Six Word Saturday

Just changed the number to SIX

Which is appropriate for Six Word Saturnday...

But what am I talking about?  That number on the side for the races I've done.  I just changed my 5k numbers to 6.  I've ran PLENTY of 5k's on my own... but that count on the side of my blog is for certified, real races.  And today, I just did another 5k... a nice difference from my last race of 13.1 miles.

This was the Throo the Zoo race which was fun.  It had a light hearted feel with lots of kiddos running with parents ... & Girls on the Run was there, so lots of little girls with their running partners.  Kids just make me smile so I had so much fun talking to all the kids, cheering them on, telling them they were doing so good.  You say that to a kid & you watch what happens...their face beams... every time...

It started off rainy, then it stopped, then it rained harder (which felt like heaven at this point of the race) & then the sun came out... add in running through the zoo & it was just a great way to start a day.

So, now I'm off to see which race is coming up next so I can keep those numbers going up in race counts...

(Still in my sweaty Race shirt... keeping the visor on.. my hair is a sweaty, frizzy mess)

Blogger Boo-Boo?

So I was excited to jump back into Friday Fragments...

only to see I couldnt get onto Blogger... & that all the other Blogger-users were down too...

Now, I'm just afraid to post anything until I see its all taken care of.

I see my last post is gone... & I keep hearing that others are missing posts...

so I'll just hang out until I see we're at 100%

I think it all happened because the world went off kilter when James got booted off American Idol... that's my theory anyways.  Haley & her horrible attitude is behind it all...

Allergies?

I've never really had horrible allergies. 

I know I'm allergic to grass.  If I touch it, it's not but a few minutes that I itch & my skin turns red.  I HATE GRASS... but as for the other stuff I may be allergic to, I have no idea.  Never been tested - never really had a need.

But I think my allergies are getting worse the older I get... is that possible?

So a question for all you that do suffer from allergies... can they make your eyes hurt... feel like they are on FIRE!!!!... make them feel heavy & achy & just plain funky?  "Funky" is a medical term, isnt it?

I feel like when they hurt, I can press on the inside of my nose next to my eyes & it relieves the pain... or if I put dry eye drops in, it helps ease it.  So many weird things...

Help me out allergy people... I heard this morning too on the news that the pollen is the highest its been in such a long time in this area.

I will add that this past week, I've felt like someone has punched me in the face so I know my sinuses have been acting weird....

I also used the Neti Pot lately to clear our my sinuses ... only to feel the liquid literally go to the back of my head.  BACK OF MY HEAD!!!  That was a crazy sensation!  I ended up standing up & then could feel it running back down & it went down my throat... how gross is that? 

The Neti Pot freaks me out making me aware of how messed up my sinuses & ears really are...

Gotta run & put more drops in my eyes before I rub them out of their sockets....

Do you suffer with allergies?  Do they bother your eyes?  What's some home remedies for relief? 

Following in the footsteps...

When you run in a race, if you walk past the start line, you see the REAL RUNNERS...

I mean the ones who run this thing to WIN it...

I'm talking the ones who are running like their lives depend on it...

The ones who are nothing but a thin muscle with zero body fat...

& since that last statement just totally disqualified me (as the other statements did as well, but that last one seals the deal) - I venture behind these people... where the "normal" people are out to just live through the race... where the goal is to just FINISH... those are my peeps right there!

I saw a documentary about running marathons one time that talked about how cool it was though... for the "normal" people to actually still be in the same race as these elite runners.  This man even said,

"How amazing is it that we literally get to follow in these amazing athletes footprints...."

... & I always think of that now when I run in a race.  That even though they are WAAYYYYY ahead of me - the person who just WON the race just went the same path I am going...

I am stepping in the same places they have been...& although later (....much later....), I still cross that same finish line.

Then I was out running on my own last night... in the heat & humidity... & with new shorts that were a nightmare.  Seriously!  I posted on Daily Mile  yesterday that I coulda ripped them off & ran home in my underwear - that's how miserable they were...

Anyhoooo.... as I'm running, I'm thinking, there is no footsteps to follow here... its just me on this road.  No one to follow.  No path that was laid out ahead of me...

& then it was like a voice inside of my head just spoke to my heart...

It reminded me that there is ONE to ALWAYS follow... one who laid out a path we should ALL follow... to that awesome Finish Line where He will be waiting...

What a path to run... what footsteps to follow...

(I found this t-shirt... I may have to get this)

May my feet follow Jesus with every step I take... with every race in my life...

"...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." -Hebrews 12:1-2

Mother's Day 2011

So it was the beginning of warm weather around here for Mother's Day... but no rain!  YIPEE! 

I headed to my mom's to celebrate Mother's Day & toted my camera with me because I knew there would be lots of picture worthy moments... so here is what Mother's Day looked like when we got there...

Before we ate, there was time to go play...

Time to swing....

Time to ride the hobby horse they rode as kiddos...

We do live in Louisville, Kentucky... & it was the Kentucky Derby this weekend afterall....

Time to hide from Aunt Bec who wont quit with the camera...(is she flashing a gang sign?... should I be worried?)

Then it was time to go eat... we had some Mexican & I had the yummiest Spinach/Mushroom quesadilla.  I've never had anything that good in my LIFE...

but we got home & then it was time to get the playing back on...

to riding bikes

to climbing to the top of the swing set....

To the girls first ice cream truck adventure.  Madi was too afraid to go up to it.  But Sophia was so excited, holding my hand, jumping up & down saying, "I've never gotten ice cream off of a truck... can we get a truck?  Then we can have ice cream anytime we want"

But wait, its Mother's Day... so let's get some pictures with their Yaya (my mom)

Look at those blue eyes....

my dad couldnt be left out... just think of it as a Father's Day preview...

& because I didnt have a picture of me & mom, I let dad handle my camera & take a picture.  Not too bad... the original picture was like a mile away - but thank goodness for technology of cropping to zoom in :)

So it was a wonderful Mother's Day to say the least...

& if you hung in through all the pictures, I applaud you...

... & now I'm craving another "Push-up" from an ice cream truck...

Project 365... 2011: Week 19

Sunday - May 1 - We're not going to DIE!!! ... but someone did! .... Yep, if you look at my post from last week on what I THOUGHT the news report was going to be about, it didnt come true.  But the news that Bin Laden was dead came across the TV..... what a weird surge of emotions.  So thankful they captured this insane man... so afraid for the thought of what an eternity for someone like that could be.  I felt like this was a historic moment, so had to snap the TV to capture just a moment of it...

Monday - May 2 - Youth Dinner at Chuy's ... we got a Chuy's around here.  A Mexican place that just opened & has a line out the door everyday.  But we ended up getting a table quickly for our youth leader dinner.  It was so YUMMY!!! I got a Burrito "as big as yo head" ... really!  That was its name.  But this was the ceiling of the room we sat in... how fun!

Tuesday - May 3 - Rain just wont stop.... it just feels like the sun isnt ever going to shine again. 

Wednesday - May 4 - This is what happens when you dont stop scratching your ears... yep, you get the "CONE OF SHAME" ... Poor Buffy.  She is the most clumsy dog anyways, but put this on & she knocked over every chair in the kitchen, my desk chair, knocked over the vacuum & laundry basket... & would RAM it in my knees 104 times... I think she did that out of spite...

Thursday - May 5 - Half Marathons calling my name.... There are two new half marathons coming up in the Fall.  One on October 30 - the next on November 12 - so 2 weeks apart from each other.  I know for sure I'll do one of them.  But my running buddy, Corey, has told me to do BOTH... BOTH?  At first I thought he was nuts... but I keep pondering the idea.  I felt really good after this past race... even started running again on Monday.  So why not?  If I keep up training, then by Fall, I should be able to do 13 miles, then 2 weeks later, do it again... Ricky only tells me I've done gone & lost my mind...I believe his exact words to me were "Don't die. OK?  You're not that young anymore" ... I'll hold my comments to myself on that...

Friday - May 6 - Happy Hour.... I love when Starbucks has their Frappachino Happy Hours.  From 3-5 they are half price.  Julie has gotten me hooked on them, & the reloading your gift card for points through Starbucks.  So when I go with my little gift card, even though I've paid money to load it up back up, it doesnt feel like I'm spending anything... Plus, its HALF OFF!  Its all just a mind game, isnt it?  But its a yummy mind game.

Saturday - May 7 - A Surprise!!!!! .... I go to the front porch & see a package.  Its from Amazon... when I saw the package, I just thought it was something else I ordered that I didnt remember.  It happens... a LOT!  (more then I care to admit)...But I open it up & what it is?  This book that is part of Twilight!!!!  I dont remember ordering this!  .... Come to find out, Julie had sent it to me for Mother's Day....  that made me tear up.  Seriously... it's that easy to make me cry.  What a fun surprise!  So unexpected.... THANK YOU JULIE! 

Hope you've all had great weeks... full of sunshine.. & celebrating your moms, or letting your children celebrate you!

Mother's Day isnt easy for everyone....

There are posts everywhere in Blog-World on Mother's Day right now...  posts of rainbows & butterflies & glitter & Unicorns...

And while I do have the most awesome momma EVER!!!!... I mean EVER... I just wanted to post this today for those struggling with Mother's Day coming up.  I have so many bloggy-friends that I read daily that are struggling with the day... I think its so easy to forget how hard Mother's Day can be for women in a world where other women look at you with 3 heads if you dont have children....

So this post is for those who have lost a child... through a passing after the baby was born from illness or sickness, or even the cruel disease of SIDS... or through miscarriage, before getting to even hold that little one... & even for those who live with the regret of abortion & the decision they made.... loss is loss... its all painful & hurts...

& even those suffering from infertility that still feels the hole of "loss" in their life...

...this poem is pretty powerful ... And it's in honor of all the women who have any of these losses...

My shoes...

I am wearing these shoes..

They are ugly...uncomfortable...

I hate my shoes.

Each day I wear them & each day I wish I had another pair.

Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.... Yet, I continue to wear them

I get funny looks wearing these shoes.  They are looks of sympathy.

I can tell in other's eyes that they are glad they are MY shoes & not theirs...

They never talk about my shoes.

To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.

To truly understand these shoes, you must walk in them. 

But once you put them on, you can never take them off.

I now realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.  There are many pairs in this world.

Some woman are like me & ache daily as they try to walk in them.

Some have learned to walk in them so that they dont quite hurt so much. 

Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think about how much they hurt.

No woman deserves to wear these shoes. 

Yet, because of these shoes, I am a stronger woman....

These shoes have given me the strength to face anything....

They have made me who I am. 

I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has loss in her life....

I think I may watch too many movies? Or may be a tad dramatic?

This past Sunday, I'm enjoying a great night of watching NeNe & Starr Jones go after each other...

(Anyone watching the craziness that is Celebrity Apprentice this year? .... its been wacko all the way...)

Then at the bottom of the screen, they say that the President will be coming on with an important message at 10:30.

Ricky comes running in asking if I saw that the President was about to announce something...

We turn the TV over to Fox News, CNN... all the news stations... & they're all saying, "We have no idea, but this must be important for the President to come on this late, on a Sunday evening..."

Ricky looks at me... 'What do you think it is?"

... with everything inside of me, I looked at him & said, "We're going to be hit by a meteor & we're all going to die"

"WHAT?" was Ricky's reaction...

I immediately came up with reasons this could happen... why else would the President come on this late?  On a Sunday?  When most people on the East Coast was getting ready to fall asleep?  It couldnt be good news...we were all going to die.

Well, let me tell you... my art of convincing people must be strong because next thing I know, Ricky is freaking out thinking we're all going to die too...

...but then we heard the word it was about Bin Laden...

WHEW!!!  That was a close call....

We're going to LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... no meteor on the path to destroy us all!!!

Then Ricky yelled at me for scaring him to death...

I told him to blame Morgan Freeman.....& all those movies like "Deep Impact" & "Armageddon"

I was waiting for Bruce Willis to be in on this press conference ready to take up in space to blow up the  meteor..

So I guess the question is...Think I watch too many movies?

...And you wonder why I actually sing & dance in life on a daily basis?  Because Disney movies are my favorite

... which is much better then movies that show the world ending....

Get Back up...

Yeah - I could think of 100 different things about getting knocked down & getting back up again...

So much in that idea & that sentence...

But I really think God was preparing me for the "trip up" that happened to me on the Half Marathon last weekend.

How so?

I saw this video come into my email a few days ago... & I watched it... & I watched it & watched it again.

It is a-MAZ-ing...

A 2:39 video that shows a girl who has trained so hard for a race... only to trip & fall...

But she gets back up again...

and she WINS!!!! (Sorry if I gave the ending away... it's still amazing to watch...)

But truly, I watched this video like every day over the past few days... & when I had my incident Saturday, I honestly thought about it...it came to mind... & I had to laugh that God made sure I had this image in my mind when sometime similar happened to me.

Believe me, I didnt think it meant I was going to WIN the race... but I did win MY race... the one that I was in against myself... the one that had one devil on my shoulder saying, "Call someone to pick you up - this race is done" ... & the angel on the other shoulder saying "Get up - you can finish strong"

... so watch this video... & know when you get knocked down in life (& you WILL... again & again) - be encouraged to know whatever race you're in... you CAN stand back up... & you CAN finish & win!!!



(If you're reading in Reader - you cant see the video... go ahead... come to the site to watch the video - its worth your time) ;)

My 3rd Half Marathon... what an EXPERIENCE!!!

I'M ALIVE!!!! ...  & I think the only down side of this race is a blister the size of a half dollar in the CENTER of my right foot (OUCH).... & a sun burn.  Ricky looked at me when I met him for lunch afterwards & he was like "Whooooooo - I didnt know you freckled so bad" ... Hello Mr. Sun - thank you for aging me.

But it was a half marathon full of experiences.  How can it not be when you're surrounded by 15,000 other runners (doesnt that blow your mind? 15,000... it blows my mind everytime I see every person running, hear the pounding of their feet)

As most of you know - I was nervous about it.  And thank you sweet friends for the encouragement... you have no idea how much it meant to me.

(Getting ready to leave... everyone still sleeping in my house - even the dogs... but I'm ready to get this party started!)

I got up early on race day, gave myself time to not have to rush... I drove downtown, found a parking garage that was semi-close.  I always have to laugh when its another few miles to & from my car after a race...but I got to the starting line right as they were setting off the wheelchair racers.  Then it was 2 minutes till we were off... no time wasted for me. 

The gun goes off & I'm across the start line... going pretty well - going fast - feeling GREAT.  It was a beautiful morning!  The sun was shining, the sky was blue - there were even hot air balloons flying overhead for the Hot Air Balloon race that was also going on at the same time.  What a way to start the race....

Then it happened...

2.68 miles in... Why do I know that exact mile?  Because I saw it on my watch as I was down on the ground... yes.. THE GROUND.

So what happened?  It was some tight running on some of these downtown streets - well, some guy (Mr.Jerk is what I now call him) came up behind me - his foot caught my shoe from behind causing my shoe to literally FLY OFF my foot, causing me to trip...luckily, I was on the side of the road.  If I went down in the middle of the crowd, I would have been TRAMPLED.  First thing I did was to make sure nothing was twisted - or even broken.  I brushed myself off & then went to find my shoe... which 15,000 runners were trampling... & how do you jump in front of them to retrieve it? 

No one helped... Mr. Jerk didnt even say he was sorry - just looked at me as I went down & kept on running. Geez people... ever hear of manners?

I finally retrieved my shoe - went to the sidewalk & sat down to put it on.  As I put it on, all the nerves I felt over the past few days just kicked in.... I couldnt believe this just happened to me.  Time - PRECIOUS TIME - was just clicking right by while I'm trying to find my stupid shoe & get it back on. 

I get it laced up & then get back in the flow of people... but my spirit was crushed a little.  I kept thinking about how this just ruined my whole race... my pace was off - my spirit was stepped on.... & not to mention, I was scared to death someone else was going to run into me again.  (Which by the way, someone ran so close to me on mile 9 they knocked my water bottle out of my hand.... am I invisible?)

I had to laugh because the very next song on my ipod was Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush "DONT GIVE UP".... "Dont give up - I know you can make it...." Thank you Lord for simple small blessings. 

I told myself this isnt about anything but me finishing so I got my pep back in me.  It helped that I ran into a running friend at mile 4 who was running his first marathon.  Seeing the pride on his face made me snap back into shape....

... & I did decent... end up making up some time after the fall... never really hit "the wall" this race & just enjoyed the rest of the run.

I got to mile 10 & saw a lady who looked a little worn.  I looked at her & said "We're almost there"... next thing I know, she ran up to me & said, "You're my partner to the end"... we ended up talking about church, youth ministry, her 14 yr old daughter, friends - who we ended up actually having in COMMON - (how funny is that?!?!) .  She told me "I seriously prayed to God for help to get me through the last few miles because I'm struggling so bad & then you came"... & we finished it together... finished strong on that last quarter mile too!  GO ALLISON.. great meeting you!

But I felt better then ever in a half marathon... I actually SPRINTED to the end.  The first year, I was almost CRAWLING.. the 2nd year, my legs were like lead... this year, I SPRINTED!  (I even ran back to the parking garage at the end... wh wh what?!?!?... training works I guess)

I ended up taking off about 14 minutes off my time from last year (YIPEE!!!) - but I didnt hit my goal.  I wanted to get under 3 hours (yes, I know I'm slow... I'm ok with that - gotta remember, my first year was at 3:45) & I came in at 3:06 ... 6 minutes off!!! 6 MINUTES!  And I just kept thinking that if that "shoe incident" didnt happen, I woulda made it... Yes, I sat & pouted for a little bit.  DANG IT!  6 MINUTES!  UGH!!!!!!!... oh well, at least I have a goal for next year already.

I then walked up to watch some of the other finishers only to find my friend's wife waiting her husband while he was knocking out his first full marathon.  I decided to wait with his family & watch him come in.... & I got to see so many wonderful people cross the finish line.  People crossing with pain on their face - people who looked like they were on a stroll - people who had their kids run the last little bit to the finish line with them... it was awesome... & then, the topper of it all...

I see a young man in a wheelchair - a team of people around him.  They stop the wheelchair... they bring him a walker & he STANDS UP... & he ends up WALKING to the finish line.  It was slow.... it looked painful... he was struggling... but he MADE IT!  And the crowd went NUTS!  I just about lost it... I was so inspired.

(sorry - taken with my horrible cell phone... but had to snap this amazing young man!)

Then it happened again.. & again... & again... about 15 times, I saw different people, different ages... all starting in a wheel chair - get up at a point & walk across the finish line.

Ends up, they were all with the Reeves Foundation - formed from Christopher Reeves for people with spinal cord injuries.  Somehow, I ended up next to the lady in charge of this organiztion & we got talking about it.  All of these people flew in just for this race, along with their physical therapists & the people who work with them to get them back on their feet....

Can you say "INSPIRATION"?  What I am whining about my shoe flying off - or loosing a few minutes - when you see these people who dont care about time - just walking across the finish line - no matter what.  I have never seen anything like it... & was so blessed I was there...

Then finally, here came my friend Corey... running for 6 hours, he finished his first full marathon.  I loved seeing his kids run to the gates with their signs & his wife screaming for her husband... It was an honor to witness a friend accomplish such a big goal...

So in the end - it turned out to be a great day.  I saw inspiration all around me actually all day... everything I mentioned, plus little things....

*  A father who was running with his son who was visually impaired... leading him with a band... so cool!

*  Residents of a nursing home sitting in front of their building with their pom poms - so full of smiles & encouragement

* A lady in a wheelchair who was on the side of the road who looked so terribly sad watching everyone... it made me run harder thinking of people who cant run... how blessed I am...

* A man handing out free White Castle sandwiches to runners... & people actually TAKING & EATING them while eating.  (I gagged a bit watching them)

* The University of Louisville campus full of people with shirts that said, "If you're still running, we're still drinking" ... & boy, they sure were.  We had to pass them up on the way down & then again back up & yep, they were STILL drinking.  Remember, this was before 10 am.... they werent stingy either - they were passing out beers to runners who wanted them also

* They have "free beer" tickets on the bottom of the racing bib (...why?  I dont know...) - but a guy was running with a sign on his back that said, "If you dont want your free beer - give me your ticket" - & he was racking up.  He's probably STILL down there drinking beers...

* A sign someone was holding that was my favorite:  "Hey you - complete stranger! I'm proud of you!" ...I even yelled to her that was the best sign all day!

*  The running Elvis's - or Running Elvi as they are known - are always a fun favorite

*  Two ladies were running the FULL MARATHON in Gone with the Wind dresses!  They even had on the bonnets to complete the outfit!!!

* Running into my gorgeous Jazzercise instructor at the end of the race... she's the sweetest, most encouraging lady ever!!!

It really is an experience to be a part of... I've heard the saying, "If you want to WIN a race, run a 100 meter... if you want to EXPERIENCE a race, do a marathon" ... I agree.  Experience is so much part of it... I highly recommend the experience to anyone.

...just make sure you can deal with blisters & sunburns afterwards...

Project 365... 2011: Week 18

Sunday - April 24 - Easter Sunday .... It was a busy day.  I was blessed to do the communion message in our church for Easter so I had to be there for all 3 services.  And two of those services, we had Jr. High Youth Classes... I'm glad we did - it was fun spending Easter with these awesome kiddos.  Here is a picture of one of the games we played... they got their arms criss-crossed & they had to "unravel" without breaking hands... talk about a "close" & "get to know you" kinda game :)

Monday - April 25 - Day after Easter ... you know what that means?  50% off Cadbury Eggs.... Oh sweet chocolate, heavenly bliss.... If I see any that last until 75% off, I'll buy every one of them & freeze them up to last through the year.  Its my favorite piece of chocolate around... probaby a good thing its only once a year its out.

Tuesday - April 26 - Rain, Rain, Go Away.... The rain is CRAZY... & not just rain but STORMS.  I know its nothing like some of the other areas that got smashed with tornados.  We're suffering from flooding though.  CRAZY flooding.  I snapped this sitting on the bridge & you can see even from a distance how high the river is.  Those are actual light poles that line the waterfront park in downtown Louisville. 

Wednesday - April 27 - Buffy headed to the Vet .... she's been having problems with her ears.  We've been flushing her ears for 3 days & it wasnt getting any better so we took her to make sure everything was OK.  Just a ear infection... like I posted on Facebook, "Like Mother... like "dog"hter" .... she always has ear infections just like me... poor thing.  We just have to keep her from scratching her ears - she even gets the skin bleeding where she scratches so hard.  OUCH!!!!  Poor girl hates the vet though.  You can see how anxious she is wating for the door to open.

Thursday - April 28 - A week's difference.... remember my picture in last week's Project 365 of that beautiful flower that bloomed? Yeah - this is it... one week later & its already died.  I thought it still held beauty though...

Friday - April 28 - A Fairy Tale come to life... yep, I got up early & watched the ceremony.  But it was still going on when I had to leave for work.  Thank goodness for the modern age where they play events live on the internet.  I was able to watch the carraige ride & the KISS on the balcony on my computer at work.  So sweet... so beautiful... every little girls dream

Saturday - April 30 - 3rd Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon ... yep - I lived... my 3rd half marathon.  And it didnt happen without drama (of course not...) - I've got a post coming tomorrow with the whole experience of the race.  But you can see here the end result... I lived... & I have my 3rd half marathon medal.  It makes me so proud to wear around my neck when you cross that finish line... Gotta find another race now to enter - I feel  a tad lost now that its over...

Hope you all have had a good week... full of safety from storms...

Royal Wedding... again...

I remember being a little girl.

My mom waking me up early in the morning telling me, "This is history - you'll want to see this"

... & I did... because it was every little girls dream.

A lady in a beautiful gown... marrying a prince... becoming a real life princess.

And I still remember everything about that wedding.

& here it is so many years later.... that Princess has now left this world... her son has grown up & it was his wedding day.

I got up early to watch it before I had to leave for work. 

Ricky kept saying, "I dont understand why anyone cares".... such a man...

When they showed Kate riding in the car with her dad & they said, "This is the last time a father rides with just his daughter... he will watch her become the future Queen of England" .... I got chills

& when William wouldnt turn to look at his bride & they said, "Everyone has now seen the dress... everyone except William.  He is last in the world to see his bride"... who knew William was such a romantic... I got all teary eyed... while Ricky just laughed at me & told me not to be late to work...

I have to say - I expected a wedding dress more in the style of what her sister wore...

But how elegant.  I instantly thought of Grace Kelly myself & then all the comparisons came...

She definitely looked elegant... regal... royal...

I dont know if I'll be alive when William & Kate's child gets married... but if I am, I'll get up & watch again.  Even with Ricky laughing at me....

...now I'm just waiting at my desk at work for that balcony kiss...

I hope "Happily Ever After" is in the future for these two....

Did you watch?  What did you think of the dress?  And how crazy were some of those hats?  (Yes, I'm speaking to you Fergie's daughters... wow!!!)