Just Because

I really, really want this coverlet and I really, really have no justification for buying it.  Damn my self control!

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Okay, Fine, I'm THAT Girl

I'm not there yet but when the time comes, my wedding is pretty much planned.  I am very clear on what I want to look like on my wedding day.  (I'm also clear on the invitations, venue, menu, center pieces, bridesmaid dresses, rehearsal dinner, and favors, in case you were wondering.)  I'm driven not by how I want the day to look, but how I want the day to feel.  Every detail has to contribute to making the day feel the way I, um, we, want, and since I'm neither engaged nor planning to be engaged soon (calm down Joe), I won't get into for now the wedding details swirling around in my head, which I may or may not envision and go over in my head when I can't sleep at night.  Mmhmm.  You know what?  I'm not even going to apologize for it.  Okay, it's a little crazy.  But, you guys, you should see the table setting in my head.  It's totally awesome. 

The dress though, has me a little nervous, because even though I can see it in my head, I have yet to ever see it in person, despite hours of watching Say Yes To The Dress, looking at celeb wedding pictures, and occasional perusing online of the collections of my favorite designers.  I want something elegant and timeless.  The closest I've seen to being It was Ivanka Trump's Grace Kelly-inspired custom-designed Vera Wang:


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I assume that when Vera reads this, she'll totally call me, but in the meantime, I'm loving this Jim Hjelm (except I would take the flower off the sash):

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The unique pleated neckline on this one caught my eye but I think that's the kind of thing you'd regret 50 years from now.  I want something to stand the test of time:



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I'm also not completely sold yet on the Save the Date I want to use, but I guess some things can wait until I have a ring on my finger.  Oh, I'm also contemplating making my own wedding cake.  I have my reasons.  Things we can discuss later. 

Labor Day

The perfect way to spend a beautiful Labor Day is on a boat on the Hudson River with two adorable toddlers, a very, very pregnant cousin, another very adored cousin, a lovable aunt, a very good boat-driving cousin-in-law, and Joe.  Too, too perfect.

Also, I learned that a moving fishing boat makes for very blurry pictures.

I also learned that every pregnant woman one week past her due date should spend a day on a boat jumping waves from other passing, speeding boats because Joshua David was born the very next day.  I do love long weekends.  And cousins.  And babies.  And boats.  And combinations thereof. 

Not His Finest Moment

Joe:  Is Renoir's first name Late?

me:  Renoir?  The artist?

Joe:  Yeah.

me:  No.  It's Pierre-Auguste.  Where did you get Late from?

Joe:  Why are all these signs up all over Philly for Late Renoir?

me:  Uh, because they have an exhibit at the art museum featuring art from his later years.  Seriously?  You thought his name was Late?

Joe:  Well, obviously, I didn't think it was Late.  He's European.  I figured it was pronounced "Latte."

Curious

I attended a fancy-schmancy breakfast at the Union League in Philly yesterday honoring attorneys doing public interest work.  I caught the 7:44 am train and seated myself across the aisle from an older, conservative-seeming gentleman.  He was wearing a smart gray suit, sweater vest, tie, and black dress shoes.  Since he had his legs crossed in my direction, I could see he was also appropriately wearing black dress socks.  He was reading the sports section of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  I observed this quietly and settled into my seat, sipped my cappuccino, and got ready to crack open a text book, because I carry them with me everywhere and can't wait to breathe in the familiar and comforting scent of orange highlighter every chance I get.  But soon I found myself distracted by a glimpse of bright blue and turquoise.  Dude was totally wearing a braided rope anklet.  Over his sock. 

Why?  What is the significance?  I have so many questions.  Does he wear it every day?  Does he have different ones in different colors?  Does he tie and untie it every time he puts on his sock or does he slip his sock underneath?  Is he forced to dress conservatively for work and this anklet under his pant leg is his only chance to show some personality but he wears it over his sock so it's possible to catch a glimpse as a subtle screw you to corporate America?  Did his granddaughter make it for him and he feels compelled to wear it?  Did he pick it up on a Jamaican vacation and it reminds him of the beach?  I did not get any reading done at all, quite understandably. 

Though the morning was not a total waste because at the breakfast, as the waiter, Allen, was leaning over to pour my cup of coffee, he whispered, "here you go, gorgeous."  Now, this was a sponsored, free breakfast, so it's not like he was working for tips is all I'm saying.  Obviously sincere.  So, yeah, I got that going for me.  Nice to know a girl's got options. 

But seriouly, what's with the anklet?  Allen totally didn't know either. 

Free

So I planned a surprise party, worked a part-time job, finished two huge projects due within 5 days of each other, started a 6 class course load, along with tending to a ridiculous amount of extracurricular activities and appointments and details.  The only things I haven't done in the last three weeks are sleep or eat.  I realized yesterday around 5:00 pm that all I'd eaten all day was a handful of walnuts.  And three cups of coffee.  I've been a little cranky.  (Sorry, Joey.)  But the last major thing was finished yesterday.  I ate a pizza and went to bed at 7:00 pm.  It was wonderful.

I don't really have any awful vices, but when I get stressed, I tend to nibble on the inside of my bottom lip.  After three weeks of insanity, the inside of my lip is swollen and sore and tattered.  Yummy. 

BUT - it's over.  The worst part anyway.  Now I can get back to normal stress and no more the world is about to come crashing down on my shoulders stress.  Yay!

Okay, that's enough of that. Normal, regular (hopefully) posting will be back in full swing tomorrow.  Right now, I'm going to go eat dinner and watch TV and enjoy the feeling of NOTHING HAS TO BE DONE TONIGHT.  Yeah, I want to let that sink in for a bit.

Oy

My life right now is a charming combination of crazy, busy, stressful, overwhelming, wonderful, and scary.  I have a lot of things to tell and share and it's all whirling around inside along with deadlines and to do lists and goals and must do's and should do's.  The last year of law school is a bitch, y'all. 

So what I'm basically saying is I'll be back later.  With lots of posts and stories and details.  The last looming deadline right now is September 20th and I'm looking forward to breathing on September 21st.

Plus there's the added stress of Oprah's last season premiere on Monday.  Say it ain't so, Op.  Skipping class and watching from home in an Oprah t-shirt while clutching an O Magazine isn't overkill, is it?