Hopefully everyone had a great week, and for those that are joining us down in PV, hopefully you are getting extremely excited for the incredible week we have ahead of us.

Talk soon,
Craig