Morning, all! Thank you SO much for all the good wishes and congrats. I had the most unbelievably wonderful day yesterday. I had to be on a LOT of painkillers (of several kinds including one that’s only legal in Israel!) to get through it, so I felt a bit disconnected at times. But it was absolutely perfect. We got our outdoor ceremony – very-warm-blooded Sharon (TG) was freezing throughout the whole thing, but it didn’t rain! We set up for the ceremony in an incredible location by a stream in the gardens that we were using – pictures will absolutely follow. There was a chuppah, and friends played piano and flute for the hymn, and our mothers read the ketubah in Hebrew and English, and I said the Jewish ring vow in apparently-understandable Hebrew. And then there was a barbeque and a swing band and delicious cake (gluten free version for me). I’m exhausted and probably need a few days in bed, but it was so worth it! The most incredible thing was that Sharon’s parents were there, right through to the meal, even though her father is very ill and we were worried he wouldn’t make it. After they went home (a bit early as her father needed sleep), Sharon did a speech (which was very funny), and she ended by telling us how much it meant to her that her parents were there, and made everyone cry. Other amazing highlights: having my own priest conduct the service, so that the sermon was by someone who knew us well; Jewish and Irish blessings to end the service; my father’s beautiful poem for the service and ridiculously funny speech later; seeing friends I hadn’t seen for months or years; tea and scones on the lawn before it all started; how utterly beautiful Sharon looked. And lots of other things that I’ll think of later. Someone asked if Sharon was going to be The Wife instead of The Girl now, but I think the moniker has rather stuck and she’ll be a Girl when she’s eighty-five. Happiness!

Unfortunately The Girl’s dad is really unwell today and running a fever, and they may have to take him to hospital. I’m trying not to feel guilty about this, after making him sit outside in the cold for an hour. Hmm.

Andi, that was a beautiful blessing. Thank you!

Good luck with the website and publicity, Wordslinger Erin!

The premise of the May 12 2011 date is sketchy, at best.

I’m fairly sure that the entire premise of the rapture is sketchy at best.

Can’t find the cartoon, Typo, but great caption!

Thoughts for sleep and feeling better, smonster.

Seska, I'm tearing here. I'm so happy for you and that you had everything you wanted, in the end.

Much ~ma to Sharon's father.

And out of curiosity...

(of several kinds including one that’s only legal in Israel!)

Which one is it?

smonster - oh, dear. Much ~ma to you, too.

That's wonderful, Seska. So good to read.

As you may heard, things are borderline craxy here. I'm still at my uni, but I'll try to get home ASAP. Crazy rumors going around.

That sounds beautiful, Seska. I'm so glad you two had such a wonderful ceremony.

Shir, take care!

Oh, Seska, what a beautiful wedding day report! And I'm so beyond glad that both sets of parents stepped up with graciousness and love and were able to just be joyful for their daughters. Lots of rest, comfort and recovery~ma to your FIL (and for you, too; you sound utterly wrung out). And a long, joyous life brimming with love to you and The Girl.

Stay safe, Shir. We only just heard about what's happening in Israel because we've been tidying up and driving home all day. I hope you get home soon.

I'm so happy for you and that you had everything you wanted, in the end.

Thank you! I wish you could have been there, but you would have loved how inter-faith/inter-culture it was!

Much ~ma to Sharon's father.

Thank you. He's flown home, and seems to be staying out of hospital for the moment.

Which one is it?

Optalgin. Although I've just been told it's only not legal in the UK and the US. It's handy to get it from Israel though!

We are opening presents and watching Doctor Who and getting pizza delivered. Lovely.

Beautiful description of your wonderful day, Seska! May it be a long and beautiful life for you together!

Oh, Seska, what a beautiful wedding day report! And I'm so beyond glad that both sets of parents stepped up with graciousness and love and were able to just be joyful for their daughters. Lots of rest, comfort and recovery~ma to your FIL (and for you, too; you sound utterly wrung out). And a long, joyous life brimming with love to you and The Girl

I don't think I can say it better than JZ did. Can't wait to see the pictures!

Shir, are you talking about the Syrian border stuff or something else? I'm kind of out of touch right now with the news.

Thanks for the sleep~ma. As often happens, I had to formally acknowledge my freakout before it could start to subside (anyone remember the children's book There's No Such Thing as a Dragon ?) Anyway, I have been overwhelmed and freaking out and sticking my head in the sand, but at least I've pulled my head out of the sand and am surveying the landscape.

So glad to hear your day went off so well! Can't wait to see pix!

My wee dinner party went well. I made a lemon-rosemary roasted chicken, roasted cauliflower, and roasted potatoes (I guess I kinda hosted a roast, huh?!)

And what is becoming my signature dessert -- chocolate stout bundt cake.

And wine. Lots of wine. Went to bed v. late. But had a great low-key night with friends.

Today will be work, leftover cake for breakfast, work, color hair, work while it's on my head, shower, work, laundry, work, grade, re-do my nails and sleep.

ETA: smonster, you have accomplished more than you think you have.

You have a fab new resume, a cover letter, and interview, you've been decluttering, you have moving prices, living situation possibilities, and goats.

Don't discount all you've done because of what you still have to do, bebe.

TTYL