Y'all make me feel like an imposter when you applaud me for my exercise. LOL! I don't feel committed, but I go a lot more than I used to. I also thought about my evening last night. I realized that had all of that happened 7 months ago, I either wouldn't have gone due to my DH's comments or would have scooped up DS after his episode an thought, "That's it! I wasn't meant to exercise tonight." So, though I am not an athlete or fitness nut, I guess that I have come a long way.:)

Originally Posted by jenne1017:
HB and I are still getting hitched. We figured out our menu and such for the reception, picked the ceremony spot, picked our flowers, paid a deposit to the photographer -- we're having problems finding an officiant that we can afford though :(

You have plenty of time to find someone, but I thought that it might be helpful to let you know that our ceremony was performed by a minister from the Church of Religious Science here in LA. You might want to see if there is someone from that denomination in the area.

We have the benefit of not being limited to someone who meets the requirements of the state. So, the person doesn't HAVE to be a clergyperson or judge.

Recently I went to a wedding in NYC. It was one of the best ceremonies I have ever seen. The officiant was the karate master at the dojo where the bride and groom met; he did whatever the state required to be "official" (which may have been Universal Life Church -- I didn't ask him). In any event, it was the first and only ceremony he had ever performed and he was just wonderful.

Perhaps you have a good friend who would be comfortable and honored to assist you in this way.

Laurie -- yes, the travel. Plus the good ones we've found have package deals and don't stray. The cheapest has been $400 w/o travel!

SoCal -- we don't want to ask anyone to do that. Plus, we don't really have anyone in mind.

We also want someone with experience -- we've never done this before so we don't know what we want or what a ceremony should look like, you know? Plus, it's one less stress on our shoulders if someone else is taking care of it.

I am going to check the Universalist Church -- hopefully, we don't have to be members. But they marry gay couples so here's to hoping!

Good morning everyone --

You know, by the time I get up here on the west coast, there are just too many wonderful posts to read and respond to. All of you are my inspiration, particularly those who were here long ago before by most recent . . . sabbatical.

Tomorrow is my weigh-in day at WW. I have been OP but secretly wonder have I been cheating myself? Have I REALLY recorded all the points? I think the issue is that I haven't felt deprived all week so it scares me and makes me wonder if I have been honest. I feel like this is my last-ditch effort to get healthy. My motivation this time started with flunking an insurance physical and finding out that, on top of everything else, I have high blood pressure.

Well, off to the office. See you all later.

Ruth honey, there are well wishes for you in journals. Kelster started it up. Love you!!!

By following the simple advice I heard on a Dr. Phil Show, I have finally found inner peace.

Dr. Phil proclaimed the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started. So I looked around my house to see things I started and hadn’t finished; and, before leaving the house this morning I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a bottle of Baileys, a bottle of Kahlua, a package of Oreo’s, a pot of coffee, the rest of the Cheesecake, some Saltines and a box of Godiva Chocolates.

You have no idea how freaking good I feel.

Weeeeheeee!!! Life would be so much simpler this way!!!!

Jenn - if I remember rightly, my SIL and her (now ex-) husband were married by a Universalist pastor, and they were not members. They were married on a whim, with about 1 week of planning, and that was the only one they could find on such short notice.

I finally decided on my essay topic. My working title is "World Hunger and Transgenic Crops" although I'll probably come up with something "catchier" for the final draft. I'd originally hoped to get it posted to the editing forum last night, but since I didn't even settle on the topic until then, that just didn't happen! I'll aim for Thursday night - it's due Monday night, so that'll still give me time for revisions.

Heather-

We contacted the UU Church and they want $400!!!!!! I can't believe how much it costs to even get FAKE married!!!!!!!!!!

Is that how much you all pay/paid? I mean, I thought we'd make a donation of $150 to the Church and be on our way...goes to show what I know!

Evenin' Chicks~~

Just checking in before I head out for my weekly Stitch N ***** session.

Jenne, I'm not sure how things work in DC, but for my DD's wedding in Los Angeles, they wanted something unique and special to them both. Instead of a traditional clergyperson or a cold Justice of the Peace who didn't know them, they had Alana's cousin pay a token fee to the State and he was authorized to perform their wedding ceremony.

You might look into that and see if that's offered.

Well, gotta scram.

HAGN everyone~~

mamacita-

Sadly enough, we can't think of anyone to do that. Plus, we're already asking people to travel to Maine for the ceremony...

I don't know WHAT we're going to do. We wanted someone with experience to guide us and basically do it for us, with our input. UGH!

Thanks for all the ideas girls!

Jenn - I don't know how much they paid, although this was over a decade ago in the Seattle area, so rates probably were different. But - $400?? Seems like a lot! I don't think that the pastor who did it was pastoring a church, though - I think she may have been semi-retired and only did weddings. Have you tried searching the yellow pages for officiants? Or looking somewhere like Craigslist? Good luck - I hope you can find someone quickly so that you aren't stressing!

Yeah Jenn, I tried to do an internet search and came across a place in Massachusetts... they said that the cost is between $89 and 1,000 depending on what you want and the travel involved...