Stacey was very smart when we began the wedding planning process. I want to be very involved and help make the decisions, but there are some things I just can't get excited about. She gave me an out - whenever she asked my opinion on something, "I don't care" was an acceptable response. I think so far, I have had to use that less than 5 times. It has been a busy two months - keep in mind the normal wedding planning length is 12 months. We're doing it in 9.
Bridal Shows
I got a lot of compliments from vendors on the fact that I showed up. It's great when my mere presence earns me brownie points! It was fun to taste all of the different cakes. We're going to be at a crossroads because I personally prefer ones with fruit in the middle (especially raspberries) and Stacey doesn't. There is so much b.s. out there you can buy for your reception. I think we've done a pretty good job of deciding what we want and what crap we don't need. The most scandalous vendor was a semi-nude photoshoot that a bride can complete for a "wedding night present" for her husband. I would just be uncomfortable if I got that knowing someone was taking dirty photos of her. Anyway...
Registering
Getting to play with a scanning gun and picking out stuff for other people to buy us? I'm there. I felt a little discriminated when we went to Macy's because the woman was looking at Stacey 75% of the time and the registration sheet asked for the bride's info - the grooms was optional. Again, Stacey knows me too well - she gave me a list and let me cross off the stuff I didn't care about shopping for and picked them out herself. Picking out the bedroom and bathroom stuff was pretty difficult to decorate a house we don't have. But thee most frustrating thing about trying to decorate was that everything is chocolate brown and pastel blue.
Dress Shopping
Obviously I wasn't there while she bought the dress, but it did spend a week in my closet... in the middle of my clothes. I estimate the number of times she has tried it on so far at 6. While I wasn't there for the dress purchasing, I did venture to David's Bridal to look at bridesmaid dresses. That, by far, has the scariest part to date. It was a Sunday afternoon, which according to her bridal magazines is the busiest time of the week. Imagine approximately 30-50 bridezillas, each with a stressed out mom and/or friend, and maybe 1 other guy there. Stacey showed me the options and I approved. It also gave me the chance to make the suggestion I am most proud of - the flower girl's dress. We didn't want to have her in a white dress (someone wants to be the ONLY one in white) and the dress doesn't come in our color (serene). I recommended that we put her in a light blue dress with the serene sash and she approved. Luckily, we made it out of there before I had an anxiety attack.
Where we go from here
The good thing is we're not even close to being burnt out yet. We are very close to signing a reception place. Once that is done, we will finally be "on schedule" with the wedding planning. The next big step is booking the honeymoon. Stacey is spending the weekend getting quotes from photographers, flower places, videographers, etc. Then we have to look over the guest lists and make cuts. I think we should take what will be an uncomfortable situation and make it fun - turn it into a fantasy draft or make it into a March Madness bracket.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Originality
I wake up this morning to peruse the sports websites. cnnsi.com and espn.com had the same exact photo of Thabeet falling over a crouched DeJuan Blair. Sports Illustrated's headline was "The Bigger They Are" and ESPN's, no joke, was "Harder They Fall". Ridiculous.
By the way, I am still not believing the hype that Pitt will make the Final Four. I just can't after how much of their kool-aid I was drinking last year.
By the way, I am still not believing the hype that Pitt will make the Final Four. I just can't after how much of their kool-aid I was drinking last year.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Alex Rodriguez is a scum, but Michael Phelps is not
That pretty much says it. Post done.
I guess I should elaborate. Let me start by saying I don't blame A-Rod for testing positive for steroids - a very large percentage of baseball players were, so why make him the lead witch in the hunt (that goes for Barry Bonds as well). However, nobody else said they didn't take steroids because they felt unmatched by any of the other players. When the report came out, he didn't admit to it, but instead told reporters they would have to speak to the union. After conferring with his legal team, PR team, and Madonna, he decided to have a "come to Jesus" moment where he feels so bad about what he did and what kids think of him. He wants to spread the word about how bad steroids are and regain our respect! He's such an ingenuine schmuck. After the affair with Madonna, "A-Fruad" story in Joe Torre's book, and now the steroid report, it is not a good year to be him. By the way, finding out yet another former Ranger was on steroids pretty much answers the question of whether or not Pudge was.
So where do we go from here? I like the idea of releasing all 104 people who tested positive in 2003 so the focus isn't solely on A-Rod, but they can't do that. Two wrongs don't make a right. Now that he's made his half-assed, scripted apology, it's time to move on. There were a lot of players in that era on steroids. We can't punish them now because there weren't rules back then. If you are a baseball reporter and you don't want to send Bonds or A-Rod to the hall of fame, then don't send anyone from this era. I hate that Jose Canseco, once again, looks like the most honest, truthful person in all of this. We need to move on from the steroids talk, though.
The other scandal right now is Michael Phelps marijuana use. I want to give credit to Mike right now who said last summer we needed to give him a free pass for whatever stupid thing he gets in trouble for this year. I can understand Kellogg's decision to pull their endorsement. If the story received too much press, that was the only option they had. However, the whole story wreaks of racism and sports bias.
Recently, Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes was invited to do the "I'm going to Disney World" commercial and was the guest of honor at their parade. Holmes was also cited for possession of marijuana 3 months ago. He has also been arrested several times for disorderly conduct and domestic violence. If Kellogg's felt they had to pull their endorsement due to their youth appeal, Disney CERTAINLY should have withheld theirs. It isn't unprecedented either - remember Disney used Trent Dilfer as the face of the Raven's Super Bowl win instead of Ray Lewis due to his legal disputes.
I believe Phelps and Holmes were treated differently by the companies and the media because we "expect" that black athletes and football players use marijuana because that is the "culture" that they come from. However, a white swimmer should "be a better role model". The whole story has strong undertones of prejudicial beliefs. To not hold Holmes to the same standards that we hold Phelps is saying that we don't expect as much out of him due to the color of his skin or the sport he plays. Someone like James Harrison, Ben Roethlisberger, or Hines Ward should have been used for their commercial, not Holmes.
I guess I should elaborate. Let me start by saying I don't blame A-Rod for testing positive for steroids - a very large percentage of baseball players were, so why make him the lead witch in the hunt (that goes for Barry Bonds as well). However, nobody else said they didn't take steroids because they felt unmatched by any of the other players. When the report came out, he didn't admit to it, but instead told reporters they would have to speak to the union. After conferring with his legal team, PR team, and Madonna, he decided to have a "come to Jesus" moment where he feels so bad about what he did and what kids think of him. He wants to spread the word about how bad steroids are and regain our respect! He's such an ingenuine schmuck. After the affair with Madonna, "A-Fruad" story in Joe Torre's book, and now the steroid report, it is not a good year to be him. By the way, finding out yet another former Ranger was on steroids pretty much answers the question of whether or not Pudge was.
So where do we go from here? I like the idea of releasing all 104 people who tested positive in 2003 so the focus isn't solely on A-Rod, but they can't do that. Two wrongs don't make a right. Now that he's made his half-assed, scripted apology, it's time to move on. There were a lot of players in that era on steroids. We can't punish them now because there weren't rules back then. If you are a baseball reporter and you don't want to send Bonds or A-Rod to the hall of fame, then don't send anyone from this era. I hate that Jose Canseco, once again, looks like the most honest, truthful person in all of this. We need to move on from the steroids talk, though.
The other scandal right now is Michael Phelps marijuana use. I want to give credit to Mike right now who said last summer we needed to give him a free pass for whatever stupid thing he gets in trouble for this year. I can understand Kellogg's decision to pull their endorsement. If the story received too much press, that was the only option they had. However, the whole story wreaks of racism and sports bias.
Recently, Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes was invited to do the "I'm going to Disney World" commercial and was the guest of honor at their parade. Holmes was also cited for possession of marijuana 3 months ago. He has also been arrested several times for disorderly conduct and domestic violence. If Kellogg's felt they had to pull their endorsement due to their youth appeal, Disney CERTAINLY should have withheld theirs. It isn't unprecedented either - remember Disney used Trent Dilfer as the face of the Raven's Super Bowl win instead of Ray Lewis due to his legal disputes.
I believe Phelps and Holmes were treated differently by the companies and the media because we "expect" that black athletes and football players use marijuana because that is the "culture" that they come from. However, a white swimmer should "be a better role model". The whole story has strong undertones of prejudicial beliefs. To not hold Holmes to the same standards that we hold Phelps is saying that we don't expect as much out of him due to the color of his skin or the sport he plays. Someone like James Harrison, Ben Roethlisberger, or Hines Ward should have been used for their commercial, not Holmes.
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