A quick wrap-up. Thursday night, Kellie and I went out with my older brother who was determined to get us all lit up like Christmas trees. In the end it was he who took several Jägermeister shots and it was I who got us all home safe. Hanging out with my brother is a very weird thing. We grew up hating each other. Well, he hated me and I grew to hate him. His behavior towards me can only be described as abusive. I'll leave it at that.

    It was at my Grandfather's funeral a few years ago that he somehow came to the realization that I was an actual person and that I might not be half bad. At least, that's what I'm assuming happened. So, in the meantime he and I are slowly creating something new. Overall, it's a good thing.

    Friday we did a million things and then had the rehearsal dinner. I was really nervous about the dinner but things turned out well. Everybody was in good spirits and I got to meet many of T.'s relatives. The food was excellent and I got to hang out with four of my college buddies who flew out for the event. How cool are they?

    The worst was what happened before the event. I still don't know what the hell got into my mom but she did a little flip-out on me. I had about an hour and a half and Kellie and I were at my parent's house. I wanted to drop by my friends' hotel room and make sure they made it all in one piece. Then we had to get over to the Grandparent's, take showers and then go back to my parent's to pick up the gifts T. and I bought for the wedding party.

    So... I tell my mom, "I need car keys and house keys and then I got to get moving." She asks me what I need house keys for and I tell her my plan. Well, you're not going to be late, are you? I tell that I hope not but I have to get moving and will she give me the keys I asked for. She gets that look on her face and then hands me car keys that don't have house keys on them. I looked over and saw the house key that my parent's have on a long cord, grabbed it and headed out.

    I'm just getting ready to leave the Grandparent's when the phone rings. It's my mother.

    Yep, she hung up on me. I think flabbergasted would best describe my reaction to this. I learned later from my older brother that she was cussing up a storm about my insolence. I have never thought my mother to be very controlling. I would never before have said, "Watch out for my mom because she's a control freak." But, now that I think about it, she is a bit of one. She's just very, very sly about it. Well, usually she's sly about it. That's the only explanation that I can come up with.

    The thing is that I knew that I was going to be late. I also knew that if I told my mom that I was going to be late she would have insisted that I either not go see my friends or not take a shower — anything to be on time. However, I didn't want to be rushed and I knew the dinner wouldn't start without me. Kellie was way cool about everything.

    Luckily, when we showed up my Mom came over and gave me a hug and told me she loved me. I am really glad she did that because if she had tried to continue on there would have been issues. Not only was she acting irrational she also embarrassed me.

    What else?

    T. gave a lengthy and moving speech at the dinner. I had been so nervous and worried in the weeks leading up to this event. I had kept him up at night with my fretting. But, when I got to the rehearsal dinner a total sense of calm came over me and I still feel calm now. T. was fighting back tears as he talked about his love for his parents and his devotion to me. I held his hand and tried to calm him. He gave me a beautiful pair of pearl and diamond earrings. It was a total surprise. I had said that I thought it would be nice if we just wrote each other love letters. I wish I had gotten him something now.

    I handed out the gifts: tie chains for the boys and pearl bracelets for the girls. The three little kids, my second cousins (children of my cousin?), all seemed really delighted with their gifts. Those kids are such darlings.

    The place where we had the rehearsal dinner was my parent's country club. I don't know if there are any other country clubs in Bozeman but this one sort of has special meaning because this is where T. proposed to me on New Year's Eve, 1996. The club did a wonderful job with the food and the service. I was especially worried about this evening because of the cataclysmic build-up over the last few months but all in all it was wonderful.

    After the dinner, Kellie and I met up with my brother, T.'s sister and cousin and high school buddy at this bar that we sort of took over for the few days of the wedding celebrations. I think it was called the Hoffbraü — total dive. It was really nice to just chill with T. although I got mondo-weirdo vibes from cousin Julie and high school buddy Paul.

    This morning Kellie and I got up too bright and early to have our hair done and manicures. I'd never had a manicure before and I didn't get one this time either. The manicurist never showed up. My hair looks okay but it's pretty stiff. I love the hair stylist here, though. If only I could afford to fly her down to L.A. once a month. Various shenanigans ensued over the rest of the morning and now I have to go, get dressed and take photos. Ack!