I think I am in good shape for the party (clearly a reference to food prep). The gumbo is made and in the fridge. It has to be heated up and the shrimp and crab have to be added at the last moment. I've partially cooked the sausage so they can finish on the grill. If I didn't do that, my husband would char the heck out of them. I don't know how much gumbo my recipe makes, but to give you an idea, the serving bowl is 11 inches tall by about 11 inches wide. It should feed 25. Thus the 30 sausages. Hearty rolls, mustard... we should be all set. The spiced nuts came out great (thanks AnnT) and the pigs in blankets are waiting in the fridge. Brownies are done and a tray of oatmeal raisinet cookies are cooling. The rice will be last minute as it looks like I may have to hang around afterall (I am not complaining!) Tomorrow all I have to do is some last minute shopping for incidentals and maybe another batch of cookies. Thanks for all the help and entertainment. Jo

Ribs! I put a spicy rub on them this morning and made some good sauce for basting. I made some broccoli slaw and sweet potato fries to go with them. Sure was tasty. Robert took today off and the rest of the week. We went out early to do some mattress shopping (YIKES), a doctor's appointment (for him), and had lunch at Cheddars, which is great here in Huntsville. I had a nice salad and Robert had fried catfish. Where are you, ellendi? Sounds like a tropical menu! Yum.

Wow, your dinners all sound fantastic! Kickin' shrimp fettucine sounds amazing Raven! Steak and potatoes would never be turned down, here. Rhizo, your chicken cutlet sauce sounds delicious, as usual. I'm hoping asparagus is on sale again this week. Shirley, good thing you keep Stouffers on hand for days like today when you don't feel like cooking. CountrySunshine, haven't seen you here in ages!!! Welcome back. Chinese takeout is a treat and we don't even get hungry in an hour. LOL Sue you had a real summertime meal!!! Wow, you must be itching for hot weather :-)

If everyone will already be there, I would invite them all. I am part of a community that always invites all out of towners to the rehearsal dinner (or whatever the "night before" party is called) anyway, and I know that that is not true in every community. But for a destination wedding? These guests have spent a lot of money and possibly used a good chunk of their vacation time to come to your wedding. To me, anyone who cares about you enough to do that is close enough to be the "inner circle" invited to the rehearsal dinner. It's not like they can stay home. What are they supposed to do instead? Arrange and pay for a restaurant dinner, then spend the rest of the evening sitting in their hotel rooms while you party? If I were one of your relatives, I would be stunned not to be invited to all the parties (and I would feel embarassed, as though the hosts never really expected or wanted me to accept the invitation). I'm sorry if that sounds harsh. Obviously, you can do whatever you want. But remember, you cannot dictate how your guests will feel about it. Do you really want even one of your guests to be thinking, "They think it's okay for me to spend hundreds of dollars to come to Mexico, just so they could have a 'destination wedding,' but I'm not worth the price of supper to them?"