This is totally off topic, but I just had to say I received and accepted a job offer today.  It has been such a long haul, but I start on Monday and I am soooo excited!

Congratulations and I hope you enjoy your new job! You should get an extra congratulations for finding a job in a tough economy!

Congratulations! 

Cheryl -- That's terrific.  Yay for you! Can you tell us what the job is and whether it involves acquiring books to send to your HF buddies?!

That is so wonderful Cheryl  good for you!!!!

Congrats Cheryl.

Alas, no it doesn't involve sending books to all my H/F buddies.  I have left the Mall of America far, far behind me and I am going back to one of my very first loves; being a bridal consultant.  So, I guess the only books this will involve is memorizing any new bridal mags that come out!  Of course if any of you are needing any advice on gowns or such I would be happy to help!!

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes!  After telling my nearest and dearest you all were the next to know.

Cheryl are you working in the Cities?

Wow! What a fun, rewarding job ... although, I'm sure at times very trying. I can just imagine some of the stories you could tell in this line of work! Such an emotionally charged time for everyone involved!

Gives new meaning to that old expression about keeping your sanity when all around you are losing theirs!

Good luck, Cheryl!

Linda & Kelly

Letty:  Yes, I'll be working in St. Paul on Grand Avenue.

Congratulation, Cheryl! I hope you have fun!

Yay for Cheryl!  I may take you up on your offer.  Looks like I'll have to start planning a wedding about a year from now....a year from now to start planning, two years for the wedding.  DD is absolutely convinced that she has to have a wedding planner.  Um...when you are getting married in the church you grew up in in a small town in Louisiana....no.  We'll figure it out ourselves, I'm sure.

I used to work on Grand!  I love it down there a real walking neighborhood I am 5 miles north of there!

Yeah Letty.  Maybe we can meet for lunch or dinner or something.

Christa:  I would be happy to help when the time approaches with any advice.  It can be lots of fun but you really need to know when to back off with a bride and her Mom.  I helped both of my sisters and one daughter and they were awesome experiences.

That would be fun I go down there all the time.  I love all the old Victorians on Cathedral Hill, Crocus Hill and Summit Ave.  I really miss going down there everyday.

Thanks, Cheryl.  I'm really looking forward to planning with her.  We are very close (which I realize might make it even harder!). Of course she wants EVERYTHING and we've already had the money discussion.  I told her we would give her a set amount of money for the wedding and she could spend it on what was most important to her.  But the fairy princess wedding at the old governor's mansion in a $10,000 dress is not gonna happen unless one of us wins the lottery!  She's been watching too much Say Yes to the Dress!  LOL!  I only have one requirement for the whole thing....there MUST be a chocolate fountain at the reception! By the time that thing is over, I'm gonna need to just open my mouth and stick it under one of those chocolate spouts! 

Wow...Cheryl, how exciting for you!  Congratulations on the new job.  And Christa...good luck!   ;)  The chocolate fountain sounds like a brilliant idea. It also sounds like you still have time to encourage your daughter to elope....(just kidding)

Hey, Christa -- if you're having a chocolate fountain, save me a space in front of one of those spouts 'cuz I'm crashing the party.

Congrats, Cheryl! Life is so much better when you are doing work you actually enjoy. I'm so happy for you! :-D

Christa:  The chocolate fountain idea is terrific.  One of our favorite restaurants here in town has two of them  going on special occasions like Mother's Day and Easter.  You pretty much just want to stand under the flow with an open mouth.  I think "Say Yes to the Dress" is fun to watch, but it does gives you the idea that most people are buying really expensive designer gowns...not true!

I could use a chocolate spout today.  I wonder if I could get my company to install one in the break room.....