This is a prime example of why you should be cautious with internet dating. Or any kind of blind dating for that matter.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=386442
The old "axe murderer" cliché exists for a reason. Please be safe.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Bridezilla
Bridezilla (bryd.ZIL.uh) n. A bride-to-be who, while planning her wedding, becomes exceptionally selfish, greedy, and obnoxious. Also: bride-zilla.
Why do people continue to insist I will become this? I doubt it. I'm already selfish and obnoxious. What gives?
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Jon Dunn Look-Alike?
Rachael thinks Ross Millard (of the band Futureheads--far left) and Jon were separated at birth. I'm not sure I see the strong resemblance. But I certainly see the humor!
Beating The Heat
Coconut, above, lazing in the laundry pile. Below, I think Karma believes that if he hides from it, the heat can't find him. (Wrong!!)
How The Sprinkler Got Broken
The girls (and Otis) got a little over zealous with the water. As a result, I am heading to Home Depot to replace the broken sprinkler head. But they had fun & cooled off. A cause well worth a dog mom's agony, no?
Optometrist
Tuesday I went and had my eyes checked for the first time in about 23 years. After 29 years of 20/20 vision I am now slightly nearsighted. My new glasses have been ordered & are on the way. In addition to a slight correction, my lenses will also have some computer filtration qualities and will block out some of the ‘garbage light’ from the fluorescent lighting in my office and elsewhere. Can’t wait to get them as I have been suffering eyestrain and headaches for about a month now. As my uncle would say “getting old isn’t for [wimps]”. Only he wouldn't use as G-rated a word as 'wimp'.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Destiny Norton
It’s late--after midnight--and by the time this is posted the news I have will no longer be new. It will, however, be as unfortunate and sobering at whatever hour this is read. I am deeply saddened to have just learned that the body of five year-old Destiny Norton has been found in the basement of a neighbor’s home. A suspect has been identified and apprehended, but that is all I know at this time.
We were having a great evening visiting with neighbors, gathered with dogs and children underfoot, celebrating our “Lymanite” status and “Pioneer Day” as the biggest fireworks show in the state happens a block and a half from our street at Liberty Park. Ironically, this park is also a mere few blocks from where Destiny's family lives, and where she ultimately came to rest. This is a crime against nature and humanity, and it hits close to home for us literally and figuratively. And while I cannot claim to know the grief this family will face in the days to come, I know the discomfort and unease I feel sending my partner and best friend out into the night to uncover details pertaining to this unfortunate circumstance. Just imagining a personal loss of this nature chills me to the core. It is utterly incomprehensible. I also know that when and if I can finally retire to my bed this night I will hug my four legged fur babies tightly and insist they remain close by so I can watch over them, and they me.
Rest in peace dear child, as I pray your family may find solace in the love and support of fellow family members and friends in your absence, this dark hour.
We were having a great evening visiting with neighbors, gathered with dogs and children underfoot, celebrating our “Lymanite” status and “Pioneer Day” as the biggest fireworks show in the state happens a block and a half from our street at Liberty Park. Ironically, this park is also a mere few blocks from where Destiny's family lives, and where she ultimately came to rest. This is a crime against nature and humanity, and it hits close to home for us literally and figuratively. And while I cannot claim to know the grief this family will face in the days to come, I know the discomfort and unease I feel sending my partner and best friend out into the night to uncover details pertaining to this unfortunate circumstance. Just imagining a personal loss of this nature chills me to the core. It is utterly incomprehensible. I also know that when and if I can finally retire to my bed this night I will hug my four legged fur babies tightly and insist they remain close by so I can watch over them, and they me.
Rest in peace dear child, as I pray your family may find solace in the love and support of fellow family members and friends in your absence, this dark hour.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
O-T-I-S
Mom & Dad are heading down to TX so I am on pet & home patrol. I told mom she should be flattered that I’m willing to water her lawn considering I don’t even water my own. Yep, after the vacant [expletive] hole duplex across the street we definitely have the second trashiest looking yard. I call it “progressive water conservation”. Others call it “laziness”. Call it what you want, but remember that we do, after all, live in the desert. So while mom & dad are gone I’m in charge of Otis. Otis, Cyrano, and Krash are mom & dad’s residual children. Cyrano and Krash were both mine--Cyrano a senior canine (he turned 15 in March) and Krash a mature 8 for a feline. I don’t know yet if it has occurred to mom & dad but all three of those animals were brought into their house by yours truly. What can I say, I am just a talented animal home finder (otherwise known as ‘family-completer’). I also have a pretty astute sucker radar and it goes off loudly when it comes to my folks and animals. (Where the hell do you think I inherited it from?)
Otis was a rescue from Best Friends on Tour. He had been adopted through the program two years earlier but had since been surrendered by the family and returned back into the adoption pool. I don’t know how you drop your faithful companion and family member off at the shelter and say goodbye forever, but people do it (and worse) every day. I got mom to come down to the Super Adoption last fall while I was volunteering. I’d had my eye on Otis (formerly “Sumo”) since the weekend prior when he was at the Avenues Street Festival with Kip & a couple of other big dogs. I saw him there and knew right away he was special. Mom & and I walked around the adoption for quite a long time. She really liked a 3-legged shepherd that was there, but it was only a year old, in full hyper puppyhood mode despite the missing limb, and thus not a perfect fit for the more relaxed Aalen household.
Otis was a shoe-in. He was so sweet and mellow. It is an unfortunate fact that large dogs and black animals (canine & feline) and adult animals have less chance of being adopted than the small, young, or animals of color. Triple whammy if you’re a large, black senior animal. (Otis is about 8 years old in human years). At the time he weighed about 125 pounds—now he weighs considerably more, though I know they try and keep him on a decent diet. Within a few days of getting him home, mom called to report that he was having trouble breathing and had become violently ill (on their new pergo no less). Turned out he had a nasty case of kennel cough, and mom got him to the vet right away. In addition to the diagnosis he had all of these bizarre symptoms pop up which the vet equated to Cushing’s Disease, a thyroid tumor issue. Otis probably does have some thyroid issues, but once he got over the kennel cough he has not had any of the negative symptoms recur. He has an insatiable appetite, and we have not yet encountered a food he does not like. I’m not kidding. He shares a banana every morning with mom for breakfast, and you should see him snap a piece of sandwich bread out of your hand. Watch the fingers!! He is quite the character, too. He greets mom and dad at the door each day as they come in from work. He is a large, sweet, friendly, outgoing, loving dog. I was recently speaking with mom and dad about it, and although Otis has been with them for less than a year, they don’t really recall or fathom life as it was before he came along.
Otis was a rescue from Best Friends on Tour. He had been adopted through the program two years earlier but had since been surrendered by the family and returned back into the adoption pool. I don’t know how you drop your faithful companion and family member off at the shelter and say goodbye forever, but people do it (and worse) every day. I got mom to come down to the Super Adoption last fall while I was volunteering. I’d had my eye on Otis (formerly “Sumo”) since the weekend prior when he was at the Avenues Street Festival with Kip & a couple of other big dogs. I saw him there and knew right away he was special. Mom & and I walked around the adoption for quite a long time. She really liked a 3-legged shepherd that was there, but it was only a year old, in full hyper puppyhood mode despite the missing limb, and thus not a perfect fit for the more relaxed Aalen household.
Otis was a shoe-in. He was so sweet and mellow. It is an unfortunate fact that large dogs and black animals (canine & feline) and adult animals have less chance of being adopted than the small, young, or animals of color. Triple whammy if you’re a large, black senior animal. (Otis is about 8 years old in human years). At the time he weighed about 125 pounds—now he weighs considerably more, though I know they try and keep him on a decent diet. Within a few days of getting him home, mom called to report that he was having trouble breathing and had become violently ill (on their new pergo no less). Turned out he had a nasty case of kennel cough, and mom got him to the vet right away. In addition to the diagnosis he had all of these bizarre symptoms pop up which the vet equated to Cushing’s Disease, a thyroid tumor issue. Otis probably does have some thyroid issues, but once he got over the kennel cough he has not had any of the negative symptoms recur. He has an insatiable appetite, and we have not yet encountered a food he does not like. I’m not kidding. He shares a banana every morning with mom for breakfast, and you should see him snap a piece of sandwich bread out of your hand. Watch the fingers!! He is quite the character, too. He greets mom and dad at the door each day as they come in from work. He is a large, sweet, friendly, outgoing, loving dog. I was recently speaking with mom and dad about it, and although Otis has been with them for less than a year, they don’t really recall or fathom life as it was before he came along.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Lyman Court Continued
Wow, so I guess people are anxious to hear what happened. And while it is eventful and exciting, is is only run of the mill for Lyman drama, as I have five years of living here and this is only average. (Oh the stories I could tell...) For those who have not had the honor of ever visitng Lyman, here is a brief descrption of the layout. There are only eight houses on our street; four on either side (east & west--we are the very last house on the east side) and we all have very small lots and all the homes are all between 80-100 years old. Two of the homes are converted into duplexes, and there are two homes at the entrance to the street in addition to the eight but they are technically on 1300 South (not on Lyman). So we are a very small community indeed. Over the years I have seen police here several times (called them a couple times myself) and while I really don't want to lump 'renters' into some generalized group of unsavories, I must say, their track record on Lyman has not done much to dispell that unfortunate generalization. In all the many times I've seen people get arrested or had authorities come out, it has never been a complaint against one of the fellow resident homeowners. Hmmmm....
After the Hard Rock on Sunday we proceeded across town and picked up the girls from their overnight at the kennel, and we weren't home very long when we found out that we missed some major drama. Yep, once again we missed all of the action. (This has been the pattern over the last few years--every time I go out of town there's some big police raid or gang fight or party bust on the street). I used to see a lot more of the drama, but over time the general trend has become that I somehow seem to witness the drama less and less first hand.
Sor starters, silly as it sounds, our small cul-de-sac has its own MySpace.com profile, and as Jon was checking his email upon our return home, he read the following bulletin:
Our next door neighbors Ben & Nicole (who are moving soon—we are sad) were having a BBQ for Ben's 30th birthday party and apparently someone from the apartment house at the end of the street stumbled over to the party uninvited and started badmouthing another neighbor of ours who happens to be a police officer. (We are thrilled that Officer Mortensen parks his car on the street--things have been a LOT quieter since the squad car’s appearance a few months ago). But apparently JD, our officer neighbor, had to repeatedly ask for quiet during a late rowdy party at the apartment house the night prior and this guy (I don't think he is an actual resident but a mere friend of a tenant of the apartment) was not happy about it. He mistakenly starting spouting off about it to another of our neighbors who is also friends with the officer, and after some colorful words were exchanged Ben evidently escorted the guy outside, only the guy didn't leave the street. He was high on something, or drunk, or both, and was just hanging around. JD’s wife returned home later after leaving Ben and Nicole’s only to find the guy lurking around our street and she was pretty creeped out so she called JD (who was out working on patrol) and almost instantly an entire cavalry of officers showed up and started arresting people—namely this drunk guy and his friends. All of them reportedly had warrants for something or other, and the one guy out of the half dozen or so who didn’t have a warrant was field tested and determined by the officers to be intoxicated but they had no reason to arrest him. Except right after they dismissed him he tried to drive away right in front of them. (Heloooo!!) So they threw him into the back of the squad car with the rest of gang too.
Never a dull moment I tell you!
Except for when I’m home.
After the Hard Rock on Sunday we proceeded across town and picked up the girls from their overnight at the kennel, and we weren't home very long when we found out that we missed some major drama. Yep, once again we missed all of the action. (This has been the pattern over the last few years--every time I go out of town there's some big police raid or gang fight or party bust on the street). I used to see a lot more of the drama, but over time the general trend has become that I somehow seem to witness the drama less and less first hand.
Sor starters, silly as it sounds, our small cul-de-sac has its own MySpace.com profile, and as Jon was checking his email upon our return home, he read the following bulletin:
Jul 16, 2006 12:39 PMNeedless to say (hey we have no shame, we're busybodies just like everyone else) we were dying to hear what happened. So we walked over and found out. Please remember this count is second hand, as I'm retelling it from what was told to me. But the gist of story we got was this:
Subject:
Idiots!
Body:Lyman Court is a
peaceful street! We watchout for eachother and care very much about eachother
and if you happen to be a visitor or a renter on the street you should respect
that! Unfortunately there are those who would think it is okay to bad mouth the
occupants who own and live on this street, this happened last night when a
birthday party was in full swing disrupting a normall fun, harmless event. If
your stupid enough to mess with the long term residents on the street you will
definately feel the "long arm of the law"!!!
Our next door neighbors Ben & Nicole (who are moving soon—we are sad) were having a BBQ for Ben's 30th birthday party and apparently someone from the apartment house at the end of the street stumbled over to the party uninvited and started badmouthing another neighbor of ours who happens to be a police officer. (We are thrilled that Officer Mortensen parks his car on the street--things have been a LOT quieter since the squad car’s appearance a few months ago). But apparently JD, our officer neighbor, had to repeatedly ask for quiet during a late rowdy party at the apartment house the night prior and this guy (I don't think he is an actual resident but a mere friend of a tenant of the apartment) was not happy about it. He mistakenly starting spouting off about it to another of our neighbors who is also friends with the officer, and after some colorful words were exchanged Ben evidently escorted the guy outside, only the guy didn't leave the street. He was high on something, or drunk, or both, and was just hanging around. JD’s wife returned home later after leaving Ben and Nicole’s only to find the guy lurking around our street and she was pretty creeped out so she called JD (who was out working on patrol) and almost instantly an entire cavalry of officers showed up and started arresting people—namely this drunk guy and his friends. All of them reportedly had warrants for something or other, and the one guy out of the half dozen or so who didn’t have a warrant was field tested and determined by the officers to be intoxicated but they had no reason to arrest him. Except right after they dismissed him he tried to drive away right in front of them. (Heloooo!!) So they threw him into the back of the squad car with the rest of gang too.
Never a dull moment I tell you!
Except for when I’m home.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Lyman Court Drama
When we returned home Sunday evening, we found out we had missed out on some major drama on our street. Police were called and people were arrested--all sorts of action, and we missed it! (We miss all the good stuff). Details to follow in a later post.
The Weekend
This weekend was a lot of fun. It wasn’t crazy or fast paced or anything like that, yet I still feel like I could have used an extra day to recuperate. We took off for higher ground to beat the heat, and it ended up being 99 degrees in Midway anyway. Jon & friends golfed at Wasatch Golf Course and I got some good photos of the Heber Valley. I also got some shots of Jon driving & putting, and perhaps the best--some great pics featuring Jon's "Grandpa Randall" and another friend Rob which I'll have to post tomorrow since we can't find the usb cord for the camera. I am sunburned, covered with bug bites, and just generally wiped out, but it was still a fun weekend "away".
Saturday night we ate at a the Mountain House Grill in Midway. The restaurant was very busy (and hot inside!) and the service was slow, but the food was surprisingly good. We ordered the spinach dip appetizer, and full entrees (Jon had Ariel's Chicken, and I had the Ravioli with Shrimp). We were shocked when our server brought out the spinach dip--it was so much food we could have just eaten that. But both of our entrees were surprisingly tasty, although Jon was not thrilled with his crab cakes (they had waaaay too much dill). We also stepped outside the box (well, our usual box anyway) and both had a Long Island Iced Tea with our meals. As I mentioned, the inside of the restaurant was uncomfortably warm, so this was an effort to cool off. And of course I drank the thing but was also reminded how little I care for that particular cocktail.
The Blue Boar Inn was, for the most part, great. The restaurant was closed for a private party, so we were not able to dine there on Saturday night. (We thought they should have had the courtesy of informing me of this fact when I made the reservation, but oh well). All of the rooms are themed with the motif of various literary figures. We stayed in the ‘Robert Frost’ room, but there were also rooms named for Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett & Robert Browning, Geoffrey Chaucer among others. Our five-course Sunday brunch was included with the cost of the room, which was a bargain as far as I’m concerned. The courses included fruit, pastries, swedish pancakes, entrees (Jon had the Eggs Benedict, and I had the Canadian Crab Benedict with Fennel) and then dessert which was a poppyseed scone stuffed with berries and thick sweet cream. It was wonderful. Needless to say we were not hungry until much later that evening.
After golf (and near heat stroke) we returned to the valley. We ended up going to Trolley Square to purchase a gift for someone, and then had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe-- a tourist trap at best, but it was fairly empty, air conditioned, and food was decent. We had a nice laugh at all of The Osmonds memorabilia surrounding us. Again, in effort to cool off we ordered some tropical cocktails with our food. Jon had a hurricane and I had a frozen 'exotic margarita' which was blended with pomegranate juice. Very refreshing! At one point I winced, and told Jon "I have brain freeze...and that is a good thing".
Saturday night we ate at a the Mountain House Grill in Midway. The restaurant was very busy (and hot inside!) and the service was slow, but the food was surprisingly good. We ordered the spinach dip appetizer, and full entrees (Jon had Ariel's Chicken, and I had the Ravioli with Shrimp). We were shocked when our server brought out the spinach dip--it was so much food we could have just eaten that. But both of our entrees were surprisingly tasty, although Jon was not thrilled with his crab cakes (they had waaaay too much dill). We also stepped outside the box (well, our usual box anyway) and both had a Long Island Iced Tea with our meals. As I mentioned, the inside of the restaurant was uncomfortably warm, so this was an effort to cool off. And of course I drank the thing but was also reminded how little I care for that particular cocktail.
The Blue Boar Inn was, for the most part, great. The restaurant was closed for a private party, so we were not able to dine there on Saturday night. (We thought they should have had the courtesy of informing me of this fact when I made the reservation, but oh well). All of the rooms are themed with the motif of various literary figures. We stayed in the ‘Robert Frost’ room, but there were also rooms named for Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett & Robert Browning, Geoffrey Chaucer among others. Our five-course Sunday brunch was included with the cost of the room, which was a bargain as far as I’m concerned. The courses included fruit, pastries, swedish pancakes, entrees (Jon had the Eggs Benedict, and I had the Canadian Crab Benedict with Fennel) and then dessert which was a poppyseed scone stuffed with berries and thick sweet cream. It was wonderful. Needless to say we were not hungry until much later that evening.
After golf (and near heat stroke) we returned to the valley. We ended up going to Trolley Square to purchase a gift for someone, and then had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe-- a tourist trap at best, but it was fairly empty, air conditioned, and food was decent. We had a nice laugh at all of The Osmonds memorabilia surrounding us. Again, in effort to cool off we ordered some tropical cocktails with our food. Jon had a hurricane and I had a frozen 'exotic margarita' which was blended with pomegranate juice. Very refreshing! At one point I winced, and told Jon "I have brain freeze...and that is a good thing".
Friday, July 14, 2006
TGIF!
Today I went to a farewell lunch for Julie Castle, former executive director of No More Homeless Pets in Utah. She's friend of ours and all around great human being. I know a lot of people are sad to see her moving on, but I know I will see her here and there when she is in town, and of course at all the big fundraising events. Plus, she and Jon and I have a couple of silly "inside jokes" about the movie Dirty Filthy Love that we like to quote to (more like 'at') each other-- in person, voicemail, text messaging, you name it. The movie title suggests an X-rating, but it's not pornographic. It's humorous and dark, and actually a love story....I actually highly recommend seeing it. I won't bother to describe here the tomfoolery between us & Castle but suffice to say there will be text messages exchanged, that I can assure you.
Jon & I have a voucher for a weekend at the Sanctuary in Kanab, which we won at the 2005 Yappy Hour Silent Auction. We also bid on & won a weekend at a resort in St. George (or somewhere close, outside of Zion National Park). Now with Jon's new night schedule who knows when we'll get the opportunity to use them...
This weekend we are looking forward to beating the heat in the valley and are heading to Midway, UT just east of Park City. Jon's golf group is playing at a golf course up there on Sunday so we have made reservations at The Blue Boar Inn, which boasts a fabulous Sunday brunch. We are really looking forward to our little get-away close to home. I'm taking the digital cam so hopefully I'll have some pics to post next week. Woohoo!
Tonight will be the second airing of The Night Side Project on KSL. Last night there were a few technical glitches, but upon learning how many problems that were actually ocurring behind the scenes, I must say the team pulled off a pretty great premier. Props from me to the entire crew.
Finally, this evening I am off to visit Brandy & Jeff who will soon be wed! Tomorrow they are taking off for Vegas to finally officially tie the knot. Congratulations to them! They have been great friends, and excellent surrogate caregivers to my canine babies.
Jon & I have a voucher for a weekend at the Sanctuary in Kanab, which we won at the 2005 Yappy Hour Silent Auction. We also bid on & won a weekend at a resort in St. George (or somewhere close, outside of Zion National Park). Now with Jon's new night schedule who knows when we'll get the opportunity to use them...
This weekend we are looking forward to beating the heat in the valley and are heading to Midway, UT just east of Park City. Jon's golf group is playing at a golf course up there on Sunday so we have made reservations at The Blue Boar Inn, which boasts a fabulous Sunday brunch. We are really looking forward to our little get-away close to home. I'm taking the digital cam so hopefully I'll have some pics to post next week. Woohoo!
Tonight will be the second airing of The Night Side Project on KSL. Last night there were a few technical glitches, but upon learning how many problems that were actually ocurring behind the scenes, I must say the team pulled off a pretty great premier. Props from me to the entire crew.
Finally, this evening I am off to visit Brandy & Jeff who will soon be wed! Tomorrow they are taking off for Vegas to finally officially tie the knot. Congratulations to them! They have been great friends, and excellent surrogate caregivers to my canine babies.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The Agony
Right now I'm agonizing over what colors to choose for our wedding. It's indecision time again. And then do we have a theme? Do we need one? We definitely have our own style, but is that the same thing as theme? Who knew it could be this confusing. Does anyone care about this stuff anyway? It really isn't going to matter a year from now, is it? It will all be over and I won't know what to do with myself without a wedding to fuss over. It's kind of nice to be preoccupied with this sort of trifle thing. Then I don't have to worry about North Korea obliterating us, or how messed up the government is, or how fuel inefficient and environmentally unsound my truck really is...just color schemes for my wedding.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
First Try
I finally snuck off and tried on some wedding gowns. I was dreading it, and it was indeed (surprise!) a total pain. But it wasn’t as bad as I expected. You must understand that besides my First Communion when I was seven and the two other weddings I have been in (one was also when I was seven as a flower girl), I have never owned a formal dress in my life, much less tried on a slew of them, and certainly never anything without sleeves. (No, I never went to a formal school dance or prom...yes, I sound like a social leper…as I digress…) So bear with me as my naiveté may shine through a bit. Most of the dresses I am looking at have somewhat of a train, not necessarily a full on cathedral length train (though I am certainly not averse) but they are all at least floor length.
Getting crammed into the bustier by yourself is the first puzzle. I had to have the salesgirl help me. Then, you have to pull the dress over your head, and while it sounds like a simple task, I will tell you that it is not! There are numerous layers, and the material of the gown itself tends to be heavy on top of everything. And with no sleeves to guide me, I actually slipped one over my head only to realize I had it on backwards. With all the layers of petticoats and slips and corsets and bustiers, and pantyhose, and who knows what else besides the kitchen sink, I suppose it’s about a bazillion degrees under there when all is said and done. And I was concerned it might be cold in March! Not any more….in fact, I doubt I will need any sort of shoulder wrap or jacket. The A-line/ball gown style I am pretty well set on has so many layers I had no idea it was going to be that warm. Which makes me wonder: how do brides make it through summer weddings???! I think I would burn up and die of overheating.
And here’s another bit of interest. Although it is the year 2006 A.D. it is apparently still taboo in the current day to have your fiancé see you in your wedding gown prior to the wedding, not to mention have him go shopping with you for it. But what can I say, my bridesmaids are all out of town, as is my mother this week, so what’s a bride to do? The groom wanted to tag along and I didn’t object. It was fine with me to have Jon's company, however the salesgirl (and several other female customers) appeared a bit wary. All that wore off after a while, though and I think everybody got over it. Well, I hope they did. Second thought, I don’t care if they did or not. Ha! So there. Let’s not be archaic. Next thing you know he’ll be taking my surname instead of the other way around. Well, okay, maybe not.
Getting crammed into the bustier by yourself is the first puzzle. I had to have the salesgirl help me. Then, you have to pull the dress over your head, and while it sounds like a simple task, I will tell you that it is not! There are numerous layers, and the material of the gown itself tends to be heavy on top of everything. And with no sleeves to guide me, I actually slipped one over my head only to realize I had it on backwards. With all the layers of petticoats and slips and corsets and bustiers, and pantyhose, and who knows what else besides the kitchen sink, I suppose it’s about a bazillion degrees under there when all is said and done. And I was concerned it might be cold in March! Not any more….in fact, I doubt I will need any sort of shoulder wrap or jacket. The A-line/ball gown style I am pretty well set on has so many layers I had no idea it was going to be that warm. Which makes me wonder: how do brides make it through summer weddings???! I think I would burn up and die of overheating.
And here’s another bit of interest. Although it is the year 2006 A.D. it is apparently still taboo in the current day to have your fiancé see you in your wedding gown prior to the wedding, not to mention have him go shopping with you for it. But what can I say, my bridesmaids are all out of town, as is my mother this week, so what’s a bride to do? The groom wanted to tag along and I didn’t object. It was fine with me to have Jon's company, however the salesgirl (and several other female customers) appeared a bit wary. All that wore off after a while, though and I think everybody got over it. Well, I hope they did. Second thought, I don’t care if they did or not. Ha! So there. Let’s not be archaic. Next thing you know he’ll be taking my surname instead of the other way around. Well, okay, maybe not.
Monday, July 10, 2006
One Year
This weekend marked our first anniversary of introduction (see July 3rd post) and indeed, we celebrated. Although it wasn’t until a few months after we met that we decided we liked each other (or rather, Jon pulled his head out of his ass & decided he like me). Jazz fest was fun again this year. Our merchandise sales were not as high as last year, perhaps it was a different crowd or perhaps our novelty has worn off. Regardless, it never ceases to amaze me how generous people are with their donations and their volunteer hours. We are a fortunate group indeed.
Went to the new Squatter’s tapas restaurant “Zola” last night. It does not officially open to the public until Wednesday. The menu was eclectic and the ingredients organic, mostly locally grown, I believe. And while I am certainly no true “foodie” the menu offerings we sampled were tasty, and the wine list was fairly extensive; as well as their offerings of designer cocktails and of course beer. The service was not great, but we expected that since this was more or less a dress rehearsal for them before they actually open later in the week. I am sure with a few more days of getting into the groove they’ll have it all together. The place was very crowded, and that I’m sure that did not aid much in the ‘keeping things running smoothly’ department. We had a nice time. Warning, though, this one will not likely be an outing that is easy on the wallet….
Friday, July 07, 2006
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Here's a funny pic of us bar hopping in the rain this past March on our trip to Texas. The background is the town square in San Marcos, TX.
Spa-aaah
I went & had a spa pedicure last night. What a treat! I haven’t had one in over a year, and not only wanted, but needed one badly. I will have to make a point to do this more often. I had never received a paraffin treatment. It was lovely! Not to mention relaxing, and reasonably priced. My skin is all the better for going, and my toes are painted a cute feminine pink. Just in time for the summer wedding we will be attending tomorrow. (Yeah for open toed sandals!!)
Tonight we will be volunteering for NMHPU at the infamous SLC Jazz Festival downtown, along with our dear friend Julie Memmott! (See post from July 3rd). I’m looking forward to it for a number of reasons, among others: I really like Jazz, and I really like Julie. I also have not had the chance to volunteer for a while and I do miss it. Unfortunately, I see these events fitting less and less congruently into my schedule as the summer progresses. We’ll see, though. Jon’s new work schedule will change soon and he will be working late nights five days a week, leaving only weekends for us to spend time together. And while I am just fine to be on my own, I know we will want to (and try to) jam pack a week’s worth of activities into two short weekend days. Such is life, but we’ll manage.
Another cause for time consumption: I may begin taking golf lessons. Now that will be a trip!! I'm pretty good at putt-putt but besides that I've only ever played golf once in a company "tournament" (scramble) about 8 years ago, and I've been to the driving range a few times. I've been accompanying Jon and his friends on Sundays for their weekly golf game. It's really peaceful and relaxing (for me) since I'm just an observer and don't have to actually do anything. I enjoy being out doors, and spending time with him, so I may just start being able to play myself. We've mutually agreed that he won't be my instructor (we'd like to get married before we can start threatening each other with divorce). That being said I've yet to speak with a golf pro or instructor but it's "on the list".
Tonight we will be volunteering for NMHPU at the infamous SLC Jazz Festival downtown, along with our dear friend Julie Memmott! (See post from July 3rd). I’m looking forward to it for a number of reasons, among others: I really like Jazz, and I really like Julie. I also have not had the chance to volunteer for a while and I do miss it. Unfortunately, I see these events fitting less and less congruently into my schedule as the summer progresses. We’ll see, though. Jon’s new work schedule will change soon and he will be working late nights five days a week, leaving only weekends for us to spend time together. And while I am just fine to be on my own, I know we will want to (and try to) jam pack a week’s worth of activities into two short weekend days. Such is life, but we’ll manage.
Another cause for time consumption: I may begin taking golf lessons. Now that will be a trip!! I'm pretty good at putt-putt but besides that I've only ever played golf once in a company "tournament" (scramble) about 8 years ago, and I've been to the driving range a few times. I've been accompanying Jon and his friends on Sundays for their weekly golf game. It's really peaceful and relaxing (for me) since I'm just an observer and don't have to actually do anything. I enjoy being out doors, and spending time with him, so I may just start being able to play myself. We've mutually agreed that he won't be my instructor (we'd like to get married before we can start threatening each other with divorce). That being said I've yet to speak with a golf pro or instructor but it's "on the list".
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Random Rant
So I went to the gym last night and did my regular weight routine. Afterward I went over to Wild Oats and made a salad from their organic salad bar, which I love to do but don’t do very often. Jon (who is not a fan of salad) always makes ‘eww’ noises when I come home with one. It’s usually complete with tofu and miscellaneous vegetables, maybe a few nuts, an artichoke heart or two. He says that I make salads that have “a pile of unidentifiable items on them”. Perhaps. The ridiculous part is when you go to pay for the thing and it’s $12. I mean, really! A $12 salad?? I didn’t have the thing piled to the sky or anything, it was just some different kinds of tofu and veggies on a bed of fresh baby spinach. Ridiculous!! But delicious...
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Reception Booked - Dress Hunt On
We booked our reception site last week. It's beautiful and we are really pleased. It was our first choice. We looked at some different things on the web and talked to a lot of people about various venues, but ultimately when it came down to making the decision, this was our number one choice, so we went with it. Despite the expense, we threw (monetary) caution to the wind and just did it. I don't think we'll regret it. We will still need to meet with our caterer and go over menus, but we have a couple of months to fiddle with that since we also still need to fine tune our guest list.
Now, if I could just find that dress. Incidentally, Rachael and I both found dresses we like. We've been exchanging pictures, and boy do we have good taste! We could have a small fleet of Harley Davidsons for the combined sum of our dresses. Whoops....we are both still looking.
I've been looking online and in the yellow pages for local dressmakers, seamstresses and tailors. Perhaps they are a dying breed, because there just aren't very many listed or advertised. However, I think I've found one I really like. AND her online portfolio showcases a handful of dresses similar to the expensive designer one I am in love with. Even if I purchase one from a Bridal Boutique, I could have her alter it to my specifications, thereby making it a unique piece indeed. Yeah! Now we're getting somewhere.
Now, if I could just find that dress. Incidentally, Rachael and I both found dresses we like. We've been exchanging pictures, and boy do we have good taste! We could have a small fleet of Harley Davidsons for the combined sum of our dresses. Whoops....we are both still looking.
I've been looking online and in the yellow pages for local dressmakers, seamstresses and tailors. Perhaps they are a dying breed, because there just aren't very many listed or advertised. However, I think I've found one I really like. AND her online portfolio showcases a handful of dresses similar to the expensive designer one I am in love with. Even if I purchase one from a Bridal Boutique, I could have her alter it to my specifications, thereby making it a unique piece indeed. Yeah! Now we're getting somewhere.
Monday, July 03, 2006
For Starters
I forgot to post the story of how we met. It's one of the most common questions I am asked, and it's a fairly interesting tale. I have been a volunteer for No More Homeless Pets in Utah, a program of Best Friends Animal Society for almost four years. I have been most active with fundraising via merchandise sales & educating the public at community events, and training new volunteers. I have also had my hand in assisting to organize a few smaller scale fundraising of events such as the yearly Muttster Mash Halloween dog costume contest hosted by Dogs R Us. One of my fellow volunteers (and fellow animal enthusiast) Julie Memmott and I worked at the NMHPU booth at the Salt Lake City Jazz Festival downtown last year. Her husband Dave and his friends stopped by the festival one evening to check out the music, and they stopped by our booth to say hello to Julie. She introduced me to Jon Dunn (who I believe was feeling pretty good after consuming umpteen beers with Dave and their other friend Scott Seeger prior to and during the festival). She randomly informed to him that I had just purchased a Harley Davidson (which I had in fact--a 2005 Sportster 1200 Custom--and was very proud of). We chatted a bit and Jon asked about NMHPU and told me he wanted to volunteer. Julie scoffed, but he passed me a business card, and said he was serious. At the time, I was in charge of all the volunteers that do this kind of work, so I put him to the test right away. I explained to him that we were there not only to sell t-shirts and Frisbees and key chains and hats, but more importantly to educate the public and to expand our postal and email contact databases. In this way we take a “grass roots” or “word of mouth” approach to our cause, and we gather names and addresses so we can notify more and more people of our fundraisers and yearly events—basically increase our client contact base. So I told him, the next person that approaches the booth, I want you to get them to sign our mailing list, and I want you to get them to buy something. Not long after, an unassuming man wandered up to the table eating an ice cream cone. (Who, ironically, wound up being an acquaintance of Julie’s who was employed by her distant cousin or something, but that’s another story). Jon pestered and hounded the guy (in a friendly, non threatening manner of course) until the guy gave in, signed the list, and bought one of our most expensive items. Love at first sight, I tell you.
Actually, that’s only part of the story. The other part is later in the evening when the guys had wandered off to stand in the beer line, or otherwise wreak havoc elsewhere, Julie and I tended our booth and chatted with passersby and sold various merchandise. After a while the guys returned, and Jon picked out a hat he wanted to buy. He gave me a $20 bill and I owed him $5 or so in change. I jokingly said to him “I’m sorry, I don’t have change” and pretended to put the $20 bill in my pocket. The look on his face was sheer disgust. “What?” he asked, getting irritated. “I’m sorry”, I said, “I’m broke. I need the money”, and once again pretended to slip the money into my own pocket. “You’re the one who bought the Harley!” I realized a little late that this person apparently had no sense of humor. “Just kidding”, I sheepishly muttered under my breath and proceeded to dig out the cash box from under the table and give him his change.
Skip forward a few weeks. I don’t recall exactly how we corresponded—e-mail I think—and he went in the NMHPU office to take their staff-given volunteer orientation so he could start volunteering with the group Julie & I worked with. I didn’t have much contact with him personally, but he worked at various events toward the end of the summer. And at the request of the NMHPU PR director Erin, he even got an ad aired on the radio station he works for, KSL, plugging a special “Katrina Cats” pet adoption that was taking place after the infamous hurricane. I sent him a few casual e-mail invitations to go hang out or grab a beer together, and I was sincere in my offers to socialize. I thought he was funny, and sarcastic and cynical, and I didn’t have too many friends here in town any more. I thought we would probably get along. He never took me up on it, though, and I thought he was rather stuck up and assumed he just plain old-fashioned didn’t like me.
Flash forward a few months, it was early October and we were scheduled to work at a fundraiser called “Bark in the Park” along with Julie. The night before the event I called Jon on his cell phone (it was late & I had been home addressing invitations to another fundraiser). He was leaving his friends at the bar and informed me he had just gotten in a tiff with Mayor Rocky Anderson over some story he had done and was very frustrated, and oh by the way where do I live because he was coming over. He arrived and we proceeded to drink beer until some ridiculous hour like 3:00 a.m. Knowing we were expected at the park the next day at noon, I figured he could crash at my place and we could go to the park together and meet Julie in the morning. But that’s not exactly how it worked out. He crashed and burned, and I mean I could probably have set him on fire and he would have slept through it. Still feeling woozy from the previous night’s antics, I crawled out of bed, into the shower, and out the door. I was an hour late meeting Julie, and the event was doomed anyway. It was freezing and it rained all day. We were drenched, and we finally packed up to head home early. Julie asked “Where’s Jon?”. “He’s at my house sleeping” I said. “What?? Is there something going on that I should know about??” she asked anxiously. “No, we just tied one on last night and he is still sleeping it off” I said. “That little #@$%”, she proclaimed, “I’m not going to let him forget this one”, and we packed up our canopy and merchandise, shivering wet and cold. I know she didn’t mind he wasn’t there, except for the fact that it was freezing, we weren’t prepared for the weather, and we really could have used his help!! I went home expecting to find him gone; crawled away to his own home and bed. But no, his truck was still there in front of the house, and he was still inside, sleeping like a baby.
At the time, I was also co-organizing the Muttster Mash fundrasiser with the NMHPU staff, and my friends at Dogs R Us, a local dog kennel. I asked Jon to emcee the event. We just wanted someone on the mic to introduce people as they paraded their costumed dogs around for the judges. At first he declined my invitation, and told me “I can get you someone more famous”. I told him that was very nice, but that we really wanted him to do it since he was already a volunteer. I thought it put a much more personal spin on things to have a fellow Animal Ambassador host the event. He finally accepted, and ended up doing an excellent job, by the way. The night of that fundraiser is what we consider our first “date”, and not long after that night we became pretty much inseparable, as we remain today.
Planning I
I have to find a dress. I have looked on the web a little and found one I am in love with. And hey-- it’s only $5,000.00! (I intend to keep looking). In reality I would rather spend that kind of extra money on our reception or honeymoon. I’m pretty ok with things if I don’t get a five thousand dollar gown. Aren’t I so reasonable!? I refuse to become Bridezilla.
Actually, my biggest problem is decision-making. I am pretty indecisive over a lot of things. Some things just don’t matter to me--they're not important to me and I don’t care. I want things to go smoothly, and I know what I don't want, but.... Don’t care what the table centerpieces look like at the reception—our reception venue’s beauty stands on its own so it won’t need a lot of embellishment. Don’t care what’s on the dinner menu (but do care that it’s pleasing for all or most guests). Don’t care what color my mother wears; just want her to feel comfortable and appropriately attired. Don’t care if we have a videographer. I’m fine with good old-fashioned photographs. (Although a friend pointed out to me this weekend that she and her husband LOVE their wedding video-- they relish the fact that they are able to share their wedding experience with their children, who did not come along for some years later)… Which is a great point…which leads to more indecision on my part…..
Stay tuned for more notes on the planning process. There is much to come....
Actually, my biggest problem is decision-making. I am pretty indecisive over a lot of things. Some things just don’t matter to me--they're not important to me and I don’t care. I want things to go smoothly, and I know what I don't want, but.... Don’t care what the table centerpieces look like at the reception—our reception venue’s beauty stands on its own so it won’t need a lot of embellishment. Don’t care what’s on the dinner menu (but do care that it’s pleasing for all or most guests). Don’t care what color my mother wears; just want her to feel comfortable and appropriately attired. Don’t care if we have a videographer. I’m fine with good old-fashioned photographs. (Although a friend pointed out to me this weekend that she and her husband LOVE their wedding video-- they relish the fact that they are able to share their wedding experience with their children, who did not come along for some years later)… Which is a great point…which leads to more indecision on my part…..
Stay tuned for more notes on the planning process. There is much to come....
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