The Greatest Minds in the Business

As I sit here under the dryer at the salon waiting for my fresh blonde highlights to set in I can't help but worry about the fact that RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST FOR MY WEDDDING DAY. Pops already said he had my poncho ready which does not help (unless of course it is fitted and girl cut with sufficient amounts of bling). Anyway, since I went all Facebook on the issue I have been getting calls and texts trying to talk me down from impending panic and hysteria. And then someone reminded me that it just so happens that I have the the best minds in the business all dedicated to my wedding day. And by "the business" I mean if life gives you lemons and what you ordered was a lemon drop, these women will make it happen.

Packing Day

Chris is in the kitchen whipping up some hot cakes as we speak to refuel us from last night's wedding extravaganza and start us off on the right foot for a day of packing. We leave Friday after work for our road trip out to Portland! We'll be headed straight for Ogden Utah where we will spend a sleepless night at the Super 8. You see, Addie will not sleep a wink and will instead spend the evening growling, barking, and sharking around the hotel room keeping the rest of us awake. Addie thinks she is high society, and does not like budget hotels, nor does she like homeless people, big government or taxes. She is a republican and is not keen on Obama's health plan either because as she experienced during the grape incident, her current plan is just fine, thank you. Little does she know. So, we'll wake up Saturday morning and hike with the home skillets until they're tired enough to sleep the rest of the way to Portland.

With only 13 days until our wedding (omg, can you even believe it?) we are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast. We're watching the 10 day forecast and crossing our fingers for no rain! As of September 1st, we're still looking good . . . .

Very Superstitious

I think everyone is a tad superstitious, whether they call it that or not. There are a lot of superstitions relating to weddings. The most obvious one is that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day. I found a website with lots of funny superstitions. One says a veil is worn to protect the bride from evil spirits. Seriously? If I were an evil spirit, I would avoid weddings. Too much happiness and good times. I would be hanging around funerals and Chicago Cubs playoff games. Another superstition says it is considered good luck for the bride to encounter a chimney sweep, black cat, lamb or dove on her wedding day. But what if said cat happens to cross her path afterwards? Does that negate the good luck? What if Whiskey kills the cat? She has been known to get into it with the cats across the way...and a chimney sweep? That trade is so old I don't think you can even find a definition on the internet.

The Irish consider it unlucky to put on your own wedding veil on the big day. If you want the luck of the Irish, have a happily married woman do the honors for you. Everyone wants the luck of the Irish…so maybe Molly should follow that advice. While I am on the subject of superstitions, what about traditions? There are a lot of them...how about the old money dance? How blatant is that? The bride and groom dance around and people give them money...forget the cards and wrapping paper...just throw money at them! Actually, that tradition beats drinking out of the family boot. I went to a wedding where the bride and groom had to drink out of some old nasty boot. I think that would make me boot! Finally, my favorite superstition of all is that rain on your wedding day means good luck in the marriage (I read somewhere the rain represents all the bride's ex-boyfriends crying). I think the people who had rainy wedding days made that up. But you bet I will remember this one if it rains on our wedding day. (that knocking sound is me knocking on my coffee table)

1959

My neighbor Tim's parents Tim and Greta had their 60th anniversary this year. They were married in the summer of 1959, which was also the year that Mattel's Barbie Doll was lauched, Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states in the US, and Bonanza first appeared on NBC.

Back in 1959, the average cost of a house was $12,400, average yearly wages were $5,010, and the cost of a gallon of gas was $0.25. I'm not sure what the average cost of a wedding was in 1959 but to my sheer pleasure and delight, I did get a copy of Tim and Greta's wedding bill from that year! I couldn't help but share. In all of my wedding planning, how could I have forgotten the hat check? Greta also got Tim New York Giants Season tickets as an engagement gift that he still has and bribes family members with today. Unfortunately, Chris did not get Red Sox season tickets as an engagement gift.

In other news, I have an esthetician appointment to get my eyebrows done the week of the wedding. They told me I need to grow my eyebrows out until then. GROW THEM OUT?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Have they seen the pictures of the hamsters that lived on my forehead in my tweens? Did women do that in 1959?

Grapes and Whiskey

If you didn't know this already, Molly and I love our dogs. For a long time we had only one dog, Addie. She was essentially a perfect dog - other than maybe being a bit overprotective of her owners. This really only manifested itself when we went camping, and we were ok with her one flaw. About a year and a half ago, Whiskey joined the family. She is a sweet dog, but a bit more devilish than Addie. Actually, she kind of looks like a devil, although she is missing the pitchfork (if she had opposable thumbs, I bet she would carry one). She likes to chase stuff, get in dog fights (but only if the other dog starts it), and get into whatever we might leave around the house. Addie hasn't picked up on most of her habits, but she has decided that we are so busy paying attention to Whiskey that she can pretty much do what she wants...so she basically stopped listening to us. Now I know what you are saying, why don't you take them to dog class or get some training? I will tell you why - Addie acts like she has been taken to the vet for the systematic removal of all her nails and teeth when forced to be in a room with all those other 'animals' and Whiskey acts like an angel and does everything you say, prompting us to wonder why she needed to go to training in the first place. So we have decided to do our best with our own disciplinary skills. The other day Whiskey decided to get some grapes off the counter...and her sister joined her in devouring these doggie delights. Problem is grapes are poisoness for dogs. Luckily Molly came home for lunch and realizing what happened she immediately took them to their favorite destination - the vet. They basically had to have their stomachs pumped and then they were put on IVs for two days. Good times let me tell you! Fortunately they are fine now. When you see them at the wedding, please remember not to feed them any of the Red Grapes coated with Chevre and Pistachio. Thank you.

Sin City and the 5 year old in the blue and red sweater

I got home on Sunday from my Las Vegas bachelorette party aka the best bachelorette party of all time. Ten girls headed out to the desert last weekend for some laughs, pool time, cocktails, and fun nights out. I literally had the time of my life and it made me wonder why we don't do girls' weekends more often! Saturday was spent poolside at a cabana at Mandalay Bay. We ate fabulous food and laid on party beach towels and every detail of the weekend was carefully coordinated by my sister.

On Saturday night, we got dressed and ready to go out (a several hour process and one of my favorite past times). I was cleverly tricked into leaving the room and headed to Chris' sisters' room when they presented me with a blast from the past and
none other than a picture of an innocent 5 year old Chris. When I got back to my room there were decorations, games, and gifts, much of which was planned out by my cousin and other maid of honor. Lil' Chris propped up in the room to oversee all activities of a single lady's last night out. Whether or not the kid in the red and blue sweater would have approved of the events that followed are details best left in Vegas.

Hot Lil' Cobbler

The title of this post has become a running joke between Molly, Maria and I. Here's the deal. I like food, there is no denying it. I like all kinds of food - breakfast foods, pizza, sweets, beer (yes, I can confirm it is a food because I have lived off it for periods of time), and pretty much anything else under the sun. What I also realize is that other people like food too - particularly wedding guests. Of all the food that wedding guests like, I am going to venture a guess and say dessert is their favorite. But you know what? Wedding cakes are not all that great. How often do people eat cake in general (I'm not talking cheesecake). Is cake ANYONE's favorite dessert? Didn't think so. So I decided we are going to have various assorted desserts instead of a wedding cake (sorry to spoil the surprise). Now, what better thing to have in Oregon than something with berries in it. What are berries good in? PIES! But, our caterer doesn't do pies so he came up with the idea of mini cobblers. I think cobblers should be served hot...hot lil' cobblers! OK - maybe this is not all that funny to most of you out there, but I think when Molly and her Mom hear see how passionate I am about hot berry dessert items they find it funny. What's really funny is that Molly makes fun of me for liking "hot fruit" on pancakes and stuff. She mostly prefers her fruit room temp or cold. Perhaps opposite "fruit temparture preferers" attract? All I know is there is going to be some damn good desserts at our wedding...of all different temperatures.

Camping trip recap

We took the dogs for their last 7 hour hike hurrah last weekend preceded by a frantic 4-wheel drive trek down the mountain and back into town for more beer and a sleepless night of camping. In case you didn't know, Addie is a condo dog to the core. So when the cow herd came bulldozing their way through our campsite and when the mosquitoes started biting, she wouldn't have it. She wanted in the car or the tent and wanted in there BAAAAD. Whiskey on the other hand, got really low and barked and nipping at cow feet until every last one of them was out of our camp spot. Unfortunately, the cows settled in across the dirt road and ate grass and mooed their heads off until wee hours of the morning. That didn't bode well for a good night's sleep seeing as Addie could hear those cows and slept with one eye open and would let out a random bark every once in awhile just so they didn't sneak a fast one by her. Thirty three days until Addie and Whiskey's parents are no longer living (or camping) in sin . . . .

On the road again

Chris and I are in the car with the dogs heading up to the mountains for our last camping weekend of the summer. Chris wanted to be on the road by 10, so we got an early start on breakfast and packing (and by we I mean Chris - I slept in). Four weekends from now we'll be in the car heading out west to begin the wedding week extravaganza! More to come tomorrow . . .