Surgery day

Joe writes:

In a few hours, Paula and I will be driving to Springfield, so she can undergo wrist fusion surgery. This is necessary to address the Kienbock’s disease in her left wrist. The pain she has suffered has been massive, but she is also worried about the surgery and the results of it. I’m hoping it takes away the pain for good… the pain has been so bad for her lately, that she chose to wear a cast on her wrist during the wedding.

Whether you hope, pray or wish really hard for things, I would appreciate you doing that for Paula, so she can have a successful surgery and a speedy, pain-free recovery. That would be the best wedding present of all.

Inside the Music: Feels Like Home

Paula writes:

This one is called “Feels Like Home” and it is by Chantal Kreviazuk.

This is one of the songs we chose(ok, ok, so I chose this one) for our wedding soundtrack that actually is a mushy love song. I am woman enough to admit that it makes me cry like a little girl.

Somethin’ in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There’s somethin’ in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life

If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I’ve been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you’ve done

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I’m all the way back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I’m all the way back where I belong

A window breaks, down a long, dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I’m alright, ’cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see, through the dark there is light

Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I’ve waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I’d love anyone so much

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I’m all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I’m all the way back where I belong
It feels like I’m all the way back where I belong

I can’t really say anything about this one that the lyrics don’t already say.

Where Joe is, that is my home.

Another punch in the purse; man status fully achieved

Joe writes:

It’s probably just the way of the world. But our wedding savings took yet another hit this weekend. That sucks, especially when everything was starting to look up.

A little background: Paula and I are paying for the wedding ourselves. We both think the wedding industry involves legal highway robbery, so we’ve been doing what we can to keep things on the cheapies. But that has been tough, because other stuff that sucks away our savings keeps popping up.

We thought that we were going to have to use our economic stimulus checks for Paula’s wrist surgery. No problem: I’d pay for that in a heartbeat. Anything to get her wrist to feel normal, so she can get back on the j’ai alai court. She has mad skills with a sesta. I have the scars to prove it. ANYWAY… when she was able to pay for the up-front costs of the surgery without dipping into that, we were (as the kids say) like, SCORE! We have extra cash, thanks to the lame-brained attempt of our government to spur the economy! Thanks for the wedding gift, George Bush and Nancy Pelosi!

Whoa, got off track there.

ANYWAY… things are looking up. Money in the bank to handle wedding costs. We go shopping for stuff on Friday night. As we were leaving Ruby Tuesday to go get reception stuff, the little battery light on the dashboard comes on. While driving.

Expletive deleted, because my mom reads this.

It’s the alternator. How do I know? Paula is creepy psychic with cars, and she said it was the alternator. She’s not ASE certified, but she oughtta be. The truck sits in the driveway until Sunday morning, when we have to jump it. We go to O’Reilly’s, thinking it’s either the battery or the alternator. We get there, and O’Reilly dude tests it. Battery is bad. Score again, because that’s cheaper to fix! Paula and I install the new battery, and I have O’Reilly dude test it again, just in case. The test shows the alternator is bad, too.

Another expletive deleted.

Long story short, but too late in the post to mean anything: We spent nearly $300 on a new battery and alternator, when we could have been buying reception silverware, margarita makings and a bolt of tulle. (Side note: Did you know tulle has nothing to do with the band Tool? I was bummed, too.)

But the weekend wasn’t a total loss: I became more of a man. In the interest of saving money, I installed the new alternator. Yep. Did it myself, and with the help of two guys at O’Reilly who walked me through it. I am more of a man now. The truck still works, and the “Check Engine” light is off.

Paula channels Modest Mouse:
Battery and alternator got fried on the exactly the same day
Well we’ll float on good news is on the way

And I am not psychic about cars. I have just had more than my share of car trouble. Ok…more than about ten people’s share of car trouble. I learn from experience. Now…if only I could fix the problems myself I’d be in business.

The other day I says to my doctor,”Doc,after my surgery will I be able to play J’ai Alai?”
And he says to me “Not to worry, you’ll be playing in no time!”
So I says “That’s awesome, Doc, because I couldn’t play it before!”

ba dum bum!

Inside the music: Lucky

Paula writes:

The song “Lucky” is by a band called Hoobastank. Goofy name, good song.

I knew
How it felt to be
Another one in need
Of someone to show the way
Until
You saw a part of me
That nobody else could see
And my life hasn’t been the same

You make me feel
Lucky as I can be
You make me feel
Lucky as I can be

Before
I couldn’t get a break
(Couldn’t get a break)
Never had a chance to make
The impressions I want to
But now
It falls right into place
(Falls right into place)
When I get to see your face
Then there’s nothing that I can’t do

You make me feel
Lucky as I can be
You make me feel
Lucky as I can be

No more dark days
Only sun rays
No more hard ways
With you today

You make me feel…

You make me feel
Lucky as I can be
Lucky as I can be
Lucky as I can be

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Even when things are going wrong all around me, being with Joe reminds me of just how lucky I am.

Inside the Music: Float On

Paula writes:

“Float On” is a quirky upbeat song by Modest Mouse.

I backed my car into a cop car the other day
Well he just drove off sometimes life’s ok
I ran my mouth off a bit too much oh what can i say
Well you just laughed it off it was all ok

And we’ll all float on ok
And we’ll all float on ok
And we’ll all float on ok
And we’ll all float on any way well

Well, a fake Jamaican took every last dime with that scam
It was worth it just to learn from sleight-of-hand
Bad news comes don’t you worry even when it lands
Good news will work its way to all them plans
We both got fired on the exactly the same day
Well we’ll float on good news is on the way

And we’ll all float on ok
And we’ll all float on ok
And we’ll all float on ok
And we’ll all float on alright
Already we’ll all float on
Now don’t worry we’ll all float on
Alright already we’ll all float on
Alright don’t worry we’ll all float on

And we’ll all float on alright
Already we’ll all float on
Alright don’t worry even if things end up a bit to heavy
We’ll all float on alright
Already we’ll all float on
Alright already we’ll all float on
Ok don’t worry we’ll all float on
Even if things get heavy we’ll all float on
Alright already we’ll all float on
Don’t you worry we’ll all float on
All float on

I know this doesn’t sound like your typical love song. That’s because it isn’t. This song just reminds me so much of Joe that I just had to include it on our soundtrack.

One of the many amazing things about Joe is his unfailing optimism. He has an incredibly positive attitude. It’s almost as if it never even dawns on him that things might not go his way. He seems to make good things happen by the sheer force of his attitude.

Joe is forever telling me (the worrier in this almost family) that things are going to be ok. And they usually are. He is teaching me that you just have to keep going and good things come along.

That is why this song reminds me so much of Joe.

Inside the Music: Take it From Me

Paula Writes:

This song is by a group called The Weepies. Their music is kind of folk-inspired, and is known for it’s beautiful imagery.

I couldn’t find an actual video for this song, but I did find a fan video that meshes this song with scenes from “Lost”. (Joe and I are big Lost fans, btw.) Normally I would just go without the video for this post, but the song is so beautiful, I like to play it any chance I get.

What can I compare you to, a favorite pair of shoes?
Maybe my bright red boots if they had wings
Funny how we animate colorful objects saved
Funny how it’s hard to take a love with no sting.

But come on take it, come on take it, take it from me
But come on take it, come on take it, take it from me (we`ve got a good life).

What can I compare you to, a window the sun shines through?
Maybe the silver moon, a smile rising
The magic of the fading day, satellites on parade
A toast to the plans we’ve made to live like kings.

I lose my breath despite the air
When the rain falls down I give in to despair
Pink magnolia in winter she doesn’t care
if you don’t show up to have another cup.

What can I compare you to, when everything looks like you?
I get a bit confused with every Spring
Flowers that bloom your eyes, hummingbirds side by side
My heart won’t stay entirely in this rib caging

A sweet story about this song:

One night we were eating dinner outside and talking about music, and I told him about this song making me want to dance with him. Joe excused himself and a couple of minutes later I hear the opening notes of this song come drifting out the window. Joe came back outside and took my hand and we danced to this song by candle light and twinkly party lights. It was beautiful.

Is it any wonder I want to marry this man?

5/22/2008 We Just Set A Surgery Date!

Paula Writes:

Ok, so I scheduled it last week, but that’s neither here nor there.

I going in to have surgery done on my wrist to alleviate the pain I have been having. I have been putting it off, but I have had all I can stands and I can’t stands no more.

Why does this belong on our wedding blog? Well thank you for asking! Having the surgery done means I will be in a cast for the wedding. And considering my experience with the last cast I had on my wrist I will be opting for a black cast if it is offered. I got a pink one last time and man did it look nasty after a few days.

It ought to be interesting trying to get ready for the wedding in a cast, but luckily I have a lot of supportive friends and family who are willing to help out.

Oh…and speaking of supportive friends and family, have I mentioned that my friend Ann, who is also my Matron of Honor, is the best friend EVER? She is so cool.

Uh…back to the cast thing. I wonder how the wedding pictures are going to look? Maybe I can wrap the cast in tulle, or cover it in rhinestones or something…hmmmm…

Inside the Music: Lovers in a Dangerous Time

Paula Writes:

This song wasn’t originally done by Barenaked Ladies, but it is probably one of the best remakes I have ever heard.

Don’t the hours grow shorter as the days go by?
We never get to stop and open our eyes.
One minute you’re waiting for the sky to fall
Next you’re dazzled by the beauty of it all.

Lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time

These fragile bodies of touch and taste
This fragrant skin, this hair like lace
Spirits open to a thrust of grace,
Never a breath you can afford to waste.

Lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time

When you’re lovers in a dangerous time,
Sometimes you’re made to feel as if your loves a crime.
Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight
You gotta kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight.

Lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time

We were lovers in a dangerous time
We were lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers, Lovers, Lovers
Ohhhhhh
Lovers in a dangerous time

When Joe and I first started dating, there were a lot of obstacles. Confusion and hurt over past relationships, a new job and an imminent move for Joe, and the possibility of ruining a truly great friendship.

As a result, we clung together tightly, determined to get the most out of every second we had together. Yet even as we were building this incredible relationship, in the back of my mind I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I dreaded the day Joe would call to tell me that his house had sold and that he would be moving. I think Joe dreaded that day nearly as much. Even though it sounds cliché, it really was like a roller coaster ride, with all the dizzying highs and the stomach-dropping lows.

“One minute you’re waiting for the sky to fall
Next you’re dazzled by the beauty of it all.”

That pretty much sums it up.

When Joe asked me to move to Joplin with him, I was so relieved because by that point I could no longer imagine a life without him in it.

I think the time we spent wondering if we would lose each other made us appreciate our relationship even more. We are still determined to get the most out of every second we have together.

This song talks about cherishing every moment, and fighting to hold on to something that is precious. That is what Joe and I have been doing for the last two years and will continue doing until we are no longer able. I hope that is a very long time.

PS-Even if this song didn’t hold so much meaning for us, it would still be a really awesome song.

Inside the Music: I Feel Love

Joe writes:

Here’s “I Feel Love,” by the Blue Man Group. Singing is Annette Strean of Venus Hum.

A side note: I thought about asking Paula to wear that lighted dress for the wedding, but felt it was rude to make Well Fed Head pay the electric bill.

A little bit of history: This song is a remake of a historic song by Donna Summer. When she performed it, it was the first song done with entirely electrical instruments. No guitars, no keyboard. The Blue Man Group said it was important to reclaim this song by using guitars, drums and their signature PVC-piped instruments.

Knowing that made the song pretty cool, in my eyes. Er, ears. And then I met Paula.

Too often, love songs are slow, introspective and meditative. But “I Feel Love” sounds like what love should sound like. The feeling Paula gives me leaves me feeling happy and energetic; like the world is a beautiful place, all I needed was her help to see it. And the song perfectly captures that emotion.

This is likely overkill, but here’s a killer live version of the song below, with proper tributes to Devo and Black Sabbath. Enjoy:

Missing Mom

Paula Writes:

My mom died eight years ago just before Mother’s Day, so this time of year is usually a bit rough on me. Even though we didn’t always get along(that is a HUGE understatement by the way), it is still hard not having her around.

My wedding is just a few weeks past Mother’s day and we are frantically trying to finish planning it. I really miss my mom because she was always a take charge person, and because I know that Joe is exactly the type of person she would have chosen for me to marry.

I wish she were here to see me walk down the aisle to marry this exceptional man.