Finally! A lazy summer's day...

Breath in, breath out. What a July. 5 nuptials in 7 weeks is entirely too many. Of the 5, we attended 3 rehearsal dinners because we were somehow involved with the ceremonies. All 5 ceremonies were completely different. I have broken them down chronologically.

June 26th
R.& J.
Location: J.'s mom's house (giant place overlooking the marina) in San Rafael, CA
General Feel: Backyard BBQ
Bride wore: Tailored yellow dress with pretty red flowers embroidered throughout.
Groom wore: Matching yellow shirt & chinos
Music: Classical guitar before & during ceremony. Guests had to serenade the bride & groom in order to recieve plates for the buffet.
Food: Potluck buffet-a mish mash of tasty mexican & other random stuff like mac n cheeze with eggs.
Tidbits: A very heartfelt ceremony. The ride to was the worst part. We were staying in San Jose & it was 100 deg and an hour drive. We borrowed a car with no AC & the long & short of it is this: I showed up wearing my bikini & threw my clothes on in the bathroom.

July 11th
G. & S.
Location: Bear Creek Golf Club, Woodinville WA
General Feel: Classic fancy wedding. Not annoying fancy, just really nice fancy.
Bride wore: beautiful white wedding dress with veil.
Groom wore: Tuxedo!
Music: IPod playlist during the ceremony, lady DJ afterwards. G. walked down the aisle to Darth Vader's theme. It was awesome & perfect and he worked it!
Food: Salmon, prime rib, other tasty treats.
Tidbits: Super sweet party. Hung with Chris & Cara for a lot of it (til they ditched me on the dance floor with the REALLY drunk chick).

July 25th
T. & M.
Location: the point at Coleman Park, Seattle, WA
General Feel: A day at the lake!
Bride wore: Tailored renaissance (sp?) dress in green & gold.
Groom wore: green vest & white shirt. Lookin' sharp!
Music: Celtic band for ceremony & after party.
Food: Sandwiches, fruit, veggies. Deviled eggs, which I ate as many of as possible because I love them and am too lazy to make them for my own enjoyment.
Tidbits: One of those thing where everything that could go wrong, well, DID go wrong. But they got married & the ceremony was awesome and shortly after the church group partying next to us in the park had baptisms in Lake WA. And I went swimming cuz it was HOT.

July 31st
A. & R.
Location: Mt. Baker Community Center, Seattle, WA
General Feel: A rocking party!
Bride wore: A gorgeous cream colored dress. Beatiful lace & sparkle details.
Groom wore: A nice charcoal suit.
Music: Me! I sang her down the aisle & noodled afterwards during the cocktail hour. For dancing there was Ipod list that supplemented the fantastic funk band (they were really good-louder than hell but good!).
Food: Prime rib, shrimps, pasta buffet. Boroccinis' Cake-Good stuff.
Tidbits: R. is my best friend, and I was so happy to help and be a part of their wedding. It was hot, but everyone looked so good, and I danced my heart out all night long. Someone, not to be named, got a little too drunk (re: a LOT) and threw up. And up. And up some more. But all in all it was a fabulous evening.

August 1st (yea-the next day!)
Z. & K.
Location: Lake Union Cafe
General Feel: Wedding
Bride wore: white dress with the most beautiful veil I've seen.
Groom wore: Tuxedo with running shoes
Music: pianist noodling before ceremony, bride walked to Canon in D, DJ for dancing.
Food: Wedding Buffet (at this point-I'm over it!) Ben & Jerry's ice cream cones.
Tidbits: Too small a place for people to move around comfortably. I wouldn't really care for myself, but my papa is 90 & moving is difficult for him. It presented extra stress. My cousin's daughter, Bella-8 months old and she stole the show. She's got fat arms & did a great baby dance. Everyone was on the floor doing the Bella.

Please. No more weddings for a while. Thanks.

Do you sense the pattern?

I am very tired. Granted, I knew that this job was going to kick my ass-I watched my pappy become worn down and a shadow of his former self. However that doesn't change the fact that I am completely worn out and lacking all sorts of motivation to do anything. I started a group that meets at 7 am before school because I'm trying to build a program at this shabby little school. Rehearsals for the musical have started, and they go until 5 (because I am trying to build a program at this shabby little school) so on Tues, Wed & Thurs I have kids from 7 am to 5 pm with a 90 minute break. Which is NOT LONG ENOUGH.

"So what?" You say. "Man up-you can do it!"

Well, quite right I say. Now let's put the rest of the puzzle pieces into place. I have 2 church jobs (because one job at crazy church just ain't enough!). Rehearsals are Tues 7-8 and Thurs 5:45-6:45, performances 5-8 on Sat & 8:45-10:30 on Sundays. Do-able right? WTF is the big deal? Lotsa people work every day of the week-why're you whining you pansy!?!

Well, let's add in the prep work for school, an hour before and an hour after school. I really only do one of those hours, but that doesn't change the fact that there is that much work that needs to be done. So I am constantly falling behind, already behind, in 'ready to kill myself because I will never catch up' behind. May we please add the threat of RIFS (Reduction In Force), the cutting of the arts budget, the reduction in MY SALARY, and the death of yearly pay increases? Because you asked so nicely-why shore!!

But wait-there's more!!

My schedule is changing next year-we will start earlier and be done earlier-not bad. But admin managed to sneak an extra 10 minutes of teaching time that we will not get paid for. Imagine working an extra hour a week without compensation. On top of the extra 10 you work without compensation. And a pay cut looming. Don't mind me, the paper bag always makes that crinkly sound when I hyperventilate. And now the school district would like us good for nothing, lazy, over paid and under qualified teachers to let the students into our rooms when they arrive at 7 am. But they aren't calling it 'contact time' so we won't get paid for that either. Ahem-who do you think will be sued if something happens to their kid in my room at that time of the morning? I'll give you a hint-it's not a large man with an afinity for red!!

But what really really REALLY pisses me off is the declaration that NO DENIM will be allowed at schools anymore. Except on Fridays, and only if you make a $5 donation to the charity of the district's choice.
(WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING)

Well who the holy hell fire damnation do you think you fucking are?!? You half wit morons who don't have anything better to do than sit around and figure out more mutherfukin' hoops for us idjits to jump through can kiss my rosy red ass. I will wear jeans on Friday if I happen to have the itch in my tiny twat to do so. I have had it with your lack of reality, your sense of superiority and your ability to piss me right the fuck off. If I want to wear jeans-I'm going to fucking do it without any pussy pansy kowtowing to you and your bitchy charities. I AM TRYING TO BE A GOOD TEACHER!!! PLEASE GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY AND STOP HASSLEING ME WITH THE SMALL SHITE, YOU SMALL SHITS!

ahem-that is all.

Workin' it...

I've been to the gym 10 times in the past 2 weeks. I've lost 3 lbs and gained definition in my biceps and thighs. Being healthy is boring (as in stick in the mud), painful (as in NO PAIN NO GAIN), and difficult to begin (as in it's a bitch to motivate my ass to get the gym-we're talking Major Pep Talks here).

But I feel good and have been sleeping fairly well for some one living in my insomniac and crappy bed state.

And the train went rattling on by.

These are the things rolling around my brain.

1. Hope is better than nothing.
2. Change is slow, but good.
3. One second at a time.
4. I love to dance-it doesn't happen enough.
5. In the future, I would like to live somewhere WARMER.
6. In small doses-nostalgia is great!
7. I love icanhascheezburger.com because I am a giant dork.
8. Being a homeowner, while scary and overwhelming, is a totally AWESOME EXPERIENCE.
9. I am exactly where I should be, even when I don't believe that fact.
10. I love that RP is getting hitched!!
11. My job is really difficult and mercurial, and I get a little better at it every week (I wanted to say every day, but that's not true and once you start lying on your blog it's all over!)
12. Love my kitties. They are great companions.
13. My reality is exactly what I believe it to be.
14. Paid off my credit card!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
15. I want to live each day with no regrets, and to it's fullest because you never know when it's your last moment in this conciousnes.

Good bye old, hello new!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Bought a house!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I make resolutions every day, so new year's isn't any different.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin had a baby girl in October. Bella Linda is her name!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
yes

5. What countries did you visit?
the country of Adulthood!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
belief in humanity

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
4-2: bought our house! 9-2: first year of Marriage!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
learning to balance work and personal life more effectively

9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting my anxiety rule.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing that wasn't part of getting another year older.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new car. I love my Lil' Bit.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Grrg and I have made some serious relationship steps. We are learning to communicate effectively and without drama....WHO KNEW?!?


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The leaders of this country, and my ability to stay strangely still.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Home!! New car. Probably spent more on clothes than I needed to.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Buying a house. But I need to clarify-the excitment was preceded by trepidation, anxiety, and wariness. I have become excited in the past 90 days! Love our home....oh and getting a kitten named Monkey!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
happier (or more content)
b) thinner or fatter?
fatter.
c) richer or poorer?
richer. relatively.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
exercise, meditation, art, reading, forgiving

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
being negative

20. How did you spend Christmas?
traveling to families in the snow!

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
with my little Monkey

22. What was your favorite TV program?
the office makes my heart sing with laughter

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
can't think of any new additions to the List

24. What was the best book you read?
uh-didn't read anything that is worth remembering!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pandora. a hells yes!

26. What did you want and get?
a clearer sense of self. and a navigator!

27. What did you want and not get?
belief in my strength. i guess there's always next year.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Wall-E. Like an upper but you don't swallow it....

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Holy f-31. hung out with my bro, bought myself a beautiful brown wool coat-on sale!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
a peaceful mind.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
how can i mask my muffin top and still look cute and professional?

32. What kept you sane?
purring kitties, internet surfing, bitching to friends

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Alicia Keyes. DeeeLISH!!!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The elections.

35. Who did you miss?
Jennifer.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I got closer with my lady co workers which was nice. It's good to have girl back up at work!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Stress and worry are silly. Things will work themselves out as need be, and what you can control-you will. Everything else is what it is! (remind me I said that later!)

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I do it for the joy it brings
Because I'm a joyful girl
The world owes me nothing
We owe each other the world

Ani Difranco