Day o' Disappointment.

The only thing I am left looking forward to right now is my parents' visit.

Song of the Day:
I'm Not Afraid - Remy Zero
~no one's heard this
no voice resounds
no one's around
i can't believe it
what i have
no one
its over now~

Béla was amazing. I sat at the studio for three hours just watching them work. He truly is a master of his craft. He is really gentle and unassuming. I'm just hoping I got a couple of decent shots. There was a lot of backlight, but I didn't want to be snapping flash photos while the guy was trying to record. Cool afternoon.

Thanks to Tash and thisdayinmusic.com, I now know my life's themesongs. (The number one tunes in the UK and US on the day I was born.) "When A Child Is Born (Soleado)" by Johnny Mathis and "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" by Rod Stewart. Ugh... he's one of my top three musicians I refuse to listen to. But that's okay... one of Tash's songs was "Pop Musik"... which is so downright awful. Haha.

I think I'm buying a car tomorrow. We shall see. Lisa is going to ride down with me to look at it and possibly drive my car back if I decide to get it. It's in Alabama though. It's a 1989 black Volvo 740. It's perfectly boxy and cute. I'd look good in it. :)

Here Be Dragons. The guy appears to make dragon skeletons from various materials. Kinda cool and kinda odd all at the same time.

I know it's not nice to laugh at another person's pain... but this article speculating on the aftermath of Jason Priestley's accident was quite amusing.

"Printing" in 3D. This is like primitive Star Trek technology. Next thing you know they will be voice-activated and will create anything we ask for.

Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! I just got confirmation that I get to meet Béla Fleck today! He's recording with Mike this afternoon, and I have been trying to come up with an excuse to go out to the studio. Suddenly it dawns on me.... as webmaster, it would be irresponsible of me not to get photos of this monumental event for the site... and the bossman agreed that it was a good idea. hehe.

Caught one of my favourite parts of Robin Hood: Men in Tights last night. "I'm on the east side... I'm on the west side... it's not that difficult."

Warm Fuzzy Moment for the Week:
Last night I had to run some things over to Tedd's place. We were talking about my job, and he asked what I thought I wanted to "be". I said that I wasn't sure, but that I don't want to be someone's assistant my entire life. To which he responded, "Well, you do a really good job." Little things, people. Sometimes it's the littlest things that can lift another's spirits.

My parents are coming to town. My parents are coming to town. Hi-ho-the-dairy-oh. My parents are coming to town... on Friday!

Happy Birthday, O'Maley. You flying turd, you.

I woke up this morning singing the song "Let's Go to the Movies" from Annie. ~Let's go to the movies... let's go see the stars...~

I do actually want to see Possession for some reason. I think it's that closet romantic in me.

~Fred and Ginger spinning madly... songs of romance... life is a dance...~

And what's this I hear of a Macguyver movie in the making? Hello... that will rock -- but only if they get Richard Dean to star. Otherwise it will be crap. Although, now upon more thinking, I wonder if it would just basically be a glorified episode -- since the show was an hour long to begin with. Hmm.

~Cowboy heroes, cops and robbers... glamour and strife... bigger than life!~

By the way, if you are a follower of the ways of the Jedi, do not move to Australia. The government does not recognize it as a religion, despite the fact that 70,000+ residents there claimed to be followers. "I find your lack of faith disturbing..."

~Only happy endings... that's our recipe. Let's go to the movies, Annie, you and me!~

Sweet. I finished the book I was reading last night, and I see today that the new books I ordered are en route for delivery today. Mondays can be decent after all.

The boys are back in town. (well, they will be tonight.) I haven't gotten much in the way of details, but I can't wait to hear about their European adventures this time. Show in N.C.... and then Dave leaves for his wedding. How weird is that?

Reservoir Dogs. 10 Year Anniversary. DVD released tomorrow. (And if you are a die-hard fan, you can get the collector's pack, which includes all four of the collectible covers... even though the dvd content is the same.) I heard there are new camera angles for the "ear scene". Eww. You shoot me in a dream, you'd better wake up and apologize.

And in the odd and usual department: The Air Guitar World Championships. "The purpose of The Air Guitar World Championships is to promote world peace. According to the ideology of air guitar playing all war and disease would cease to exist and all bad things would disappear if everyone in the world only played air guitar. This is why at the end of every competition all people in the world are invited to play air guitar simultaneously."

And then there is this little amusing article: Heidi, The Hybrid from Hell... about a poor gent's less than stellar experience with a hybrid car. "...the Promise was a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Low Emissions Vehicle, meaning it practically vacuumed harmful pollutants from the atmosphere as you drove."

I have determined my signature flower. Many people I know have their "own" flower. Jenna's is hydrangea; Manda's are daisies. This was a bit troubling to me, because I did not have one that I was specifically drawn to... until now. I realized recently that I really love gerbera daisies. Especially the dark coloured ones.

Gerbera Daisy: This is a large, daisy-like flower that is available in many vivid colors. Best used in bouquets and arrangements.
In season: year round
Meaning: beauty

           

This made my day:

have you done these things? (stolen from Jenna)

Been to a Backstreet Boys concert: No, but I'd go to see Nsync anyday.
Been on a plane: Yes... wheee!
Been on a cruise: No.
Went swimming in the ocean: Atlantic, several times... Gulf of Mexico, Jason Warren and I ran through the surf on the beach to say we did.
Been to Europe: Not yet.
Been to Mexico: No.
Been to Canada: For about an hour.
Been to China: No.
Been to Alaska: No.
Been to Australia: Not yet.
Been to Japan: No, but I need to stop there to see my uncle on my way to Australia.
Been to Korea: No.
Been in a school play: Many.
Gone to Church: On a regular basis.
Watched "Dawson's Creek": Absolutely never.
Seen a grizzly bear (not in the zoo): There used to be a bear in the park back home, but I doubt it was a grizzly.
Been to Lake Powell: Erm... no?
Gone skiing: I'm not so sure you could call it skiing... but I've fallen down a snow-covered hill, yes.
Gone snowboarding: I gave up after that whole skiing thing.
Been on a motorcycle or motorbike: Heck yeah... my dad's a Harley man.
Fell asleep during a scary movie: Probably
Never slept during a night: I love being awake during the night.
Played field hockey: Didn't we have a unit on that in p.e.?
Played soccer: At school.
Played baseball: T-ball and softball.
Been to a Major League Baseball game: Just minor league - went to an Indians game.
Sat in a suite at a basketball game: No, but can I just say that I got free tickets to see the Pacers v. Raptors game that went into double overtime and couldn't find anyone to go with me? I went alone.
Seen the Harlem Globetrotters: No.
Kissed a guy/girl: Yes.
Gone to Applebee's: Last night with Beth, in fact.
Eaten fish: I dig white fish, but I'm not partial to salmon or crustaceans.
Eaten caviar: No.
Seen someone die (not in a movie): No.
Met a celebrity: I guess so.
Met the president: No.
Sang in public: Ugh, yes.
Driven a car: All the time.
Didn't wash your hair for a week: I don't think so... well, maybe when I was sick sometime.
Been to all 50 states: Just 29 for now.
Broken something valuable: Nothing I recall.
Disobeyed your parents: Yes.
Missed a day of Church: Yes.
Skipped school: Yes.
Broken through ice: Haha... technically, I suppose so. Ask Manda.
Bought ice cream from an ice cream truck: No.
Used your parents credit card (with permission): No.
Gotten a cavity: As a kid. None presently.
Broke your arm: I wish.
Been given stitches: Yes... on my tummy and my knee.
Shopped at Abecrombie and Fitch: NEVER!!!!
Shopped at American Eagle: I've been in there but never purchased anything.
Shopped at Old Navy: Yes, but not lately.
Not filled out a chain letter: Yes... I think my seven years of bad luck are about up.
Been to the top of the Statue of Liberty: No.
Dunked a basketball: No.
Wrote a story and had it published: No.
Filled a piggy bank: Yes... my hot pink plastic poodle bank.
Walked down 5th Avenue: No?
Read "Gone With the Wind": No... never seen the movie either, and frankly, I don't give a damn.
Danced in a ballet recital: Gosh, no.
Built a snowman: Yepper.
Went to the Olympics: No.
Went to Africa: No.
Drove over the Golden Gate Bridge: Never even been to California.
Milked a cow: Yes. I've also ridden one.
Husked corn: I'm from Iowa.
Carried a real koala bear: No, but I've held a squirrel.
Saw the Northern Lights: I don't think so.
Been to a runway fashion show: No.
Went to the Smithsonian: Yes.

Ouch. Must. Find. Chiropractor.

Look at TBG getting all praised and stuff in their review in Billboard. Sad they got lumped in with Creed though. *bleh*

I am saddened by the lack of info about the supposed September release of Massive Attack's new album. (The photo caption for that article is great!) To consider it "highly-anticipated" would be an understatement in my book.

Incidently, if any of you Nokia phone users want a Massive Attack ringtone, here is "Teardrop". That is so horrible. In the famous words of Michael Todd: Just because you can, doesn't mean you have to, people.

Today's Friday Five is about work... and I don't feel like talking about work these days... but this is my answer to question #5:
5. In your opinion, what is the easiest job in the world? What is the hardest? Why? For me, the easiest job in the world isn't specific... but rather it would just involve doing something I am passionate about. The hardest job is doing something I don't like. The hardest job I had was one where I sat around doing stuff any trained monkey could do -- sure it didn't take much thought, but I certainly had a hard time going in every morning. An "easy" job to me, would be something challenging that makes me think and use my God-given talents.

Friday Group Therapy 1.9
1. What was the first book that you remember reading? The first book I remember getting was Little House on the Prairie.
2. Tell us about the best book that you ever read. That is so hard. I'll have to get back to you.
3. Tell us about the worst book that you ever read. I didn't even read the entire book, but I hated Walden by Thoreau. It was torture at the time, but maybe if I gave it a go again, I could get through it. I just remember that we had a student teacher at the time, and there was a question on his evalutation form about whether we enjoyed the material we were taught. I answered, "Walden made me want to thoreau up, but I don't consider that to be your fault."
4. What genre of books do you find yourself most drawn to? These days memoirs interest me.
5. What genre of books do you avoid? I think I would have said that I'm not too keen on the whole sci-fi/fantasy thing... but I just ordered The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Neverending Story, so I guess that blows that.
6. Do you have a favorite author? What draws you to this person's work? Not specifically, though I am loving Bill Bryson.
7. Have you ever written anything? If so, tell us about your writing. If not, have you ever wanted to? I used to write a lot. Of course, I used to want to be a writer. I am definitely participating in NaNoWriMo this year. I still think I could write a decent sit-com based on my life.



On that note, I forgot to mention that someone I know is writing a book that is being looked at by Random House... and one of the characters is going to be based on me. Yep, that's right. Me. I think her name is Sherryl Donovan... get it, the initials mixed up? Crazy, eh?

Motto for the Day:
The less concern for coordination, the more versitile the wardrobe.

 

Blast from the past...

Cabbage Patch Kids. Mine is named Alice Carissa; my sister's is Carol Gilberta; and my brother's preemie is Wilson Thomas. What was yours?

 

Here's something you don't see every day....

Support a Constitutional Amendment to protect the Pledge of Allegiance and National Motto. Click here for more information.

I just found out about this: The Presidential Prayer Team. Great concept.

I predict a hit song of "We are the World" proportions written by Smitty & King. I believe it is released to literally every radio station nationwide this week. Sung by MWS. Just wait.

On Prophesying by Dreams by Aristotle. I have had a series of very vivid dreams the last few nights involving very real people in my life. I normally sleep so hard that I don't remember them in the morning, but this week has been different. Last night a dear friend from high school died. Weird.

Wednesday Whimsy .. let's give this one a whirl.
Future
What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now? A glimpse into the crystal ball reveals that I will be pursuing my career as an interpretive dancer. Maybe not. Ten years from now is hugely far away in the grand scheme. I just want to be happy and doing my part to make others happy.
If you could do anything that you wanted, what would it be? Depends what we are talking about here. "Do" as in a career-type thing or "do" as in a one-time event. For the latter, I would like to travel the world -- with destinations including, but not limited to, Turkey, Ireland, Holland, UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and an as-of-yet undetermined location in South America.
Where in your life do you wish to be a year from now? This is almost harder than the 10-year question. 4th Planet tour management. :)
Describe a recent dream. I can picture where we were, but I can't tell where it is. But I found out that Chris and someone else had died within days of each other. My roommates were in it and so were some friends from here who didn't know my friends from high school, but somehow they were very supportive. The hardest part was asking my boss for more time off to go to their memorial services.

Song of the Day:
Silence - Delerium featuring Sarah McLachlan
(That's not the version I'm listening to, but it works.)

I've determined that I'm boring.

I'm bored of the web. I can't find anything interesting to share.

Why do I bother?

Sorry.

Here's a little something. The Field Guide to North American Males. Which species do the males of your life fall into?

Pretty... the rest are nice too.

Found the site for Michael Wilson - a photographer whose work can be found in Over the Rhine albums among others. I was just struck by the opening statement on his site. I like his stuff.

The new Tree stuff is sounding good. I'm still partial to 63, but I guess I can make room for the new.

 

Got wedding photos back. Fun times.

My dad took this one of me and Meg showing off our hairdos.

Profound thought for the day:
"Why does a toaster need eight settings, when anything above four turns a slice of bread into a piece of charcoal?" ~Mr. T.
(I think it might be for testing the batteries in your smoke alarms.)

Today I am laughing. Why am I laughing? I watched this little video. "Start a riot in a closed restaurant." "Pretend there's no such thing as glass." But the really hilarious part is the end where Rumsey is asking all the questions... what's your favourite color, how do you get your hair to stick up like that, do you have a phone number or email address? (Tash, inspired by any superfans you know and love? haha!)

Yesterday I watched the National Geographic special on Big Cats in America about the owners (and sometimes neglectors) of wild cats. I seriously wanted to own a tiger for the longest time. I realize that their instinct is to hunt and kill... but they are such absolutely beautiful creatures. I got to hold a baby lion cub once, and it was so sweet. I love him.

This website wins the adorable award for the day. Read the autobiography. hehe.

Lisa is a mini-golfing force to be reckoned with. We played Saturday night. Hans and I were playing with the same theory as most other games... the more points the better. Lisa, however, ended up with only 8 over par. Mick didn't do too bad with 15 over. I was 17, I think... and Hans had 23. Good times. Few bugbites.

Just talked to Thux about their show this weekend. They apparently played at Dollywood. I asked how it went. He said he now has a better understanding of two American words: redneck and mullet. Ahh yes... gotta love living in the south.

This photo might inspire several questions...


My question, however, is: Who in the world is playing drums?

Weird-Google-Search-That-Found-My-Page For The Day:
Dead computers tend to end up in weird Chinese villages, where little kids hammer them to pieces - I was #7 on the list.

Song for the Afternoon:
A Sorta Fairytale - Tori Amos

Hans, Mick, Lisa, and I watched The Mothman Prophecies last night. Though not the biggest Richard Gere fan in the world, I enjoyed it for the most part. There was interesting use of camera angles and color that made it asthetically pleasing to me. I'm intrigued by the real story behind the basis of the movie. (This site answered my question of why the bridge actually collapsed.) Pizza, beer/cider, cheesecake, movie, and friends. Who could ask for more?

Friday Group Therapy 1.8
1. Tell us about your mother. (see below)
2. Tell us about your father. I think this can adequately be summed up with the statement: They rock.
3. Tell us about your siblings. If you had none, how do you feel about that? Older sister / brother-in-law, younger brother. They're cool. Especially now that we are older and don't have to hate each other anymore.
4. Tell us about your grandparents. Sweetest, most loving people ever.
5. Do you have a large or small extended family? (Aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.?) How often do you see them? On mom's side, there are something like 23 actual cousins, most of whom are married with children... making it pretty huge. We have a big family circus every five years in my hometown. On dad's side, there are seven cousins now. (Happy birthday yesterday to cousin Will.) That side of the family is spread between Iowa, Arizona, Japan, & Australia... I can't remember the last time we were all together. Possibly Grandpa's funeral 14 years ago.
6. Is there anyone in your extended family who you are especially close with? Not really with anyone specifically more so than any of the others. I don't really see anyone on a regular basis anymore, since I'm the only one in this neck of the woods... so whenever I see any of them is a mad case of "catch up on your life".
7. Is there anyone in your family who you just don't get along with? Thankfully, no. There really isn't a "black sheep" on either side.


(The kids in my immediate family - 4th of July weekend)
Song of the Day:
Thunder Only Happens When It Rains - Fleetwood Mac

Think Jack Black and Dee Snider...

   

...and then try to watch the video for "Hero".



And also in the "weird visual" department:
What in the heck is this?

We watched Goldmember last night. Quite amusing, I must say. I definitely need to see it again to absorb more of the good stuff. I saw the Mr. Roboto thing coming for miles, but I have to say that was one of my most favourite parts.

"There's only two things I hate: people who hate other people just because they're from other countries... and Dutch people."

My spy name:
Danielle "Heroic"
Never one to shrink from calamity, you emerge from the crowd and place yourself in danger to protect others. It's never for the glory, you just happen to be in the right place at the right time and take charge of the situation.
Vital Gear
Includes everyday clothes, willingness to help others and survival skills.

Song for the Day:
Mojo Pin - Jeff Buckley
Keeping with the whole mojo-licious theme for the day.

Something has triggered my allergies. I'm contemplating gouging out my eyes and amputating my sinuses.

24 - Season One is available on DVD September 17th. Will it be as exciting watching it a second(/third/fourth/etc.) time around now that we know the outcome?

I admit that I really dug Adam Ant back in the day... sad that it has come to this.

Song for the Day:
Last Girl on Earth - Supreme Beings of Leisure

What do you think... Mandy Moore in a remake of The Flying Nun. It's not happening, but I can see it.

   

I discovered a few things this weekend...

• In true white-girl form, I stink at Dance Dance Revolution.
• Sometimes it is better to leave fond memories as such and not try to revisit them. (As was the case with my old C64 games we attempted to play last night. *sigh*)
• I have completely lost my touch with Mortal Kombat II. The guys on Brandt 4th West would be so disappointed in me.
• I don't want to talk about the rest.

Song for the Day:
I Want to Be Adored - The Stone Roses

Band Bio Quote of the Day:
"You might be asking yourself... does the world really need another career-oriented band interested in selling pre-programmed, mass-produced schlop to their target demographic?"

Just saw the guys for about an hour. Heard their new stuff. It's finger-licking good. (Though I had to sit in their van to listen to it, and Darren suggested they might have transported some West Nile infected mosquitos up with them.) The new website is going to be so classic if Hans can do everything we talked about today. Mmm... happy days are here again.

Happy Birthday, Door-T! I miss your face.

Lisa and Mick are going back to Australia at the end of the month.
:( Though we decided that 8 weeks away is only slightly longer than this last roadtrip, so it wouldn't be so bad. She is going to take some Pavlova Magic back for me. Mmm. Fiona informed us that they are serving pavlova at McDonalds down there now. Crazy.

Friday Five (.org) - how apropos...
1. Do you have a car? If so, what kind of car is it? Yes, and it is crap. (See yesterday.) '92 Chevy Beretta.
2. Do you drive very often? Less and less, as it is continuously losing or breaking parts. However, I used to drive all over the place. I like to drive. I should be a cab driver or something.
3. What's your dream car? Mmm... see below.
4. Have you ever received a ticket? Erm... yeah. There were two speeding tickets back when I was young and less observant. Then there was this one last summer where they said I ran a red (which was actually very yellow). I still deny my guilt on that one.
5. Have you ever been in an accident? I sort of backed into a car when I was trying to get out of the jammed parking lot at Subway when I was 17. That one was my fault... then there was the time that I got hit by a drunk driver when I was waiting at a stoplight in my mom's brand new convertible. Then I've been a passenger in several other accidents.



Ern, sounds like the Tooth & Nail band fest was a good time... I kinda dig Juliana Theory's sound, but I've never seen the dude. However, I know much it messes with you when the people are hard to watch. I have that same thing with the Jimmy Eat World dude and, though it is almost sacrilege, with Adam Duritz. (That's a good article, btw.)

How do I hate my car? Let me count the ways....

As if my engine issues and more recent muffler (or lack-thereof) problems weren't enough, today I went outside to go to lunch... and there sits my car with an absolutely flat tire. Not just a low tire, mind you. Flat. Like NO air. Yeah, I really had time for that. Thankfully, I could walk to the market for lunch, and Karl helped me get the tire off and to the repair place this afternoon. He rocks.

Transformers: More than meets the eye, baby, yeah.

I'm sure other sites probably linked to this article a couple months ago when it came out, but I just came across it today and found one line in there rather amusing: "You can never get into the mind of a giraffe." Yeah, tell that to the Pet Psychic.

I also found my new motto thanks to a pirate...
"One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries."
-- A. A. Milne

We went to see Signs last night. (Erin, what did you think of it?) My roommate saw it last weekend and told us not to go, so I wasn't expecting a lot. It was a lot better than I thought. I really loved the opening sequence with the names and music. The little girl was absolutely adorable. Overall, it was pretty intense and stressful.

Lisa gave me socks. :) Sheep with googly eyes.

Two packages should arrive today. My Transformers: Season One DVDs and the birthday gift for my roommate. Hehe. (I thought that was brilliant. The stuff that Cupid dips his arrows in.)

Just for future reference: if your passport goes through the wash, it is best to think about getting that replaced more in advance than five days before leaving the country again. Adam gave me a heart attack this morning, but with a little expedition fee, it has already been fixed. Phew!

We watched The Neverending Story last night. It came out in 1984. (It is different watching it when you are 25 than it is watching when you are 8, but it was still entertaining.)

The Princess Bride came out in 1987. I think that Miracle Max and Valorie were based on the old couple Engywook and Urgl in TNS.

For some reason, I felt like Southern-Oracle-like figures were used in an Indiana Jones movie or something.

Whenever Atrayu or Bastian was riding Falkor, it reminded me and Hans of Flight of the Navigator.

Anyway, good times. Perhaps you want to see the All Sci-Fi Neverending Story page. Or perhaps you want to buy the book... which I think I am going to do once I deposit my paycheck.

On the topic of buying books, I saw that Barnes & Noble University is offering a course on Book Collecting for Beginners. I don't know how interesting it would be, since I am not really thinking about the value of the book when I buy it, per se. I just like books, and someday I intend to have a library in my house (should I eventually have a house) filled with them. (I like this piece by Amitov Ghosh called The Testimony of My Grandfather's Bookcase.)

Song for the Day:
My Love is Your Love - Whitney Houston
(One of the wedding dance tunes we grooved to all weekend.)

Okay -- so here we go. Day by day highlights from the weekend of romance and joy:

Thursday, August 1st
Happy birthday, sweet nephew!
• Muffler fell off of car on the way to Michael's. Guardian angels at my tire place took car of it for me. It is now in my trunk.
• Read The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook and half of Scribbling in the Sand on the way there.
• Was picked up from airport by Bridesmaid Amy. Went directly to fitting. The dress is beautiful... lovely blue -- and it fit! (Not too bad for measuring myself and calling the measurements in to her two weeks ago.)
• Bachelor & Bachelorette barbeque -- hawaiian-themed, as they are in Hawaii honeymooning right now. We also went bowling with the boys.
• We kicked the boys out and had our girl time. Chocolate fondue with some games... including the very hilarious word-scramble of Jenny's Top 10 Exboyfriends and Crushes. All five of us stayed at Jenn's house until Saturday.

Friday, August 2
• Nails, nails, nails.
• Picked up dresses... gorgeous!
• Rehearsal / dinner at the Arboretum.
• Megan (bride's sister), Amy and I planned a relaxation time for Jenn once we got home. She was a little stressed and cried on the phone with her mom. When she came upstairs, she discovered that we had cleaned her bathroom, drew a bath with lavendar salts, had a magazine (non-wedding related), towels, her razor, and pedicure kit waiting, had the place decked out in dozens of candles and had soothing music going. It was so neat, and she appreciated it so much.

Saturday, August 3
• Up at the crack of dawn.
• The bridesmaids fixed up their bedroom so that it would be a romantic loveshack for them when they got home that night -- lots of candles... a cd of the best love songs of all time... and the book she got for a bachelorette present.
• We all had up-do's done by a girl Jenn knows. Bobby-pin mania.
• Black limo came to pick us up to take us to the church. First time in one, I might add.
• Pictures -- mom and dad arrived. Yay!
• Wedding. Sob-fest. It was so sweet. Her brother and sister sang "Grow Old Along with Me" by John Lennon... ugh, beautiful!
• After throwing rose petals at the happy couple, we all ducked into a white limo to go back to the Arboretum for group pictures.
• Reception at Bayview on the lake. Good food. Good cake. Good fun.
• Wedding dance highlights -- dancing with the brides brother for the bridal party dance (I was his secret girlfriend when he was about eight years old), all the bridesmaids on the floor during "Devil with a Blue Dress On", attempting to box out the little girls so that Amy could catch the bouquet (though she ended up not getting it), and ending up laying on the floor doing the dance from My Best Friend's Wedding's opener "Wishin' and Hopin'".
• Jenn left the reception saying "if the house is a-rockin, don't bother knockin".
• Meg and I had a bobby-pin contest to see who ended up with the most --- she won... but I had 29 bobby pins and 24 hair pins.

Sunday, August 4
• Present opening party.
• Home again, home again.

It's hard to explain how wonderful it was... but I haven't had so much fun in a long time.

Not ready to divulge the greatness of my weekend.

Last Friday's Five
1. What is your lineage? Where are your ancestors from? Dutch - Utrecht, I believe. I think we also determined that my cousins and I are 1/16th Native American due to a great-great grandma in there somewhere.
2. Of those countries, which would you most like to visit? Oh, let's go with The Netherlands
3. Which would you least like to visit? Why? Umm... well... next question?
4. Do you do anything during the year to celebrate or recognize your heritage? Well, there was the grand ol' Tulip Festival (aka Tulip Fizzle) back home. That's about it. I am forced to use Dutch phrases every now and again... just because there isn't anything in English that means the same thing.
5. Who were the first ancestors to move to your present country (parents, grandparents, etc)? Great-grandparents, I believe.


Intuition. Insight. Emotions. Feelings.
Take the quiz.

This weekend I completed another assignment for my part-time job as a professional bridesmaid. Spent four days up in Minneapolis with all the other girls. I have to say that this wedding was absolutely beautiful. I think it was the most fun I have had at a wedding in a long time. It has completely restored my faith in true love and romance and all that good mushy stuff. I'll go into more details later (I'm hoping my mom will be emailing me photos soon), but I just wanted to let people know that I am, in fact, still alive.