YouTube on Brides

I usually watch the first hour of The Today Show while I’m getting ready in the mornings. I like to catch the headlines and see what kooky human-interest stories are on - and I just love Matt, Meredith, Ann and Al! In the opening this morning they teased a snippet of a video that has been circulating on YouTube this week. It caught my attention because it was of a hysterical bride on her wedding day who hated the way her hair was done, so she started chopping it off. I have no idea if this is real – but it was such a train wreck to watch. (Check it out yourself - I linked the video to her picture)



The video starts out with the bridesmaids (all with their pretty updos and dresses on) in a hotel room waiting for the bride to get back from getting her hair done. The bride(zilla) storms in with a very Shirley Temple-like head of curls. She’s hysterical, stomping around and screaming about how she hates it. (I’m sure my family would say I’ve had my moments like that in my day.) The bridesmaids are trying to calm her down and tell her it “doesn’t look that bad.” But this loony-toon bride isn’t satisfied and picks up some scissors and starts chopping her hair. Big surprise, she regrets it and goes into even bigger hysterics. Although in the moment she tells everyone very calmly that “it’s ok, I’ve always wanted shorter hair.”

This can't be real right?! I can honestly say that if I have a "bad" hair day on my wedding day, I'd never chop my hair! Not that my "sistas" would ever let me do that. Also, who would put that on YouTube - how cruel!

Marriage Preparation Begins....

Hi. Dan here. I thought I would write the blog entry this weekend since I have yet to post. This week was a busy week for both of us--Laurie worked late nights and I --as my friends say--was busy "protecting the Homeland." The highlight of the week, however, was definitely on Thursday evening when Laurie and I met with Father Greenhalgh at St. Ann's Parish in Arlington to begin our marriage preparation. In attendance--in addition to Father Greenhalgh, Laurie, and myself--were four other engaged couples.

Overall, the meeting went really well, especially when Father Greenhalgh asked Laurie if she knew the seven sacraments. Laurie--as confident as always--starting rattling them off one after another...matrimony, baptism, first confession, first communion, confirmation, annointing of the sick... After coming up with six though, she was stumped! She looked at Father Greenhalgh and said, "I can't think of the last one." Lucky for her, I have been studying up on Catholicism lately and I said, "Isn't the last one Holy Orders?" Father Greenhalgh said, "Yes, great job!" Anyone who knows my background would find it pretty humorous that I would help Laurie come up with the seventh sacrament!!!

The rest of the meeting was pretty uneventful until we got to the 180-question marriage compatability test!!! Father Greenhalgh passed out the # 2 pencils, the scantron sheets--yes, scantron sheets--and then left the room as everyone completed the test. For those of you that have not taken the test, you have to answer "agree," "disagree," or "uncertain" about a whole host of questions, ranging from your perception of your fiance's financial skills and their ability to communicate with you to the number of children you want to have. For those of you that have taken the test know that this test doesn't leave any stone unturned. I have to admit, I may have blushed after reading a few of the questions :) To let you know, I scored Laurie pretty well, but I did mark her down for watching too much TV! Yes, that was a question.

Well, I think our Sunday shows are starting soon...but I will be sure to update you "now and then" on our marriage preparation adventure. Talk to you soon.

Almost-Uncle Dan

Dan and I consider ourselves to be very lucky because we both have loving and supportive families and friends. As far as family goes, my side is somewhat larger. And, as Dan has come to find out, there are a lot of kids! I have seven nieces and nephews, most of whom have known Dan since they were born. The concept of "boyfriend" or "fiance" is sometimes hard to explain to the little ones, as you can imagine.

But...my sister Tricia has tried for years to appropriately explain our relationship to her two children, Sam (5) and Maya (4). A few Thanksgivings ago when Dan came to Kenosha, he was known as "Auntie Laurie's special friend." I'm not sure he was the biggest fan of that label - luckily it didn't stick!


(Sam and Maya at Lake Michigan last summer)

Now that Sam and Maya are getting older, they are understanding the concept of marriage a little more. Sam now understands that Dan is going to be his uncle. In fact, when he heard we got engaged (and that was explained) he connected the dots (with help from his mom) and figured out that Dan was going to be his Uncle - officially. In the meantime, Sam and Maya refer to him as Almost-Uncle Dan!

Da Bears!!!

Wahoo! Yessssss!! Finally!! The Chicago Bears are going to the Superbowl!! Today was a really exciting game, and I am so glad to see the Bears pull out a win when it counts the most. And...my Dad's blood pressure is surely under control tonight:)





This is so fantastic, but....Dan and I will be on a plane back to DC for a good part of the game on Superbowl Sunday. Bummer, right? I'm not sure if the Superbowl will be the same when watching it on DVR - although we'll be setting the timer!

We are going to Kenosha the weekend of Feb. 2 to have our first meeting with the Priest at St. Peter's where we will be getting married. It will be the first of many trips back to Kenosha - but, of all days, hours really, to be on a plane!

I'll leave you with a Bear's "prayer" that my sister Tricia forwarded me on Friday. Lovie and the Bears need our support Feb. 4!

Our Papa Who art a Bear, Hallowed by thy fame.
Thy championship come, Thy play be run, At home as it is away.
Give us this day our Sunday win, And forgive us our turnovers,
Though we pounce on those who turnover against us,
And lead us not into fourth and long,
But deliver us from Krenzel.

In the name of Ditka, Butkus, And the holy Payton. As it was in 1985, So shall it be in 2006, reign without end. AAAAMEN!!!

Idol Inspiration

American Idol kicked off this week. Dan and I have been looking forward to "Idol season" since last May! Seriously, it's one of our television favorites. And tryout weeks are the best! You have a whole bunch of freaks that generally can't sing - and it is hilarious. Much to our surprise, Dan and I received a bit of inspiration from one of these freaks tonight.

We've been tossing ideas around this week about what will be the first song we'll dance to at our reception. There really hasn't been one song that has stuck out in our minds; it's one of those things that probably comes to you when you're not trying to figure it out. That's what happened tonight...

Enter Nick Zitzzman:


Nick Zitzzman is a software engineer from Salt Lake City, Utah. He chose to sing "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers. His rendition was terrible, and he was a weird fellow! Despite all of that, we were reminded of how we really love that song. It's now officially the frontrunner for the first song we'll dance to as a married couple. Just to clarify, that would be The Righteous Brothers' version!

How We Met...

People always ask me, "How did you and Dan meet?" I imagine that many people don't know how Dan and I met. Sure, most of you know that we met at the University of Wisconsin, but I bet you don't know how Dan woo'ed me:)

In August 2001, I moved in to an apartment on Regent Street, appropriately named "The Regent," in Madison. I was about to start my sophomore year in college. The apartment building was right behind Camp Randall (where the badger's play football!) and I was sharing it with three girls (love you Emily!!). The only downside to the furnished apartment was the awful, ugly and uncomfortable living room furniture. That same day, directly across the hall, a nice-looking graduate student (a.k.a. Dan) was moving in to The Regent. I met Dan in the hallway that same day, he was with his father. We introduced ourselves to one another in the hallway, and as Dan opened the door to his new apartment, I couldn't help but sneak a peek inside. They had nicer furniture!!!

I think my first conversation with Dan and his Dad was a little game of "Deal or No Deal." I tried to trade our three-seater couch for Dan's two-person loveseat. A better deal, right? Well, Dan and his Dad didn't take the deal, and I was stuck with the uncomfortable sofa. Being neighbors, Dan and I were able to develop a friendship that semester. We had breakfast in the mornings together, walked [the long way] to class together and chatted at nights when both of us needed study breaks. It wasn't until the following April that we both realized it was more than a friendship.

I had a favorite Professor in college. His name was Professor Jon Pevehouse. I was taking my first of many courses he taught. At this time, it was a statistics course for political science majors. Dan was also taking a course by Prof. Pevehouse, one of the graduate school courses he taught. We bonded over the "coolness" of Professor Pevehouse, and Dan also helped me with my statistics assignments. It was in those moments that I realized how intelligent, patient, kind and funny Dan was. I think we both started to see more in each other around the same time, and it was really exciting. We started dating shortly thereafter. The semester ended that May, and I went back to Kenosha for the summer and Dan went to Washington, DC for an internship at the Department of Defense. Even though we hadn't been dating very long and we were long distance for a few months, our relationship only grew stronger that summer.

Also, I got an 'A' in statistics that semester....

TomKat, Brangelina....Dan/Laurie?

One thing we can take away from 2006 was the rise in “combined” names for couples. We saw it start a while back with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, i.e. Bennifer, and from there the media seized the opportunity to name all celebrity couples from that point on. Since then, we’ve seen the rise of TomKat, Brangelina and Vaughniston, among others. The TomKat wedding was a main event in 2006 and the fact that Brangelina had no plans for a wedding seemed to be an even bigger deal.

While I realize Dan and I are not a celebrity couple (thank goodness for that!), it might be fun to have a combined name. We’re working with Dan Leopold and Laurie Murphy. Are we a DaLaurie, a Leophy? I’d be interested to see if anyone has any ideas...just for fun!

Wedding Planning and Sports

This past week we have been busy with the initial planning - budgets, reception hall, churches, etc., but college bowl season wrapped up as well! For those of you who don't know, Dan is from Columbus, Ohio. Needless to say, it's not the best time to be a Buckeye. (The picture to the left is of Dan and Brutus during happier times!).

Not to mention, Wisconsin beat Ohio State in basketball last night. It's like adding salt to open wounds:) Go Badgers!

In the midst of all of the sports action, we did, however, manage to book the church and a reception hall! I've always wanted to get married in the fall months - especially because a winter Wisconsin wedding could be very cold and snowy! Hopefully we won't encounter those problems with the date we've chosen....our wedding date is September 8, 2007. As my sister Tricia pointed out, it's 09-08-07....9-8-7!

Hopefully, Dan will have come to grips with Ohio State's loss by the time our wedding rolls around. Maybe the Buckeyes will pull off of a win on our wedding day (they play Akron!). In the meantime, I'll be rooting for the Badgers!

The Proposal

I've officially been an engaged woman for slightly less than two weeks - and it is so exciting! Dan and I are looking forward to planning this special day in our lives and want to share the details with everyone as we go along - that's where this blog comes in. Most of our family and friends are scattered around the country (Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts, etc.!), and this seems like a fun way to have everyone be a part of this exciting year for us. I hope this will be a good read!

I guess I should start by telling everyone how Dan popped the question....

On December 30 (2006), Dan and I decided to take a trip to Madison for a night. We hadn't been back together since I was a senior in college in 2004, and had both been looking forward to a Madison trip for some time. As we all know, this "winter" has been considerably mild, so the temperature that day was in the 40s. We got in around noon and had lunch at the Gritty - which I must say, was delicious! After lunch, we walked around campus and checked out our old houses and generally just talked about the crazy times we enjoyed together in college. One of our favorite things to do together in school was to go to Memorial Union, get ice cream and then walk down the Lakeshore path. So, we took a walk down by the terrace and went down the Lakeshore path, just like old times (although no ice cream this time!). We decided to take a breather and sit down on a bench on that path, one we'd sat at many times when we were in school. We were talking and looking onto Lake Mendota, and as I suggested we should get up and go down State Street, Dan said he had to ask me something. Something in his eyes and voice told me that it was not going to be an ordinary question. I was right...because then he asked me to "please take off your left glove!!" Then he pulled a ring box out of his coat pocket and opened it and asked me to marry him! I, of course, said yes - although I was very caught in the moment, so I had to ask Dan later if I actually did say yes!! After that, Dan surprised me with a stay at the Governor's Club in the Concourse Hotel - and champagne and flowers waiting in the room! The State Capitol was right outside our window, it was awesome!

Now the fun begins! Stay tuned for more!