Aura of impenetrability...

And here, my dearests, is the final bachelorette party observation post. This post is particularly relevant as I felt all of this at the actual wedding as well.

At the bachelorette party, it became obvious that certain people were getting hit on constantly. Obviously the loud, drunken, sort of slutty girls were the first target. But then two of the bridesmaids were also getting hit on...and it was hard for me to figure out why these girls. And I guess the continuation of that is...why not me?

There's a lot of hypocrisy in that statement...because I don't want to be hit on by men in bars, I don't. But at the same time, I do. Because who doesn't want to be found attractive?

And I think there is something about me that screams - "Don't even try it" and I think I have to try to ease up on that somehow.

I think that I am afraid of being second best too...and I'm afraid of always being the friend. I think a lot of my feelings about boys revolve around fear and I have got to get away from that somehow. I'm going to try that whole online dating thing again just as soon as I'm done with school (um...in about a year...yes, I know that's a long time) and maybe I can somehow grow some trust in the meantime...

I remember the look in your eyes...

This, my friends, is going to be a marathon post. Not like some others you may have seen here. Longer! With more pictures! And lots of fun will be had by all. This is the recap of the last week. This has possibly been one of the most fun weeks of my life. Other bridesmaid L said it right when she said that each day/event was more fun than the last (I believe she said funner. We were tired. Cut her some slack). Culminating in the best wedding ever. Most fun...ever. For real.

I'm still sitting here with crunchy bridesmaid hair and fearing that the Taco Bell I ate earlier maybe wasn't a good idea....maybe.

I advise you to sit back, grab a drink and dig your ass into your chair.... First off, the bachelorette shindig. I've already talked a bit about it (dinner at Ba-Ba-Reeba, then Lions Head, then the Apartment), but I feel like I should share pictures. Especially since one of these pictures is the only picture I have of all the bridesmaids. And I don't have any of all the groomsmen.

Here are all the bridesmaids (and the bride obviously). From left to right, although no real names given unless they have referred to themselves that way on this site: K, C, L, Alex, Me, Katy


And here is the little group of girls I feel like I've known forever (again, L to R, Katy, Alex, L and myself). We're a happy bunch, yes?

So, there's that. Bacherlorette: Check!

Personal shower...I have no pictures of this at all. It turned out brilliantly, and I would not hesitate to suggest the South Water Kitchen "family room" (I think they call it the River Room). It seats about 30 and can be "reserved" and used for free. For free! You know...except for the cost of the food. It was a laid back day of lots of lingerie oogling.

Rehearsal and Rehearsal dinner...the Rehearsal was a bit of a challenge (they can get thoroughly boring, especially when you're on time and it feels like everyone else is lost)...however, we didn't pay much attention and had a lot of fun doing a bunch of nothing. Same at the rehearsal dinner. We were all well on our way to comfortable together and thus, we started ribbing each other mercilessly.

I can't really talk about the rehearsal dinner without talking about the wedding, because they followed much the same pattern. So here's a picture of some of the girls at drinks after the rehearsal dinner.


I think a sort of natural grouping occurred and I ended up spending most of my time with a few of the people throughout the end of the week. Here is my tribute to them:

Al with her GIANT beer. It was giant. This picture was taken at the same bar as above. Note to subject: if you read this and hate your picture representation, let me know.


This is L. And this is her fake smile face. We were talking about the unnatural amount of pictures that bride Katy likes to take and how we were going to fake smile in those pictures. I heart this picture. Taken again at drinks after rehearsal dinner. Note to subject: if you read this and hate your picture representation, let me know.

And here are our groomsmen (ok, not mine...here are L and Al's groomsmen, respectively D and S) who spent the night with us generally cracking us up. The night of the wedding (where this pic was taken) we spent hours and hours with these two. Note to subjects: if you read this and hate your picture representation, let me know.

And finally, I thought you all might want to see the best man ("my" groomsman). This is about the only picture I have of him (which I don't think I took). I had a lot of people commenting to me about how hot he is... can you see it? Note to subject: if you read this and hate your picture representation, let me know.

All in all, I have patchy pictures. I have a few pictures of before the wedding, NONE during, and a few from between the reception and the after party. For a day that was 19 hours long (yes...not a lie) I have pitifully few pictures. I will hopefully be buying pictures from the photographers eventually.

Katy was a beautiful bride (and I somehow have no pictures of it. I'm clearly getting used to this having a camera thing). The ceremony went swimmingly. It was touching and very much like the couple. There were some laughs, some tears and overall it was lovely. The reception started with my being a horrible nervous wreck. I got to give my toast first, and while I rushed, my general idea came across and I got a few "nice jobs" afterwards, so hey...it's over. After that I was finally able to relax and just enjoy the party. And it was a great party. Tons of dancing, drinking, and general merriment.

After the reception (at which point I was completely drunk), we went back to the hotel where we had a conference room booked and continued the party. This continued til about 4:15am. Then me and 3 others (Al, L and S from above) continued to chat and laugh until 5. Yeah. 5am. We finally went back to the room. In total, I think I got about 2 hours of sleep. I'm exhausted but happy - it was SO much fun. No one wanted it to end (including the bride, who told us all she had a mini tantrum in her room with the groom and wouldn't take off her dress because then it would be over...)

A delightful wedding. Now how can the rest of us ever hope to live up to that?

Timing...

Hi all...I still have two posts from the bachelorette party planned, but I feel a time crunch coming on as the wedding is tomorrow (holy shit!) and I have some things to get done still. I think I'll cram one of the posts here today and then put the other one off for a while. Hopefully it'll still be as good way after the fact...

When you're friends with a bunch of girls that have known each other forever (or...10ish years), there is a certain amount of cattiness that is just a part of that relationship. I honestly think that this is the only way that the friendships can survive...it's like they are a member of your family, and you don't feel weird bitching about your family...so sometimes you just need to bitch about your friends. I hope none of those friends are shocked - it's not like we all don't do it. We do. That doesn't mean we love each other any less...in fact, I think it sort of shows that we love each other enough to be comfortable to bitch. But...what I wonder is....what are the topics that my friends bitch about when they talk about me? I feel like I'm a fairly aware person. And I have a good idea of what a few of those things are....but this is just me imagining it. How can I really know? It's sort of intriguing to me to wonder about this stuff....

I know I'm not perfect. I know my friends and family know I'm not perfect. And I respect their right to bitch about it....but wouldn't it be fun to be clued in? No? Maybe there's a little bit of masochism there....

Bachelorette party observed...

So, I'm first going to explain what we did. Then I'm going to tell you what I observed....

First, we ate at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba. It was a lovely meal in which we downed quite a few pitchers of Sangria. Lots of food was consumed as well (I do believe I ate at least 3/4 of a plate of Garlic Potato Salad. That stuff is SO good). I think we all got along charmingly and towards the end we were creating quite a lot of noise (our speech volume escalated in direct proportion to the volume of Sangria we consumed). We moved on to Lion Head. We drank a lot. We went upstairs to the Apartment to dance. And drank (some of us). That's the story.

Two things in this post, then more in the next few days/week (depending on the amount of time I have). Most don't really have to do with the actual party, more with things I noticed while attending said party.

First, I have this uncanny ability to say the wrong thing even when sober. I think I've gotten better at this recently...but sometimes I'm following my own train of thought, and I say something to others that makes complete sense to me, but somehow turns out to sound really blunt or totally mean. But I generally didn't mean it that way at all and if I could have phrased it better or started out with some explanation of what is about to come out of my mouth, things would definitely turn out better for me. I think this issue increases when drunk. I'm not happy about it and I think I should not allow myself to speak without thinking/explicating when drunk...

Second, I think I could make money off of personalized buttons if I gear them toward this kind of thing. Basically I made name buttons for everyone in the wedding colors - those of us who didn't know each other could look at the buttons to remind us of a name. How often do you secretly wish everyone had name tags, but realize that would be hideous? This solves that need...the buttons turned out so cute that they can also be a little party favor. Maybe when I get a website up I'll think about doing something on Etsy or something. But how in hell do you market that? Bachelorette/bridal buttons in your wedding colors! Get em while they're hot! See the button here.

Long weekend...

So, I have a few blog posts planned in the next few days....

First, Harry Potter. I finished the book Saturday before the bachelorette party I was attending with about an hour and a half to spare. I actually want to read the book again. People groan, why would I want to read it again so soon? I did read a little too fast after about the halfway point and I did miss some stuff. So I'll post a long, long HP wrap-up after that. I also feel like I still shouldn't say anything about it, I mean, obviously I would put a spoiler alert up....but it'd be better if my HP post is at least a few days away....

Second (and third, maybe a fourth) some observations from the bachelorette party, spending time with friends and the personal shower. All of which I think were successful. I feel there were some minor hitches in the bachelorette party - but all in all I think everyone had fun and that it was what the bachelorette wanted.

So, look forward to that. I think I'll go be lazy..

What is better...

What is better than...

• curly fries with cheese
• Harry Potter book in my hands in t-minus 8 hours (still seems so long)
• Spending a whole weekend with good friends
• wrapping presents (yes, I love it!)
• the blanket I'm knitting becoming so large that is warms my lap as I knit it (although it's still way too small...picture of it on my lap):

• A cat who is so lazy she lays down to drink out of the water bowl (note Mona's correct pose at the food bowl, sitting and eating. And then there's Boku....):

• Knowing that I finally, finally have an idea for my toast next Friday (but it still needs some thought)

Happy weekend all...

Two posts today kiddies....

Make sure to read both (if you care about Harry Potter).

This post is more of a request than a post. I had a dream that I wrote this exact post, so I decided I should do it.

In less than two weeks (ACK) I have to give a toast at my best friend's wedding. A maid of honor toast. Most of the toasts that I can remember from weddings were terrible (which is probably why I remember them). But, here's what I'm asking of you:

1. If you can remember a good toast, what was it like and why was it good?
2. And more likely, those bad toasts you remember...why were they bad?

I'm an uncomfortable public speaker...and I feel like this kind of thing can go down in history and be an embarrassment for the lifetime of your friendship (Hey Kate, remember that terrible speech you gave at my wedding? HA...remember when you spilled your champagne all down your dress? That was hilarious!) - which in this case should be long.

I know there are at least 20 of you reading this every weekday. So, I'm hoping to get a response here of about half that...even if you have to post anonymously. Help please!

A boring girl...

Last week was full of excitement...a friend moved to the city, the 4th, a concert, the Taste, a graduation party...chock full of activity.

This week is more leisurely. Tonight I spent a bit of time on my website (finally) and may have a "splash" page prototype for some of you to look at for an opinion in the next few days (unfortunately this will be limited to those who know me as my last name is on the splash page, so please volunteer). I also spent a long, long time learning a new way to cast-on (knitting). I'm not sure what the big deal about this way is except that it's twistier and more complicated than my usual way (usual: Long-tail cast-on. New way: Old Norwegian cast-on). So it's been a crafty day all around....

Other than that, not much exciting this week...although I will be seeing HP this weekend with a long-lost friend....and it sort of feels like the wedding stuff (wedding is on 7.27.07) is starting now....a fitting this weekend, a bachelorette/shower weekend the next and then that next week is wedding week...

Possible sporadic posting ahead...

Bang bang chitty chitty bang bang...

I wonder...if Chitty Chitty Bang Bang were pitched nowadays would it have ever made it to film? Sort of a creepy children's movie (along with Babes in Toyland)...yet somehow these are the movies I remember watching in childhood. And I was always fascinated with the weird contraptions in Chitty's house (was there an egg machine?). Fascinating fact of the day: Roald Dahl was one of the screenwriters on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - makes a LOT of sense.

I've decided that I love being in charge of RSVP's for parties. I love hearing who is coming and who isn't. It's delightful. Have a party? I'll take your RSVP's. And, this party is an experiment in email as RSVP device - I have a feeling I'll get higher numbers of email RSVPs than phone. In fact, I sort of bet that all of the people of my age will email. Email: 1. Human contact: 0.

Ending it all with some Harry Potter...so I finished Azkaban. I must admit that I'm wavering a bit on Harry dying in book 7. After reading Chamber of Secrets I was sure of it - he was dying. Azkaban has me questioning. One of the things that I know I've read before (in more than one of the books) is that Voldy always underestimates the "old" types of magic (Harry's Mom protecting him with her love being the obvious one). And, because of Book 3, Peter Pettigrew owes Harry his life. A life debt. A strong, ancient form of magic. Which may come back to haunt Voldy in the end...Peter saves Harry's life at the last?

Things I learned in Utah...

I was in Salt Lake City for the first time this weekend...and here for your enjoyment is a list of things I learned throughout the weekend (note: I was attending a family wedding.....No. They are not mormons. List presented in no logical order)

1. No matter how drunk I get at Katy's wedding, I will NOT kick off my shoes. Near head injury.
2. No matter how drunk I get I will NOT jump up and down in my dress. Um. Yeah. Insert mental picture of a strapless dress, a girl with large breasts line dancing. Not. Good.
   
3. Sitting next to your Grandpa while listening to My Humps is awkward. Very, very awkward.
4. Utah is probably much more interesting in the winter.
5. However, seeing the Olympic ski jumps and luge/bobsled track was pretty interesting.
6. I am thinking about learning to ski this winter. Anyone interested in a quick trip to the nearest bunny hill?
7. Not to offend any mormons out there, but "Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" sounds like a swear. Say it like you're angry or like you just hurt yourself. Works, doesn't it?
8. My ability to do homework while on vacation is...low. Very low.
9. My grandparents are very mortal...what I mean is, they seem to be aging heavily, by the second...
10. Buying a skirt right now is easy for a short person - for the first time ever, shopping for clothes is easy for me! Because the trend is short...skirts fit me like they are a normal length!

Inspired by Utah but not directly related:

1. I bought the cutest shoes...although they do have some gold on them which is very unusual for me.

Totally unrelated:

1. My quest to be eco-friendly now includes laundry detergent. It smells delightful and I notice no difference in its cleaning power. It is a huge, heavy container though (compared to my All Small & Mighty) and that's no fun.
2. I have added a bunch of the stuff from my Amazon wishlist to my kaboodle wishlist - I may just add everything there and sort of shut down the amazon wishlist. It sort of sucks for you all to have to go to 2 different places. I know the bonus of the Amazon list is that you don't have to know my address or whatever. But how many people actually would buy me a present who don't know my address? And...it's probably better if you don't ship it to me anyway...the package thief may still strike.
3. That midterm that I bitched about and hated so much (I still feel a bit angry when thinking about it)? Well, I aced that thing with flying colors. I do believe that the professor has stopped grading in an evil, unkind way. Maybe everyone was doing so poorly that he became a softy?
4. While I was away over the weekend one of my groups failed to turn in an assignment that was due. Yes. They just didn't turn it in. 3 people. No one turned it in. I emailed my professor about how much my group just SUCKS and that I haven't spoken up because up to this point I've managed to keep it all from falling apart. But I leave and it all comes crashing down. Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I hate those people (see? It works! I wonder if I'll get mormon death threats now....)
   

Always a bridesmaid...

You know the saying...always a bridesmaid, never a bride. I briefly looked up the etymology of the phrase online and it comes from a song (Why Am I Always a Bridesmaid) and it's supposed to mean something along the lines of: Frequently second-best. I was totally sidetracked from my original intention for this post by the song (which I find hilarious), so I'll post the words at the very bottom and get back to it..

This next time around will be my fourth engagement as a bridesmaid. And I must say, I'm just as excited about it (if not more so - no offense other brides & grooms - but this is the friend I've had since we were 11...long time). I'm always a little confused by the people that complain about being a bridesmaid. How could you not be happy to be involved in such an important day for someone you love? (I know it happens...people get asked to be in weddings for people they aren't that close to. And obviously when that happens it sort of is an exceptional circumstance, so maybe a little complaining is OK).

It's not often that we get to celebrate in such a way - where we just take a day, get dressed up and celebrate two people (political side rant: in my opinion ANY two people who want a marriage should have one). So how could you complain about the thing? Sure, it costs quite a bit of money to be in a wedding, but what better way is there to spend your money than on your closest friends? None. none.

I'm fairly sure I'll be a bridesmaid again (There is every possibility that I will be a bridesmaid 4 more times yet...or 0). And for each of those times I'll be just as happy and honored as I am now.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride? Quite happily, thanks....

And now, the song that sparked the saying:

Why am I always a bridesmaid,
Never the blushing bride?
Ding! Dong! Wedding bells
Always ring for other gals.
But one fine day -
Please let it be soon -
I shall wake up in the morning
On my own honeymoon.