judini

Spent the evening in an Executive Suite at the Timberwolves game with Matt and Jen enjoying free food and drinks! It was a super fun night!

Matt and Jen are getting married September 6th and we spent most of the night purging wedding information (and complaints of costs, caterers, and cakes). I was sorta addicted to talking about it - it felt so good to release some of the energy that is created from the whole crazy wedding extravaganza with friends who are going through the same thing!

Oh, and I don't think I watched more that 10 minutes of the game - in case you were wondering.

We were gone for almost four hours and were a little worried about Judy being in the kennel for that long.

I opened the back door and to my amazement Judy greeted me with her wagging tail and licking kisses.

WAIT. WHAT. WHY are you OUT of your kennel????????????

I walk into the living room and see that her kennel door is on the floor as if it just fell right out of its place.

Jake and I cannot figure out how the heck she got this door out of its sockets - it took us 20 minutes to get the door back on.

Judy was out of her kennel for who knows how long roaming the house at her own free will.

I wonder what she did? Did she run around crazy knowing that she had total freedom? I bet she slept on the couch. I would give anything to have a video tape of her escape and her hours of freedom. We checked everywhere and there were no accidents and no chew bites on any furniture. She didn't even eat the dish towel. Do you think she was trying to prove to us that she can be trusted?!

We have decided to call her Judini from now on!

piano man

Watched Once last night.
Happiness and joy and beautiful music was exactly what I needed to see, hear, and feel.

Piano man was on the streets of Seattle when I visited last spring.
Happiness is all around us....isn't it?

yellow football

wedding update 2

Here is wedding update number two. If you care. Hi Mom.

So we had the meeting with the photographer yesterday - she is wonderful and her style is a great match with us. Should be working out the details soon. Made appointments for two different cake tastings - OMG - this is going to be fun! I love cake. Will be doing our catering tasting for lunch next Tuesday and finalizing the menu soon after - Chowgirls is our caterer and they are awesome. Contacted an officiant - waiting to hear back from her - her e-mail ends with "askawoman.com" - very cool. We continue to look at the guest list and make those hard decisions about who we really want to invite. It all comes down to money which is a hard reality to accept. I have never thought about money this much in my life. Decided not to do Save the Date cards because everyone who should know our date knows already (June 28th just as a reminder). Have searched and searched for dresses for Katie and Cassie --- trying desperately to find a "color" but just cannot find anything I really like. This is my biggest struggle right now because a dress will most likely affect the "color scheme" --- Blah blah blah.

My friend Abigail sent me the best book ever - Offbeat Bride - it is hilarious and super fun!

growling

My stomach is growling and it is only 11 o'clock. I ate a Clementine this morning and gaged down some yogurt. Did you know that yogurt makes me gag but I know that it is good for me so I keep on eating it. Most of the time I just want an old fashioned glazed cake donut. Judy growls when we try to pull her by the collar into the kitchen because she won't come when we call. She thinks she is the pack leader the alpha dog. Little does she know how good she has got it - Jake home all day, agility classes every week, new toys to chew and play with, and us - who give her ATTENTION and throw the damn football every 5 seconds so she can catch it in her mouth and have us throw it again and again. I am hungry. Going to Punch for lunch meeting a photographer. Am anxious to see her photographs and see how much she charges because holy shit weddings are expensive.

Just had a conversation with a friend...we cannot figure out how these women (that surround us everyday) do it all. They might not actually do it all but it sure the hell seems like they do. They read books and think critically about them and then have real conversations about them. They cook meals using real food and have a clean house. They raise children and keep in touch with friends. They volunteer they come to events they go to the theater they exercise. I come home and get excited to watch Project Runway. I don't say yes to things because I have built a brick wall of perfectionism and self doubt. I know that life is one day at a time one step at a time one decision at a time but how do I move forward if I can't get past the wall? I hate the wall and I hate that I am selfish.

I have slowly started to crawl over it...even if it doesn't sound like it.

depths of despair

Did I mention that Jake caught my virus last week? He was down for the count just like me. Did I mention that Judy had major abdominal surgery on Monday and will have to wear a cone on her head for 10-14 days? She continues to bump into furniture and scratch her ears to no avail. Did I mention that Jake sprained his ankle climbing last night and we don't have a real ice pack in the house. Did I mention that I have a migraine and I cried driving to work this morning because I am in the depths of despair?

our house, is a very, very, very fine house

You know the song - Our House - by Crosby, Stills, and Nash? Just watched an interview with Crosby on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday. I love that show. I took these photos a few weeks ago....the house was CLEAN and you gotta capture it when you can. We finally took the tree down last weekend and it is now in the backyard trying desperately to cover up the neighbors permanent classy white Cadillac with the smashed window backyard decor. Anyway, Judy loves to eat the branches and some of them are now missing. Please don't think I am conceited for using the lyrics as my blog title, I can't help but love that line. Welcome to my life.

from both ends

Around 7 pm Monday night it started and I haven't been the same since.

I did not know my body had that much crap inside of it at one time and for twelve solid hours it all left me. From both ends. At the same time. It was horrible.

We can't quite figure out what happened? Food poisoning? Rota virus? Stomach flu?

I didn't eat a thing for 36 hours and still really can't look at food - a few saltines and spoonfuls of applesauce. My body is weak and achy.

I can't even remember what it feels to be normal.

grass is always greener

Lately I can't help but think that the grass is always greener on the other side of. EVERYTHING.

wedding update 1

So yeah, we are getting married in like, OH, I don't know - like 5 1/2 months.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like we haven't done a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g but let's just say that last Friday we actually scheduled time on Sunday to "think" about the wedding.

Here is a list of things we have done -

Found a venue - online. We haven't actually seen it in person. Picked a caterer. The first caterer we found. Have two meetings scheduled next week - one for a photographer (that I am almost 99% positive we will go with - she is the only photographer we have contacted) and a flower consultation with the owner of the flower farm. We were told to have our "color" picked out before this meeting but this is proving to be very difficult. We are much better procrastinators and our thought is that the color will pick us.

Cross your fingers.

There are many decisions to be made (like finalizing the guest list, designing the save the date cards, renting the tents, chairs, tables, dishes, sound system, wedding cake, music, invitations, oh my) and we are trying to take it all in stride. Enjoy the process, you know? These updates make my Mom happy so I will continue them in the coming months.

Any thoughts on colors?

p.s. I also have a dress!

just reach

My mind is blank.
My confidence is wasted.
My words do not speak.

I do not have the answers to your questions.
I do not have the answers to my questions.
Do I have the desire to change?
Do I have the courage?
My mind is racing.
My confidence has been tested.
The words begin to flow.

The answers are always there.
Just reach.

peek a boo

the girls and avery!