I have a ticket and a dress

Now all I need is for it to be July.

I picked up my dress on Tuesday and I got my airline tickets to northern Cal on Friday. I have my first fitting for my dress Tuesday. My how time flies. It is a little under six weeks until the wedding and I feel like it was only yesterday that P and I were thinking what if M proposes. I really am excited for her. I thought at one point that I would be more jealous of her since she is getting what I want. I mean, she wanted it to, but there is no jealousy. I am honestly just happy for her. Who knew!

You're always 17 in your hometown...

I went back to my hometown this weekend for the "official" engagement party and the bridal shower. It is amazing the looks I got. It was funny because people looked at me and recognized me and it was as if I belonged. Then it was as if they realized that I had been gone for a long time -- since high school. I have no family left there and haven't been back "home" in probably 15 years. That is when people did the double-take and frown at me.

It is so strange how so much has changed and yet so much is still the same. The faces were the same -- older and a little heavier -- and the trees were bigger, but for the most part it was the same. Then as you look closer, nothing is the same. You really can't go home again.

Once everyone got over the shock of seeing me, it was a great visit. I got to see a lot of the folks who made such an impression on me and had a hand in making me the person I am today. The bridal shower was a cross section of my life in school from elementary through high school. My very favorite teacher ever was even there and I got to give her a big hug and say thank you -- and apologize for being such a brat in class.

Yes, Stepmonster was there and was in fine form. She was highly medicated so she was actually bearable. P and I were discussing it and she looks plastic. We think she has had some serious work done to her face. She couldn't frown! Don't get me wrong, I'd have work done if I had the money. I would just hope that I would have a better surgeon.

More later. It is late and I'm tired.

That which I fear the most...

It sucks to suddenly see yourself as – or have the realization that you might become – that which you fear the most.

Mr. Maybe that I went out with Tuesday night turned out to be a dud. Not him personally. We had a great dinner and great conversation with the dinner. We talked about family and our dreams for the future and our pasts and just about everything you can think of to talk about on a first date/blind date. (Meeting people from eHarmony is like a blind date because other than what you know about them from online and talking to them, you’ve never met them.) I didn’t hear from him yesterday. I didn’t really expect to, to be honest. But, I did send him a quick little e-mail thanking him for dinner and that I would be open to seeing him again. I got an e-mail from him today saying that he didn’t think it would work out because he doesn’t like cats.

That is when it hit me. I’m becoming that which I fear the most – the old spinster woman with the cats. Okay, I realize that at 35 in the year 2006, I’m hardly a spinster and that contrary to the 1986 Newsweek article, I’m not more likely to be killed by a terrorist than to marry after 30. (Newsweek did rethink the whole thing and you can read about it here.) But still, Mr. Maybe didn’t want to date me because I own cats. I also got a match yesterday who said that he didn’t like cats and basically that “those with cats need not apply.” I suddenly had a strange glimpse into my future of coming home to the cats and an otherwise empty house, picking up my crochet, and settling in for an evening of television. Oh, wait, that is my life now.

I have friends. I go out. I am not a total hermit. You can’t tell me that I need to get out more. I do go out when I have opportunity. I don’t like the bar scene. It was fun at 21, but not so much now. When I do go to the bar or club, it is usually not to troll for men, but rather to see a specific band or meet up with people.

I belong to, and attend fairly regularly, a church in the area. I meet people through that also, but most of the “single” people are divorced and older so I don’t have much in common with them.

I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do. I don’t want to be the old spinster lady with cats. That is why I am on eHarmony and I go out and everything else. I just don’t know what else to do. I sound whiny. I am right now because I'm a little hurt that he "broke up" with me via e-mail (chicken shit way out if you ask me). Tomorrow I will be better. In general, I have a pretty great life. I have great friends and a very patient family who love me even single. I joke about being my niece and nephews favorite aunt so they will take care of me when I'm old and infirm. I want it to be a joke, anyway. Days like today make me wonder.

My very first meme...

I feel so officially bloggish! To be honest, when I got tagged for this meme, I was a little intimidated. After all, my sister the librarian tagged me. I have to be honest, I don’t read nearly as much as I should or used to simply because of time constraints in my life now. Someday (soon) I hope the time constraints will be lifted and I’ll have time to really read. For the time being, I read fluff – pure brain candy – because I have to think enough in my real life!

So…

1. The three most influential books in my life are:

• Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
  This was an influential book simply because it was the first challenged book I ever read and I read it because I was told not to. It was the book that above all has made me think about what causes people to challenge books.
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn
  This was first read as a class assignment when I was a freshman in high school many, many years ago. I reread it a few years ago and it was interesting to read it with the eyes and experiences of an adult. It was influential because it made me realize how much society has changed and it made me sad because high school freshmen today wouldn’t see a big deal with what Hester Prynne did.
• The Left Behind Series by Tim Lahay and Jerry B. Jenkins
  This series, while not necessarily great literature, did make me think about what and how I believe about the end times.

2. Three books I’ve read more than once.

• The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
• The 3 longer novels in the Anita Blake series
• What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson

3. Three great books I personally hated.

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Hate may be too strong of a word here, but it wasn’t one of my favorites. I know it is a great work of literature and has a wonderful story and moral, but I just didn’t like it! (Sorry, Carrie.)
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  I know, I know, but it was pure torture to me!
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
  I see a Steinbeck pattern forming here.

4. Three pure pleasures.

• The Anita the Vampire Slayer series by Laurell K. Hamilton. (Falls into the pure fluff category. This is my current book obsession and also part of the reason I hate series of books and waiting for the next one to come out.)
• Chick Lit
• Sci-Fi or Fantasy novels

5. Three great books I should have read but haven’t yet.

• For Whom the Bell Tolls by Earnest Hemmingway
  Or really anything by Hemmingway. I have started FWTBT, but I’ve never finished it. I should.
• The Harry Potter series. And I plan to when she finishes it. There is nothing more infuriating and frustrating to me than to have to wait six months to a year between books in a series.
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I could actually list many, many more. It is embarrassing how many classic works of literature I’ve not read.

6. The last three books I ordered. (Since I don’t generally order books, I go to the bookstore instead, I’ll list those. Hey, where else can you eat a Rice Krispy treat the size of your head and drink a cup of way overpriced coffee?)

• The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper (Initially published as Passion’s Reign.)
• Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton
• 12 Choose Your Own Adventure books for my roommate’s classroom. (I did order these -- Or rather won them off of eBay.)

The question is who to tag now. I don’t know if there are actually any “regular” readers of my blog to tag. So, I’ll tag Princess Mindy and hope for the best.

Happy Summer Everyone!

Well, summer is officially here, I guess. I had the day off yesterday and worked my tail off doing laundry and planting flowers in the bed by the walk. It was a great day, overall.

Next weekend is the “official” engagement party and P’s bridal shower. The ladies throwing the shower graciously invited me to be a hostess. Basically, I’m a hostess in name only. Since I live five hours away, I don’t get to help with the preparations. Bummer. The lady I’ve spoken to on the phone said that I would get to take down everything that P gets at the shower. Well, since I’m the MOH, I’d have probably done that anyway! Oh well, I really do appreciate the fact that they are including me in the shower.

On to other life news... I got ANOTHER new trainer. Old guy trainer got a job offer in another state and he moved. I met with him exactly twice and he cancelled once. Oh well. New trainer is nice, but I’m not sure how I’m going to like him. It is hard to tell after one session, I guess. Then again, maybe the third time is the charm. I don’t have a clever nickname for him yet, either. That will have to come with time, I guess.

I am meeting a new Mr. Maybe guy from eHarmony tonight. I was just anxious before, but now I’m downright nervous. I missed his call last night. (No, it wasn’t the make him sweat and not answer the phone game, either. I was legitimately not available.) I called him back and he missed my call, so I e-mailed him this morning to confirm where we are meeting, etc. He responded to the e-mail almost immediately. I don’t quite know what to think about that. I am a girl after all and I can totally overthink this entire thing. For that matter, I probably will! I seem to easily forget, since it has been so long since I’ve dated, that men are generally simple creatures who tend to not put hidden meanings into everything like girls tend to do. At least, that is what someone who dates regularly told me. I will just have to go with that assumption/information for now since I have little personal knowledge.

Maxie is going to be fine...

In case anyone is wondering, Maxie is doing fine. He went back to the vet on Tuesday and had a second glucose curve. Doc said that his blood sugar was going much lower and that he's where he thought he'd be in about six months not a week. So, instead of upping his dose right now, we're leaving it the same -- 1cc of insulin every morning. He is down to 17 pounds and is getting so thin! I kind of miss my big-fat-kitty. He feels so light when I pick him up.

In other news, I am getting yet another trainer. I had to leave girl trainer because our schedules didn't match. I was bummed about that because I really liked her! I got as a replacement Old Guy Trainer. He has been a trainer for 34 years. I told him when we met that he's been a trainer as long as I've been alive! NOTE: When someone has the ability to cause you great pain and you are paying them to do so, don't insult them before your session starts. So, now I'm getting another new trainer. I haven't met him yet, I only know his name. I hope he's good!

Not much else in the world of this maid of honor. I've often joked that if I had a stalker, he'd be a sad, bored little man. Heck, he could go on vacation and not miss anything! Oh well. There is something to be said for the comfort of routine.

In other news... (and some wedding stuff, too)

Life has been crazy in the past week. Last Thursday morning, I woke up to Maxie (my formerly 28 lb cat who is now down to a svelte 18) scratching in my bed because he didn’t make it to the litter box. GOOD MORNING! For the past month or two he’s been walking like a little old man, and since he is a 10-year-old cat, I just thought he was getting old. Old I can handle. Incontinent I can’t. We went to the vet that day. I really thought the vet was going to tell me that I was going to have to put him down. He’s my big fat cat. I was heartbroken about it.

Come to find out, he has diabetes. Monday, he went to the vet for his glucose curve test and his blood sugar was down to just over 400 that morning. (Normal is between 80 and 150.) After his insulin, it was down to 218 by the end of the day. So now every morning, I give my cat an insulin shot with his breakfast. He is perkier and after only two days walking a little better.

From this experience, I have a whole other respect for parents. Honestly, Monday when I had to leave him at the vet’s office, I felt like I was leaving a piece of myself there. I know intellectually that he is a pet not a child. I know there is no real comparison in the two, and I treat him as a very spoiled pet and not as a child. But as I drove away, I had a small inkling of what parents of sick children must feel as they drive away from the hospital leaving their child behind in the care of doctors.

Last night I went to dinner with a bunch of folks who are working reporters and some students after an association meeting. We were talking about many different subjects and gyms and trainers came up. I was talking about mine and how I’m working toward the wedding. Male Reporter, MR, asked what color my dress was going to be. I had been joking about being a hobbit brides maid since I’ll be the shortest person there. When I told him purple, he pointed out to me that I wouldn’t be a hobbit, I’d be the Barney brides maid. Great. Just great. As if my concerns about looking fat weren’t already solidified enough, I now have to worry about looking like Barney! I guess I could just walk down the aisle humming “I love you, You love me, we’re a happy family…” Nah.

It also looks as if the bride’s stepmonster won’t be making an appearance at the wedding. As I mentioned in the last post, P’s aunts and grandparents had a very informal backyard dinner party for P & M when they were here. P’s father and stepmonster weren’t invited. (I can say monter because I’ve known her for over 20 years and she is just about the definition of the evil step mother in that she is two-faced and moody and has done everything in her power to put a wedge between P and her Father for the entire time.) It was a family gathering (P’s Mom, and her parents and sisters) and the Father and Stepmonster aren’t a part of that family. Heck, for the better part of the past few years, Father and Stepmonster haven’t been speaking to P because of various and a sundry perceived slights and insults. Now, because they “aren’t wanted anyway”, Stepmonster is most likely not going to come to the wedding.

Ahh, drama. It is amazing how it follows some people around and how another creates it when life suddenly isn’t all about her any longer.

I like Mike!

This was written Monday and I've just been lax about getting it posted...

Well, lots and lots to tell.

My sister C came to town this weekend and we spent all day Friday shopping. We got cut outfits for a Kentucky Derby party we were going to on Saturday. I got my MOH dress. Well, I ordered it. It will be in in six weeks and then I’ll have to have it altered. I got my shoes. They are strappy silver heels with rhinestones on the straps. They are really cute.

Then Friday night, the most exciting thing happened. C and I met P and M down at the Stockyards in Ft. Worth. P wanted him to experience something “quintessentially Texan” and corny so where else would we go? Billy Bobs! It was fun – a little dead, but fun. I finally got to meet M in other words! I love him. No, seriously, I wanted to not like him for lots of selfish reasons, but I couldn’t. He is a great guy. Totally an engineer and reminds me of my man-child of a brother-in-law (C’s husband, P). But all-in-all a wonderful guy and I get it now. He won me over when the first thing he did was completely not act awkward and gave me a big hug when we met. There was no formal handshake and awkwardness, just a hug like he knows I’m important to P and therefore I’m important to him.

Saturday, we went to the Derby party at one of her friend’s house. It was great. We all sat around and ate and visited and wore our big hats and drank mint juleps. Then, we cheered our horses on for the entire two minutes of the race (2:01 to be exact) then ate and visited some more.

After the Derby party we went to P’s Granny & Papa’s house for dinner with the family. Totally informal type dinner in the backyard. We had fajitas and margaritas and wine and lots of great conversation. Again, can I just say that I really liked Mike. He is just a great guy. I know, I know. I’m gushing, but he was totally not what I expected and everything that I expected. P, in the past, has tended to date the looker guys. I’m not saying that M is ugly at all. He’s just not the typical guy that P meets and dates. I guess that is why this is the one she’s marrying!!

Be Careful Out There...

Can you believe this story!? There was a Maid of Honor shot as she went for the bridal bouquet! See, it is all the more reason to just sit back and relax during the bouquet toss!

94 days to go...

My the things that are happening in Wedding World. Really, there isn’t much going on. Life has taken over for everyone involved, I’m afraid. There are e-mails flying about a bachelorette party, though. All of P’s girls (bridesmaids and friends) are brainstorming for the best way to celebrate the upcoming nuptials. Things as exotic as a weekend scavenger hunt in Vegas to a low-key slumber party have been suggested. Honestly, the Vegas trip, while it sounds fun, is SO not P. The slumber party or a spa night or something like that is totally P. I don’t think I’ll have to, but I will put my foot down against anything crass or tasteless. (There will be no penis cakes or pacifiers or glasses or condoms attached to a fake wedding veil at my best friend’s bachelorette party!) Things to make the bride giggle and blush, those are to be expected. Crass and tasteless is out! We’ll see how it goes. To be honest, I don’t think it will be a problem.

Alright bloggers, if anyone has any good ideas for a party for P, let me know. I want something memorable and tasteful and above all, fun!

Oh goodness! I just called an Alfred Angelo studio in the area and I am so glad I did. I was thinking about a six week lead-time on ordering my dress. Try TEN to TWELVE! In other words, I have got to get my ample booty down to the dress shop and get one ordered! Um, yikes! Do you think it is possible to drop 50 pounds in one week!? Actually, it is. Pick up a third grader and drop him! (Kidding, just kidding.) So, it looks as if I am going to order my dress on Friday, May 5! I have an appointment at 11:00 a.m. on the fifth and so I’ll order the dress then. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go get my shoes. I’m going with a strappy silver heel. Something cute and danceable.

My how time flies. It seems like only yesterday when P and I were on the phone planning what to do “if” M proposed….

Wedding Holding Pattern...

By that, I don't mean that the wedding is on hold. It is quite the opposite, really. I think that P has things well in hand and now it is just the waiting until closer to the wedding to do the things that need to be done.

Life goes on...

It has been a really crappy week. I know I've complained about the toe and how I broke it. Well, Sunday, I dropped a box on it at work and the corner hit RIGHT on the part that I broke. I realize it has been three weeks and even I thought it should be healed more, but the pain that shot up my leg was awful. Then worse was the dull ache that was left and all the while I had to smile and be cheerful and try to make little kids laugh for the camera.

Monday was a typical Monday.

Tuesday, I rearended a lady and her kids on the way to work. The road I was on is notorious for accidents because it is a little farm to market road that isn't equipped to handle the amount of traffic that it has to handle now that the area I live in has become the "it" place to move to. All in all, cue the meltdown. I hit kids. My biggest fear in life is hurting a child. Now, no one was injured. My car looks a little worse for the wear, but insurance will fix that.

Tuesday night I was talking to P on the phone and another friend called. He'd left a cryptic message on my cell phone about radiation therapy really taking it out of him and how he's having to be a "good boy" and stay out of the sun until his treatments are over. (Sorry P, W and I talked on the phone for about 2 hours and I didn't get you called back.) Come to find out, he's having some pretty serious medical issues and didn't want to "worry" me. (Hello, W, have you not known me for 10 years and know that I worry whether you want me to or not. It is part of my charm!)

Wednesday, I am about to take my car to the body shop so they can look it over and a) make sure it really is fit to drive and b) decide how long it will take to fix it. The lady who works in the office next door comes in and says that my rear, driver's side tire is flat. I've picked up a nail. (Another side effect of living in the "it" area to move to with all of the new construction.) I am perfectly capable of changing the flat (thank you, Daddy) and I go out to change it. I can't get the lug nuts off. No guys are in my office that day to help. I just wanted to sit down and cry. Fortunately the mortgage banker that works a couple of buildings over (my office is in a little strip mall type office complex) came to my rescue. I asked if he could loosen the lug nuts for me. He changed the whole tire for me. He even had gloves and a real tire iron. Bless his heart.

Now it is Thursday and I just want this week to be over.

I just don't get it...

Disclaimer: This is NOT, I repeat NOT, a reflection on P, my best friend and the person for whom I am the Maid of Honor. Any similarities to events surrounding P & M's wedding is unintentional and purely accidental. No, seriously, she isn't a bridezilla!

There are so many things about weddings that I don't get. Why a bride goes apeshit in the weeks before the wedding. Why if things aren't perfect some brides think it is the end of the world. Why are things like cutesy little scrolls and bubbles and the like necessary. Isn't the whole point of the day to bring two people together in front of witnesses? Does it really matter if the liner down the aisle is wrinkled or the flower girl didn't drop the flowers in a perfect pattern? Isn't the end result the same. The bride and groom are married at the end of the day whether things are 'perfect' or not.

Don't get me wrong. I understand the desire to throw a good party. I have planned enough events and had things go horribly wrong to the point that I've wanted to ( and had to fight the very strong urge to) choke people, any people, who got in my way. Still, at the end of the day when the party/event/meeting is over, most people don't realize anything really went wrong.

I was watching a show on WE called Bridezillas the other day and one of the brides had a complete and total meltdown over the fact that one of her nine bridesmaids got a haircut that she, the bride, didn't like. Come on! It is her, the bridesmaid's, hair. So what if she got it cut and now all nine bridesmaids can't look like clones going up the aisle. What does it matter? There was a bride who had a meltdown and called the police because the rental car had a flat. No one's fault. They came to fix it and she went nuts because it was her big day and they were ruining it. She actually called the police, the rental car people were asked to leave and the tire didn't get fixed.

I guess my lack of understanding comes with my desire to look at a bigger picture. I try really hard to look for the bigger picture in life and not focus too much on the nitpicky details. Or maybe it is the fact that I've been to so many weddings and seen them from the inside and I've seen all the things that can go wrong (and right) at a wedding.

Still, at the end of the day, two people have pledged to love and cherish one another and will (hopefully) live happily ever after. Isn't the ever after part the important part, not the ceremony. Isn't the ceremony just one hour (more or less) of one day of the rest of your life? Shouldn't the most important day be not the day of the wedding, but every single day after that?

Life rolls on...

It seems that P has things well in hand as far as the wedding is concerned. I think she has just about everything done except the things that have to be done closer to the date. She even has her invites already. Showers are now being planned and as the MOH, I'll get to be involved in at least one of them. (I didn't think I would get to be because they are going to be held far away from me.) Well, two if you count the one I'm planning to throw her in lieu of a bachelorette party. I need to contact the two bridesmaids to see what they think and if they want to help plan it -- especially since they are at least in the same state as P!

In case anyone wonders, my toe is much better. It only hurts now if I forget it's injured and do something stupid like squat down and put a lot of weight on it. (Yes, I have done just that and promptly fell over and made the people standing around me panic.) I go back to see girl trainer tonight. I have got to get back into "food is bad if I am going to fit into a smaller bridesmaid dress" mode. (Don't anyone panic, I'm not going to stop eating. My hiney didn't get this big by my not eating and it won't get smaller if I stop completely. I know that.) Between my birthday and my toe, I've gotten out of that mode and into "food yummy food who needs exercise" mode. I know, I know excuses are weak. I have to make up my mind to do it and just do it. But... Okay, no buts. I have to do it. I am going to do it.

I have right at four months before the wedding and I need to really not look like the short, fat bridesmaid. I am, afterall, the only single one and while there will be other single gals attending the wedding, I am the only one in the purple (victorian lilac) bridesmaid dress. I am the only single girl that will be standing in front of the crowd for all to see. More eyes will be on P, but I'll be standing next to her and I get to hold her bouquet and give M's ring to her and all that stuff, so people will notice me. I mean, at least at both of my sisters' weddings, I was the last bridesmaid and just had to stand there far away from all the action, barely being noticed during the ceremony. (Not a bad thing.)

And the wedding band played on...

Okay, this whole wedding thing is rolling right along. P has her dress (see previous post), a string trio has been selected to play the ceremony, the site has been chosen, the bridesmaid dress designer has been chosen, I've chosen the style of dress I want from the choices, I've been to try them on (last weekend with the broken toe and boot). So much has been done! I am debating putting the pics Moma took while I was trying on dresses here to show what they looked like. The only problem is that I looked awful that day. Maybe I will, but it will have to be a post all unto itself. Let's just put it this way. The name of the bridal shop was "Little Mexico House of Brides."

P called last night and she got a call from David's Bridal. She won a spa day for her and her wedding party. She said her first thought was "wow, I never win anything, cool!" and then immediately "I wish I had my maid of honor here." The MOH wishes she were there, too. She could use a spa day! Oh well. I guess I'll just have to have a spa day here. I don't know when, but I most decidedly need a pedicure! My toes are NOT spring ready.

I found the cutest thing at Barnes & Noble the other day. (P, If you're reading this now and haven't gotten the package yet, skip to the next paragraph.) It is a scrap book similar to a baby book for couples. All those things you say you're going to remember forever but don't, you can put them in the book. It has things like where your first kiss was, were you went on your first date, how you met, etc. I had to get it for her. I thought it was too cool to pass up. Besides, it was on clearance since the store is closing. (Those who think B&N is the root of all evil, don't get too excited. It is moving to a new, larger location.)

Okay, P you can read again. I'll keep thinking about posting the pictures of me in the tops.

In Other News...

So much is going on with the wedding right now, but so much is going on in the Texas Panhandle (where I'm from and where I still call home) with all the fires, it seems silly to rant about finding the perfect bridesmaid dress and the search this weekend for it. So, for just this one post, you-all get to see the more serious me.

At last total, over 840,000 acres burned. Along with that went livestock, houses, cars, and unfortunately people. At least 10,000 head of livestock were killed and those who survived need food because often, the barn that held the hay burned to the ground and the rangeland they grazed on has been burned.

As an article in the Amarillo paper put it, the fire took on a life of its own and took the lives and livlihoods of many with it.

I could go on with numbers and statistics, but my sister Carrie put it so eloquently that I'm going to just link to her blog and let you read her post. Say a prayer for those affected. They need it right now.

Now I'm going to whine....

I broke my toe on Saturday night at about 3 a.m.

I broke my big toe on my right foot and I was sober. Heck, I hadn't even gone out Saturday night.

I did a doozie on it and all I did was fall down. There was no trippng, no kicking the wall in frustration or anger or anything else.

I simply fell down and all of my body weight (and there's quite a bit of it) went into my right big toe.

I went to the emergency room on Sunday and they x-rayed it. It is broken. I have a lovely boot that I *get* to wear for the next couple of weeks until it is healed enough to put shoes back on. Other than that, I just get to whine a lot.

I now have more sympathy for my BIL who kicked a case and hurt his. See.

I had to cancel with the trainer for the next couple of weeks so I'm going to have to double-up after I'm better. In the mean time, I'm doing yoga and the balance ball so that I'm at least doing SOMETHING because I don't want to ever fall and have this much weight directed toward any other body part!

What happens when you're far apart...

It seems that what I was envisioning and what P was saying weren't the same.

I talked with P on Sunday and I think I was making her wedding a lot more formal that what she's actually planning. So, instead of a formal wedding that I was thinking, it is going to be more like a cocktail party. Now the short dress makes sense! (This is my "ah-ha moment" for the week!)

If you're the groom, turn away now...

Wow, so much has happened. P has her dress. I met with girl trainer. I've talked to P about half a dozen times planning and plotting -- it never fails that when we get together, it sounds more like plotting to do things than planning!

I'll start with her dress. It is gorgeous, I think, and I think P will make a lovely bride in it! (Of course, I think she'd probably look great in just about anything she wore. She tends to be able to wear clothes instead of them wearing her. In other words, she almost always looks great!)

Here is the dress. Now, I realize the model looks like Carol Kane in Taxi, but look at the dress, not the model...

Obligatory notice of where the dress came from: And if you are looking for your dress and would like to see the entire collection, you can find this dress and many others at Casa Bridal.

Anyway, I love the dress. I can't wait to see it in person.

Speaking of dresses. Now, I do realize that all eyes are going to be on her. She'll be the one in the big white dress. But I still want to look good and I think my idea of good and her idea of what I'll look good in are a little different. So, I have made the decision to wear a short dress. Something in a tea-length persuasion, maybe. I don't think I can do knee length. I have pudgy knees. No, seriously, I have knee pudge on the inside of each knee! Even my thin sister has it, so it must be a genetic thing. Still, not attractive in knee length dresses. I wonder if there is an exercise you could do for that. Hmmm. I'll have to ask girl trainer.

Speaking of girl trainer, I met with her for the first time Tuesday. I'll reserve judgment for the time being. Maybe it just takes a bit for her to warm up to people. She actually asked me if I wanted to work out, though. Isnt' that the reason I'm there? I don't know. We worked on arms and shoulders and chest. As I was working my chest, all I kept thinking was when Ren (or was it Stimpy) from the old Ren & Stimpy cartoon would go on about having "huge pectoral muscles." She didn't seem the type to appreciate that kind of humor, so I kept it to myself. My arms and chest and shoulders were all shaky and sore, but by today, they are fine. I think that is a good thing.

There is so much more going on. I guess I should be better about writing this thing so that the posts aren't so long. I'll try. That is my March resolution -- to blog more often!

Hunky, young trainer says...

I went to the gym last night and met with hunky, young trainer and he said I'm not in as bad a shape as I thought and that once I lose the layer of fat over my muscles (at that point I thought to myself "what muscles") I'll be in great shape! My next thought was "doesn't that describe 99% of the population?" Anyway, he worked me out emphasizing my abs so breathing is a little tough today. So is laughing and talking and moving in general. But it's a good pain.... sure.

OH! As we got started, he was asking me my reasons for wanting to work out with a trainer and all that. Then he asked if I joined the gym with anyone. I said just me. He asked if my Husband knew I had a trainer. I must have looked puzzled as I said I wasn't married because he went on to explain that he has women that sign up without their husbands' knowledge and the husband then comes after him or whomever the male trainer is. Um, yikes! He said it had happened more than once to several of the trainers. How funny/sad is that!?

Unfortunately hunky, young trainer won't be my permanant trainer. I'm pretty bummed. Anywho, I made a standing apointment with a trainer for Tuesdays with my new trainer Toni. That is short for Antonia and she is a tri-athlete. I'm not sure how I feel about a female trainer, but I'm going to give it a try.

In more wedding-y wedding news. It looks as if P has found a dress or at least a dress style that she likes. If she sticks with that style, the bridesmaid dresses are going to have to be pretty formal. Then again, it is a Friday night wedding, so after six attire is appropriate. I think I've decided I want a long dress as opposed to the ones that come to the knee. The ones that come to the knee are cute and all, but I think I don't want to go for cute as much as stop the room gorgeous. I know, I know. Everyone is supposed to be looking at the bride because it's her day and all, but she's getting married, ergo, she is off the market. I am not getting married, am not married and would like to someday be married. Ergo, I want to look (as Paris Hilton so aptly puts it) HOT! Besides, I'll be the shortest one at the alter, so everyone will be looking at me anyway because I'll stand out. The Hobbit bridesmaid. That will be me! But, with the help of the trainer, I'll be the HOT Hobbit bridesmaid!

The e-mails of proposed bridesmaid dresses and colors and styles are flying. I think I'm going to end up wearing a different color dress than the other two bridesmaids. I hope it's a darker shade of whatever they wear. I look better in darker colors. She also suggested a green color. That would be great. There are very few shades of green that I don't look good in. Again, I know, I know. It isn't about me. But in this blog, it is all me!!!