Honeymoon Day 3:

Without meaning to, day 3 became a shopping day. On the way into town, I noticed a Brighton Outlet at the side of the road. Alan thought that we might be able to stop there sometime during our week. Yesterday the sun came out, and since my old pair of sunglasses (also Brighton) had died, and the Brighton Retail Store in El Paseo had discontinued my favorite pair, we decided that this would be the perfect day to start at the Outlets and work our way back into Palm Springs for lunch.

We started the day with Starbucks. Four people gave us coffee cards for Christmas and the wedding, so between them all we had around $80 to spend during this trip. Alan began the day with a quad shot venti mocha, and I had a vanilla bean frappaccino with an added espresso shot. Yum!

We drove to the outlets, realizing upon entering the parking lot that this MAY have been a mistake two days after Christmas. The lot was packed. Inside, though, it wasn't too bad. We found a Levis outlet and bought Alan two pairs of much-needed jeans ($15 per pair), then we worked our way around the complex searching for Brighton. We stopped in Gucci, Jimmy Choo, and Prada just for fun. After making our way to the opposite corner, where the Brighton sign appeared to be, there was no store in sight. We checked the mall map, and No Brighton! Disappointed, we went into Banana Republic for a top I loved last season (I have three of them, and they're all wearing out), and then into Esprit (a store I used to love, which we no longer have in the Northwest) where Alan found me a really cute peasant blouse for $9. We decided that we had shopped enough, and left for Palm Springs.

As we got on the highway, I looked back, and there were several shops on the South side of the mall that we hadn't seen from the inside. One of them was...hooray!....Brighton after all! I told Alan we could go back later, he insisted that we'd made it this far, so we ought to turn around. We took the next exit and found ourselves pulling off the highway towards a large statue of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. A huge sign proclaimed the existence of the "World's Largest Robotic Dinosaur Museum." Of COURSE we had to stop. We climbed up the Brontosaurus' butt into a gift shop and purchased tickets. Then we went into the museum. It was great. The dinosaurs were REALLY old. Some of them conveniently had wooden signs propped up on their stubby arms proclaiming what kind of Dinosaur they were. Since the museum was run by some seriously humor-free creationists, the dinosaurs were pictured alongside modern animals, with signs explaining why humans and dinosaurs had co-existed, and not realizing how funny it looked to have a little innocent white lamb laying quietly next to a T-Rex, or a not-to-scale frog sitting nearby while three velociraptors (one carrying his sign) hunted. It was great! We climbed all the way up the T-Rex and took pictures posing in his mouth. Finally, we made it back to another gift shop. I bought postcards. At the back was the best statue yet. A knight on a horse fought a rampaging Allosaurus! We're SO glad we missed Brighton!







We did make it back to Brighton. I ran inside while Alan circled in the car. Inside was heaven. I could go on for ages, but I'll demure. I did find one of my favorite pairs of sunglasses in a discount bin for $9.99. YAY!

We headed into Palm Springs by way of Route 111. It became downtown Palm Springs. We beelined for a Mexican Restaurant that looked promising, and had a lovely lunch on the patio. I had the seafood burrito (lobster, shrimp, and scallops in a spicy lime sauce) and Alan the Mole Enchiladas. It was so good. I didn't mean to leave with a doggy bag, but I couldn't let it go to waste. We wandered up on side of the street and headed back down the other. Alan got his picture taken with Sunny Bono.



At sunset we drove the rest of Route 111 to La Quinta, California, to find Clint Eastwood's restaurant, "The Hogs Breath Inn." I had one of their specialty rum spritzers, Alan the Hog's Breath Ale. We ordered happy hour Calamari - which were excellent! We've noticed an overabundance of excellent places to eat in this town. Each meal we take is better than the last. There's not much shopping, but plenty of golf here. Great theater at one performance center in the middle of the valley. We decided NOT to see the ancient dancing showgirls (agest 55-81!), even though it was recommended to us.

After a few drug store and grocery stopoffs, we headed back to the house to relax, put our feet up, and watch tv until the wee sma's. It was a lovely, if tiring day.

Honeymoon Day 2:

Amazingly, after the exhausting day of travel, we woke and were moving at 10. By 11 we'd checked emails and called Grandma and Ken to have them show us how to work the speaker system, pool and hot tub. Ken offered to take us on a 45 minute tour of the area, and we accepted. They drove us to their other house (#3) then out and around La Quinta, CA - the town our house is in. They showed us a lovely pizza place in the Old Town, showed us the grocery stores and excellent restaurants nearby, then took us back to our resort for lunch at the Clubhouse. I had an excellent "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salad."

Alan and I popped back home to pick up our car. Then, we drove Route 111 - the old highway that cuts through all the towns in the desert. We are staying at the far east end, and the far west end of the highway is Palm Springs.

Before the trip began, while Alan was researching movie filming sites to visit in LA, I was finding thrift stores and the Tommy Bahama restaurant in Palm Springs. Both (coincidentally) area along Route 111. We popped into a few thrift stores on our way. We looked at Tommy Bahama shirts for Alan and found a Vera Wang blouse for me. It was missing its tag, so the saleslady gave it to me for $2.49. YAY! We hit a few antique stores. Goodwill. Then we beelined to Palm Springs. We decided that we'd like to go miniature golfing at Boomys, and walking along the Palm Springs shopping strip.

On our way home we made another attempt to find Tommy Bahama, and found it - along with a shopping complex that has similar shops to Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara, or U Village in Seattle. Only better. The Anthropologie is next door to Tommy Bahama. How did they know we were coming? We popped into both, then upstairs to the restaurant, but the bar was crammed full for some football game involving a California team (Not the 49ers. They'd already played), so we decided to try again later. We meandered the mall, walking up to the Brighton to look for sunglasses for me. They'd discontinued my favorite pair, but that gives me hope. There's a Brighton outlet on the way back out of town. Maybe I'll find them there. We walked back to a lovely Cafe des Beaux Artes, but decided after all that the breakfast and brunch menus were more exciting than dinner. So we drove back to the pizza place Grandma and Ken had recommended.

The pizza was excellent! We had the Napa. Ham, bacon, mushrooms, apples, gouda and mozzerella cheese, topped with a mango drizzle. YUM! Gouda should ALWAYS go on pizza.

On the way home we ran into Trader Jos for some munchies and coffee. Then went home and heated up the spa. Alan sat outside and smoked a cigar he'd bought at a shop across from Tommy Bahama (it smelled SO good. I hate cigarette smoke, but the occasional pipe or cigar smells heavenly!). I drank champagne and read a new collection of "Anne" stories I found at Powells. Alan called John to gloat about our spa and putting green, and then read a Dr. Laura book about keeping men happy. We neither of us like her delivery AT ALL, but some of the advice was pretty good. I took the book when he put it down and read a chapter myself.

Once the hot tub was warm, we had a lovely glass of wine, and a romantic evening under the stars which finally showed up! What a lovely end to the first real day of your honeymoon!

Honeymoon Day 1

Honeymoon Day 1:

Hello all from lovely Palm Springs, California!

Yesterday was our travel day, and a very busy one at that! Alan and I started the morning in Vancouver, having Christmas with his family. We woke, had breakfast and opened presents with his Sister and Brother-in Law. Then we packed and shuffled off to his parents' house to say goodbye. Alan took his mom on a quick trip to find an open grocery store for a veggie tray, and then we were off - back to Seattle for a 3 hour break to wash and repack our suitcases.

We caught the 5:54 bus to Seatac from Renton (a mere 10-minute drive) and found ourselves checked in with plenty of time to spare. So we went to the Alaskan Amber restaurant for a pre-flight-pre-honeymoon drink. There we booted up our new laptop (thanks Dad and Mom) to try out the airport's free Wifi. Alan looked through the photos that we'd developed from the disposable cameras we had at the wedding. Many turned out very well!

When it came time to board, we made our way to the terminal, but no boarding was happening. I hunkered down for a wait, and Alan went off to find mints. A few minutes later the PA system came on calling for "The Wilkies" - the whole plane was boarded and waiting for us to take off. I called Alan, and we boarded sheepishly. Flying on Christmas is definitely the way to go. The airport was nearly empty. There were few lines anywhere. The only downside was a rather surly flight attendant who was clearly unhappy to be working Christmas. I finished my book and amused myself by color coding my next two months in my new Brighton dayplanner (Thanks Alan!). Alan read, too.

The flight landed right on time and our checked bag was on the carousel before we got there. A shuttle drove us to the boonies to our rental car dealer. We picked up a very loud Electric Blue Ford Focus (easy to find in a lot), and after a few wrong turns trying to find the right highway from a location several miles from our mapquest directions starting point, we had an easy drive from Los Angeles to the desert.

At 2:30am we finally rolled into the housing complex. Well, we found the front gate. There two very sleepy guards checked our identities and asked if we needed directions to the house. We did. "Paco" handed us a slip of paper with the following: 8L, 1R, 1L. We drove for ages in the dark past identical houses. We counted 8 lefts - but were unsure whether we should count every left arrow in the road, or only legitimate stop signs - and did the left turn into the clubhouse count? We turned into the 8th left. We wound through a neighborhood full of Avenidas - but none of them were ours. The perpendicular streets were all Calles. After exhausting that culdesac, we decided we must have miscounted, and went one section back. Another identical culdesac. Nary an Avenida anything in sight - all Calles and something else that means street starting with a "C" as well. We went across the street - and found the right numbers, but the wrong Avenida. Finally we gave up and drove all the way back to the gatehouse. There was "Paco" and a new guard, "Rusty." We told them the safe combination we'd been given was not helping us at all, and could we please see a map with some street names on it. They didn't have a portable one, but allowed us into their booth to show us the site map on the wall. Sure enough, we were one complex off, and had I gone the "just one more" we would have lucked into the right house.

At 3:15 we finally navigated our way to the house, wandered around the endless rooms for a few minutes commenting on how beautiful it was, picked a bedroom, and fell asleep. A successful, if exhausting, first day.

Here's the link to our wedding registry, for those who were confused by our invitation!

Visit our honeyfund at Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry

Sorry guys. I'm working on getting moved, I have another show to open two days after Thanksgiving, and we have wedding stuff to do, so we've been packing our days with sorting and shopping.

Alan and I made some more mutual household purchases. We were advised by Miles that we could ease the stress of merging stuff by going out and doing some shopping where we both agreed on new items. So we took my early birthday present check, cashed it, and went to Bed Bath and Beyond to purchase new bathmats and towels. We settled on fall colors after agreeing that we didn't want red anymore (his towels are ancient, and still bleed in the wash), but we needed something to match our new Vintage Movie Poster shower curtain we finally bought on eBay. We ended up with a burnt orange, sepia, and burgundy striped rug, and matching towels in all three colors. We came home and took 7 trash bags of old linens to the thrift store. Alan's maiden Aunts always give him their castoffs, so he had towels and sheets that haven't seen the light of day.

My sewing station has made the move after an emergency purchase of a professional machine after mine broke. They shop is right around the corner from Alan's house, and they offered me free delivery to take it over. I've been downsizing for months in anticipation.

I'm costuming "Twas the Night Before Christmas" right now, and spent all last evening fitting carollers into their Dickensian dresses and swallowtail coats. Then I labeled every piece, and took away the mending to be shortened, lengthened, or adjusted before our costume runs start next week.

I'm off to strike Dracula this morning!

Alan and I purchased a printer together on Sunday. It's our second "we" purchase. The first was a clock with an art deco opera ad on it.

I think we've decided to stay in Alan's apartment for a while after we get married. Paying for a wedding plus paying for a new place doesn't seem feasible. We're both on month to month leases - but my roommate wants to stay at my place. So I think I've become resigned to living in Renton for a while. It is easier to get to work from there, actually.

We've been living it up on LivingSocial.com lately. It's a cool website that offers discounted coupons for restaurants, spa services, yoga classes, etc. This week we purchased $35 worth of food and drinks ($17) at Wild Rover Pub in Kirkland so Alan and I can go out opening night. We purchased a one night stay at a resort, with wine, strawberries, valet parking, and 2 spa treatment vouchers ($180) to add on to our honeymoon. And I bought 5 yoga classes at a place in Fremont ($21). You guys should check it out. They send emailed coupons every day. We're loving it!

Willy Wonka opens on Friday. Nightingale opens on Saturday. Dracula opens next Friday. Little Red Riding Hood opens the Tuesday after that. It's going to be a busy couple of weeks, but eventually satisfying. Plus, Wonka will have professional photos taken! My hands are currently dyed burnt orange, with streaks of fabric paint all over them - last night I dyed three more batches of Oompa Loompa costumes, and then painted 8 pairs of their shoes rainbow colors. They're going to looks so cute!

Alan has gone back to temping, and is out on assignment this week. He's also directing Dracula, so when we both get out of rehearsals, we meet up for dinner and Frasier episodes. Sadly, like most theater people, dinner is often between 11 and midnight.

I'm off to rehearsal, and more dying before then. Ciao!

10pm latte firmly in hand, I've got laundry about to head from washer to dryer, and am enjoying a few precious minutes of doing nothing in the midst of the month of 5 hell weeks.

Waitressing is nearly over for the season, and I can tell I'm burning out. Today I wasn't prepared to apologize for my customer's idiocies. The man who ordered another coke, and then sent it back when I brought his second can ... meaning I had to eat the $2, having already put it into the system.....The women who wanted to split a meal, and I offered them both the "kitchen split" option - which splits the entree nicely, and increases the amount of potatoes on each plate for an upcharge - who said they wanted to split it, then declared she wouldn't eat the potatoes anyway, so I clarified that she wanted an extra plate instead... and she glared at me when her friend corrected her, and said I should have known what she meant.....then the Market Security guard who rushed in preparing for her 15 minute break, quizzed me on the menu, and finally ordered her food, asking me to let her know when her meal would come, then handing me a $20 bill, I rounded her change up to $8, and she told me to keep $1, handed me some coins from her pocket, and said "it was the best she could do" ... while two crisp $1 bills and one $5 were in her other hand.....she came back later, ordered a fresh juice "with her meal" and when I told her the total (for 16oz of fresh squeezed juice) canceled her order. I was smarter that time, and hadn't actually rung it in yet....she came in when her food came up, moved from where I'd placed her to the inside table, asked for ice water....and I ignored all subsequent waving....... I'm burning out.

The wedding is coming along nicely. We booked flights and a rental car last night. By clever flight scheduling, we've managed to eek out a 9-day honeymoon between Christmas and starting rehearsals for Jack and the Beanstock. We'll have to be somewhat frugal, but since we didn't register for things (we have more than enough stuff vying for room in a very small place), and registered instead for our "Dream Honeymoon", we're hoping to have some small luxuries and plenty of fun on our California adventure.

Alan's closed his show, and is now full tilt directing Dracula. I'm costuming Willy Wonka, Dracula and Little Red Riding Hood, and rehearsing Nightingale. I'll soon be in rehearsals for Little Red as well, and all of these projects open in a three week span in mid October. Then I'll get a breather. Then I'll get married!

Another wedding day.

During the evenings, while Alan is in rehearsals and performances for the next few weeks, I'm running to the costume shop. But during the day, it's all wedding, all the time. At least until our invitations are out.


My dress is nearly done. The beading of the bodice is finished, and now I'm layering tulle upon tulle upon tulle to get the skirt finished. I was amazed to walk into the Goodwill Outlet and find a bolt of white tulle one day, and 15 yards each of salmon and oyster colored sparkly tulle. This is my "spare time" project.

I've sent Allison off with some of the plain ornaments I've been collecting all year. I have Stickles (glitter glue) and lots of extra fine glitter to glitz them up.

Mom has made about 1,000 mints in our wedding colors.

If only Alan and I didn't have 5 shows to get through between now and then...

Hello everyone! I'm taking a break from taking measurements for Willy Wonka. Another summer is over, and the fall schedule is picking back up. My costume shop is finally getting whipped back into shape after a summer of recovering from the move and minor costuming explosions (and one MAJOR costume explosion).

Willy Wonka promises to be a huge endeavor, but a lot of fun. The studio decided to double cast after 88 kids auditioned for 27 roles. But that ups the budget and my fee, and off we go!

Alan and I are in full wedding ahead mode. This week's task - invitations! It's time for people to book travel arrangements, and we're addressing, embossing, and glittering our little hearts out.

Back to measurements!

Today I spent more money in one transaction then I have ever before in my life. Alan and I had a meeting with our caterer, and it was time for the 55% deposit on the reception. $2,224.35. I was so glad I'd paid off my card. Now it's just about full again.

We also went to the jewelers to have my wedding band cleaned and my solitaire resized. He got his finger sized and decided that we should exchange his ring for the next size down.

We walked to the Greenwood Post office after our meeting and bought 180 stamps to mail invitations.

All in all a very busy wedding day. Added to the money I bought at various craft and thrift stores when I was in Yakima wedding shopping with my Mom and Denise, it was a very productive couple of days. The best buy? Vintage Christmas Ornament wrapping paper in my colors at the Dollar Store.

3 1/2 months to go!