A Week for Reunions

It's been an odd week. A week full of long-time reunions, and chit-chat with old best friends. They've been completely unexpected reunions, but worthy none-the-less. I've missed my old friends, and all of our old memories. It's comforting to know that no matter what happens, they're all still there. And for the most part we can all pick up where we left off many many years ago.

The week started off Wednesday night as a bunch of my old High School friends came over to my parent's apartment for some pre-bar drinks and some catching up. For most of us it had been a year since we'd seen each other, so of course there was much to catch up on. I mean ROSEMARY just had a BABY!!! HELLO! The girls stood in the kitchen and talked up a storm, while the boys sat in the living room watching the game until it was time to head out to the bars, a typical tradition in the Burlington area the night before Thanksgiving.

The Brickyard offered up some yummy shots, some cheap drinks, and a night of dancing and more old friends. I was even offered up an apology from a very old friend for apparently hitting on my boyfriend Freshman year of High School. Hmmmm =) In the past, I'm over it!

Pictures from the evening!

I woke up the next morning with quite the hangover, but with a huge smile on my face because of the amazing time I had just had with everyone. I truly, truly missed them all!

Thanksgiving was great, I got to see my Uncle David (my dad's Identical Twin) so that was a plus, and as always the food was fantastic.

Then, Tuesday (this morning) rolled around and I found myself back in Burlington, at White Fox Den, having breakfast with my three grade school best friends. GRADE SCHOOL! They sure hadn't changed at all. Beth was still immature Beth, Carrie is still mature mommy Carrie, and Jenny will forever be that excentric non-stop talker. I'm heading out for drinks tonight with Carrie and Beth which I'm very excited about. I just can't believe that in one week I've reconnected with so many old friends. Of course we've all vowed to not let so much time pass between visits again, but who knows where life will take us all in the next 8 or 9 years. I'm just happy for this week. They've all held special places in my heart, even through all these years.

Premature Spirit

I'm a Christmas spaz. I'll be the first to admit that about myself. EVERYTHING about the season makes me so incredibly happy. The snow, the lights, the wrapping of the presents, even the scrooges of the season add joy to my life. When the Christmas season is in full swing I laugh a little louder, smile a bit bigger, and hug a bit harder. I'm just full of love and joy...as cheesy as that may sound.

But the spaz does have limits. Limits like: NO CHRISTMAS MUSIC BEFORE THANKSGIVING. That's a biggie =) And I refuse to put up my Christmas tree/obnoxious Christmas decorations (I'm sorry Nikki!!) until Thanksgiving is gone and overwith. A spaz I may be, but impractical I am not. I just think we get ahead of ourselves sometimes, and don't take time to induldge in the full spirit of the Holiday. It's coming sooner and sooner every year as the stores start putting their stock our well before Halloween has even broken, causing people to Christmas shop earlier and earlier to get a "head start" on the purchasing process. All the while missing the...cheezball line coming...true spirit of it all. It's sad.

I broke my limit Thursday night though when Erin (my best friend) and I decided to head downtown for the Milwaukee Lights Festival. I know I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet and here we were celebrating Christmas but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. We walked down to the Marquette park around 7:00, linked arm and arm, skipping and singing the Laverne and Shirley theme song, to keep ourselves warm. Yes, we're big cliche dorks =) For about an hour once we got there, we wandered in the freezing cold drinking free hot chocolate, eating free cookies, and laughing at the people taking pictures in the faux snow globe set up. People are so weird =) It may have all been a bit premature, but it sure did put me in the mood. The dancing, and the lights, and the FIREWORKS kept me smiling through the night, even while I shivered with cold. I wish everyone could feel like that...all the time!

I still refuse to turn on 99 WMYX and subject myself to their "All Christmas, All The Time". I won't break on that =) But you can bet that come November 25, I'll be jamming in the Cabby to "All I Want For Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey and Harry Conick will be on repeat in the changer. Ahh Christmas. You're almost here.

The Knott

I'm sure many of you newly engaged/married women out there are familiar with a website called The Knot (www.theknot.com). For any of you that aren't, it's a website devoted to brides and all that nonsense associated with a wedding. Basically, it's a great big bridal cult where many brides spend hours a day talking on and on about their wedding. =)

As you can tell, I am obviously not a fan....probably because I'm nowhere near getting married. Or because, I'm just not that girl.

But I am an advertiser on the site, as I know that THOUSANDS of brides register every day. We've done really well with the site, mostly due to our Essense of Australia line, which brides are just LOVING, so it's been worth the absurd amount of money they charge. The steady stream of phone calls, emails, and dress purchases resulting soley from our Knot advertising/listing has managed to keep us afloat =)

And then today Essense of Australia, one of our vendors, faxed us over a news release stating that The Knot had named one of Essense's silk gowns in their top 50 Wedding Gowns. It was actually number 3!! I'm so excited! The knot is like the Oprah Winfrey of the bridal industry. If it has The Knot approval, brides will flock. I'm so excited. I've been waiting for Essense to be discovered because they're just so unique and fabulous, and the fabrics are really great! I'm very excited for Essense's big break and our hopeful future success as a result =)

Elf

Like many people, the Christmas season's approach fills me with so much excitement and joy. The glittery lights, the youthful laughs of children, the sound of bells ringing through the air, and the thick blanket of snow that we're graced with at least once a year is something I look forward to and truly enjoy when it all arrives. Everything about the season puts a smile on my face.

Every year I find it hard to wait until after Thanksgiving to begin the holiday festivities. Putting up my decorations, putting in one of my favorite christmas movies, and listening to my favorite Christmas CD's top off my list. My mom has a very similar problem, and as we plopped in front of the TV the other night, we both decided upon "Elf", knowing that it was probably a bit premature to be watching it, but I was more than thrilled!

It's seriously my all-time favorite movie. Not only because Will Ferrell is probably the most hilarious man on the planet, but because I realized that I am more like Buddy than I ever realized. He's adorably naive to the troubles in the world, and believes that all anyone ever needs is to sing to make everything better. He hops through crosswalks, spins through revolving doors, and finds joy in the most minute aspects of life. He's simplistic and happy. Very much like me.

A One Year Milestone

It's been since September 6, 1997 that I have celebrated a one year anniversary, however a serial dater I am most definitley not. I've had "long" relationships thrown in there: 6 months, 7 months, 11 months. But for one reason or another, we never made it to the coveted one year mark.

But here I am, November 5th 2005, celebrating my one year anniversary. I arrived at work today to a huge bouquet of red roses and have maintained a perma-smile the entire morning thus far.

As I said it's been a while since I've done the whole one year anniversary thing, so I was a little stumped as to what I was supposed to do for it. Do I buy jewelry, do I spend a lot of money, do we just go out to dinner? Of course my analytical mind contemplated senario after senario and stressed out about the deal for a while actually, but I think I've come up with something adequate. If anything, meaningful =)

Regardless of the gift, after one year I am at my happiest and feel so lucky to have someone so wonderful.

After one year, I still love her more than day one. And it's all because:

When we fight, she doesn't try to demean me. There will never be a "one up" competition between the two of us. I never feel hurt.

She's loud and obnoxious in the morning, and pleasantly chipper.

She loves her niece and nephew more than anything in the world.

She's been through some rough stuff in her life, and never once has she blamed the world for her misfortune. She remains upbeat, and positive. A true emotional role model.

She's way hot when she plays short stop

She's adorably shy

She cowers at the sound of yelling

She thinks Queer as Folk is real life

She stutters when she gets excited

and because she loves me.

Four for Friday

Q1 - Halloween: Did trick-or-treater's come to your house this year? If so, approximately how many came by? Was this year's number higher or lower than you've had in previous years, and what did you give them?

Honestly, I would not know if trick or treaters came to my apartment. I doubt that they did. The area of downtown I live in isn't exactly known for it's family environment. We may have gotten the occasional bum asking for spare change, but definitley no trick or treaters. Although, I was MIA from Milwaukee that weekend so I'd have to consult with the roomy just to be sure.

Q2 - Allergies: Do you have allergies? If so, what are you allergic to? If you're not allergic to anything, is there anything you wish you were allergic to?

I actually have no known allergies. I watched Tara last weekend suffer through a night of burning eyes and an itchy, runny nose because of Karnitz's cats and it definitley doesn't look fun at all! Although, I always wanted to be allergic to something just so I could sneeze a lot. I love sneezing =)

Q3 - Organic Food: The organic food market in the United States is projected to reach a value of $30.7 billion by the year 2007. According to one recent report, close to 40 percent of the U.S. population now uses organic products on a daily basis. Are you included in that 40 percent figure... do you intentionally buy organic foods or drinks? If so, what are you buying? If not, why?

Um...have any of your broke 20 somethings out there ever tried to purchase organic food? It's ungodly expensive! I like the idea of all natural, but my budget definitley cannot afford it right now.

Q4 - Television: Which TV shows from the past would you like to see back on television and why?

Rainbow Bright for sure! It was just such a happy cartoon! I really used to like Perfect Strangers too though, and Ned and Stacy. Does anyone remember that show? It was pre-Will and Grace starring Debra Messing =)

Thursday Ramblings

I dyed my hair =) Every so often (okay more like every few months) I feel the need to drastically change my hair. Sort of a hair ADD issue. I've been from blonde, to brown, to brown with blonde, to blonde with brown, and now...red (It looks very tame in this picture). I went in yesterday with intentions of leaving with a flaming head, but Shelly talked me out of it saying I would probably hate the outcome. Instead, she insisted going with a more Auburn color, to which we added stark Red to add more of a dramatic appeal to it. I'm pretty much in love =) Of course the ladies at Exclusiva Hair Design were impressed with the turnout (cut AND color) and insisted on taking pictures of Shelly's artwork for the store portfolio. While my 'do may be expensive, it's worth every penny. I don't think I could ever entrust anyone else other Shelly with my hair.

I just joined a book club and have to read "The Secret Lives of Bees" for our first meeting. Is it cheating if I get the book on CD to listen to on my hour commute to work?

I recently discovered last night that VH1 has put out a THIRD installment of "I Love The 80's" to which I willingly sat in front of with my Jimmy John's sub to indulge in some reminising. During the 1988 segment, the funny characters of the show discussed Unsolved Mysteries and I was stunned to hear that many people thought it was real, much like I had when I was little!!! I remember thinking as I watched it as a child "Why don't they put down the camera and help these people?!". Yes, a bit nieve but I was happy to hear that I wasn't the only one who thought such nonsense! (Although I have a feeling they were being sarcastic in their statements as the acting really was truly horrible).

A cute old lady just came storming into the store terrified that she may have hit a dog. She was stopping traffic in the road trying to get people to stop for this little dog seemingly lost and scared in the middle of our busy street. I told her it's the neighbor dog and it often wanders the streets around here. I've tried to catch it myself a few times and save it from it's obvious potential doom, but it just scampers off. There's nothing that can be done (except put your damn dog on a LEASH!). But she was so cute and worried about the little rascal. Love old people...and dogs =)

I have to go to the DMV after work today and update my license but I now have red hair. What hair color do I put on my license?

Kept me Laughing

Okay, so I've been forwarded this email probably once a year for many years now and everytime I find myself laughing outloud. Mainly, because I can honestly see myself doing some of them =)

It reminds me of the time Ashley and I talked about driving to Summerfest on a rented moped, decking ourselves our in Harley gear, and parking in the Harley motorcycle parking lot of the festival grounds. All the while, strapping a sterio to the back of our bike playing motorcycle sounds to make us sound tough and keeping a straight face the entire time =)

Here's the "Keep yourself Sane" list:

At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down

Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice

Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with That

Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In"

Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone Has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch To Espresso

In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Sexual Favors"

Finish all Your Sentences With "In Accordance With The Prophecy."

Don't use any punctuation

As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk

Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."

Sing Along At The Opera

Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme

Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play Tropical Sounds All Day

When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"

When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking Lot,Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"

Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go"

Daily Update

I woke up this morning to a flat tire on the Cabby. Just frickin' great. On top of the flat tire, I have a break light that's out, and oil that needs to be changed. Just rack up the automotive bill. Lord knows I'm good for it! The good thing about knowing everyone in a small town is that the people are more than willing to go out of their way for you. So, thanks to the ever so generous boys at Lois Tire Shop, my car is being towed away from my parent's driveway at no extra charge to us and hopefully by the end of the day I'll have a fixed car, and a ride home to my deserted apartment.

I am of course here at the store again all day today, but I'm really looking forward to my day off tomorrow. I have intentions of shopping around the Brady street area, cleaning out my car, and finally getting to the DMV to update my license. Maybe I'll go get my hair cut/colored. It is after all about that time. I'm thinking red this time. I'm kind of excited for another drastic change =) I really should take the extra time to drive up to Madison to look at a few venues but another long drive just doesn't sound appealing to me, so I'm trusting internet pictures and recomendations from Madison area residents instead.

In the mean time, our Spring shipments are slowly coming in which I'm thrilled about! TONS of Prom dresses, TONS of Mother of the Day dresses, TONS of bridesmaids, a few more flower girls, and of course fabulous new bridal gowns. Oh and who can forget our new Victoria Lee, by Maggie Sottero, jewelry...FABULOUS! Needless to say I'm pretty busy updating inventory, merchandising the store, and getting everything put away where it's supposed to be. I also have to run to the printers and get my newsletter printed out for the store, return all these phone calls from event coordinators for my Madison show, and get the model lineup and show choreography started so that I have something to bring to my meeting with the hair and makeup crew...uy! Staying busy keeps me happy =)