I am McLovin my girlfriends today. First, Amity was there for a phone call this afternoon when I needed to vent a bit about some pre-wedding stress. I'm getting married a week from today. I love my fiance more than I ever thought I'd ever love anyone. I cannot wait to be his wife. But I wish that getting to the end of that aisle didn't involve such stressors as yet another trip to Michael's, this time for baskets, tulle, and other wedding accoutrements. Thank you, as always, Am.
Then late this afternoon I met up with M & K, two of my oldest (meaning longest-running) girlfriends. I've known and loved M since 4th grade, K since 11th, and I've gotten closer and closer to them again since I came home. They treated me to a pedicure and dinner tonight in honor of my 30th birthday, which is a week from Tuesday.
I so appreciated that they wanted to celebrate my birthday. 30 is kind of a milestone. But with mine coming the three days after my wedding and three weeks before we move into our new house, my turning 30 is not the first thing on my mind or anyone else's for that matter. I ran into the same thing on my 17th birthday. It was the same day as my high school graduation and ended up being all but forgotten.
Fortunately, I've had lots of terrific birthday celebrations over the years, so I'm hardly deprived. But I'm a big advocate of celebrating each and every one of them. After all, we only get so many, and it's a great time to remind the people you love, including yourself, that it's good to have you on this planet. I don't mind something as special as my wedding getting in the way of that. I'm just grateful to my girlfriends that it hasn't.
5.31.2008
Since When Is It Okay to Break the Rules?
I'm not entirely unhappy with the Democratic National Committee's compromise decision today to seat the Michigan and Florida delegates in Denver, though their votes only count for half. It's the only decision that still punishes Michigan and Florida for violating party rules and holding their primaries early, while still somewhat honoring the democratic process.
However, this whole situation has driven me slightly crazy, begging the question posed as the title of the post. Since when do these states have the right to break the rules? Lots of states wanted to hold their primaries early, but their Democratic party leaders honored the rules of the Committee of which they are a part. I find it mind-boggling that there is such a sense of entitlement from the Michigan and Florida electorates, with all of their big electoral votes, that they are somehow above the rules of their own party.
I'm not sure why the Democratic Party holds their state primaries and caucuses on the schedules they keep, but they have rules for a reason. To quote Walter Sobchak, John Goodman's character in The Big Lebowski, "This is not 'Nam, Smokey, this is bowling. There are rules."
As Americans, we have the stones to stick our noses in other peoples' business around the world, especially elections. And yet, in the past three election cycles, including this one, there have been gross and outright violations of our own sacred electoral processes. Florida (and 5 of 9 Supreme Court Justices) decided our president in 2000 after plenty of suspect shenanigans in a terribly close race. It came down to just Ohio in 2004. Now in another close race, certain members of the Democratic Party want to changes the rules to suit their own agendas. What right do we have to tell other people to play by certain rules, especially our rules, when we aren't capable of doing this ourselves?
I could digress now into a rant about condo associations, and an evil woman who is causing all sorts of grief in one of the associations in which I am involved. Just like the Democratic party leaders in Michigan and Florida, she violates the rules to suit herself. The difference is that she torments the rest of us about perceived violations of the same sets of rules, the hypocrite.
Condominimums are micro-democracies, and they are as miserable and corrupt as macro-democracies. Rules are the only thing that keep any semblance of order. When you sign up to be a part of something, whether it's a condo association, a political party, or an entire democracy, you have to honor those rules. Or you must be willing to pay the consequences of violating them. The lasting damage done by those who break the rules is the ill-will that these characters engender in everyone else who is just trying to play fair. All too often, we appease and placate those who willfully violate the rules, who destroy instead of build.
Maybe this the only thing to do, in terms of the greater good, but I'm calling bullshit on it nonetheless.
However, this whole situation has driven me slightly crazy, begging the question posed as the title of the post. Since when do these states have the right to break the rules? Lots of states wanted to hold their primaries early, but their Democratic party leaders honored the rules of the Committee of which they are a part. I find it mind-boggling that there is such a sense of entitlement from the Michigan and Florida electorates, with all of their big electoral votes, that they are somehow above the rules of their own party.
I'm not sure why the Democratic Party holds their state primaries and caucuses on the schedules they keep, but they have rules for a reason. To quote Walter Sobchak, John Goodman's character in The Big Lebowski, "This is not 'Nam, Smokey, this is bowling. There are rules."
As Americans, we have the stones to stick our noses in other peoples' business around the world, especially elections. And yet, in the past three election cycles, including this one, there have been gross and outright violations of our own sacred electoral processes. Florida (and 5 of 9 Supreme Court Justices) decided our president in 2000 after plenty of suspect shenanigans in a terribly close race. It came down to just Ohio in 2004. Now in another close race, certain members of the Democratic Party want to changes the rules to suit their own agendas. What right do we have to tell other people to play by certain rules, especially our rules, when we aren't capable of doing this ourselves?
I could digress now into a rant about condo associations, and an evil woman who is causing all sorts of grief in one of the associations in which I am involved. Just like the Democratic party leaders in Michigan and Florida, she violates the rules to suit herself. The difference is that she torments the rest of us about perceived violations of the same sets of rules, the hypocrite.
Condominimums are micro-democracies, and they are as miserable and corrupt as macro-democracies. Rules are the only thing that keep any semblance of order. When you sign up to be a part of something, whether it's a condo association, a political party, or an entire democracy, you have to honor those rules. Or you must be willing to pay the consequences of violating them. The lasting damage done by those who break the rules is the ill-will that these characters engender in everyone else who is just trying to play fair. All too often, we appease and placate those who willfully violate the rules, who destroy instead of build.
Maybe this the only thing to do, in terms of the greater good, but I'm calling bullshit on it nonetheless.
5.29.2008
Seeking Musical Inspiration
Seeking Musical Inspiration
From: Jessica Beagan (jbeagan78@hotmail.com)
Sent:Thu 5/29/08 10:19 AM
To: Assorted friends/wedding guests
Hey everyone,
Here's a good way to waste some time at work today. Aaron and I are brainstorming the musical playlists for the bowling party and the wedding, and I thought I would seek inspiration from my fabulous friends/wedding guests.
So, bust out those iPods, or those playlists in your minds (some of you are like catalogs, seriously). Please reply with any suggestions for songs you'd like to hear, whether it was music we used to rock out to back in the day (and still do when you're in the car alone and no one can hear you), or just good bowling or wedding tunes, we'd love to hear your ideas.
Can't wait to see you all next week!
Love ya!
J
NB: This goes for any of y'all out there. Feel free to leave a comment with suggestions. Not in the original email, but a post script here. The following songs will not be allowed at the Beagan/Archer wedding: "Funky Chicken", "Macarena", "Cha-cha Slide", "Electric Slide", "Cottoneye Joe", or "The Bride Cuts the Cake" (to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"). For real.
From: Jessica Beagan (jbeagan78@hotmail.com)
Sent:Thu 5/29/08 10:19 AM
To: Assorted friends/wedding guests
Hey everyone,
Here's a good way to waste some time at work today. Aaron and I are brainstorming the musical playlists for the bowling party and the wedding, and I thought I would seek inspiration from my fabulous friends/wedding guests.
So, bust out those iPods, or those playlists in your minds (some of you are like catalogs, seriously). Please reply with any suggestions for songs you'd like to hear, whether it was music we used to rock out to back in the day (and still do when you're in the car alone and no one can hear you), or just good bowling or wedding tunes, we'd love to hear your ideas.
Can't wait to see you all next week!
Love ya!
J
NB: This goes for any of y'all out there. Feel free to leave a comment with suggestions. Not in the original email, but a post script here. The following songs will not be allowed at the Beagan/Archer wedding: "Funky Chicken", "Macarena", "Cha-cha Slide", "Electric Slide", "Cottoneye Joe", or "The Bride Cuts the Cake" (to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"). For real.
5.27.2008
Free Tetris & Sketch It
I got on a Tetris kick tonight, thanks to www.freetetris.org After 62 lines and level 7, I had had enough.
Aaron is still playing "Sketch It" beside me. I tried a few rounds of that before hitting Tetris.
There's something very satisfying about sitting side by side on the couch, on our respective laptops, playing games, watching a documentary about the making of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" on VH1 Classic.
There's nowhere else I'd rather be.
Aaron is still playing "Sketch It" beside me. I tried a few rounds of that before hitting Tetris.
There's something very satisfying about sitting side by side on the couch, on our respective laptops, playing games, watching a documentary about the making of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" on VH1 Classic.
There's nowhere else I'd rather be.
5.26.2008
Homebody Weekend
We spent the long weekend close to home, getting things ready before the craziness begins next weekend leading up to the wedding. On Saturday I brought my clothes and my cats over to Aaron's, effectively moving in at long last. We've been going back and forth between two houses since November and I'm over it.
I hadn't done laundry in nearly two months, so I took full advantage of the laundromat-sized high efficiency washer and dryer over here to maximize the wash loads. We still have a few left, but I lost the will to launder for two straight days.
Part of the problem with finishing the laundry is the Feline Pragmatic Sanction of 2008. What types of concessions must one make to help three cats live peaceful in one kingdom? Essentially, we're trying to help Mojo and Rococo adjust to Aaron's house, and to Ichiban, Aaron's cat. Ichi has been a very good boy, totally cooperative. Mojo is wary, but not overly hostile. Rococo is a freakin' maniac. INSANE. Angry, aggressive, combative. Growling, spitting, hissing. She growls under the door if she even senses Ichiban nearby. She's been so upset that she's even started growling at Mojo. We've let Coco and Ichiban meet up twice so far, with disastrous results.
I can only hope that with familiarity to the new house she will calm down. So for now, Ichiban is stuck in the basement while Mojo and Coco explore the house. Tonight, my cats will get closed up in the guest bedroom so Ichi can sleep with us. Essentially, we're on shifts, alternating with one party stashed away while the other roams freely.
Otherwise, we went grocery shopping. Aaron finished crafting his groomsman's gift for the wedding. I made a key lime pie (thanks for the excellent recipe, Carlita!). A marathon of "Deadliest Catch" has been running in High Def on the Discovery Channel all day.
Cat-fighting aside, it's been a good weekend.
I hadn't done laundry in nearly two months, so I took full advantage of the laundromat-sized high efficiency washer and dryer over here to maximize the wash loads. We still have a few left, but I lost the will to launder for two straight days.
Part of the problem with finishing the laundry is the Feline Pragmatic Sanction of 2008. What types of concessions must one make to help three cats live peaceful in one kingdom? Essentially, we're trying to help Mojo and Rococo adjust to Aaron's house, and to Ichiban, Aaron's cat. Ichi has been a very good boy, totally cooperative. Mojo is wary, but not overly hostile. Rococo is a freakin' maniac. INSANE. Angry, aggressive, combative. Growling, spitting, hissing. She growls under the door if she even senses Ichiban nearby. She's been so upset that she's even started growling at Mojo. We've let Coco and Ichiban meet up twice so far, with disastrous results.
I can only hope that with familiarity to the new house she will calm down. So for now, Ichiban is stuck in the basement while Mojo and Coco explore the house. Tonight, my cats will get closed up in the guest bedroom so Ichi can sleep with us. Essentially, we're on shifts, alternating with one party stashed away while the other roams freely.
Otherwise, we went grocery shopping. Aaron finished crafting his groomsman's gift for the wedding. I made a key lime pie (thanks for the excellent recipe, Carlita!). A marathon of "Deadliest Catch" has been running in High Def on the Discovery Channel all day.
Cat-fighting aside, it's been a good weekend.
Container Gardening
Summer is far and away my favorite season for many reasons including gardening. Unfortunately, I haven't been settled anywhere long enough to plant things in the ground, so I have been making do with container gardening. Last year I planted four pots of flowers and two tomato plants.
Today I expanded upon last year and planted three varieties of tomatoes, one pot of basil, and assorted pots of snapdragons, dahlias, sweet william, three types of daisies, purple verbena, some tumbling bells in blue and peach, and that odd looking tall red bushy flower in the foreground that Aaron picked out.
The good news is that I can haul all of these from Aaron's to the new house at the end of June. I'll probably have to do some transplanting at the time as well, but I couldn't let the season get any later without getting my hands dirty, and getting some color and life growing outdoors.
5.20.2008
Visit to Maine, February 2008
During February's school vacation, and before I was offered the job at Gilbane or found out I was pregnant, I went to visit Amity up in the mountains in Maine where she lives. It was only THREE months ago, but seems like forever.
Many thanks to Amity, as always, and also to Joe for their hospitality, and for always encouraging me to keep shooting.
I finally got around to doing something with the pictures I took while I was there. I shot seven rolls of color film, but the lab messed up and scanned the negatives in black and white. So went with it. I'll scan them in color at some point.
The first series is the attic room at Amity's apartment. I love that space for some reason, and was happy to go back and shoot it after having first seen it in November. I'm hoping to visit again in summer for a view of another season in Oxford County.
Many thanks to Amity, as always, and also to Joe for their hospitality, and for always encouraging me to keep shooting.
I finally got around to doing something with the pictures I took while I was there. I shot seven rolls of color film, but the lab messed up and scanned the negatives in black and white. So went with it. I'll scan them in color at some point.
The first series is the attic room at Amity's apartment. I love that space for some reason, and was happy to go back and shoot it after having first seen it in November. I'm hoping to visit again in summer for a view of another season in Oxford County.
Outdoors in Oxford County
Despite the extremely cold temperatures, we did venture out a bit here and there. Okay, we only spent a few minutes at the ice skating rink, and I'm pretty sure I shot the "Dutch Treat" photo from the car. It was cold outside! Amity definitely wasn't kidding about the winter blues up there in the mountains. It was like being stuck in a luge track everywhere you went. Feet and feet of snow were piled up everywhere.
Dutch Treat Ice Cream
Clearly the glaciers need to retreat before Dutch Treat is able to reopen. Or before anyone would even remotely have a craving for ice cream.
Amity at Ice Skating Rink
The local municipality provides skates and keeps the rink flawless. All you have to do is lace up some skates and go.
Joe's House
While he headed out for an overnight ski trip with the guys, Amity's boyfriend Joe gave us the run of his house at Rainbow Ridge. We kept fires going in the stove and as always, took lots of photos. Here are some shots at and around Joe's.
All Seasons Work and Sport Gear
Amity and I stopped to get some clothes, which in Maine in winter means heavy, sturdy, warm gear. Carhartts and such. Enter All Seasons Work and Sport Gear.
Labonville and Reagan
One assumes that the owner met Dutch at some point, judging from the autographed photo next to the door.
At Amity's Apartment
When I visited in November, Amity and I decorated her then-new apartment. Like me, Amity doesn't spent much time there these days, in favor of staying at the boy's house. Not only does she gently prod me to keep working, she gives me free reign and free access. God love her.
Old Downeast Maine Map
Hard to see, but smack in the middle is Machias on the old map in Am's living room.
Quilt Curtain and Bull Moose
Old houses have drafty windows, and a hand-made quilt is good for keeping out both light and drafts. When pulled back, it reveals lots of snow, and a large statue of a moose outside the window in downtown Dixfield.
Amity on Laptop in Bedroom
The wifi only works in that corner of the apartment, and only for her laptop.
Amity's Dining Room
The spry little fern in the pot on the table didn't make it. I can never keep those things alive.
Amity's Desk
With the lamp we rescued from the barn and spray painted white back in November. The spray paint can and the old windowshades we used as dropcloths were still on the floor in the attic when I went upstairs to shoot.
Dirigo High School
Even though it was February break, Amity and I stopped by the high school where she teaches and I snapped some photos. It was so quiet, and I was able to take some time and really observe the rooms and corridors. I loved documenting the evidence of the students' lives there, how they make the space their own.
The Scarlet Letter
I love this kid's pictorial interpretation of Hester Prynne in an evening gown, being ostracized by a pirate. "Rawr!"
Rock Star Party 2008
Arik held his usual birthday party bash this past weekend (he celebrates in May even though his birthday is in January). Aaron and I were thinking of going as Wolfgang and Stanzi Mozart (rent Amadeus again, people), but with everything going on our inner rock stars are currently in rehab.
Anyway, it's always a barn burner, the annual birthday bash, and the costumes are lots of fun. Here's my brother Mike and his girlfriend Trish dressed I believe as Sonny and Cher. Or some other version of 70's fabulousity. I don't know where they find their wigs.
Speaking of wigs, I love the 'fro monster over Mike's shoulder. It looks menacing!
5.19.2008
No-Hitter!
Aaron and I have been watching a lot of Red Sox baseball this season. Tonight seemed like a night like any other, until I got up to get some water in the 8th inning and realized that Jon Lester was still pitching. I started to ask, but Aaron caught me. When a no-hitter is on the line, it's like Voldemort . . . one dare not speak its name.
Sure enough, for the second time in two years, a Red Sox pitcher threw a no-hitter. Dad and I are heading to see the Red Sox play Kansas City on Wednesday night, and are now even more psyched. Go Sox!
Sure enough, for the second time in two years, a Red Sox pitcher threw a no-hitter. Dad and I are heading to see the Red Sox play Kansas City on Wednesday night, and are now even more psyched. Go Sox!
5.18.2008
Changed My Mind, Last Minute
Chalk up another point for both my mother and for David's Bridal today.
I went in at 3pm for a scheduled fitting for my wedding dress. I put it on, and finally had to admit what I have known all along. I hated the dress.
So the good people at David's accommodated my mother, an even better person, as she ran around and found other dresses for me to try on. An hour later I ended up getting something quite different, and I actually really like it. Different shoes, different veil, and now I'm really looking forward to getting into the damned thing and walking down the aisle.
Of course I completely wore myself out in the process, and have been down with a headache all evening. I need to become a bit more realistic about how many hours are in a weekend. I got the thank you cards done from the shower, and the wedding dress is set for real, but the laundry and the wedding favors were not attended to this weekend.
Aaron's off to LA Tuesday and returning Wednesday, so I'll stay home Tuesday night and do the laundry. I might be able to wrangle our good friends again to help with the favors if I can't get them done myself next weekend. Thank God next weekend is Memorial Day, with three days off from work. With the wedding in just 20 days, and moving about 40 days from now, we need all the time we can get.
I went in at 3pm for a scheduled fitting for my wedding dress. I put it on, and finally had to admit what I have known all along. I hated the dress.
So the good people at David's accommodated my mother, an even better person, as she ran around and found other dresses for me to try on. An hour later I ended up getting something quite different, and I actually really like it. Different shoes, different veil, and now I'm really looking forward to getting into the damned thing and walking down the aisle.
Of course I completely wore myself out in the process, and have been down with a headache all evening. I need to become a bit more realistic about how many hours are in a weekend. I got the thank you cards done from the shower, and the wedding dress is set for real, but the laundry and the wedding favors were not attended to this weekend.
Aaron's off to LA Tuesday and returning Wednesday, so I'll stay home Tuesday night and do the laundry. I might be able to wrangle our good friends again to help with the favors if I can't get them done myself next weekend. Thank God next weekend is Memorial Day, with three days off from work. With the wedding in just 20 days, and moving about 40 days from now, we need all the time we can get.
5.17.2008
Home Inspection at the New Pad
Aaron and I had the inspection on the new house on Wednesday afternoon. Here he is waving to me from the kitchen while I was outside shooting pictures of the backyard.
I shot 160 pictures, documenting damn near everything in it.
I originally posted pictures of the yard, bathrooms, and kitchen, but the current owners found them and have asked that I not post any pictures of the house while they still own it. Fair enough. I feel like I was extremely careful to respect their privacy by not mentioning the address, their names, or showing any of their personal belongings. But privacy is by no means an absolute concept, and different people have different thresholds.
Once we own the house (and only if we do ultimately own the house), will I restore the original posts.
I shot 160 pictures, documenting damn near everything in it.
I originally posted pictures of the yard, bathrooms, and kitchen, but the current owners found them and have asked that I not post any pictures of the house while they still own it. Fair enough. I feel like I was extremely careful to respect their privacy by not mentioning the address, their names, or showing any of their personal belongings. But privacy is by no means an absolute concept, and different people have different thresholds.
Once we own the house (and only if we do ultimately own the house), will I restore the original posts.
Perceptor
I didn't take many pix at BotCon, since I spent most of the weekend shopping and hanging out with my mother-in-law, but I did get over there for a bit with my camera. Here's a fan dressed as Perceptor, the Transformer that turns from Autobot to Microscope. It was my favorite Transformer as a kid, largely because it allowed me to look more closely at the bugs I would catch. In trying to impress Aaron the night we met, I revealed this fact to him. Turns out Perceptor was his favorite too. One of my Valentine's Day gifts was the Japanese limited edition of Perceptor, which is now hanging out in my office at home.
Death to Microsoft
I have totally had it with this computer, with Windows, and with Microsoft as a whole. I'm sick of having to perform surgery on this stupid laptop in order to unsuccessfuly attempt to make Windows Explorer stop crashing when I want to review a measly 452 MB worth of photo files in one folder.
Adding aggravation to insult to injury was the fruitless hours I've spent this week trying to download updates that are supposed to be automatic. XP's Service Pack 3 crashed my computer in the process of its first download, and watching this machine feebly reclaim itself from Service Pace 2 was nothing short of harrowing. It worked today, and for good measure I dumped even more program cargo from the C: Drive hoping the damned ship wouldn't sink.
I've said it before, but then I only wanted a divorce. Now, I want a fatwa (spelling?), Iran vs. Rushdie style. I don't just want to stop using it, I want it go away.
Adding aggravation to insult to injury was the fruitless hours I've spent this week trying to download updates that are supposed to be automatic. XP's Service Pack 3 crashed my computer in the process of its first download, and watching this machine feebly reclaim itself from Service Pace 2 was nothing short of harrowing. It worked today, and for good measure I dumped even more program cargo from the C: Drive hoping the damned ship wouldn't sink.
I've said it before, but then I only wanted a divorce. Now, I want a fatwa (spelling?), Iran vs. Rushdie style. I don't just want to stop using it, I want it go away.
5.11.2008
Power of 10
I found this on the blog "Minneapolis to Tanzania" I have linked to the right here on ICON. She used increments of 5, but you can do what you like. If you do your own, send me the link to your blog.
10 years ago (May 1998) I was finishing my Junior year in college at the University of Maine at Machias.
10 months ago (July 2007) I was enjoying a college-like summer at the beach in Narragansett, partying, taking lots of photos, gardening. Trying to get settled to having moved back home
10 weeks ago (March 2008) I found out I was pregnant. Aaron and I moved up the wedding date from October to June
10 days ago (May 2, 2008) We went to see our new house for the second time before making an offer on it the next day
10 hours ago (9 am) I was just waking up. Mama needs her rest
10 minutes ago (8:52 pm) I was agonizing over the Minnesota Twins pasting up Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox with FIVE runs in the bottom of the second
In 10 minutes I'll still be blogging
In 10 hours I'll be waking up to head to work for the Monday morning staff meeting
In 10 days I'll have another ultrasound and might be going to a Red Sox game
In 10 weeks I'll have turned 30, gotten married, and will be settling into our new house
In 10 months I will have a 4 month old baby
In 10 years I'll be approaching my 40th birthday, my 10th wedding anniversary, and likely chasing not only a 9 year old but also his/her little brothers/sisters
10 years ago (May 1998) I was finishing my Junior year in college at the University of Maine at Machias.
10 months ago (July 2007) I was enjoying a college-like summer at the beach in Narragansett, partying, taking lots of photos, gardening. Trying to get settled to having moved back home
10 weeks ago (March 2008) I found out I was pregnant. Aaron and I moved up the wedding date from October to June
10 days ago (May 2, 2008) We went to see our new house for the second time before making an offer on it the next day
10 hours ago (9 am) I was just waking up. Mama needs her rest
10 minutes ago (8:52 pm) I was agonizing over the Minnesota Twins pasting up Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox with FIVE runs in the bottom of the second
In 10 minutes I'll still be blogging
In 10 hours I'll be waking up to head to work for the Monday morning staff meeting
In 10 days I'll have another ultrasound and might be going to a Red Sox game
In 10 weeks I'll have turned 30, gotten married, and will be settling into our new house
In 10 months I will have a 4 month old baby
In 10 years I'll be approaching my 40th birthday, my 10th wedding anniversary, and likely chasing not only a 9 year old but also his/her little brothers/sisters
700th Post!
It's Mother's Day, my last one before I officially become a mother. Does it count that I'm 4 months pregnant? Aaron and I decided to let the occasions pass this year with just a "Happy Mother's Day" and "Happy Father's Day". We have enough going on, and we decided to save it until we've actually had a few months to prove our mettle.
We spent the day with my family in Narragansett. The weather was lovely, sunny, clear blue skies. We met with the guys at the bowling alley about the menu for the wedding rehearsal dinner. Did some grocery shopping. Made wild mushroom risotto. Got an offer on Aaron's townhouse that was too low, but it's a start.
And this simple little post, recalling the day, is the 700th I've made on ICON since January 2005.
We spent the day with my family in Narragansett. The weather was lovely, sunny, clear blue skies. We met with the guys at the bowling alley about the menu for the wedding rehearsal dinner. Did some grocery shopping. Made wild mushroom risotto. Got an offer on Aaron's townhouse that was too low, but it's a start.
And this simple little post, recalling the day, is the 700th I've made on ICON since January 2005.
5.10.2008
Monkey Jammies
My cousin Gracie in the monkey pajamas I gave her for Christmas. The kid can wear pink.
A Readable Font Size
I've had a conundrum here on "ICON" since I started the blog in January 2005. I love blogging because it's a forum for both words and pictures. The problem is that I like my photos against black backgrounds; while everyone knows our eyes are much more accustomed to reading black text against white backgrounds. I've gone back and forth about what to do, all the while appreciating that I was sacrificing readability (and thereby readers) by sticking with white text on a black background.
So tonight, I increased the font size from 100% to 140% in my posts. Hope this helps!
So tonight, I increased the font size from 100% to 140% in my posts. Hope this helps!
5.09.2008
Lebowski Bowling Party
The night we met, Aaron and I discovered that we both share an "abiding" love for the Coen Brothers' film "The Big Lebowski". So when it came time to decide on a rehearsal dinner/event for the night before the wedding, a bowling party made the most sense. Here is the image I clipped from the movie poster for the front of the invitations to the bowling party.
5.06.2008
Cherry-Blossom Wedding Invitations
Here are the invitations we chose for the wedding from Paper-Source. I need to photograph the actual printed pieces, since they really came out well. Unfortunately I think we're almost out of them :S
Penguin in Wet Suit
It's been all over the web, but I think I first saw Pierre on MSN. When he started to go bald last year, Pierre's handlers had him fitted with a wet suit so he could continue to swim. Because he was missing the feathers he needs to keep him warm, Pierre was not participating with the other penguins and began to lose his place in the community. So here he is in his custom-fitted wet suit. Pierre immediately started swimming again, and before long his feathers grew back.
I'm not usually one for cute animal stories, but something about Pierre's pose in this picture is to me downright fashion forward. Look how happy he looks in his little vest! Pierre here represents everything fashion should be: it makes us feel good about ourselves, and it might even help us to grow back some feathers when we're feeling a bit faded.
Thank God my husband-to-be understands this. Not only is he a fan of expensive custom-made dress shirts, but he also realized how big a hit my self-esteem was taking when I could no longer find anything in my closet that even fitted me, much less flattered my ever more-pregnant proportions. He's been totally supportive of my shopping excursions for maternity clothes, and for that I'm grateful. I no longer want to cry when I open the closet, and that's a much better way to start the day.
My Maid of Honor
Amity's pretty Sophia dress in Tulip arrived in Maine from j.Crew. Here she is modeling it. She's going to look lovely in it at my wedding, which is 32 days away!!
5.05.2008
Busted at Work
But not in a bad way, thank God.
Turns out that whenever someone writes anything about my company, hereinafter to be referred to as "G", it alerts someone on the 4th floor. They monitor these things. Of course they do, duh, but it came as a surprise when my boss told me about it today.
It did cross my mind that this might come back to me. Fortunately I've learned NEVER to write ANYTHING on a blog that you wouldn't say to someone's face, so I didn't get in trouble. In fact, I only have had nice things to say about "G", so it's all good.
Turns out that whenever someone writes anything about my company, hereinafter to be referred to as "G", it alerts someone on the 4th floor. They monitor these things. Of course they do, duh, but it came as a surprise when my boss told me about it today.
It did cross my mind that this might come back to me. Fortunately I've learned NEVER to write ANYTHING on a blog that you wouldn't say to someone's face, so I didn't get in trouble. In fact, I only have had nice things to say about "G", so it's all good.
Cat Tattoo
This image is the number one hit on Google when you search for "cat tattoo". It always linked back to my blog, until someone with a blog devoted to tattoos posted it. Now it refers to his blog and not mine. :( I need to check with Amity about this, but I think there's some etiquette about not citing sources that I've probably violated a million times unwittingly. Perhaps my chickens are coming home to roost, but I like seeing my tattoo properly credited. So here I've posted it again.
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