LIFE LIST: SNEAK INTO A STRANGER'S WEDDING

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” 

                                                –Dr Seuss 

When: Winter 1999


Where: Novi, Michigan at a banquet center


Why I wanted to do this:  I was 16 years old and I was with my friends Shannon and Dwayne. We were going to a teenage night club. It was terrible, there was hardly anyone there, so after a half hour we decided to leave. Across the street there was a wedding reception going on at a banquet center. We knew our next move.


Cost: free!


How I paid for it: n/a


What would I do differently? I guess nothing. We didn't do it to be rude, we just did it to say we 'crashed a wedding'. We will always have that memory and the couple will too!


Will I do it again? Hhhmmmmm....at the initial thought of this I didn't think I would have the guts to do it again however now that I have had a wedding, been to many and worked in the wedding industry- I think I could pull it off without a hitch. With that being said, I'm glad we did it but I doubt I will ever do this again...maybe I am a real adult after all.


Make a good gift/surprise? No! Like I would not put a friend in the car and say 'I've got a surprise for you!'


Something I would recommend? Well, I always encourage people to go after their desires whatever they may be....although this one is a precarious situation. If you have always wanted to crash a wedding and you are a person who wants to do it just for the novelty of it and a fun story- here are my recommendations; be well dressed, polite, take a gift, do not eat, only get one drink, absolutely do not get drunk or go in drunk, don't make a scene, and mingle! DO NOT do this if you are looking for a free meal and free drinks-that's just assinine.


Was it life changing? Yea, I think every time you do something that's really uncomfortable it makes you a little more brave...or daring rather.

The story:
We pulled into the parking lot of the reception and sat in the car for a while observing and devising a plan. The plan was that we would walk in and pretend we were using the pay phone and then from there just waltz onto the dance floor. Fortunately at this point in our lives we had all had extensive military training and therefore we were certain that this was the most stealthy way to infiltrate a group of people undetected.We dilly dallied for quiet a while in the car and then finally said 'let's just do this' and we walked in. We pretended to use the payphone as previously agreed. Given that pay phones are practically nonexistent these days I'm sure the practice of wedding crashing has died with them, clearly a faux payphone call was the absolute best method of entering a venue to which you were not invited.   Shannon got in line for the bar to get us some pop and Dwayne and I hopped on the dance floor and danced right next to the Bride and Groom! I told the bride she looked pretty. We even danced to three songs! Then I struck up a conversation with a guest, Doug whom I later used as our alibi. After about 30 minutes a groomsman politely asked us to leave and we did quietly. We weren't menaces, we didn't cost them any money, or cause a scene or anything. It was harmless and how many people can say they've crashed a wedding? Seriously though...have any of you ever crashed a wedding? I'd love for you to post your stories below if so!

Big, big life changes

"Gotta keep busy or the voices or the voices start telling me to do wild things"

I'm still alive!!! I haven't had a moment to catch my breath in the past month or two- there have been some SIGNIFICANT changes in my life, some mind blowing, some overwhelming, some disheartening- and what better way to share some of them with you than with a list! One thing is for sure- my life has changed...actually I feel like I've lived an entire lifetime in the past 8 months so many thing have happened. Here are some of changes in just the past few weeks....

1. One reason I didn't have the time to write was that Joel was in Missouri for a month and it is exhausting being the only parent- at the end of the day I had enough energy to pick up and zone out for a few mins and then it was off to bed- I notice when I am the only one here I sleep A LOT more than I usually do.

2. We bought a house!!! We found this house in January and we just found out just about 2 weeks ago that our offer was approved-It's been INCREDIBLY stressful!!! The house is great, it doesn't need hardly anything but I am very particular and want to do a million things to it. But the best thing about this house is where it is...I have always dreamed of buying a house in this town and now I have one-right in the downtown area-it's perfect!! We've already closed and are mostly moved in. I have a lot to say about the subject and think it deserves it's own post-

3.The day before our offer was approved I received the most exciting email imaginable. I know I've mentioned that I had a book idea and was in the process of taking the necessary steps to land a literary agent, and just a few weeks ago a lit agent asked me for my book proposal! All I will say is that it is a travel book, I'm not telling anyone what it is about because it hasn't been done before. It doesn't necessarily mean anything will come of it, but it gives me a little hope that it's a good idea and it was just an amazing feeling. So...

4. I had to finish my book proposal and send it in. It was a ton of work and I spent a long time working on it and I am pleased and proud to say that I have not only completed it but it has officially been submitted.

5. I mentioned that my daughter and I began a Polynesian Dance class which we've been attending once a week for the past 2 months AND we are performing in a recital June 9th!!!!! What do I get myself into?!

6. We are in the process of packing and moving which is labor intensive and if you have a toddler it is a living nightmare. I feel like it's turning me into a crazy person.

7. I've mentioned that I had some problems with my family, well some relationships have gotten better and some have become much much worse. It has been so hard on me. I just want to lay my head down at night and not have these negative issues with the people I love the most weighing on my mind that make me sad.

8. But even more good news....I'm starting my own business, I have wanted to for a long time now, and I guess I don't really know why I had not. Yet I have received the kick in the pants that I needed. This is only thanks to my life changing friend Toni who ardently recommended my 'talents' to a friend of hers who is getting married in September and I am doing the flowers. Floral designing is something that I had fallen into years ago by dumb luck but I LOVE it, I have the greatest time, it's fun, and creative and there is no better work environment than one surround by flowers. I'm really excited. I'm going to start slow, I have so much going on right now which is fine. I have had some beautiful work experiences as a floral designer and the reward is tremendously fulfilling to make such beautiful things for peoples most special days.

9. I almost forgot- I am so so so excited about this....finally after 15 years of VERY serious consideration....I am finally going to fix my grossly disfigured teeth!! I hate them. This is something that bothers me every day, every time I look at a picture of myself, and makes me so unhappy with myself. I have seen several dentists about this since I was a teen but have always been too concerned with either the cost, discomfort or the idea of being an adult with braces- but every year that goes by I wish I would have done it because it would be over already! 5 years ago I met with an orthodontist and have made and canceled close to 20 appointments but now I finally feel ready. Totally ready to just do it, get it over with and be comfortable with myself. I ought to have them on by the middle of July....if all goes well :)

10. I've come up with the best idea!!!! Maybe I'll save something for later....

This year thus far has been such a rough road but I feel... well, this is how I really feel- like a mountain lion shredded my knitted sweater vest and the tears are delicately and swiftly being sown back together turning it into a silk Versace blouse.

Happy Birthday Friend

Last summer a girl named Dannie found me on blogspot by no surprise as her blog is called MY ULTIMATE LIFE LIST. She lives in England and we've never actually met but we have gotten to know each other through our blogs. Dannie have a great time in Turkey- what a way to spend a birthday!!!! Here is my silly poem to you-

Here's to the girl who lives overseas
a girl who is still, in her twenties

months ago i met you on blogspot
your similar domain could not be forgot


we both want to travel the world
and write about our life list unfurled


as it turns out you too are a gemini
with alike desires we do not pacify


you are a very interesting person to know
I have enjoyed watching your accomplishments grow


Have a wonderful time this week in Turkey
I know you'll have experiences so quirky

and I wish you a terrific, great, special year
and fulfill all your goals with Shakespeare



this is the year that we turn twenty nine
this last year in our twenties will be divine


currently we are both twenty eight
though you are the elder by date


so here's to my fellow ultimate life lister
surely you are my long lost twin sister

when my bank account expands
I'll meet you in Iceland

and then we'll toast together at the bar
and talk about visiting the cote d'ivoire

The Irish say you have a perfect fanny
I say Happy Birthday to you Dannie