Tomorrow I'm going to challenge my nerves and audition for the local baseball team, the Montgomery Biscuits. NO.... not to play baseball. I'm auditioning to sing the National Anthem at a game. Basically, I have to go sing it for them, in the stadium -- and there's really no way to practice that accoustic until I get on the field. On the plus side, I do know the audition piece.
I wish John could come and watch, but he's got to go coach fencing (for a group that can't seem to get it into their heads that he is an employee who deserves a paycheck on time--and that is really pissing me off. I have to give up half a day with him every Saturday, the one day neither of us work, and they cannot be bothered to pay him. That means, we can't leave town Friday night and go somewhere because he has to be in town on Saturday morning.) I hope they get their act together, because we do need the money from that job -- but if they're not paying, then what's the point in working for them? Waste of energy.
Anywho -- as I was saying, wish me luck. I'm nervous. Auditions are nervewracking, even when you have a track record of success, and I do not. I got into the college choir (you do have to audition for that), and I got cast in a community theatre musical. But that's it. I don't have a super track record. But -- you have to start somewhere.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Movie Review / Rant - Hoot
yes, it's an old(er) movie.
Attention Hollywood Producers. It *IS* possible to make a movie starring kids which does not have adults who are assinine, unintelligent, incompetant, unsympathetic, unpresent, and clueless. Trust me, it really is.
Hoot: I'm not going to bother listing all the people in this, because most of them are one-flick wonders (except Luke Wilson) who you recognize but don't really know their names.
Roy (main kid), Beatrice (girl kid), and Mullet Fingers (other kid--and yes, that's seriously the name of the character) are out to save a field for burrowing owls. The owls are cute--I will give them that. And I will note too: I did not realize that there were owls that lived in burrows rather than trees.
The problem: you've got a corporate jerk face who knows about the endangered species and has tried to cover it up -- however, he's done a piss poor job of it!. I've worked for agencies which did environmental impact studies. I can tell you that the manner that this was done was NOT the correct process. Impact studies are submitted directly to the state agency, not through the company involved. And if there was a torn page in the report received, the agency would not just glibly move on without saying: "Hey, I need another copy of the report." (and no thinking company trying to cover this up would be keeping one SHOWING the torn out page on site. I mean...if you're going to cover it up, cover it up man!) Yes, our studies were given in draft form to the organization so they'd get an opportunity to respond, but we did not remove things because they didn't like the finding. So the bottom line: the permitting process by which the jerk companies got their authorization was falsely formed. They would not have been given a permit with an environmental impact study showing endangered species on site. (I know this: we had a similar issue with one that we did. In the case of ours, we had to do mediation by moving the species -- it was a moveable one. But we had to find a compatible habitat before we could move them. And it was expensive.) The state would not grant us permits until those endangered species were moved.
So right there, the movie falls off of its tracks.
Onto Mullet Fingers: Mullet Fingers is the step brother of Bridget, who knows where he is. He doesn't get along with his mom or his step dad (and this is a kid who seems pretty amiable, so it's not like he's a drugger kid or something). Mom shipped him to a military boarding school and he ran off about two weeks later. Yet....the school has never reported him missing! Excuse me? Are you serious? Missing kid from their role books and they do not report this to the parents? Are they trying to become the property of that kid's parents? I mean, I smell a serious lawsuit.
Roy's dad is Department of Justice. That's just a random, irrelevant factoid.
There is also a school bully who clearly beats on kids within the purview of the driver. Yet, when Roy fights back, HE is the one who is suspended from the bus. The bus driver (obviously from the filming) saw that the bully was choking Roy. Roy breaks the boy's nose. And she reports him. Okay, what planet is that bus driver NOT suspended on? And why do Roy's parents not report what ROY's version is to the school when he tells them why he punched out the bully and broke his nose? This is not exactly a kid who has been a problem child before, so why would they not take his side with the administration. Instead, he has to write an apology to the bully. Excuse me? That's lame as all get out.
The writing is horrendous. The plot development is horrendous. Luke Wilson is WASTED on this film.
The two pluses. Soundtrack is good and the owls are cute. Buy a Buffet CD and get a picture. You'll enjoy it a lot more.
Attention Hollywood Producers. It *IS* possible to make a movie starring kids which does not have adults who are assinine, unintelligent, incompetant, unsympathetic, unpresent, and clueless. Trust me, it really is.
Hoot: I'm not going to bother listing all the people in this, because most of them are one-flick wonders (except Luke Wilson) who you recognize but don't really know their names.
Roy (main kid), Beatrice (girl kid), and Mullet Fingers (other kid--and yes, that's seriously the name of the character) are out to save a field for burrowing owls. The owls are cute--I will give them that. And I will note too: I did not realize that there were owls that lived in burrows rather than trees.
The problem: you've got a corporate jerk face who knows about the endangered species and has tried to cover it up -- however, he's done a piss poor job of it!. I've worked for agencies which did environmental impact studies. I can tell you that the manner that this was done was NOT the correct process. Impact studies are submitted directly to the state agency, not through the company involved. And if there was a torn page in the report received, the agency would not just glibly move on without saying: "Hey, I need another copy of the report." (and no thinking company trying to cover this up would be keeping one SHOWING the torn out page on site. I mean...if you're going to cover it up, cover it up man!) Yes, our studies were given in draft form to the organization so they'd get an opportunity to respond, but we did not remove things because they didn't like the finding. So the bottom line: the permitting process by which the jerk companies got their authorization was falsely formed. They would not have been given a permit with an environmental impact study showing endangered species on site. (I know this: we had a similar issue with one that we did. In the case of ours, we had to do mediation by moving the species -- it was a moveable one. But we had to find a compatible habitat before we could move them. And it was expensive.) The state would not grant us permits until those endangered species were moved.
So right there, the movie falls off of its tracks.
Onto Mullet Fingers: Mullet Fingers is the step brother of Bridget, who knows where he is. He doesn't get along with his mom or his step dad (and this is a kid who seems pretty amiable, so it's not like he's a drugger kid or something). Mom shipped him to a military boarding school and he ran off about two weeks later. Yet....the school has never reported him missing! Excuse me? Are you serious? Missing kid from their role books and they do not report this to the parents? Are they trying to become the property of that kid's parents? I mean, I smell a serious lawsuit.
Roy's dad is Department of Justice. That's just a random, irrelevant factoid.
There is also a school bully who clearly beats on kids within the purview of the driver. Yet, when Roy fights back, HE is the one who is suspended from the bus. The bus driver (obviously from the filming) saw that the bully was choking Roy. Roy breaks the boy's nose. And she reports him. Okay, what planet is that bus driver NOT suspended on? And why do Roy's parents not report what ROY's version is to the school when he tells them why he punched out the bully and broke his nose? This is not exactly a kid who has been a problem child before, so why would they not take his side with the administration. Instead, he has to write an apology to the bully. Excuse me? That's lame as all get out.
The writing is horrendous. The plot development is horrendous. Luke Wilson is WASTED on this film.
The two pluses. Soundtrack is good and the owls are cute. Buy a Buffet CD and get a picture. You'll enjoy it a lot more.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Have a Ball!
So.... we've decided we're going to try to book Southern Strings (yay!) for our wedding. They really have some lovely music (we were actually going to use some on the CD). They have added a member, and hopefully that doesn't mean their price has gone up -- that's one of my main concerns. We'll definitely have them play guest gathering and wedding (it will just add that otherwordly feel) and hopefully we'll be able to have them play at the reception until it's time for dancing to begin. That we're still probably going to keep as CDs -- simply because of the type of music we want.
And I've come up with another cheesy label for our cheese ball spread: Hope you have a ball! (Meatballs/cheese balls) So, now the reception 'food' has a theme.
I do feel for poor John (that's my fiance's name) though. I do keep changing my mind about things, or coming up with other ideas. I'm awful. Of course, once we put money down, it's stone.
And I've come up with another cheesy label for our cheese ball spread: Hope you have a ball! (Meatballs/cheese balls) So, now the reception 'food' has a theme.
I do feel for poor John (that's my fiance's name) though. I do keep changing my mind about things, or coming up with other ideas. I'm awful. Of course, once we put money down, it's stone.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wedding Bits
My fiance and I have an appointment with our minister on March 4 at 6 to discuss the ceremony and what we have planned. And boy do we have plans!
We have written out our handfasting ceremony, picked our vows, decided to do a Rose Ceremony and to scratch the obligatory Unity Candle (mom will be so pleased...not). In addition, we're doing a chalice lighting at the beginning.
We are hoping that we'll be able to have a Flame Bearer (I don't see why not) carry a lantern, bringing the flame into the space -- sort of lighting the way. I would like our sanctuary to be dark and just lit up at the front. Since this is an evening service, it will be more dramatic, I think, if the light is 'on the stage' so to speak. My concern: I do know how our sanctuary lights work. I'm not sure that they can be dimmed at the appropriate time. May have to have the minister do it before he comes out. (Not sure when he should). Basically, the lights are in the little room between the minister's office and the sanctuary. FH is processing in too, rather than coming in from the side -- he and his party will march in to something like "Scotland the Brave" (that's not settled; he's in charge of the music). They would follow the Flame Bearer.
My mother is driving me nuts. I swear, she's Momzilla. She doesn't like this and she doesn't like that. Never mind that this is reflective of US and our guests will appreciate it. She complained about the cake -- then she got to taste it and decided it was actually good. She fussed about what color dress I could buy. She fussed about our wedding colors. She fussed about the Rehearsal Dinner menu. She fussed about the hotel. She fussed about the Reception Menu. There's not a thing that we're doing that she has said "Oh I love that!" EXCEPT that I asked the florist for wrist corsages instead of pin on ones. She thinks we're paying too much for the cake (except for the fact that a> we have to have a diabetic cake and that limits our options and b> yesterday, I heard a quote from Publix....which was freakishly HIGHER than what we're paying!). Quite frankly, she's pissing me off.
And we have not even told them the bulk of the plans. She doesn't know we're doing a handfasting and not doing the Unity Candle. She doesn't know that Dad is only walking me half-way down the aisle. (Yes--we need to have that conversation with them.) And to be honest, half of the reason she doesn't know this stuff is because she's been completely unsupportive of the entire thing. Okay, so it isn't a standard wedding. Get over it. The point is, the wedding has actually been co-planned by both of us--and that's really the way it should be (ideally. granted, getting most guys to participate is not easy. My fiance is actively planning, and not being roped in. Yay him!). It's about us. It's not about the Baptist Church (and we're not having it in a Baptist Church). It's not about my parents -- they had their wedding. This wedding is going to be unlike anything that most of the guests will have seen -- and that is good. We have an officiant to sign the license, and that's really all we need. The rest is just stagecraft. It's telling a story of who we are.
But truthfully, if we were not blood -- my parents and I would have no contact. We are far too different. I do love them -- but they do not understand me...or rather, they do not choose to accept the person that I am rather than the person they wish I was. (A good little Christian woman.)
We have written out our handfasting ceremony, picked our vows, decided to do a Rose Ceremony and to scratch the obligatory Unity Candle (mom will be so pleased...not). In addition, we're doing a chalice lighting at the beginning.
We are hoping that we'll be able to have a Flame Bearer (I don't see why not) carry a lantern, bringing the flame into the space -- sort of lighting the way. I would like our sanctuary to be dark and just lit up at the front. Since this is an evening service, it will be more dramatic, I think, if the light is 'on the stage' so to speak. My concern: I do know how our sanctuary lights work. I'm not sure that they can be dimmed at the appropriate time. May have to have the minister do it before he comes out. (Not sure when he should). Basically, the lights are in the little room between the minister's office and the sanctuary. FH is processing in too, rather than coming in from the side -- he and his party will march in to something like "Scotland the Brave" (that's not settled; he's in charge of the music). They would follow the Flame Bearer.
My mother is driving me nuts. I swear, she's Momzilla. She doesn't like this and she doesn't like that. Never mind that this is reflective of US and our guests will appreciate it. She complained about the cake -- then she got to taste it and decided it was actually good. She fussed about what color dress I could buy. She fussed about our wedding colors. She fussed about the Rehearsal Dinner menu. She fussed about the hotel. She fussed about the Reception Menu. There's not a thing that we're doing that she has said "Oh I love that!" EXCEPT that I asked the florist for wrist corsages instead of pin on ones. She thinks we're paying too much for the cake (except for the fact that a> we have to have a diabetic cake and that limits our options and b> yesterday, I heard a quote from Publix....which was freakishly HIGHER than what we're paying!). Quite frankly, she's pissing me off.
And we have not even told them the bulk of the plans. She doesn't know we're doing a handfasting and not doing the Unity Candle. She doesn't know that Dad is only walking me half-way down the aisle. (Yes--we need to have that conversation with them.) And to be honest, half of the reason she doesn't know this stuff is because she's been completely unsupportive of the entire thing. Okay, so it isn't a standard wedding. Get over it. The point is, the wedding has actually been co-planned by both of us--and that's really the way it should be (ideally. granted, getting most guys to participate is not easy. My fiance is actively planning, and not being roped in. Yay him!). It's about us. It's not about the Baptist Church (and we're not having it in a Baptist Church). It's not about my parents -- they had their wedding. This wedding is going to be unlike anything that most of the guests will have seen -- and that is good. We have an officiant to sign the license, and that's really all we need. The rest is just stagecraft. It's telling a story of who we are.
But truthfully, if we were not blood -- my parents and I would have no contact. We are far too different. I do love them -- but they do not understand me...or rather, they do not choose to accept the person that I am rather than the person they wish I was. (A good little Christian woman.)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Belk, Cats, and Wow
Belk had a bridal event today. I didn't really need anything they had to offer; however, it was free and there was cake. Of course, I had to go. One of my favorite wedding vendors in the area was there -- Southern Strings. Basically, if we can work them into the budget, it would be great. They just added a floutist to the group, and they sound amazing.
But we must be ruled by the Almighty Budget (blasted thing... who came up with this idea )
Other than that, my goal in going there was to speak to dress vendors about who they might recommend for alterations. However, no dress vendors were there. They're supposed to be giving out several door prizes, so with any luck, I will win one.
Regarding cats: Sam is sitting next to me right now, looking at my hands on the keyboard with an expression on his face that very much says 'Get off my bed!' (Pardon me, Sam... it's not a cat bed. I bought you an amazing kitty tree at Christmas. Lay On That!)
And wow. I have been very faithful to this blog. It's a record! Of course, we'll check back in a week to see how faithful I've been.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
This is it!
Today is the day I go pick up my wedding dress. I thought that on January 31 too....I know. But hopefully, this really is it. I'll give David's this much credit, they underpromise and overdeliver. They told me my re-order dress would be in March 3. It arrived February 13. When I initially purchased the dress, they told me it would be in on February 13, but it arrived on January 28.
I do have a lot of time between now and the wedding still, but I do like marking things off of the to do list.
Now -- to find a seamstress. I'm not 100% sure I'd like David's to do it. I may go back to them eventually, but before defaulting to David's, I'd like to hunt around. There will be at least three alterations needed. And I can't even mention the required alterations -- in case John comes by the blog. He'd hate to discover the dress style by mention of the alterations.
My dress is nothing like this. I just thought that a blog about wedding dresses should have a picture of a wedding dress.
I do have a lot of time between now and the wedding still, but I do like marking things off of the to do list.
Now -- to find a seamstress. I'm not 100% sure I'd like David's to do it. I may go back to them eventually, but before defaulting to David's, I'd like to hunt around. There will be at least three alterations needed. And I can't even mention the required alterations -- in case John comes by the blog. He'd hate to discover the dress style by mention of the alterations.
My dress is nothing like this. I just thought that a blog about wedding dresses should have a picture of a wedding dress.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Footloose and Fancy Free - A Celtic Swing Reception
My fiance and I celebrate our nuptuals on September 26, 2009. That's a really fancy way of saying we're getting hitched in a little over 7 months. Time seems to fly and drag simultaneously, which is truly confusing!
This is our reception!
We've got a lot settled, and a lot that I seem to revisit all the time. I guess I'm doing that because we're doing this shindig on a budget--no shame in that! But in many ways it means that we're doing things as inexpensively as possible, and I'm not really happy with the lesser cost item. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to overspend just to give my inner princess a carriage ride or something insane -- but I keep tweaking the reception menu. My poor fiance thinks it's settled and I go "I have an idea...."
So, right now (and I do say that with a bit of a sigh), our reception menu is interesting, and I'm actually happy with it. It's also a tad different (which makes me even happier with it).
We're going to be doing a cheese ball theme for the reception. I'll start making the cheese balls about three months prior and freezing them, and then unfreeze them a week before, form them and roll them in their nuts (or whatever... yeah, balls and nuts. Of COURSE there will be jokes over that!). We'll also have some chicken nuggets and meatballs. The cheese balls / dips will have breads or crackers served with them, depending on what they are. Some cheese balls will be meaty (there is an awesome chicken cheese ball I'll be making). Some will be just cheesy. And some will be cheesy/fruity. And since we're doing cheese -- might as well go completely with it with some 'cheesey' names for our cheese balls. My current favorite is the "Erin Go Ball" (for Erin Go Braugh). The meatballs will be labeled as "The Best of Haggis (because no one really wants to eat the rest of it)". Chicken nuggets are "Because the Scots love fried food" Our wedding has a Celtic theme, so our cheese balls will be named after Celtic stuff (hence haggis and erin go ball).
<------- This is our cake topper. Our cake is going to be amazing. I can't wait to see what we envisioned come to life. I'd show y'all a picture, except that it really was something that my fiance and I designed ourselves. We presented it to the baker, who made a couple of suggestions, and told us how he intended to do certain elements.
The cake is sour cream pound cake with raspberry/amaretto filling. (Trust me, it's quite yummy!) It will be a three-layer cake. The sides of the cake will be a bisque white color to match the cake topper; however, the top of each later will be in one of our three wedding colors. The middle tier will have celtic knotwork matching our cake topper. And because it is an autumn wedding, instead of sugar flowers, we'll have pastillage leaves painted in autumn colors placed about the cake. I wish I could show a picture of this cake; but it was designed by us. We're all just going to have to wait until September (well... you will have to wait until October. Sorry.)
As far as decorations go, this was the inspiration for ours. The ceiling will be decorated in white Christmas lights (got on sale...yay!) with leaves tied to it via twine. I have about 100 or more leaves already ready to be tied to the lights. The effect I am going for is a forest canopy at night with the stars twinkling above. It's abstract of course, but that is what it is supposed to represent.
I am also making candles in our wedding colors. They are not made yet -- I figure I will start them next weekend. These will be placed on mirrors on each of the tables (probably about 2 or 3 candles per table) .
As far as entertainment? We're the iPod generation. My fiance is responsible for the music for both the ceremony and reception. We'll be having a Swing Dance, with 80s music too. He's going to do a quick lesson in Swing right after our first dance so that everyone will have an idea of how to do it. (I picked it up without lessons, so I figure anyone can.)
I ordered my garter! I have to make a toss bouquet. We'll be doing an anniversary dance, and the couple married the longest will receive the bouquet and garter. I am pretty certain it will be my Aunt Sissy and Uncle Marvin. I don't know how long they've been married. I'm sure it is over 50 years though. They were married when my Dad's brother got married. And my Dad's brother was married when HE got married. It's going to one of my Dad's siblings--unless someone at my church surprises us.
This is our reception!
We've got a lot settled, and a lot that I seem to revisit all the time. I guess I'm doing that because we're doing this shindig on a budget--no shame in that! But in many ways it means that we're doing things as inexpensively as possible, and I'm not really happy with the lesser cost item. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to overspend just to give my inner princess a carriage ride or something insane -- but I keep tweaking the reception menu. My poor fiance thinks it's settled and I go "I have an idea...."
So, right now (and I do say that with a bit of a sigh), our reception menu is interesting, and I'm actually happy with it. It's also a tad different (which makes me even happier with it).
We're going to be doing a cheese ball theme for the reception. I'll start making the cheese balls about three months prior and freezing them, and then unfreeze them a week before, form them and roll them in their nuts (or whatever... yeah, balls and nuts. Of COURSE there will be jokes over that!). We'll also have some chicken nuggets and meatballs. The cheese balls / dips will have breads or crackers served with them, depending on what they are. Some cheese balls will be meaty (there is an awesome chicken cheese ball I'll be making). Some will be just cheesy. And some will be cheesy/fruity. And since we're doing cheese -- might as well go completely with it with some 'cheesey' names for our cheese balls. My current favorite is the "Erin Go Ball" (for Erin Go Braugh). The meatballs will be labeled as "The Best of Haggis (because no one really wants to eat the rest of it)". Chicken nuggets are "Because the Scots love fried food" Our wedding has a Celtic theme, so our cheese balls will be named after Celtic stuff (hence haggis and erin go ball).
<------- This is our cake topper. Our cake is going to be amazing. I can't wait to see what we envisioned come to life. I'd show y'all a picture, except that it really was something that my fiance and I designed ourselves. We presented it to the baker, who made a couple of suggestions, and told us how he intended to do certain elements.
The cake is sour cream pound cake with raspberry/amaretto filling. (Trust me, it's quite yummy!) It will be a three-layer cake. The sides of the cake will be a bisque white color to match the cake topper; however, the top of each later will be in one of our three wedding colors. The middle tier will have celtic knotwork matching our cake topper. And because it is an autumn wedding, instead of sugar flowers, we'll have pastillage leaves painted in autumn colors placed about the cake. I wish I could show a picture of this cake; but it was designed by us. We're all just going to have to wait until September (well... you will have to wait until October. Sorry.)
As far as decorations go, this was the inspiration for ours. The ceiling will be decorated in white Christmas lights (got on sale...yay!) with leaves tied to it via twine. I have about 100 or more leaves already ready to be tied to the lights. The effect I am going for is a forest canopy at night with the stars twinkling above. It's abstract of course, but that is what it is supposed to represent.
I am also making candles in our wedding colors. They are not made yet -- I figure I will start them next weekend. These will be placed on mirrors on each of the tables (probably about 2 or 3 candles per table) .
As far as entertainment? We're the iPod generation. My fiance is responsible for the music for both the ceremony and reception. We'll be having a Swing Dance, with 80s music too. He's going to do a quick lesson in Swing right after our first dance so that everyone will have an idea of how to do it. (I picked it up without lessons, so I figure anyone can.)
I ordered my garter! I have to make a toss bouquet. We'll be doing an anniversary dance, and the couple married the longest will receive the bouquet and garter. I am pretty certain it will be my Aunt Sissy and Uncle Marvin. I don't know how long they've been married. I'm sure it is over 50 years though. They were married when my Dad's brother got married. And my Dad's brother was married when HE got married. It's going to one of my Dad's siblings--unless someone at my church surprises us.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Cheap Chocolate Day
Cheap Chocolate Day has come and gone, but another is just around the bend. What is Cheap Chocolate Day? Why, it's the best holiday of all....it celebrates chocolate -- on sale at 50% or more off!!
Cheap Chocolate days are:
February 15 - this is the best cheap chocolate day. The high holy cheap chocolate day. Adult chocolates abound -- not just bags of Hershey Kisses or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Boxes of chocolates, truffles, and other yummy delights
Day after Easter - As far as Cheap Chocolate Days go, this one is pretty good. Stock up on Cadbury Eggs, but watch the chocolate bunnies. Most are made by Palmer chocolate, and their chocolate is just a grade above chocolate flavored chalky wax. Steer clear of that stuff. Better NO chocolate than Palmer's chocolate.
November 1 -- All CHOCOLATES day it should be! This is where you can stock up on your minis to fill up office chocolate bowls. It's the 2nd best cheap chocolate day of the year.
December 26 -- Christmas is not a true chocolate holiday, but still, people do put chocolate in stockings. The danger of the post-Christmas Cheap Chocolate Day is that December 26 is a notoriously busy shopping day--people doing returns and checking post-Christmas sales. This is a cheap chocolate holiday for the truly chocolate obsessed -- because who else would brave those crowds for cheap chocolate without that obsession.
Yes, I realize that most people do not celebrate this holiday -- but I really do not see why not.
Cheap Chocolate days are:
February 15 - this is the best cheap chocolate day. The high holy cheap chocolate day. Adult chocolates abound -- not just bags of Hershey Kisses or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Boxes of chocolates, truffles, and other yummy delights
Day after Easter - As far as Cheap Chocolate Days go, this one is pretty good. Stock up on Cadbury Eggs, but watch the chocolate bunnies. Most are made by Palmer chocolate, and their chocolate is just a grade above chocolate flavored chalky wax. Steer clear of that stuff. Better NO chocolate than Palmer's chocolate.
November 1 -- All CHOCOLATES day it should be! This is where you can stock up on your minis to fill up office chocolate bowls. It's the 2nd best cheap chocolate day of the year.
December 26 -- Christmas is not a true chocolate holiday, but still, people do put chocolate in stockings. The danger of the post-Christmas Cheap Chocolate Day is that December 26 is a notoriously busy shopping day--people doing returns and checking post-Christmas sales. This is a cheap chocolate holiday for the truly chocolate obsessed -- because who else would brave those crowds for cheap chocolate without that obsession.
Yes, I realize that most people do not celebrate this holiday -- but I really do not see why not.
Dia duit
It's the Celtic Cat blog, so I figured I should start off with something along that vein. Dia duit mean hello in Irish. So...hello!
Upcoming Nuptuals:My fiance and I are in the process of planning our wedding (7 months, 7 days to go. wow), so you'll likely read a lot about it. I've also got to edit a bit -- he's traditional and doesn't want to know *any* details of the wedding ensemble. So you'll just have to wait until the wedding photos are posted to see it! (But I'm picking it up on Saturday.)
We're getting our rings from Marguiritte's, here in Montgomery. This is one of those rare jewelers where you get to design what you want and they will make it for you. This is actually really cool--but also a bit frustrating.
We ordered back in October -- and went to check on them in January. They had not even sent off yet. I just called today, and they still have not sent off (apparently, there were email issues with the laser engraver.) Anyway, I'm starting to get anxious. Back in October, we had a lot of time. But time is now getting shorter -- and time to get a different ring if this takes too much longer is also getting shorter.
Economy: The economy here in Montgomery is not the best. I'm sure that no one reading this is surprised. I'm doing all right, but my fiance is not faring so well. The service industry, particularly restaurants, is hurting. When people have to cut back, they cut back on the "I don't have to haves" first -- the little luxuries, like eating out every other day or once a week. When you're a server, and the floor is not full, that hurts your bottom line even more.
Cats: I have two. Gus and Sam. Sam has lately started to sleep on my laptop keyboard. NOT happy about that. On the plus side, I've learned about a lot of functions my computer has that I was not aware of. I didn't, for example, know that I had a reading software that would read the screen to me -- in English AND in French. This was interesting. However, I don't know how he did id, so it doesn't help me much.
Theatre: I am on the Board of Directors for Prattville's Way Off Broadway Theatre, and have been in three productions.
I'll probably talk about a variety of these things and more. I hope you'll join me as we explore my life as a Cat.
Upcoming Nuptuals:My fiance and I are in the process of planning our wedding (7 months, 7 days to go. wow), so you'll likely read a lot about it. I've also got to edit a bit -- he's traditional and doesn't want to know *any* details of the wedding ensemble. So you'll just have to wait until the wedding photos are posted to see it! (But I'm picking it up on Saturday.)
We're getting our rings from Marguiritte's, here in Montgomery. This is one of those rare jewelers where you get to design what you want and they will make it for you. This is actually really cool--but also a bit frustrating.
We ordered back in October -- and went to check on them in January. They had not even sent off yet. I just called today, and they still have not sent off (apparently, there were email issues with the laser engraver.) Anyway, I'm starting to get anxious. Back in October, we had a lot of time. But time is now getting shorter -- and time to get a different ring if this takes too much longer is also getting shorter.Economy: The economy here in Montgomery is not the best. I'm sure that no one reading this is surprised. I'm doing all right, but my fiance is not faring so well. The service industry, particularly restaurants, is hurting. When people have to cut back, they cut back on the "I don't have to haves" first -- the little luxuries, like eating out every other day or once a week. When you're a server, and the floor is not full, that hurts your bottom line even more.
Cats: I have two. Gus and Sam. Sam has lately started to sleep on my laptop keyboard. NOT happy about that. On the plus side, I've learned about a lot of functions my computer has that I was not aware of. I didn't, for example, know that I had a reading software that would read the screen to me -- in English AND in French. This was interesting. However, I don't know how he did id, so it doesn't help me much.
Theatre: I am on the Board of Directors for Prattville's Way Off Broadway Theatre, and have been in three productions.
I'll probably talk about a variety of these things and more. I hope you'll join me as we explore my life as a Cat.
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