3 weeks to (c &) d day!

the Big Day looms! we can finally say we're getting married ' this month.' and we're so excited we can barely sleep! cindy is making obsessive lists and then triumphantly checking things off, one by one. D is between jobs this week and will be running around buying last-minute supplies, confirming with vendors and assembling centerpieces. we're busy as farts in a skillet and couldn't be happier.

a couple of things worth mentioning as the time draws near:

weather
if we have weather like today's on 30 May, we'll be happier than homer with a donut. but -- the planner in me won't allow things to proceed without a backup plan in place. in case of TRULY INCLEMENT weather -- relentless driving rain, hail, or frogs falling from the heavens -- please go straight to the lake washington rowing club at 5:00 pm. we'll have the wedding ceremony there, dry and snug as a bug. however, if the weather is anything from blazing sunshine to a light drizzly mist, we'll go on with the wedding as planned!

if in doubt, check back here on 30 May no later than 2:00 pm for the verdict.

parking
there is plenty of parking on residential streets near sunset hill viewpoint, and any neighborhood zoning should not apply on sundays.

the lake washington rowing club is located next to the Adobe complex, which features extensive parking lots that are very kindly open to the public during non-working hours (i.e., sundays). feel free to park in those lots, in any of the stalls lined up along the water in front of the club, or further up in the fremont neighborhood. again, zoning laws should not apply on sundays, but be sure to read the signs and be safe! we don't want anyone hit up with a $44 parking ticket on the happiest day of our lives! NOTE: the pay lots immediately adjacent to the rowing club DO cost money, even on sundays, but it's not much!

21 days and counting! can't wait to see you all there!

love,
c + d

planning your trip to seattle?

we're starting to hear from many folks that they'll be coming out here for our wedding, and we're super duper excited about that! if you've never been to seattle, you're in for a treat. there are more things to do in this city than you can shake an umbrella at, and we're already doing the rain dance to ensure that the weather over memorial day weekend is clear and sunny. but even if it isn't, we promise you won't be bored!

some of our favorite activities:

• taking the ferry over to bainbridge island. the ferry system is a bona fide method of commuting for thousands of people per day and provides breathtaking views of the seattle waterfront. less than $7/person will get you there and back. sailing to bainbridge island and strolling around the town of winslow, then coming back, is a great way to fill half a day.
  
• kayaking on lake union. rent a single or double kayak and paddle around the beautiful lake, peeking at the houseboats like the one tom hanks lived on in sleepless in seattle.
  
• taking a walk around green lake. the native peoples of the region called green lake dxWTLusH. no clue what that means or how to pronounce it, but this gorgeous lake only a few minutes north of downtown seattle is the perfect place to walk or run. the inner loop is 2.8 miles of paved walkway, thronged with strollers, dogs on leashes, rollerbladers and folks on foot.
  
• heading out to the beach at golden gardens or alki. not many people associate seattle with sunny, sandy beaches, but if the weather is good, golden gardens and alki beach give santa monica a run for its money.
  
• picnicking at the ballard locks and watching the ships go through the channel. the locks are a fascinating piece of engineering work set in a beautiful english-style garden. stroll around, wave to the boats going through, and check out the fish ladder to see if any salmon are swimming upstream.
  
• riding the ducks. not real ducks, which would be cruel, but amphibious vehicles that show you all the best sights by land and sea! the drivers all have fantastic senses of humor and usually wear crazy headgear. 'you haven't seen seattle until you've seen it from a duck' -- so true!
  
• visiting pike place market, the oldest farmer's market in the nation. you haven't really experienced seattle until you've gone to pike place market and watched them throw fish around, listened to one of the many talented buskers, bought a bunch of fresh flowers for $3 and seen the original starbucks location.
  
• relaxing at one of seattle's many beautiful parks. you could spend a year and not see 'em all! our favorites:

1. kerry park has hands-down the best view. better than the space needle because 1) the space needle will be IN the photo you take and 2) it's free!
2. seward park is a funny little peninsula jutting into lake washington, it's got a great walking/running path, and it has an old-growth forest in the center of it.
3. carkeek park is still within seattle proper, but its location down a winding road ensures that it's never as crowded as golden gardens or discovery park. we're kinda partial to it because we got engaged there. :D
   

• walking around downtown, historic pioneer square and the international district. so much to see and do! the seattle art museum, the waterfront and piers, chinatown...
• the experience music project (EMP). if you're a rock music fan, you'll want to visit the experience music project, a multicolored wavy building next to the space needle that is packed full of musical artifacts and history, interactive exhibits and live shows.
  
• taking the informative seattle underground tour. I had no idea that seattle burned to the ground in the early 20th century and that an entirely new city was built on top of it! this fascinating tour shows you the literal underbelly of seattle by taking you through the maze of tunnels in the historic pioneer square neighborhood.
• attending a seattle mariners game at brand-new safeco field. for all you ichiro lovers, the mariners play the minnesota twins the day after our wedding - and tickets are half price at $10! go git you some!
  

see? you're going to need a month to do it all! yay!

you're invited!

at least you should be, if you're looking at this blog posting!

updates since the last entry:

1. wedding and reception venues are booked (refer to your invitation).
2. we're working with the caterer on a really ono hawaiian buffet.
3. we've gone over the program with pastor tim and he assures us that we're not committing any mortal infractions by having a non-human ringbearer.
4. I've ordered my dress and it is AWESOME. boys, don't be jealous.
5. dessert menu is in the works. two words: ELASTIC WAISTBAND. uh-huh.

keep checking back for updates and more details! or call us anytime if you have questions. can't wait to see you all!

love,
c & d

I would so stay here if I didn't already live in my house.

if you're looking for a place to stay that's convenient to downtown, has the privacy and all the amenities of a home, in a beautiful, vibrant and diverse neighborhood, and is an absolute STEAL, check out this link to a friend's vacation rental apartments. gorgeous, sleeps 3-4, and at $99/night through may you won't find a better deal anywhere. the capitol hill neighborhood is central and packed with restaurants, bookstores, groceries and cafes -- I lived there when I first moved to seattle and loved it. check it out.

welcome to our wedsite!

okay, okay...we admit it. we went about this whole wedding business a little backwards.

we met on the job, retired, took a two-year honeymoon around the world, came out of retirement in seattle, adopted a bird-child, and then decided this past may 11 that oh yeah -- we might as well get married.

the date is set for next may 30, memorial day weekend, here in seattle. hope you can join us!

check back regularly for updates on the wedding, pre-wedding activities, lodging and transportation options, suggestions for sightseeing, and our occasional random thoughts on non-wedding-related topics.

more than anything, we're looking forward to seeing lots of friends and family and having a really, really fun and casual wedding. neither of us is really the ten-bridesmaids-and-a-limo, bouquet-tossing, three-tiered-wedding-cake, gown-and-tuxedo type. we don't want people to walk away from the wedding wiping tears away and saying, oh my god, that was so beautiful. we want people to dance home with a bellyful of awesome hawaiian food and with kool and the gang's 'celebration' ringing in their ears, saying that they had a great time. that, my friends, is our definition of success.

cindy's lived in seattle on and off (between gigs in mongolia, idaho and antarctica) since 1997. delaney moved here last year after we quit the antarctica thing and is still deep in a honeymoon phase with the city. having grown up in nebraska, where bike lanes and opportunities for hiking are few and far between, he can't believe he lives two blocks from a dedicated urban bike trail and a few hours from two of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the country. we're really looking forward to welcoming you to our rather kick-ass corner of the pacific northwest.

oh...and in case you're wondering about the 'max' from the blog title, here's his picture. he's a three-year-old green-cheeked conure. his favorite activities include pooping on command, dancing to 'could you be loved' by bob marley and the wailers, adding holes to our favorite clothing, wolf whistling us when we come out of the shower, and hiding behind the sofa.

hope to see you!