Fuck You JetBlue - A Honeymoon Tale

Honeymoon Adventure!

Long time coming, here is our honeymoon story!!!

Friday night after the rehearsal dinner, I got an email (followed by a phone call) from JetBlue telling us our flight to Punta Cana Monday morning was cancelled.  FML.  I finally got a real person on the phone to try to reschedule and see what we could do, and she turned out to be a crazy bitch whore and yelled at me for assuming my honeymoon was more important than someone else’s vacation.  Which it obviously was, at least to me.  She tried to say the earliest we could get out there was Thursday…no fucking way.  I said something had to be done, switch me to another airline (which she refused) and then put me on hold for a good 20 minutes, decent hold music though, put it on speaker and drank with friends.  When she finally got back on the phone, she had a proposition.  They could fly us out at 11:15PM Monday evening, and arrive in Santo Domingo at 3:30AM Tuesday morning, then figure out on our own how to get to Punta Cana, which was like 100 miles away.  No, they didn’t offer to provide us with transportation or anything, but at that point, I was done fighting and took what I got. 

Fast forward to Monday night, our “town car” (My Dad in his Caddy hahahaha) drop us off at the airport, we had rented a car for our drive across the Dominican, and we figured everything would be fine.  NOPE.  We assumed by the fact that we were the only non-Spanish speakers on the plane, that Santo Domingo wasn’t exactly a tourist area, and was probably not so safe…but you gotta do what you gotta do. 

So we flew in, got our car, and headed on the adventure.  Mind you, there are NO street signs, route signs, highways signs, signs to indicate which direction you’re traveling in, in the DR.  We learned that the hard way.  Occasionally there would be a little sign on the side of the road saying something like “Rt . 6”  real helpful…So we went the wrong way, got lost, and ended up on the “wrong” route 4?  This is all in the wee hours of the morning mind you.  How is there a wrong route 4?  And it WAS wrong…so very very wrong…We ended up on dirt road (seriously DR?  Dirt road highways?) surrounded by corn stalks and locals on motorcycles with no lights.  I seriously thought some crazy Dominican Ed Gein was going to throw tack lines under our tires, and proceed to torture and eat us.  I was not being paranoid, if you saw where we were, this was a LEGIT fear to have.  We eventually turned around, and found our way back to the more normal highway, just in time to hit cities at rush hour.  Did you know that children hitchhike their way to school in the morning?  That’s safe.  I think hookers make the rounds at breakfast time also.  Fun place. 

Around 7:30AM we made it to where we had to return our car, and finally made it to our hotel around 9:30ish.  When we explained to people what we did (locals who worked at the Elegance) no one believed us.  Apparently they don’t even drive and they live there.  Apparently driving from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana at 3:30AM is highly dangerous, and we’re pretty lucky to be alive…

The rest of the honeymoon was much less awkwardly eventful and dangerous.  We spent 8 amazing days in the sun and the sand, drinking and eating, and even made a couple friends, Jen & Mike and Corky & Tawana.  We did get some more nasty JetBlue attitude at JFK during our layover.  I thought that was supposed to be the nice airline?  If it weren’t for the comfy seats and TVs, I’d probably never fly JetBlue again…thanks for almost killing us on our honeymoon!!!

Sullivan-Duval Ceremony

As promised, for those interested, I'm posting our ceremony.  I wrote it myself, so I obviously want to brag and say, "Everybody come see how good I write!!!"


Family, friends, we have come here today to celebrate love. 

Jo-Ellen and Derek stand here now to pledge their everlasting love to one another, and have chosen to do so in front of you, their closest friends, and dearest of family.  

Jo-Ellen and Derek met almost 6 years ago. Though the date, place, or time of their initial meeting cannot be pinpointed, it’s not so for when their friendship changed into something more.  3 years later, after life’s many losses, changes, and surprises, Derek showed up on Jo-Ellen’s doorstep (literally), as he was back in town for a fraternity Christmas party, and they have been together ever since.  

And now, they face each other today to take another step forward in their relationship, and promise to one another that the love they share is unlike any other, and will stay true, forever.

Jo-Ellen and Derek have opened their hearts to one another, and in just a few moments will share their vows of marriage together. We are deeply grateful to them for opening their hearts to us as well, inviting us to witness and share in this precious moment.  Their marriage is being entered into reverently, with the recognition of a true union which has been discovered.  For what greater joy is there for two souls than to join together to strengthen each other in all their endeavors, to support each other through all sorrow, and to share with each other in all gladness?

Jo-Ellen, are you ready to enter into this marriage with Derek, believing the love you share and your faith in each other will endure all things?

Jo-Ellen: I am. 

Derek, are you ready to enter into this marriage with Jo-Ellen, believing the love you share and your faith in each other will endure all things?

Derek: I am. 

Will you please join your hands.
(Maid of Honor [take bouquet also] and best man hand vows to bride and groom)

Derek:

Jo-Ellen, I promise to encourage your individuality,
Because that is what makes you unique and wonderful.
I promise to nurture your dreams,
Because through them your soul shines.
I promise to help shoulder our challenges,
For there is nothing we cannot face if we stand together.
I promise to be your partner in all things,
Not possessing you, but working with you as a part of the whole.
Lastly, I promise to you perfect love and perfect trust,
For one lifetime with you could never be enough.
This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things.

 

Jo-Ellen:

Derek, I promise to encourage your compassion,
Because that is what makes you unique and wonderful.
I promise to nurture your dreams,
Because through them your soul shines.
I promise to help shoulder our challenges,
Because through them we'll emerge stronger.
I promise to be your partner in all things,
Not possessing you, but working with you as a part of the whole.
I promise to share with you the joys of life,
Because with you they will be that much sweeter.
Lastly, I promise to you perfect love and perfect trust,
For one lifetime with you could never be enough.
This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things.

Jo-Ellen, do you take Derek to be your husband, to love him, to cherish him, and to continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion?

Jo-Ellen: I do. 

And Derek, do you take Jo-Ellen to be your wife, to love her, to cherish her, and to continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion? 

Derek: I do.

(Best Man hands rings to bride and groom)
 
May these rings be blessed as a symbol of this unity. Your two lives are being joined today in one unbroken circle.  Wherever you go, may you always return to one another in your togetherness.  May you find in one another the love for which all men and women desire.  May you grow in understanding and compassion.  May the home which you establish together be such a place of sanctuary that all who are here today and others through the years will find there true friends. May these rings, soon to be on your fingers, symbolize the touch of the spirit of love that is in both your hearts. 

Jo-Ellen, in placing the ring on Derek's left hand, please repeat after me: Derek, I give you this ring as a pledge of my love, and as a symbol of our unity. 

Derek, in placing the ring on Jo-Ellen's left hand, please repeat after me: Jo-Ellen, I give you this ring as a pledge of my love, and as a symbol of our unity. 

Jo-Ellen and Derek, you have whole-heartedly consented together to marriage before this company, pledged your faith and declared your unity by each giving and receiving a ring, and, as you are now joined together in mutual esteem and devotion.  It is my greatest of pleasures to now pronounce you Husband & Wife.  Derek, you may now kiss your bride!!!

Come on Irene!

So for anyone who is not aware, I got married in a fucking hurricane.  And it was the best day of my life, wouldn’t have had it any other way.  It wouldn’t have been our wedding if something crazy didn’t happen, so we will take a hurricane! 

The day of the rehearsal was one of the most gorgeous days on the Cape, sunny, warm, light breeze…our rehearsal went great, rehearsed in both the outdoor and indoor location, just in case, and then finished off by having a delicious dinner catered at the In-Laws rental on the Cape!  Friends, family, lobsters, chowda, snake cake and brews!  It was great!

However…

When we left, and headed back to my family’s Cape house for a little “after party” I saw an email saying our FUCKING FLIGHT WAS CANCELLED on Monday heading to our honeymoon due to Irene…HELL NO.  Alright, I’ll fix it, I figured.  So I played that game with Jet Blue, stayed on hold for ~30 minutes, fought with the inconsiderate service woman (you’d think they’d be a bit more courteous…) and managed to get us a flight out at 11:15 Monday night (since their offer of no earlier than Thursday was NOT OK), however it flew into fucking Santo Domingo, at 3:30AM.  And we’d have to rent a car and drive to Punta Cana…whatever.  Better than Thursday…and it’s only 3 highways, it will be easy…yeah you’ll learn how “easy” it was in the honeymoon post!!!

After that was all settled, I was sure to leave my soon-to-be husband before midnight (or else I’d turn into a pumpkin, obviously), and headed back to the main house to get my beauty sleep before the big day! 

As far as the stress factor, for the wedding, it was a level zero.  I just wasn’t worried about it.  Even waking up, I never had that, “HOLY SHIT I’M GETTING MARRIED!” sensation.  I did however check the weather every 20 minutes!!!  Liz and I just hung out with my family, and the kids, and got ready to head to the Wequassett, it was a really low key and laid back wedding morning!  We met the other girls there, and started getting our hair done, and my make-up, and then I did a few other’s make up (because I’m an amazing bride), drank some champagne, and had pictures taken by the BEST photographer EVER!  Nanci Harran, with Click Chick Photography, could not have asked for a better photographer to capture the day!

All in a sudden, it was like 5PM, and I seriously needed to put my gown on…time flew, and we were having a blast.  At this point, we had decided the ceremony would be outside, and it was beautiful.  The rain held out for the ceremony, and then for pictures, and right at the end it started raining.  I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect outcome.  I asked my Mom the night before to please make sure the rain holds out for just those times, and she listened.  I think there were a few of us that asked her for that favor, and she listened!  I know it sounds weird, but that’s just something I do…I did it for Liz’s wedding too, asked her to make sure it didn’t rain so it would be outside, and she pulled through.  She’s looking out for us no matter what.

The ceremony itself was short and sweet, I’ll post the ceremony for anyone interested, and I wrote it myself!  We had some great pictures, and then headed to the reception, where there were 2 amazing toasts from Liz and Paul, and then EVERYONE danced.  All night.  No one stopped dancing!  I seriously think if we were on that show “Four Weddings” we would have won.  It was absolutely amazing.  Everything was beautiful, the venue, the people, everything!

To everyone who made it through the hurricane to come spend our day with us, you have no idea how much it meant to us!  We love each and every one of you very much!!!

I know this post has been pretty much ALL over the place, so, apologies!

Honeymoon details to come!

Inconceivable!!!

OK, honestly, how can anyone work under these conditions?  IMPOSSIBLE!  I am having serious ADHD attacks nonstop, and I’m not even half way through my day.  I actually have work I need to get done too, before tomorrow (I have gotten some done though, thankfully…this shit is important, despite what other people think…).  Today is my LAST day here before my TWO WEEK leave for wedding amazingness and our honeymoon!!!

I have to be here LATE tonight too.  Until at least 8PM I think.  I have been here since 7AM.  I have been trying for weeks to set up a second shift Benzyl Prep training, so maybe anyone other than me can know how to do it…thanks for leaving, Ola!  I wanted to start it at 4, but apparently everyone on the planet has training except for me, so I can’t start it until 5:30…when I usually go home.  Awesome.   Even better that only 2 people have accepted the invite…no one takes me seriously…I’m all sorts of antsy and excited and I have to be at WORK ALL DAY LONG!!!  Oh well, I decided I would be even more useless tomorrow and I’m not coming in.  That’s a perk…I can kind of decide things like that…

So understandably, I’m useless.  I’m elsewhere.  I’m thinking about my dress, I’m thinking about how Derek will look when he sees me in it for the first time.  I’m thinking about how my hair will actually turn out, and my haircut on the 15^th!  I’m thinking about all my family and friends coming from far away just for this day.  I’m thinking about seeing my brother and his beautiful family from Missouri tomorrow, and how much I love those two little kids, Anthony and Lily, and how I didn’t think it was possible to love someone else’s kids so much, even if they are your niece and nephew.  So how much am I going to love OUR kids?  I can’t even fathom that amount, with how much I love those two. 

I’m thinking about our wedding :) All the months of planning coming down to one day (which I am so excited for all of our guests to see how amazing everything will turn out!)…3 days from now.  3 days from now I will officially be Mrs. Duval.   And I am VERY excited about this. 

Side note, because I said I would, http://www.awkwardengineer.com/

Read it, it’s funny.  And he’s a friend.

Mom's Pearls

So I actually submitted this into a different site I live on, reddit.  Got some pretty good feedback, I figure I want to have the story out there in as many places as possible.  It means a lot to me, especially with my wedding being only 5 days away!

So I'm just going to copy and paste my submission from reddit onto here...

I’ve already told this to everyone I know. It wasn’t even recent, it was mid-June. But I figured 2X might appreciate this story.

My Mom died of cancer 4 years ago this past June. She was diagnosed, and then passed away 6 months later. We were very, very close. I was only 20 when she passed, too young to lose your mom, and she was 51, too young to die.

January 2007, she went down into the living room where my Dad was reading, or doing something boring for work, and she stood in front of him, telling him where she was going to hide her pearls. The pearls he gave her as a wedding gift, 31 years ago now. She said he had to know where they were when she was gone. He didn’t listen, just said, “Lori, I don’t need to know what you do with your shit, you aren’t going anywhere.” But unfortunately she did, and the following June she passed away. We searched every room of that house, many times, looking for her pearls. In every pocket of every jacket, every hidden compartment anywhere in the house, in every seat cushion. Nowhere. And my Dad 100% blocked out where she told him they were.

I was heartbroken. Since I was little I wanted to wear these pearls on my wedding day, I was supposed to wear them on my wedding day. Just over a year ago my now fiancé proposed (only 9 more days!!!), and while I was overjoyed, I knew in the back of my mind something I had always wanted for that day would be missing. I know it seems “petty” to be so miserable about a strand of nice pearls, but they mean more than that.

I had given up, we all had given up on the pearls, figured they were long gone, we had sold the home, no one said they found them. I didn’t even plan on wearing a necklace anymore, it couldn’t be anything but those pearls.

This June I sent my dad to our safe deposit box to get some of my mom’s really nice jewelry for me to take a look at, as my “something old.” He brought most, almost left one pair of earrings there, but opened the box and thought I might like them, and brought them. I knew the minute I opened that box of earrings (diamond and pearl drop earrings) that those were perfect, and I found my something old. I went to the bathroom to try them on, and took out that little piece that earrings are attached to (you know what I mean, in little jewelry boxes), and something else was there. A little velvet Mikimoto bag. No. Impossible. I opened the bag and there they were. The pearls. I burst out crying (as I am right now), and ran up to my dad’s office with them, couldn’t be them, I had to ask…he looked at me with the most surprised look, started crying too and said, “That’s them. Where have they been?” When I explained where I found them, all he could say is, “This is exactly how your mother wanted them to be found, at this time.”

She hid her wedding pearls under the pair of earrings I chose to wear for my wedding. Four years. Four years they sat there, waiting for my wedding. The earrings with the pearls. I believe she put that little box together for me, knowing I’d find them when I needed them. Four years…and we had all given up hope, but they were waiting for me all along, right where they needed to be.

Hi? I guess?

Blog post #1.  Here I am.  To be honest, I’m really not entirely sure what I’m doing.  What am I supposed to write about?  What is too much information to share with the internet?  I was taught growing up that you don’t talk to strangers, and you don’t share personal information in an unrestricted forum.  That’s exactly what I’m doing here, isn’t it?  Sorry Mom, I don’t think anyone is going to abduct and rape me via this blog, it will be OK…I think.  

I think some pretty exciting, awkward, and funny things happen in my life, so I’ll probably write about them.  Maybe even things from the past.  Probably a lot of stories about crazy shit I did with my BFF Liz.  Who knows, only time will tell.  Right now I’m pretty focused on one thing: MY FUCKING WEDDING BITCHES!!!

In 6 days I’m getting married!!!  6 days.  That is less than 1 week.  I am getting married next weekend.  On Cape Cod, or as my beloved Tina once referred to it, “The Cod.”  

Friends, family, ocean breeze, tons of unreal food and a 5 hour open bar…yup.  My kind of wedding…to be expected.  Then 10 days in Punta Cana!!!  So if I keep this blog business going, don’t expect to hear from me for a while.  But expect pictures.  Lots of them.  Once I figure out how to add them to a post.  I’m computer retarded.  

That’s all for now I guess…trying to get out of work early today, since we don’t really have anything going on, and second shift is already in…