The above photo was taken with a Canon PowerShot G3 at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort on April 28, 2003. Visit our old, now defunct, ATPTB Gallery for more pics from this vacation — and ATPTB for summaries.

Currently reading: "The Three-Martini Playdate: A Practical Guide to Happy Parenting"

I am so looking forward to this weekend! One of my favorite partners in crime has now landed in the state — and after a brief touchdown in West Palm, will be heading over this way on Saturday for a l'il more 30th birthday celebratin'. You might remember from the olden days that she was also here to help both of us celebrate our big 3-0's as well (his, hers). Although, as it's already been pointed out...the hot tub has been replaced...this weekend still promises to be a lot of fun full of beach, (hopefully) sun, and mojitos and margaritas by the sea momasita. Cannot. Wait!

Speaking of margaritas...one late night next year, I just may be enjoying them on a Tulsa-area golf course with this chica. Turns out, her inlaws and my mom live about a block apart in the very same subdivision. Small world, ey?

Yesterday morning we finally closed on the refinance of our house. I swear, corporations go at a snail's pace when faced with no longer collecting your interest payments. You always hear from them at warp-speed when it's in their favor. But when it's in yours? Not so much. A few weeks ago, a house sale across the street was a reality-jolt that, oh, our property value had actually skyrocketed since we bought back in 2001. That house sold for about $80K more than we paid for this one! So we had an appraisal done and lo and behold...finally we can get the roof replaced once and for all. Of course that will probably be just about time to get to the letter "N" on the 2005 hurricane name list (irony not lost on us)...

I'm terribly behind on updating WM! while on maternity leave, but I did manage to give an interview awhile back that's just been published — "Getting Married On Location: Destination Weddings On the Rise". I helped her contact the couples in quite a few of the weddings listed there. We were also linked as a resource in AskMen.com's article "Top 10: Original Wedding Destinations".

And last but not least, a couple of things that have really chapped my hide this week... It's no big secret that despite literally winning the lottery twice in two years, we've been no strangers to infertility and loss over the course of our 9-year marriage. So when a friend who's faced the same even longer than we have pointed out this new Capital One Fertility Healthcare Finance program earlier in the week, I wanted to put my fist through the wall. My own personal feelings about the company notwithstanding, how dare they slap a big-happy-family image at the top of the page and then fine-print that their generosity just might include a 23.9% APR. I have never been so disgusted by corporate greed. And if that's not enough to make your blood boil, I just read about this over at Momness. Capitalism is a beautiful thing, is it not?

UPDATE: Mariann wrote to remind me about the new NBC show Inconceivable that debuts this fall. "The doctors of the Family Options Fertility Clinic are on a noble quest to help desperate couples give birth. Except these doctors are often distracted by their personal quests involving sex, deception and secrets." Yeah, sounds positively noble to me! Thanks NBC. There's a reason you're in fourth place.

Repeat announcement:
To close, just a quick PSA and apology. It's only taken me two three days to get this entry together...and you should see my inbox right now (currently with 198 243 messages)... By all means, fire away with the e-mails as I love reading them and getting the 'adult conversation' when time permits. Just please allow for turn-around time. Lots and lots of turn-around time. I have good intentions on writing back I swear (and I'm sorry if you're still waiting to hear back from me), but unless you are the owner of one of these sets of cute little baby toes (or are the male owner of this fine derrière), unfortunately you don't get first-come, first-serve priority for the next few weeks. Please continue to hold...