Groom-in-Review

I decided to bike around the old neighborhood (or, should I say, the old suburb) this morning as it's my last day here in sunny Miami.

A ride around my elementary school -- now renovated for the umpteenth time since my enrollment there, new buildings sprouting up here and there -- had me reminiscing about a simpler time ... a time when "recession," "monetize" and "boutonnière" were not yet words in my vocabulary.

Sitting in the fifth grade classroom, I recall spelling bees (I lost on fluorescent, which I still have difficulty spelling), memorizing states and capitals and learning about proper hygiene. I recall shedding "cooties" and occasionally flirting with the frail, ponytailed girl beside me -- mine was named Stacy -- the one with whom you swapped one-dollar roses on Valentine's Day, and the one to whom you swore you'd be married years down the road ...

(By now, 2E's is either rolling her eyes or writhing in jealousy.)

... and so, my year in review does not begin and end with an economic downturn. With this new perspective, looking at the past year in the context of the last 26, this groom must submit that it has been one hell of a ride. Proposal, engagement and even the genesis of this blog have redefined my sense of purpose. And I know many others who have persevered through this recession, coming out that much stronger on the other side. I imagine we've all grown up a little this year.

The Groom Says found a muse in Patrick Dempsey. It struggled with horrendous Save the Date designs; documented gift registering madness; coined the "Opi-Now and Smile Groom;" saw the birth of the Cry for Help Fanny Pack; and interviewed three fellow grooms, all of whom will begin 2010 as husbands.

If you're new to the blog, I urge you to go back, see where our journey began and join us in 2010 as we unveil the Best Man and Maid of Honor, share our Save the Date, continue our struggle for ordainment, book vendors, appease parents, put thousands of dollars back into the economy and battle through countless decisions, both trivial and terrifying, all leading up to the 2nd of October, 2010.

Happy New Year, readers.

Love,
Madman

Save.Our.Groom

We've all seen variations on the bride's survival kit -- what The Knot calls the Bridessentials. Theirs is a silver pouch with travel-sized accessories that a bride might need before or during her wedding. You have the basics (brush, mirror, pins, tissues, clear nail polish), fix-it essentials (double-sided tape, static remover, adhesive bandages, super glue), and even some extra wedding bands.

I was pleased too to find The Knot's Survival Kit for the Groom, available for purchase on their website, complete with:

• personal care items (toothbrush, toothpaste, mints, deodorant)
• groom's attire essentials (lint remover, mending kit, stain/wrinkle removers)
• black socks (these I could use)
• pain relievers
• a stress ball

And while I'm sure the kit is a big hit, I feel that -- as a groom -- I should take a moment to weigh in on the contents of the kit and the range of hurdles that the modern groom might run into. Here are a few additions/suggestions:

1. Hangover kit - a banana, an Aspirin and a travel-sized Gatorade ... cause god knows someone was drinking last night (or this morning) and it wasn't the bride

2. Copies of the vows - printed on 3x5 index cards, in a large font ... the best moments highlighted for emphasis ... pauses for applause written in as needed

3. Deodorant - I know there's one stick on the list ... perhaps we should add two more for good measure

4. Stun gun - no particular reason

5. Boar's Head something on a sandwich

6. Horse tranquilizer - again, no particular reason ... but I can think of at least twelve instances when this would be useful ... no, wait ... "groomsman gets out of line" makes thirteen

7. The day's itinerary - again, printed on 3x5 index cards, in a large font ... the words GET MARRIED TODAY capitalized and highlighted for emphasis

8. An antique pocket watch - the perfect attire upgrade

9. An official, Groom Says original Groom Points Scorecard - he's getting married ... he gets 100 points just for showing up

10. A $50 bill - cause, chances are, he'll pocket the $50, lose the kit somewhere between the rehearsal dinner and the next morning, and need to purchase another one ... this is what we do ... this is who we are ... this is why you love us

Love,
Madman

Inspiration #56: Hell, if a ROBOT can get ordained...

The Go-Guy

2E's father shared the following video clip after reading our Christmas post about the Go-Girl FUD (or female urination device), in which I proclaimed that men would never need such a device. We make due. We are insensitive, resilient, apathetic and, most importantly, soiled. We've never cared about hygiene; why start now?

Well, David Sedaris proves me wrong in a taped reading on Letterman, in which David himself reads an excerpt from a collection of essays intended for Esquire. In this particular (hilarious) clip, he discusses the so-called Stadium Pal and his experience when testing the device. I may be the last to learn of the Stadium Pal, and if so -- well, it wouldn't be the first time.

As with all of Sedaris' writings, the Stadium Pal is a legitimate product. With a website. And according to the site, it's "The Original Since 1998." Thank god for that. I was confusing it for the other bag that guys piss into.

The most important of the three basic components of the device is the external catheter. Let's read about it, shall we?

"The Male External Catheter ... is worn just like a condom. It is latex free, and made of silicone so there is no chance of a latex infection. It is lined with adhesive much like a band aid. When worn properly the male external will not leak or come off. Since every man is different the male externals come in 5 different sizes. And yes in this particular case size is important, but all one needs to do is to print out the SIZING GUIDE, cut out the half moons, and there is no guessing. This is a girth measurement, and has nothing to do with length."

In other words, Have no fear, men! And don't get bogged down by the sizing guide. We won't judge you, your length OR your girth. This has nothing to do with that. Nothing. No matter what size you are, you'll be pissing at will in no time.

While the Stadium Pal's #1 clients are (I imagine) those beer guzzling sports fans who are unwilling to miss that exhilirating second quarter slump and take a #1 standing, I imagine such a product would be useful to a groom. What husband-to-be has time to urinate? Between pre-gaming, dressing, getting married, photo-taking, dancing, eating, dancing, cake-cutting, dancing and socializing, there isn't much time for peeing.

I can see it now: the snug, condom-like catheter, the 18 inches of tubing snaking down my leg to the 1000ml urine collection bag, inconspicuous beneath my pants, velcro-ed comfortably at the shin.

Better yet - I see the whole wedding party sporting urination devices. The ladies with their Go-Girls; we men with our Go-Guys. Chances are, at the very least, it'll make a hell of a photo opportunity.

"Ladies, let's see those funnels. Men, lift those pant legs. Now say cheese."

Inspiration #55

2 Places 2 Follow

Dear Readers,

The Groom Says is now on Twitter! So follow the blog (click FOLLOW on the right hand side) and then follow our tweets. There is nothing manlier.

http://twitter.com/TheGroomSays

Much love,
Madman

Inspiration #54: Dressing Like Barack

TY4T

Dear Sarah Dillon & Go-Girl:

Thank You for the Tweet this afternoon! We'll be spreading the word on our end, too. HAPPY 2010!

Cheers,
Madman

Officiate This

In the ongoing effort to personalize and customize and otherw-ize our wedding, 2E’s and I have asked her Uncle Phill to officiate. We initially considered spiritual world guru Sylvia Browne, but Phill was more flexible. And infinitely less creepy.

When we first introduced the idea to Phill, pulling him aside at our engagement party and (in a way) “popping the question,” he seemed a bit stumped. And perplexed. And honored. But, again, perplexed. And rightfully so.

If memory serves me, his initial response was:

“Wow. Can I do that?”

When you’re planning a non-religious ceremony, you really only have two options: (a) make fast friends with the mayor and ask him to officiate, or (b) spring the responsibility on a friend or loved one. But as with Sylvia Browne, we just assumed that Mayor Bloomberg isn't very flexible. And is infinitely more creepy. Phill, on the other hand, has a fantastic presence, a consistently positive aura and a worldly sense of humor. To dislike Phill would mean that you were a generally dislikeable person who chooses to dislike likable people.

Once we had his consent, 2E’s and I knew we had our work cut out for us. (Yes, SOME people may have done some research PRIOR to popping the question but WE are NOT those PEOPLE). Because Phill is not a city clerk or official or justice or notary (gee, thanks Phill), we knew we had to go the clerical route … so we began investigating the ordainment process for New York State, which now has three two basic requirements:

(1)   Officiant must be ordained by an established church

(2)   Officiant must hand over their firstborn child

(3)   Officiant must be registered with the NYC Marriage Bureau

Phill is a Presbyterian by faith, but the Presbyterian Church has strict guidelines for ordainment, i.e. four years in a seminary, two year application process, one year continuing education, etc. And while we respect the Presbysterian Church and its policies and all, 2E’s will likely wise up and leave me before October 2^nd, 2018.

A Google search of “getting ordained online” or any similar phrasing leads you to the United Life Church, more commonly known as the ULC. The ULC, headquartered in Modesto, CA, has been ordaining the masses since God knows when. There are no particular qualifications needed to become a minister – you need only fill out the form (online) and pay a nominal fee. Within weeks, your official ordainment certificate arrives in the mail.

Apparently the ULC is an actual, physical church, though the interior of that church is a mystery. It may very well be a middle-aged man in pajamas, sitting in front of a computer and beside a giant pile of money. This too may be the case for the Church of Dude-ism, which – as part of the ordainment certificate package – also presents its newly ordained ministers with a copy of The Big Lebowski or Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, alternatively. Sadly, since 2005, New York State has chosen not to honor ordainments presented by the United Life Church. I suppose they were tipped off by their slogan (“Over 1 Million Served”) and the Write-In-Your-Religion line on the certificate.

So we continue our hunt for the ideal online church – one that is lenient in its practices but appears authentic and legitimate and religious. And comes with a free DVD. Preferably Bill and Ted.

Inspiration #53

Groom Points Update

Being that this was my first and only Christmas as a groom, I knew instinctively that I had to step it up a notch this year. In the same way I've learned to bump up the moral support these past few months, I felt I needed to bump up 2E's gift as well. 

I sat in the lobbies of thousands of nail salons, hair salons and strangely miscellaneous salons, flipping through magazines, talking to strange women, hunting down inspiration. At last, I came across the following bar graph:

The good news is that the graph didn't specify a type, style, cost or color; in that I was very fortunate. With this kind of ambiguity, she'd be pleased with any old boot. Polyester. Pink. Rain.

The bad news is that I already had that $25 Sizzler card from the previous year ... really would've loved to re-gift that.

Nevertheless, once the gifts were unwrapped and the boots were on, we were both pleased as punch. She has a new pair of leather zip-ups with twin winding ruffles; and I have 105 points of leniency (100 for the boots themselves and 5 additional points for the surprise factor), which I can choose to drag out over the next month or splurge immediately on a day off with the boys.

Boys -- get suited up. We're going to Walmart.

Inspiration #52

And only about 97% of the 6% of men who propose over the phone get rejected over the phone.

A Christmas Miracle (from the EuroPeans)

While my true purpose as a blogger is to share tips, anecdotes and inspiration with the groom community, I can't deny the handful of women out there who are as lost and helpless as us guys. So men, you may want to take the day off. Ladies, you won't want to sit this one out. Literally.

Enter my sister, who was anxious on this Christmas evening in Royal Palm Beach to show me a new website ... something she's discovered recently ... something I'm going to love. What she shows me is the Go-Girl, an innovative new product that allows women to pee standing up ... a concept European women have been standing behind for years. In the words of their spokeswoman,

"With Go-Girl ... the world is your urinal."

Observe the unique tip design. And too, let's remind ourselves what else has a tip:

While us boys have grown accustomed to urinating in filthy gas station bathrooms, alleyways and plastic bottles (and sometimes, after a night of drinking, on any given suburban street), women don't have the luxury due to God's intelligent design. Enter the Go-Girl, the small, discreet and mysteriously hygienic pee funnel that makes camping, concerts and foreign travel THAT much easier.

While I haven't yet introduced the idea to 2E's, I'm not sure she'll buy into it ... but she might consider buying it for her trusty bridesmaids. After all, what better than a neon pink female urination device (affectionately, a FUD) to show your love, gratitude and appreciation on your wedding day. Plus, their catch phrases are genius:

"Because life's greatest adventure shouldn't be finding a bathroom."

For ladies who may be tempted, you can find their website here, and you won't want to miss their demo video. The only truly unfortunate detail (aside from the fact, as my sister puts it, that this urine detour-ant is actually a "faux penis") is that Christmas has already come and gone. Gifts have been opened. The opportunity has been pissed away. Literally.

Oh well. Thank god for Valentine's Day.

Inspiration #51

Ho Ho Hotels

Imagine you're in a tunnel. Looking in one direction, you see a bright, too harsh white light, beckoning you ... its radiance nearly suffocating ... its sheer nothingness overwhelming. At the other end of the tunnel is the process of securing a block of discounted rooms for your destination wedding.

Run.

Run toward the white light.

Yes, I know what they said in Poltergeist, but never mind that. I'm not messing around. Whatever the white light is, I guarantee it's better than that other thing. Seriously. Don't be a hero.

--

There's a man at the hotel that is providing accommodations for our wedding guests. This man is the guest relations coordinator for group reservations. We'll call the man Chuck. 2E's has been on the phone with Chuck almost daily for the past month, trying to decipher the hotel's cryptic block-o-rooms policy, hoping to reduce our not-yet-reduced-enough rate and (finally) managing to secure a reasonable contract.  It's been an uphill battle to say the least.

Chuck can be pleasant but is never very bright. He can appear courteous but is never truly concerned. He asks for our trust and, in turn, gives us guff for every harmless question or concern. In the wedding planning community, he's a gem in an ocean of very similar gems.

Chuck is topaz.

CHUCK: Chuck here.
GUEST: Hi Chuck, I'd like to book a room under the 1E's/2E's wedding block...?
CHUCK: (silence)
GUEST: Hello?
CHUCK: Fiiiiiiiine. Let me look it up. (minutes later) What kind of room?
GUEST: The King Suite.
CHUCK: (elongated groan)
GUEST: So ... can I book it with you, or...?
CHUCK: Let me look it up. (hours later) Fiiiiiiiiiine.

But we've grown to love Chuck. We had to. After all, we will be spending the next ten months in constant contact with the guy. Every time a guest of ours has a booking issue, Chuck will be there. Every time there's a cop beatin' up a guy, Chuck will be there. Every time he gives someone the incorrect rate, ... well, we'll be there. Calling Chuck. And Chuck will be there. Or perhaps his voicemail. Either way.

2E's and I are fortunate this week in that we get to spend the holidays with our respective families and answer all wedding-related questions, 98% of which are hotel-related. We'll address all issues and clarify all misconceptions, particularly for those relatives who are convinced that DUMBO is either an imaginary place or one inspired by the 1941 Disney classic.

Dad is in the kitchen as we speak, cutting up the ham with what could very well be a chainsaw; my siblings are nibbling on sweets and homemade jello; and my niece is curled up in the bed beside the makeshift desk that I'm working at. And in a few hours, in the midst of opening presents, one of them may ask teasingly, So how daunting is this whole wedding process? And I'll say,

"Well, just imagine you're in a tunnel..."

Inspiration #50

The CFHFP: Session IV

Dear Madman,
You know how, when you graduate from high school and college, there are counselors and advisers present to help you with the transition? To guide you through the next phase? How come there isn't a complimentary service like that for newlyweds? What are your two cents on that?

Thanks,
Erin from Downtown LA

p.s. A whole week without a post? Que pasa?

---

Dear Erin,

Thanks for reading! And please forgive the week-long absence. Like millions of other Americans out there who were raised Catholic but now have no religious leanings because we cling to our computers instead of a higher being ... I have become engrossed in the Christmas shopping spirit, surfing Amazon for hours at a time and, for certain gifts, having to leave the house and make an in-person purchase. Absurd how the world works, isn't it?

And absurd too about the serious lack of preparation for the married life. You bring up a great point. The officiant reminds the bride and groom about the importance of promise and love and commitment, perhaps sharing an anecdote or two (at which point all the married folks in the audience collectively nod and smile), but that's it. No real advice. No meat and potatoes.

Sure, there's pre-marriage counseling, but let's face it: in this AWSM economic plateau, most couples can't afford both a wedding and private counseling. It's one or the other. And that conversation goes like this:

1E: Honey, I was looking over our finances, and I wanted to ask you something.
2E's: Of course, sweetheart, you can ask me anything.
1E: Well, I thought we could benefit from some pre-marriage couple's counseling, but we can't realistically afford both that and the wedding. So I just wanted to ask you which is more important to you.
2E's: Which WHAT is more important to me?
1E: Um, (suddenly sweating) the pre-marriage couple's counseling, or ... (1st cough) the ... (2nd cough) wedding?
2E's: (silence)
1E: I mean, I'm not saying the wedding isn't important.
2E's: (silence with eyebrow raise)
1E: The wedding is very important to both of us. I just didn't know if it was as important as the marriage lasting.
2E's: (silent eyebrow raise with angry arm cross)
1E: That's not to say ... of course we're going to be married a long time. Until we die, in fact. I just wanted to give you the option because I know you care about it more than me.
2E's: (silent arms-crossed eyebrow raise with frosted "I own you" gaze)
1E: You know what, I'm gonna stop now while I -
2E's: Good idea.

Of course, there are other options out there aside from exorbitant therapy from licensed professionals, like:


1. Seek out un-exorbitant therapy from unlicensed professional-seeming people through sites like Craigslist. Key words and phrases to look out for are "insurance not accepted," "fee negotiable" and "I've been doing this for a long time."

2. Read a book on the issue. For centuries, people have found motivation in the pages of self-improvement books with topics like weight loss, guitar and witchcraft. And let's be honest ... if you can read a book and cast a spell, you can certainly save your marriage.

3. Ask a married friend for advice. Buy him or her a drink(s) and let them spill their guts. And don't shoot for perfection -- friends with rocky marriages will have the most to bring to the table.

4. Make coupons for the future. One that reads, Let's Pick This Up Again After We've Had Some Ice Cream, or even better, I'm Not Actually Sorry But Just Pretend That I Am. You can print these out together before the wedding and them use them against each other once the knot's been tied. Crises diverted! Marriage saved!!

Of course, the alternative is to find that counsel in the person standing across from you at the altar. Shed that anxiety and learn to be as honest and open as possible long before you say your vows. In no time at all you'll be sharing names and bank accounts; why not get some practice in early by sharing your fears, hesitations and reservations with the person who knows you better than you know yoursefl. Step out of planning mode every once in a while and clue your partner in to how you feel, whether that feeling is "I don't know how to be a good husband" or "I want to wear knee-high leather boots under my wedding dress."

And in the instance you slip and say something stupid --

1E: I do care about the wedding, I just didn't know you needed a bouquet.

-- maybe have that always-handy coupon cut-out and on-hand that reads, "Men aren't perfect. Thank god you are."

Works every time.

-Madman

Inspiration #49

Vamos-A-Mrrg

After ordering my holiday-inspired Peppermint Mocha yesterday morning, I stood by the promotional table they had set up at my local Starbucks, admiring the "VIA" Ready Brew instant packets and gift boxes.

Later than night, at the drive-thru window at In-N-Out Burger, the pubescent girl at the second window asked if I would be "eating in the car tonight." With a boyish embarrassment and a pinch of intrigue, I said, "Yes...?" She proceeded to hand me a paper placemat and a small, rectangular cardboard box, designed for ideal in-car consumption.

Sometime between these events (and perhaps partly inspired by Jason Reitman's Up in the Air), I realized that 90% of our daily life comes with a to-go option. Morning coffee, lunch, dinner. Entertainment. The dustbuster we own is essentially a vacuum on-the-go. Our laptop ... a desktop on-the-go. When I was a teenager, my mother and I graduated from Sunday mass to an occasional visit to the small, rotund Chapel in Coral Gables. I loved the Chapel. The Chapel was church on-the-go.

And so I imagined what a wedding on-the-go might be ... what that would entail, whether it would be more or less complicated, and (most importantly) what it would be called.

Giving it a name

1. I figured airport-favorite Chili's To-Go was a good place to start. It's clear and direct. It's Chili's, but To-Go. Makes sense.

2. But Starbucks' VIA brings up a good point. You want an international and cultural appeal. So perhaps we'll change the To-Go part to Vamos. I'm all about Spanish influence.

3. Last, we want to be sure to give it a hip, cool vibe. If we were marketing this, we wouldn't want to leave out the 16-21 demographic. So let's take the word Marriage and teenage-ize it. For instance, let's do what rappers do and take all the vowels out. Marriage. Mrrg. Yes.

OK, so we have our brand name: Vamos-A-Mrrg. Now all we need to do is figure out how it works.

Figuring out how it works

Here's the pitch. Let's say you and your 2E's want to take off for the weekend and get married ... only you have this thing about municipal buildings and she's not the Vegas-type. And your budget is whatever you can scrounge together from sofa cushions and that Ziploc bag marked LAUNDRY QUARTERS.

What you need to do is pack an overnight bag (preferably carry-on) with only the key ingredients for a romantic eloping getaway, which would be: 

a laptop - on which you can plan out the weekend, send out last-minute invites, register for gifts online, get an island native to register as an officiant, update Facebook status and upload photos 

paper and pen - for the vows (two airline-supplied napkins will do) 

clothes - this season is all about anti-tradition, so neglect the dress and the suit and instead pack matching white t-shirts and blue jeans 

the rings - there are millions of things -- thousands of them household items -- that have a ring shape, so find two of them and pack them 

catering - you can't trust the local dives, so pack some fruit, granola bars and canned foods (and bring some for the island native, cause god knows you aren't paying him)

the accommodations - on a $12.38 budget, you and your bride won't be staying in the Royal Hawaiian Honeymoon suite ... so roll up that sleeping bag for 1 (which we all know can fit 2) and lash it to the bottom of your knapsack boy scout-style 

condoms - if you're on that tight a budget, you're not on birth control

Branching out and making $ off of it

Eventually we would want to market the idea on a grand scale, providing not only the concept but the overnight bag itself. Going for a sleek look, we'd probably want to base our design on the McDonald's apple pie container.

It's hip, recognizable and easy to produce. Plus, everybody loves the two concave ends. We don't know why they're there, but it makes us feel warm inside ... which will be the tail end of our new slogan.

VAMOS-A-MRRG

Get Mrrd in a Hurry. Feel Wrm Inside.

Inspiration #48: Star Wars Groom n' Go Bath Set

*Made with REAL French cocoa powder!

From this point on, I'll be starting my mornings with a quick browse on BridalPeople.com, a one-stop online shop for all things wedding-related. Check out their page heading:

Honeymoon Necessities 

Before the newlyweds embark on their fabulous tropical getaway, set them sailing with some of our fun and practical Honeymoon Necessities. We've got everything from flip flops and picnic baskets to lavish lingerie and bath supplies. Give the happy couple our matching His and Her Honeymoon Sandals for their week on the beach, or our delightfully naughty Just Married Do Not Disturb Door Sign. Choose from other fun accessories such as personalized Bride Baseball Caps and Engraveable Luggage Tags.

2E's will occasionally confess to a wedding-related nightmare: the one where no one shows up; the one where too many people show up; the one where everyone shows up drunk.

As for me, it must be three nights out of each week that I wake up at 2:00AM, panting, sweating -- worried not about attendance or alcoholics, but rather tortured by a twisted dream in which 2E's and I had taken off for our tropical getaway honeymoon without our delightfully naughty door sign.

When I think honeymoon, I don't think relaxation. Or sunshine. Or "spending time with each other." Hell no. I think:

• camisole & panty set
• newlywed flip flops (in pink and blue so I know whose is whose)
• multiple personalized tote bags
• multiple terry cloth robes
• matching newlywed ball caps (with "groom" and "bride" written on them so I remember who is who)
  
• chocolate body paint & accompanying body paintbrush 
• chocolate body powder & accompanying purple ostrich feather (made with real French cocoa powder)
  
• nose hair trimmers

Somebody please stop me before I max out a credit card on disturbingly stereotypical merchandise. I mean, this will be "a night we'll never forget" ... and it's perfectly logical to have an embroidered door hanger that tells the other hotel guests precisely that.

Inspiration #47

OM(a)G

6:00AM wake-up call.
7:00AM make-up.
8:00AM photographs.
9:00AM chaos.

No, it's not our wedding day itinerary -- it's the chaotic breakdown of the morning of 2E's O Magazine shoot.

2E's and I woke at the crack of dawn to dress up (but not too "up") and to clean (but not clean "up"). After all, in a few hours we would welcome renowned de-clutterer Peter Walsh into our home to gasp and gawk at the horrific disaster zone that was our desk.

No surprise that 2E's took to the camera like a moth to a flame ... a moth that had been primped and pinned and sleeked and styled, had its nails done, had its hair did, and then was positioned in a well-lit room. That moth never had it so good.

Like a good groom, I provided the following free of charge:

 (a) Starbucks refreshment
 (b) man duties (i.e. relocating office supplies; locating hammer and nails; etc.)
 (c) concierge services (i.e. showing our guests to the bathroom; pulling out take-out menus; etc.)
 (d) dustbuster services
 (e) unlimited moral support

10AM-4PM was a bit of a blur. People in and out ... things brought in, things taken out ... take-out. And again, I handled a great deal of the grunt work: some hardware locating, some office supplies re-locating, and so on.

The team was out the door around 4:30PM, and it was our first chance to breathe, look around and appreciate the complete re-envisioning of our space. Peter Walsh compartmentalized our entire lives, breaking our "office" into five distinct categories (two of those five being wedding-related); and after providing us with his own, fresh from overseas, Peter Walsh-brand furniture, he taught us how to keep things organized and in order -- even when there isn't a world class de-clutterer present.

When Peter spoke, we listened. We followed him around like over-anxious schoolchildren, wanting to pick his brain about this and that and pick up spare tips that he happened to spill. From him we learned amazing things like, Your space is limited to its space; when you get something new, you have to throw something away.

Peter even organized my bookshelf, which prior to his visit looked something like a mini-library that had been throw together in a disaster relief effort. This morning I sat on the couch and stared at his handiwork. I'm now able to admire them and pull one out without inciting a chain reaction.

The entire team worked tirelessly and without complaint, hauling furniture up and down two flights of stairs and never compromising, never settling for "OK." 2E's and I felt like we'd won the lottery, only we didn't have to leave home to collect the winnings.

Thanks, props and all other appreciative nouns to Beau Haralson from Office Max, who provided us with far more than peace of mind; O writer Amanda Robb, who documented the proceedings in her chic, vintage notepads; make-up artist Mary Klimek; Peter's right-hand man, Barry; photographer's assistant Hans; Christina Weber, photo director at O Mag, for connecting all the pieces; Kathy Nguyen, our woman on the inside; and our dear friend and blog enthusiast Teresa, without whom we would never be organized.

As for the article ... it will appear in the March issue of O, with crisp, otherworldly photographs by Dave Lauridsen, who made our home look like it was worth living in.

And now ... to sell our couch and purchase a new one. Hell no we're not living with this old thing.

Dishonorable Groom

My mother snipped the following article from The Miami Herald (apparently from Section G - Totally Random International "News"). It's the perfect follow-up to yesterday's post on New York supergroom Don Walling.

According to the article, Edwin Ortiz was tying the knot as part of a mass wedding in Miraflores, Peru, when the ceremony was interrupted by his ex's relatives. Ortiz was dragged outside and physically assaulted before the offenders were hauled away.

Here are the reasons it sucks to be Edwin Ortiz.

The reasons it sucks to be Edwin Ortiz

1. By "ex's relatives," I mean to say his ex's female relatives.
2. By "ex's female relatives," I mean to say his ex's mother, sisters and aunt.
3. The female relatives were described as "burly."   
4. Apparently his ex joined in the beating once they dragged Edwin outside.
5. Edwin fathered two kids with his ex.
6. Edwin registered as a bachelor with no kids. 
7. All of this was caught on camera.
8. Assuming his 2E's still wanted to go through with it, their wedding day will always be known as that day when Edwin got his ass kicked by several burly Peruvian women with a bone to pick.

Lessons we've learned from Edwin Ortiz

1. Don't do that.
2. For some, a mass wedding is a cheaper and more communal alternative to a private ceremony. For others, it's a chance to get married in a hurry before your ex and her female relatives manage to track you down.

Inspiration #46

Honorable Groom

Don Walling is my new hero. His story isn't new, but it's new to me.

I stumbled upon Don's heroic tale on MSNBC under the all-too-popular Weddings tab. Long story short, in the midst of his proposal on the pedestrian walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge, Don's engagement ring fell from his grasp and onto the hectic roadway below.

In front of his 2E's and his 2E's parents and siblings, you'd think that a groom in Don's situation would shrug it off, laugh at the absurdity of it all and perhaps cry a little while distracting the throng of onlookers with a shiny object. But Don Walling did what most wouldn't have the balls to do. He somehow managed to climb down onto the lower roadway, dodge traffic and locate the ring without killing himself.

And I thought I had it rough -- keeping the ring hidden in the inner lining of our backpack as we cruised, planed and trained through Europe. Had I -- as 2E's and I stood in that alleyway on the Rue Notre-Seigneur in Brussels -- managed to drop the ring down a sewer or a pipe or any other inconvenient hole in the ground, I may very well have shrugged. Maybe laughed. And then certainly pointed out the shiny metal awning above her head so I could cry a little.

Inspiration #45