Sister-Sister

My sister, Sara, is in town for the weekend. Her flight got in Thursday night and she'll be here until Monday morning. Today we had sisterly bonding time in the form of a bridesmaid/maid of honor dress shopping extravaganza. A decision has not been made yet, but we took a lot of photos. Here are a few of the highlights.

This dress is pretty cute. Imagine it in pink.

Fuck that.

The snobby Richmond bridal shop just changed their policy and now allows photos!

You get the point. There are a few other dresses that are possibilities too. Regardless of the style, the dresses will be pink. RAAARRR bridezillllaaaaaa.

After we looked at dresses, I took Sara to Short Pump Mall for a little shopping and to show her one of my favorite places in Richmond.

Look, a short pump.

We went to Ann Taylor Loft because who doesn't love a store that always has a sale?! I walked to the register with shorts very similar to the ones featured below fully intending to pay the $30 which appeared on the sticker. It was $20 less than the original price so I figured I was getting a deal. Apparently, I hadn't taken into account the additional sale price. They rang up as $4.00! I felt like I'd won the lottery. They might as well have given them to me free for cripes sakes.


This evening I've been hanging out with Edgar and Sara, while Sara has been creating her very own blog! I think it is still in the creation stage, so I won't share the link with you just yet. I completely peer pressured her ("Peeeeer pressuuuure. Doooo iiiiit.") into starting a blog so she'll fit in when we drive to DC on Sunday with Sarah and Lauren for a mini-blogher of our very own, where we'll meet up with Janet, Isabel, Erika (who I've met once before) and the Operation Pink Herring chick. Maybe I should frantically start reading her entire blog. Maybe I shouldn't, lest I come across as an overzealous, stalker-freak.

You can rest assured--the close of the weekend will no doubt bring a pictorial update.

What do you have planned for labor day weekend? Have you been wearing as much white as possible while it's still socially acceptable?

Monday Vent

Perhaps I was a little distraught over Owen Wilson's supposed suicide attempt or the fact that Hulk Hogan's son totally could have died in that car wreck (did you see the car?) Maybe I was just a little on edge because I didn't get a lot of sleep last night, it's Monday, I have a ton to do at work and my fifty-something male co-worker handed me his dirty cup (okay, it's not how it sounds. I mean mug) and asked me to get him coffee, but in a larger mug than the one I used the last time I got him coffee. That would be the aforementioned dirty mug. I got him coffee before because I was being nice and offered. Let me point out that I do not work for him, with him and I am not a secretary. Yes, secretary. Administrative Assistants don't get people coffee, at least not in my world. I am not an Administrative Assistant either. The only thing we have in common is that we work for the same company and share an office. Maybe I am overreacting, but it really pissed me off.

I wasn't even having a bad day though. Overall, it was a decent day and at the end of it I came home to my embarrassingly, overgrown jungle of a yard as I have for the past few weeks. Clearly, the neighbors are getting sick of looking at the monstrosity (I'm positive even the black family next door is considering a move) because my redneck neighbor sent over his redneck grandson to offer to mow our lawn for $20. Yes, folks, that's $20. And Edgar said yes. Edgar, who has been promising me for two weeks that he would get OUR lawn mower out from the tool shed and mow the lawn, paid a kid to do his dirty work. I don't know what made me more heated, the fact that he wasted $20 when we have a perfectly good lawn mower of our own or the fact that he paid someone so he wouldn't have to get off of his booty to do what he promised me he would do. I am leaning toward the latter, although they both make me breathe fire.

So, what do you think? Am I overreacting? Do you have something you want to vent about? Here is your forum. Let it out.

Misc.

I got back this afternoon from an out of town trip for work. It was just overnight, but it has kept me from getting to all of your blogs. I promise to visit you as soon as I can.

Now down to biznass. I'm sure you are just dying to know where I am in the wedding planning process. Don't fall off the edge of your seat.

I now present you with: My Wedding Check-List

Set the date...CHECK It is June 7, 2008 in case you were curious
Booked the reception site...CHECK
Booked the church...CHECK
Booked the photographer...CHECK
Booked the DJ...CHECK
Booked the "cake lady"...CHECK
Worked on wedding website...CHECK
Created a registry...CHECK*
Contacted a florist to get pricing...CHECK
Attended no less than two bridal shows with bridesmaid of the year...CHECK
Spent over $50 on bridal magazines...CHECK

* Over the weekend we went to Crate and Barrel to start a registry. The most awesome part is being able to change and add things online! I've also started a registry at two other stores and I did those two completely online. Edgar and I had so much fun with the bar code scanner thingy at C&B. This was definitely one of my favorite wedding activities to date!

My soon to be sister-in-law (yeah, the same one I sometimes have issues with) has offered to throw Edgar and me an engagement party. She has been really nice lately, so I hope it continues. She can be so kind when she wants to be. I think if she acts bitchy in the future, I'm just going to call her on it in a calm manner, but I digress. If you don't know, I love I mean LOVE Halloween. SIL and her husband, Edgar's brother, are going to throw us a Halloween engagement party!!! I am soooo excited! We met up at Barnes and Noble over the weekend to talk details so she could get a feel for what type of party I want. She came up with the Halloween theme and of course I said YES and insisted that it be costume required. I really want to be a corpse bride and Edgar the corpse groom. Look, you are currently at "The Good Kind of Dorky." What did you expect, people? Coolness?? Who even uses the word coolness anymore?? Apparently me. Enough said.

Anyway, the wedding planning is going well. My sister and maid of honor, Sara, is visiting next week so we can look at bridesmaid dresses. I can't wait! I'm still waiting to find out if the lady who does my mom's nails, friend's boss can get me the dress I want at cost. If not, I need to find an alternative. It'll all come together I'm sure. I think I've accomplished enough thus far. I am a planner by nature so I am totally in my element, even if I do have my moments of stress and frustration. The most stressful decision so far has been the photographer and the easiest and quickest was the DJ. Maya, please tell me I am doing well in terms of timeline!!

In other miscellaneous news, it has been very stormy in Virginia. Creepy stormy. This was taken on the back porch of my house tonight. It looks like a black and white photograph!

Devastated

I was checking People.com this morning and was shocked when I read this. You don't understand. I LOVE them. I love the show House and I love Cameron and Chase. I even bought the recent issue of In Style Weddings just because Jennifer Morrison was on the cover and there was an entire article about their relationship and engagement. What a waste of $6.

Everytime a couple I love breaks up, I say to myself, "What? Why? But they were perfect!!" Think Nick and Jess. I don't think I am completely over that one.

Maybe it's time I stop putting other couples up on a pedestal just to watch them fall. Why is it that I fall into the "grass is greener" mentality when it comes to celebrities when, in reality, what I have with Edgar is clearly more "perfect" than anything Carmen and Dave ever had? I just don't want to believe that they are human too. It just goes to show, you never really know what goes on behind closed doors.

Regardless, it still makes me sad when couples who I find to be completely adorable and The Ultimate Ideal, break up. Where then is the hope for us mere mortals?

Am I the only one who falls into this trap?

An Apology

No I'm not apologizing for my heartless post about the homeless, although my one uppity commenter would probably prefer that I did. I was actually really happy to see my piddly little blog sparking some really good discussion even though my faithful readers, I hope, would know I was just messing around.

I am worried, however, that you might find my past actions completely unforgivable. I recently heard that Starbucks will be implementing a nationwide price increase.

While the article cites rising energy and fuel costs as the reason behind the 5 cent (per drink) price increase, I am here to come clean with the real reason why you will be paying more for your non-fat grande latte with a sugar free shot of hazelnut.

Back in October 2005, when this blog began (please don't go read those posts. Seriously, it was bad) I wrote a post about my Starbucks specific klepto tendencies.

Because I am against the high price of a Starbucks drink, I make up for it by helping myself to a few extra packets of Splenda. It's possible that I've been known to carry 10-20 Splenda packets in my purse at one time or fill up a little dish at home so that, when needed, my cereal could have an extra hint of sweetness. Now I don't take 10-20 in one trip. It adds up over time and my little nest egg o' Splenda grows. This little habit is not only Starbucks specific (I'm lying. I've been known to do this at Panera too.), but it is Splenda specific. Equal and Sweet n' Low just don't have the same appeal, you know?

The reason I take just a few more packets than I actually need is my little way of stickin' it to the man. Well, it appears the man stuck it right back to me. Damn man.

Now, because of me, the nation is suffering. In the course of two posts I've come out as a liar, thief and hater of the homeless. Don't judge me. Just please accept my apology and try not to think of me when you are paying 5 cents more at your local Starbucks.

I wonder how many Splendas I will have to "borrow" to make up for this?? I can't let the man win!!!

To my one disgruntled commenter: Don't go all Starbucks and McDonald's are ruining the world on me. I know.

To the Beggar at the Corner of Staples Mill and Glenside or The Post in Which You Contemplate Whether or Not I am Going to Hell

I can only imagine how shameful it must be for a young woman, or anyone for that matter, to stand on a street corner with a sign that reads "I lost my job. My son and I need money to eat and pay the bills. Please help," or something along those lines.

I'd like to point out that I am much more willing to give the homeless food if I have it with me than I am to dole out money. I am a pretty trusting person, but when it comes to this, I don't like to hand out cash if I don't know that it will be used specifically for necessities. Necessities do not include beer, cigarettes and drugs, by the way.

When begging, there are some rules you must follow if you expect anything from me:

1. Don't approach my car.
2. Do not speak to me unless spoken to.
3. Do not try to force eye contact with me. Sometimes I don't have anything with me to give to you so don't try to force guilt upon me.
4. If you ask for food instead of money, I will be more likely to help you.

This next one is specifically for the woman I saw yesterday. All of the beggars who are sitting on the corner reading this blog, please learn from her mistakes.

5. Under no circumstances will you wear a shirt that says "Rise and Whine." Did you not contemplate how this might come across before you set out this afternoon for a round of rush hour begging? While it gave me a good laugh, it also took away my ability to feel at all bad for you. I'm sorry, but you must be dressed appropriately for the task at hand.

Lions and Tigers and Bears OH MY...and sharks and elephants

Last week ended with my boss resigning (I'm really sad she is leaving, but for obvious reasons I can't talk about it here) and my weekend began Friday afternoon with a pedicure. I've been wanting a pedicure all summer, but I've been hesitant to spend frivolously as I am trying to save for the wedding, which by the way is in just over 10 months. June 7, 2008 to be exact. Eeek! Over the weekend Edgar and I started thinking about our honeymoon. Instead of my original idea of the Outer Banks (which candidly is still an option), we started talking about going someplace really cool like Jamaica (not the one in Queens) (All these parentheses are making me feel like Janet) (seriously)

Saturday Edgar and I took a day trip to Virginia Beach to go to the aquarium there and then to Norfolk to go to the zoo. It was an animal packed day. Before heading home that evening we stopped a seafood restaurant where I had a broiled lump crab cake and hush puppies. Gotta love the south. Edgar had chicken.

Here are some photo-highlights of the day.

So many photo opps with the fake creatures.

Did you know I LOVE goats? Of all of the animals there, I love the goats the best.* I love the farm smell too. Seriously, someone buy me a goat.

Edgar's favorite animal is the penguin so we had someone take this for us.

(omigod, someday there could be a baby in this picture. babieeees)

Unfortunately, by the end of the day my throat started feeling a little tickly and I started to come down with a cold. Luckily it has been pretty mild and I don't feel too bad at all, but that was an unpleasant way to spend the remainder of the weekend.

Pleasant, however, was Sunday's trip to the Richmond Bridal Show with none other than my numero uno bridesmaid, Sarah. Any event that gives you free crack errr ummm bridal magazines, it okay in my book!

I know it's only Monday night, but I could use another weekend. Then again, couldn't we all?




* I was also quite fond of the giraffes and prairie dogs

I Hate Photographers

Okay, that's a lie. I hate making big decisions. I hate making big decisions that involve spending big bucks. After agonizing over which photographer to choose for weeks and narrowing it down, I think I've made my decision. No. Not "I think." I have. See, I'm even indecisive about decisions I've already made. I haven't signed anything yet or put down a deposit so technically...

All of your great advice yesterday really helped me to just go with a "reasonable" price and not look back. I'm done considering the "good enoughs" and I've decided to go with a woman who provides the style I'd like even if she is, in my opinion, slightly pricier than what I would like to spend. She was willing to work with me to customize a package so I could get a more middle of the road price in terms of what she offers. I hope you guys don't mind me talking about money. I'm just trying to be honest with you guys and give you an idea of what this crap costs. Have I mentioned how lucky I am to have Maya, a real life wedding planner as a friend?

Here, check out the woman I've decided to have photograph my wedding and let me know what you think. Remember, I haven't signed anything yet, so there is always room for indecision.

My Own Personal Paparazzi?