It all started with an email from Julia to get me started on a brilliant surprise...
October 19, 2011 at 3:55 PM PST -- Email from Julia.
"Was wonderful trying on gowns with mom here, since she won't be around to see anymore dresses. I hate that none of my family/bridesmaids is here for this."
I needed an accomplice...TOBY!
Many text messages and emails occurred between Toby and I...here are key ones to give you a good look at the planning and anticipation to the big surprise...
October 20, 2011 at 5:53 PM PST -- Text message from Sue Ann to Toby
"Was thinking about dropping in on Julia for a weekend...Surprise...Any bad weekend?"
October 20, 2011 at 6:05 PM PST --- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"Nov 12 and 19 are the only bad weekends between now and Xmas. Stay with us! I'll pick you up at the airport. I can make a dress appt at..."
October 20, 2011 at 6:06 PM PST -- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"A place I know she wants to go"
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November 2, 2011 at 9:05 AM PST -- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"I'll make a couple of dress appts for you 2. Sat or Sun?"
November 2, 2011 at 12:29 PM PST -- Text message from Sue Ann to Toby
"OMG Soooo excited"
November 2, 2011 at 12:30 PM PST -- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"Really I couldn't tell. Julia still has no idea."
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A hiccup arose during the planning stages leading up to the big surprise...
November 3, 2011 at 3:57 PM PST -- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"Julia is planning to go dress shopping on the 25th with somebody...she is also getting married"
November 3, 2011 at 3:59 PM PST -- Text message from Sue Ann to Toby
"Nooooo"
November 3, 2011 at 4:03 PM PST -- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"She is also coming for dinner"
November 3, 2011 at 4:04 PM PST -- Text message from Sue Ann to Toby
"Dude...come up with an excuse for her to cancel"
"Plan some fake thing for that day!"
November 3, 2011 at 4:08 PM PST -- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"Too late, she already made those plans. She'll know something is up"
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November 3, 2011 at 4:44 PM PST -- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"Hmmm...i do know the person Julia is going shopping with, I could ask her to cancel..."
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November 4, 2011 at 9:17 AM PST -- Text message from Toby to Sue Ann
"Problem solved: Julia's friend will cancel later in Nov"
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November 15, 2011 at 8:01 AM PST -- Email exert from Toby to Sue Ann
Only a week and a half to go!
I have made two dress appointments for Saturday November 26.
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November 16, 2011 at 3:14 PM PST -- Email exert from Sue Ann to Toby
"Did you want to catch a Senators' game?"
November 16, 2011 at 3:59 PM PST -- Email exert from Sue Ann to Toby
"do you want to grab tickets or shall I?"
November 16, 2011 at 4:00 PM PST -- Email exert from Toby to Sue Ann
"It might be easier for you to do it right now: you know who is in the kitchen and might see."
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November 20, 2011 at 11:02 AM PST - Email exert from Toby to Sue Ann
"Julia seems sufficiently depressed about next weekend. Her DND friend cancelled and she is dreading shopping alone."
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November 21, 2011 at 6:21 AM PST - Email exert from Toby to Sue Ann
"I made us a reservation for brunch on Sunday at 1pm at the NAC."
November 21, 2011 at 9:35 AM PST -- Email exert from Sue Ann to Toby
"OMG! I am soooo excited!3 more days to go!"
November 21, 2011 at 10:29 AM PST -- Email exert from Toby to Sue Ann
"I'm excited too, and I'm sure Julia would be if she knew you were coming. "
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November 22, 2011 at 12:36 PM PST -- Email exert from Toby to Sue Ann
"48 hours I can hardly wait: i might explode soon."
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November 23, 2011 emails between Toby and Sue Ann were under the subject "Tomorrow"
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November 24, 2011 emails between Toby and Sue Ann were under the subject "Soon"
I landed early in Ottawa on November 24, 2011 at 2:14 PM EST. Toby picked me up me up at 3:16 PM PST.
Toby and I were going crazy waiting for Julia to get off work...she was working late again!
When Julia finally emailed Toby that she's on the bus home...we headed to the bus stop.
Watching bus after bus come and go without Julia on it was driving me mental....
Shortly after 6:09 PM EST Julia's bus finally arrived...I stood across the way...as I saw her cross the road...I shouted to her something along the line of "Hurry up Julia! I'm hungry!" She stopped halfway and froze. Even in the dark I can see her eye widen and jaw drop! She crossed and came towards me. Tears were in her eyes! HUG!!!! She can't believe I was there in person after just texting back and forth with me during her bus ride...
Surprise was a success!
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November 25, 2011 at 7:29 AM EST -- Email exert from Julia to Sue Ann
Subject: Is it real???
"Are you really here? I feel like it all could have been a wonderful wonderful dream last night :D"
For my birthday, I was in Ottawa with my bestfriend Julia and her fiance Toby! Surprise!
For the 5 days I was in Ottawa, we went wedding dress shopping...eating (of course)...shopping...eating (more)...more wedding dress shopping...eating (again)...we even managed to catch an Ottawa Senator's hockey game together...eating (tons)!
It was an awesome treat for me to visit...it was an awesome surprise to Julia...
How will Toby and I top this in the future???? Ugh!!!
