We interrupt this political discourse for a view from Belize

After the most amazing wedding ever, Gar and I rested for about 36 hours and then boarded a flight to Belize. We arrived in the Capitol, Belize City, and began our first leg of the honeymoon. We decided to spend 4 nights in three different locations in the country-- allowing us to really see a lot of Belize. In order to do that though, we had to fly around on the tiniest airplanes. I was completely nervous about these machines. But they turned out to be a great way to get around-- fast, fairly comfortable, on-time and they offered great views.
Our first stop was Ambergris Caye, an island off of the Northern tip of of Belize made famous for its close proximity to the second largest barrier reef in the world. There are no cars on the island (save a handful), just golf carts and water taxis. I loved traveling by boat everywhere we went.
The view from our Cabana was incredible. We rarely saw other people while we were there, except at dinner. It was the perfect place to unwind.
The cabana itself was lovely and romantic.
A snorkeling trip out to the reef culminated when we all jumped into the water, full of sharks and stingrays! Petting sharks and stingrays the size of the hood on my car was a rush.
On another day we went out fishing in the bay. We brought back our catch and the chef at the resort prepared our fish for us that evening.
One night, we went into town to party. We were told that we must go to the Pier Lounge and join the "chicken drop." On the beach you find a large wooden board divided into squares with paint. Each square has a number between 1 and 100 painted on it. For one dollar you buy a number. Then the hosts comes out with a basket and takes from it a chicken. After dancing slowly with the chicken, the host blows on the chicken's... ahem... ass... and then sets the feathery creature on the board. Whatever number the chicken poops on first becomes the winning number!

They host 4 drops a night and the entire town comes out for it. Hundreds of people gather around the board cheering for the chicken to shit on their number! The winner gets $100 Belize, and can keep it or donate it to the Belize Humane Society.

Imagine my surprise when Garrett disappeared for a moment and came back smiling. The next thing I knew, the Pier Lounge Host said, "I want to congratulate Rebecca and Garrett for just getting married! Rebecca, will you come forward-- we need you to drop the chicken!" I looked at Garrett and cracked up. I went to the host she handed me the basket with the chicken in it. Gently I picked the chicken up, danced around a bit and then... blew on its ass. I set the chicken down and she pooped immediately. Apparently, I'm that good.

The next drop? I won. The chicken so took a shit on my number.

So $100 Belize bucks richer, we left the island for Maruba Jungle Spa and Resort. Nestled in the heart of the jungle, we looked forward to exploring the interior of Belize. It was here that I drank more rum punch than one should think possible :)There were not too many folks at the small spa so we had a pool completely to ourselves. We read books, drank rum punch, and took breaks to get rain forest mud massages. We ate armadillo and wild boar-- and I don't recommend either of them. We smoked a hookah and spent evenings in the mineral hot tub.
We took a trip to Lamanai-- the largest Mayan ruins uncovered in Belize. It was astounding-- one of the best parts of the trip. (That's a shot of Garrett-- almost at the very top.)
In the mornings, we got up and went horseback riding.
After Maruba, we hopped on a small plane to our last destination-- the Village of Hopkins. A settlement town for the Garafuna people, Hopkins was my favorite city by far. The people were so kind, the bitters were so strong, and the food in the town was incredible.
We stayed just outside the village at a pretty but 'resorty' place. While we enjoyed all the day trips like zip-lining and cave-tubing, we found we liked the Village better than the resort. However, it all turned out OK because the temperature creeped up over 105 degrees and this Midwestern grrrl though she was going to die. We spent a couple of the mornings in the air conditioned room in a struggle to beat heat stroke.
In the evenings we drank champagne and smoked cigars by moonlight on the piers.

To cool off, we hung out at the bar in the pool. And of course, we brought board games with us.
Dinner was by candlelight at a private table on the beach. And Garrett was, as always, the most romantic husband and lovable playmate any woman on vacation in paradise could dream of.

We left Belize begrudgingly but quite tan. When the airplane began its decent into Atlanta, I was holding back tears. I couldn't believe the wedding and the honeymoon were all over. I said to myself as my ears were popping, "Don't cry. This is not the end-- but the beginning of something more spectacular than you can fathom."

I was so right.

Sine die

Sine Die is the last day of the legislative session. It was a nail biter, that one. I spent anywhere from 12- 18 hours a day working at the Capitol last week. And now, dear internets, it is, finally, done.

And not a day too soon.

I'm ready to shelve my heels, suits, briefcase, pounds of paper, templates for reporting, legislator smile and my political brain for a while.

At least for the next 31 days.

31 days until we get hitched.

May I just say, "Holy shit!"

Yikes, it is truly right around the corner. I couldn't do a damn thing last week on the wedding and I'm trying to make up for it this week.

Besides the to-do list of details to be completed, I'm just so ready. We've been engaged and thinking about this day for 14 months. Quite a build-up. Now it's upon us and it doesn't even seem real.

Over my blogging sabbatical I found a salon and did my hair run-through, got a facial, shopped for gifts for my grrrls, purchased all sorts of stuff for the food and tables, went attendant dress shopping, began to write a detailed run-through of the events, booked the rehearsal dinner space, reorganized the house, crafted the programs/favors (which are super rad), assisted in creating, addressing and mailing the invitations, logged the RSVPs, updated the registry, bought shoes, bought earrings, made a music-play list, and the list just goes on. Gar did all of that and bought a tux, got fitted, shopped, designed wine labels, the program/favor, the invitations, printed posters, and brought me roses for no reason.

Gar is doing his thesis, working full-time, working another full-time job on the website (soon to be announced), and working on the rental house.

I'd like to say that life will slow down a bit after we get hitched but it's not looking likely.

Therefore, my attention is directed at Belize.

Oh Belize. If you are anything like my daydreams I will be so happy.

Currency Conversion and Wedding Update #657,380

The dollar.
The Euro.
The conversion ain't good.
Neither are the flights to get someplace to go spend a Euro. Therefore, our dream trip of spending our honeymoon backpacking through Spain, Portugal and Morocco has been placed on the 'to-do in a couple of years' list.

Now? It's looking like we're heading to Belize for 12 nights. We're starting with relaxing, snorkeling, shark diving, and sunbathing on the Cayes. Then we're heading to the Jungle for Mood Mud Therapy, touring ancient Mayan villages and horseback riding through caves. We will finish up in Southern Belize at an all-inclusive beachy place with day-trips that include ziplining through the rainforest, tubing through cave rivers, snorkeling, and drinking alcohol out of pieces of fruit from the time we get up until the time we pass out.

All in all, I'm pretty pleased. I'm not all that much of a beach person. However, I hear that after you get hitched you are exhausted and a little bit of relaxation on the beach works well.

In other news, I got my make-up professionally done. My awesome friend Ashes and Glass got me a MAC Consultation for my bridal shower. I now know how models and movie stars do it. Make-up is amazing.

This woman made me promise not to take off mascara with baby oil, wash my face with something other than Ivory and wash it more than once a day. It's a tall order, but I'm giving it a go.

I was going to post the 'before' pic but decided against it. The internets already knows what I look like and realizes this is a huge transformation.