NOW PLAYING: SILENCE

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT . . . . . . in fact, it rained & thunderboomed & lightning'd most of the night, which meant I was awake with the dogs, which then meant I overslept on this Very Important Morning. What a way to start this day, of all days! We dodged raindrops as we hurriedly packed things into the Aztek: Dogs, Wedding Garments, various other things necessary for a Successful Wedding Day. Luckily, I had packed the Decorations in my Hyundai Wagon the night before when the weather was still clear (not dry; it hasn't been dry here for weeks, appropriately enough for a "Tropical" Wedding).
	April, shown here with her new Tropical 'Dana from Mary Lynn D'Aubin, took umbrage at being put in the Office while we were taking things out of the house (by now, she realized that Cari & Rico were going with us, while she was staying home), and bit my arm. Oh, great - now I'm going to get married while sporting a humongous bruise and two puncture holes on my arm (she doesn't fool around when she bites; that's the Airedale JAWSOFDEATH part of her lineage).
Plans were for us to meet Nancy & Bob at the Clubhouse at 7:00 a.m.; Nancy would unlock the Clubhouse and they would go to Racine to pick up the Margarita Machine. (It is still raining through all this, mind you. Streets all over town are closed due to flooding; basements are flooded, although I had decided earlier not even to look at ours. "Don't tell me; don't wanna know," is my mantra.) To our chagrin, we discover that the Clubhouse lock is timed to open at 8:00 a.m. Even though it is raining and we cannot get inside, when Chef Paul arrives, we unload the food and cookware and put them by the door. Then, we wait. Paul wonders if the power outages during the night have messed up the locks so we won't be able to get in. Nancy & Bob have left, having entrusted me with the Sacred Clubhouse Lock Fob. Wedding Planner Jeff arrives, claiming HE had read the signs and knew we couldn't get in until 8:00 a.m. At 8:00 a.m., I try the Sacred Clubhouse Lock Fob once again; the lock clicks open and WE ARE IN! Everything except the dogs is brought into the Clubhouse. Workers Megan & Olivia arrive; Jeff proceeds to give instructions and we get out of their way.
CyberFriend Lori Taylor, along with her Airedales Flo & Forge, had sent a package for The Bride & Groom, and another for April, Cari & Rico. Although we had thought to open gifts after The Wedding, Lori e-mailed that she thinks we may be able to use her gifts during The Ceremony & The Reception, so could we please open them before it all begins.	Click on the package to see us opening Lori's gifts
Sandy Armstrong & Nick Cetta, who had to be out of town on The Day, also asked us to open their gift before the ceremony, so we open them both before getting ready. The Soft Parrot from Lori is NOT a dog toy, much to Cari's disappointment! Click on the package to see us opening Sandy & Nick's gift

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