Do I have to go to work?

Harvey Cat is draped over my shoulder, boneless, and purring.

Steph, I'm sending calming vibes like crazy to your menagerie. Bless all your hearts!

I'll state again for the record, Nature's Miracle is your friend.

I love the idea of Guest Cat simply reporting the happenings of her life since last you met. I'd probably do the same in her position.

Did you say the iguana is sitting in water?

The other wedding plan problem is that we're going to have a little celebratory brunch after we elope, and everyone that is out of state wants to know now when it is going to be. Which, I totally understand because of booking flights and money, etc., but I really have no idea what to tell them.

IOmeN, I am unpacking boxes and trying to figure out to do with all of the stuff I used to shove in the corner of my office, since I don't really have an office anymore and what to do with all of the books that were in the TV armoire that is now being used for clothing storage.

Aims, coffee grounds go in the coffee maker. Not in the shoes.

I'm currently taking an anti-inflammatory that warns me to discontinue use if I start vomiting up stuff that looks like coffee grounds.

Yes, if you vomit something that looks like coffee grounds, that would be BLOOD.

Yes, I happen to know this from first hand experience.

The other wedding plan problem is that we're going to have a little celebratory brunch after we elope, and everyone that is out of state wants to know now when it is going to be.

Can that take place further out from the actual elopement so that you don't have to worry about planning it till after you get back? Having to stress about a celebration far in advance takes a lot of the benefit out of the elopement, to my thinking.

Can that take place further out from the actual elopement so that you don't have to worry about planning it till after you get back? Having to stress about a celebration far in advance takes a lot of the benefit out of the elopement, to my thinking.

Very much this. Get yourselves married, and then plan your party -- if they really want a brunch the day after, they can show up at a restaurant and have a lovely meal by themselves, and gossip about how romantic and scandalous it all is.

Can that take place further out from the actual elopement so that you don't have to worry about planning it till after you get back? Having to stress about a celebration far in advance takes a lot of the benefit out of the elopement, to my thinking.

Possibly, although the plan is to leave mom in charge of everything and just show up. A plan that mom is fully behind, ftr. The problem is, if we get married in the fall, we'd want to have the celebration sometime before the holiday season, otherwise everything gets crazy and waiting until the spring seems like too long.

Very much this. Get yourselves married, and then plan your party -- if they really want a brunch the day after, they can show up at a restaurant and have a lovely meal by themselves, and gossip about how romantic and scandalous it all is.

I wasn't thinking the day after. Just sometime in the month or so following the elopement.

Ah, in that case, leave mom in charge. And make it clear to all those people who are bugging you about it that they need to talk to your mom, because you don't even know the details.

(If you really want to be a bitch about it, you can pretend that it was meant to be a surprise party and you had no idea until This Very Moment.)

Once you make your reservation for the inn or whatever, let your mom know the time frame. That should give enough time for people to make plans, etc.