OK, so we just finished the ceremony. It's already cold, and we're not allowed in the Greenhouse. Eventually the wedding party finishes with pictures, and the reception gets started. Appetizers are passed, and there is a HUGE cheese and fruit tray close to the bar. My family and I start scoping out the drink selection. We notice the cash register and begin to assume that it is a cash bar. Total side eye in my family, but we'll go with it. As we approach, we discover that there is free beer and wine (score!) but they are charging for soda! Really? How strange. Hard liquor is also available for a fee. We're good with wine though.
Appetizers are: bacon wrapped scallops with maple syrup dipping sauce, spring rolls with a Thai peanut sauce, and crab cakes with a wasabi aioli. All in all, they were very good. Well, the food started around 6 or so. We began sitting down for salads around 7:15 or so. By this point, people are noticing that it is chilly in that greenhouse and we all wonder when they are going to turn on the heaters. Then the news starts flowing through the reception. There will be no heat. That's right, they will not be turning on the heaters. What?!
So, we eat our salads, then they decide to have the first dance. THEN THEY OPEN THE DANCE FLOOR! Who does this? Really? Full on dancing between salad and entree? What time is dinner to be served you ask? 8:30 or 8:45. That's a full hour between courses! OMG! So we get colder and colder. Actually, we start talking about busting in to the cake we're so hungry. The kids are tired, and we're all freaking cold. Eventually the food arrives. It is a buffet dinner. Wouldn't you assume that they would release the tables? That's how everyone else does it. But no. They don't even announce that the buffet is open! You just have to kind of notice that other people have their food. Niiice.
After everyone eats, it is time for toasts. Now I get to discuss what a tool my cousin's new husband is. First, he starts by thanking everyone for coming, etc. My cousin never speaks. He has also changed his outfit three times by this point in the evening. The best woman and maid of honor also give their speeches. K's husband talks again, and we are invited to start on cake.
Now I have to talk about the highlight of the weekend. Each table had its own cake that had been made by a friend of the couple. There was carrot cake, chocolate cake, apple pie, pecan pie, chocolate peanut butter s'mores tart, and, on our table, pumpkin cheesecake. Mmmmm. We were encouraged to trade and try several types. I got to taste three and they were all fabulous! Did it make up for the fact that we were sitting basically outside in the 30 degree weather? No. But it was some awesome cake and a fun idea.
Pretty much as soon as we were done with our cake, we left. We had originally planned to go out and socialize after the event, but we were all so cold and exhausted that we just went back to our rathole and went to bed. My plane left at 7:00 the next morning, so that was it for me. My cousin was kind of a bitch until after the cake course. My other cousin's wife and I were talking about how we don't remember letting ourselves get so caught up in the wedding day. Everyone else agreed that we were better about thinking of others and all that on our weddings. I think it was because our events were so much better planned. K's new husband is also a total tool. He ran around the reception saying that the food service people were messing up and that his heaters hadn't been delivered. However, the food people had a printed copy of the schedule, and they were right on it, and he had mentioned to my dad that there would be no heat well before the actual day. Whatever though. I hope they are happy together, and I am glad I got to see my family.
Here ends the story of the wedding. Little children, let this be a lesson to you. Even though you are having a wedding to celebrate your marriage, remember to show a little care for your guests. (And if your cousin gets Swine Flu because of freezing her ass off at your poorly planned shindig, you should have to work in her place.)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Not Part 3
It's coming soon though I promise. I just need to do some reflecting. Do you ever think your life is like a Monet? (I know this is a Clueless reference.) Anyway, I feel like to outside observers, my life is kind of pretty. I mean, there are a lot of blessings in my life and I am grateful for all of them. We own our home, I have a job I enjoy, my family and I are close, and I love my husband. However, there are pieces missing, and I feel like I'm doing everything wrong to fill those spaces. What do I feel is missing? Friends and family.
I really don't feel like I have friends here, but in the last year I haven't exactly been able to be a friend to others. I was so busy and so poor, that there was just no way for me to be a good friend. Nevertheless, I am really realizing how few good relationships I have. Maybe I'm just too selfish. Maybe I'm just so used to moving and leaving that I never really let anyone in. Maybe I've just been hurt by people too many times. Whatever the reason, I haven't felt this alone in a while.
The second reason is family. I want one. I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. I think I would be good at it, and I'm not getting any younger. I'm married, I have a stable career, we have a home, and I feel like I'm good with kids. I just keep waiting for the perfect time, and I'm beginning to accept that no such thing exists. Money will always be tight, there will always be one more thing we want to, but if we're going to have a family we need to do it!
I try very hard to focus on my blessings. I want to be a positive person, and I feel like I project a positive vibe to most people. When you get close though, you can see how unhappy I am. My house is a mess. I carry more weight than I should. I haven't been able to get rid of my last little bit of debt. I never cook even though I love to. Why do I feel more comfortable writing this in a public forum than actually trusting that someone will be a friend to me? I guess I feel like that by writing, I'm not burdening any real people with my trivial problems. Because I do realize that my problems are trivial. There are people dying of hunger. Others who don't have shelter or clothing. Why should I be bitching that I haven't gotten up the courage to start trying for a kid? My husband is such a better person than I am. He can see things for the reality that they are: small things in comparison to real world issues. But damnit, I want to matter to someone! Even though my problems aren't nearly the same thing as war or famine or anything else. I just want someone to care about them because right now, today, they are important to me.
I'm going to write Part 3 as soon as I finish comments. That will cheer me up because it is the best part by far!
I really don't feel like I have friends here, but in the last year I haven't exactly been able to be a friend to others. I was so busy and so poor, that there was just no way for me to be a good friend. Nevertheless, I am really realizing how few good relationships I have. Maybe I'm just too selfish. Maybe I'm just so used to moving and leaving that I never really let anyone in. Maybe I've just been hurt by people too many times. Whatever the reason, I haven't felt this alone in a while.
The second reason is family. I want one. I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. I think I would be good at it, and I'm not getting any younger. I'm married, I have a stable career, we have a home, and I feel like I'm good with kids. I just keep waiting for the perfect time, and I'm beginning to accept that no such thing exists. Money will always be tight, there will always be one more thing we want to, but if we're going to have a family we need to do it!
I try very hard to focus on my blessings. I want to be a positive person, and I feel like I project a positive vibe to most people. When you get close though, you can see how unhappy I am. My house is a mess. I carry more weight than I should. I haven't been able to get rid of my last little bit of debt. I never cook even though I love to. Why do I feel more comfortable writing this in a public forum than actually trusting that someone will be a friend to me? I guess I feel like that by writing, I'm not burdening any real people with my trivial problems. Because I do realize that my problems are trivial. There are people dying of hunger. Others who don't have shelter or clothing. Why should I be bitching that I haven't gotten up the courage to start trying for a kid? My husband is such a better person than I am. He can see things for the reality that they are: small things in comparison to real world issues. But damnit, I want to matter to someone! Even though my problems aren't nearly the same thing as war or famine or anything else. I just want someone to care about them because right now, today, they are important to me.
I'm going to write Part 3 as soon as I finish comments. That will cheer me up because it is the best part by far!
Monday, October 12, 2009
My Cousin's Wedding- Part 2
So, it was time to get ready for the wedding. To understand how hard that was, let's look at the invite. I have actually misplaced the card itself, but it was a 4x4 red piece of card stock with round stickers on it. On those stickers were handwritten the date, time, and location of the wedding. Also listed was the wedding website where we were to RSVP. Once at the website, we were asked to participate in the wedding (organizing the hike, taking care of the dog, etc.) The dress code was also listed as Fabulous. Fabulous? What does that mean? The illustrations showed us some don'ts. These included a Star Trek costume, a cassok, or sweats. How helpful, no? Now, I have always heard that the invite gives you the general idea of a wedding's formality. Well, this was really screaming low key wedding. My cousin-in-law though was totally planning on a dressy outfit as was my aunt. Hmmm. I ended up wearing black suit pants, a short-sleeved purple tweed jacket, and a purple turtleneck. Sort of a step up from business casual. Let me tell you that I ended up being quite grateful for my choices.
We get to the ceremony location. The service was scheduled to be outside, and my dad, a minister, was officiating. The weather was getting chilly, and there was a pretty strong breeze. It wasn't terrible though because the sun was shining. My family and I got our programs and kazoos. Kazoos you ask? I was also perplexed.
A few minutes past 5:00, the official start time, a lady walks to the front of the area. She gets everyone's attention and asks us to open our programs. We open the programs and there is music with lyrics in some language that isn't English. She says she is going to give us a German lesson and proceeds to explain to us how to pronounce all the German lyrics to Ode to Joy. She then tells is that this will be the recessional, and we are all asked to sing it as the couple leaves. If we really don't feel comfortable singing though, we can play our kazoos, WTF?
The ceremony itself was bizarre. First my dad greeted everyone in the pretty standard fashion. Then he said "K (did I mention K was marrying another K?) has a pretty cool groove." Then the cellist and electric marimba player played a jazzy riff. My dad then said, "K's vibe is pretty sweet too." And the musicians played another beat. Then he said, "but when they are combined things get even better." And then the two melodies are combined and they sound like ass. Really. At this point we're supposed to sing something, but none of us got that memo. I guess it was an interesting idea, but definitely not my style.
The vows were self-written. The groom read his on his iPhone, and the bride used paper. They pledged to be each other's soux chef, something, something, and henchman. Really? Henchman? The dog brought the rings except that the groom had gotten a tattoo of his on his finger. Klassy.
They then recessed, no one sang, and a member of the wedding party approached the front. Let's review now. The time is now about 5:20. The temperature is in the mid to low 40's and the wind is blowing. We are informed that the wedding party will be taking photos in the greenhouse and we are to "play lawn games" until the reception starts at 6:00. ????? You would think that my mom, brother, and I would be needed for photos, but no. We were thrown out of the greenhouse as not part of the family. How nice.
Next- The Reception, and here is where things get really good.
We get to the ceremony location. The service was scheduled to be outside, and my dad, a minister, was officiating. The weather was getting chilly, and there was a pretty strong breeze. It wasn't terrible though because the sun was shining. My family and I got our programs and kazoos. Kazoos you ask? I was also perplexed.
A few minutes past 5:00, the official start time, a lady walks to the front of the area. She gets everyone's attention and asks us to open our programs. We open the programs and there is music with lyrics in some language that isn't English. She says she is going to give us a German lesson and proceeds to explain to us how to pronounce all the German lyrics to Ode to Joy. She then tells is that this will be the recessional, and we are all asked to sing it as the couple leaves. If we really don't feel comfortable singing though, we can play our kazoos, WTF?
The ceremony itself was bizarre. First my dad greeted everyone in the pretty standard fashion. Then he said "K (did I mention K was marrying another K?) has a pretty cool groove." Then the cellist and electric marimba player played a jazzy riff. My dad then said, "K's vibe is pretty sweet too." And the musicians played another beat. Then he said, "but when they are combined things get even better." And then the two melodies are combined and they sound like ass. Really. At this point we're supposed to sing something, but none of us got that memo. I guess it was an interesting idea, but definitely not my style.
The vows were self-written. The groom read his on his iPhone, and the bride used paper. They pledged to be each other's soux chef, something, something, and henchman. Really? Henchman? The dog brought the rings except that the groom had gotten a tattoo of his on his finger. Klassy.
They then recessed, no one sang, and a member of the wedding party approached the front. Let's review now. The time is now about 5:20. The temperature is in the mid to low 40's and the wind is blowing. We are informed that the wedding party will be taking photos in the greenhouse and we are to "play lawn games" until the reception starts at 6:00. ????? You would think that my mom, brother, and I would be needed for photos, but no. We were thrown out of the greenhouse as not part of the family. How nice.
Next- The Reception, and here is where things get really good.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
My Cousin's Wedding- Part 1
This weekend I went to New Hampshire for my cousin K's wedding. Below is my story, and I swear it's true.
On Friday, October 9, I was scheduled to depart from St. Louis at 6:30. My flight from St. Louis to Chicago was delayed by an hour. I was worried because I only had an hour layover, but it turned out that my flight from Chicago to Manchester was delayed by at least an hour, so that was ok. I get to Chicago, and I find out that the delay has been lengthened to at least an hour and a half. That puts me in to Manchester at 1:15, and then we have to drive an hour to get to Plymouth, where the wedding is being held. Ugh. It worked out though, and I ended up going to bed at about 3:00. I was awake long enough to appreciate the awesomeness of our hotel. Here is the sigh that pointed us to the staircase.
Here is the room next door to us. What room do you think we were in?
Here you go!
That's right. 201. Written in Sharpie! I thought I might have preferred to be in 207 and contemplated changing it. :)
I woke up for a few minutes around 7:00 to print my boarding pass for Sunday, and then slept until about 9:30. My mom and brother were out running errands and brought me a latte and a breakfast sandwich. My dad and I walked to the hotel where my cousins and aunt were staying. Their hotel was super cute. K couldn't be bothered to block rooms for everyone tough. So the wedding party and her immediate family were staying at that hotel, and everyone else was relegated to our craptastic hovel.
Here is the beautiful view from our walk. Unfortunately, you can't see the gorgeous color on the trees.
The whole family execpt K went out to lunch on Saturday at a Thai restaurant for my birthday. It was super fun. The only slightly negative part was that it was leaf viewing season and there was a ton of traffic getting to the restaurant.
We then all went back to the hotel to chill out for a while before the wedding. Part 2 coming soon.
On Friday, October 9, I was scheduled to depart from St. Louis at 6:30. My flight from St. Louis to Chicago was delayed by an hour. I was worried because I only had an hour layover, but it turned out that my flight from Chicago to Manchester was delayed by at least an hour, so that was ok. I get to Chicago, and I find out that the delay has been lengthened to at least an hour and a half. That puts me in to Manchester at 1:15, and then we have to drive an hour to get to Plymouth, where the wedding is being held. Ugh. It worked out though, and I ended up going to bed at about 3:00. I was awake long enough to appreciate the awesomeness of our hotel. Here is the sigh that pointed us to the staircase.
Here is the room next door to us. What room do you think we were in?
Here you go!
That's right. 201. Written in Sharpie! I thought I might have preferred to be in 207 and contemplated changing it. :)
I woke up for a few minutes around 7:00 to print my boarding pass for Sunday, and then slept until about 9:30. My mom and brother were out running errands and brought me a latte and a breakfast sandwich. My dad and I walked to the hotel where my cousins and aunt were staying. Their hotel was super cute. K couldn't be bothered to block rooms for everyone tough. So the wedding party and her immediate family were staying at that hotel, and everyone else was relegated to our craptastic hovel.
Here is the beautiful view from our walk. Unfortunately, you can't see the gorgeous color on the trees.
The whole family execpt K went out to lunch on Saturday at a Thai restaurant for my birthday. It was super fun. The only slightly negative part was that it was leaf viewing season and there was a ton of traffic getting to the restaurant.
We then all went back to the hotel to chill out for a while before the wedding. Part 2 coming soon.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Random Musing
After high school, I worked at Burger King. I was a manager,and the pay was pretty good for that point in my life. After college, I waited tables at Bennigan's. Again, not exactly upscale, but I made good money.
Well, I took some time off after grad school and before I started teaching. I looked for jobs waiting tables, and my first criterion was that I refused to wear a name tag.
Why was I thinking about this today? Well, the school I'm teaching at now requires all adults to wear a nametag. So basically I have totally backslid in my job requirements. Ironic I think. Happy Monday!
Well, I took some time off after grad school and before I started teaching. I looked for jobs waiting tables, and my first criterion was that I refused to wear a name tag.
Why was I thinking about this today? Well, the school I'm teaching at now requires all adults to wear a nametag. So basically I have totally backslid in my job requirements. Ironic I think. Happy Monday!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Pathetic Really
The current time is 7:38 p.m. on FRIDAY, October 2, 2009. I am making mac and cheese for dinner, and I might have a beer. Realistically though? I could go to bed right now. Seriously.
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