batteries charged

As soon as this knot is tied, I will (in addition to watching copious amounts of television) write some much-needed descriptions of how the wonderful people have spoiled me with their kindness and generosity. Seriously, there is no way to describe how touching it is to feel so very very loved. I cannot say that enough.

This past weekend, highcon and ri (and her husband, c) flew me out to NYC (with Jon) to hang out as a last hurrah before the wedding. This was planned way before Hurricane Irene was even on the radar, but last-minute enough that I had to scramble to get a day off. Yes, we still have twelve kajillion things to do and had no business going anywhere, but I'll be honest, I think I was so overwhelmed and a little burnt out that I wasn't being very productive at all.

The fact that Irene kept us inside and playing cards all weekend really gave Jon and I a break from me: freaking out about, and he: having to hear me freak out about all the stuff that has yet to be done.

We did venture out a couple of times for provisions, and ended up standing in superlong lines to scrounge for stuff on shelves that looked like this:

 All the stores were pretty much like this.

And the lines at the registers were out the door.

Manhattan didn't end up getting any severe damage aside from flooding, but I understand there are areas of the east that bore the brunt of the storm. I am sending those people many good vibes, especially the ones whose homes washed away. Mother Nature can be so cruel sometimes.  My brother is still angry with me because I essentially had made him drive out of Alabama to Houston during their last hurricane threat and yet I pretty much flew into the path of Irene. He says I have lost the right to order him to evacuate when he is in potential danger. I don't think the boy understands the rules of Older Siblings. Do as I say, brother. Do as I say. 

The day after they lifted the evacuation ban, we walked (or rather we were blown there) down to the Hudson in some SERIOUS wind that we would have expected during the "tropical storm" that it got downgraded to, not after it. So we seized that opportunity to take some cheesy pictures.

So, in sum: We are recharged and ready to face the challenges ahead!

apparently there is a word for this

And it is Decision Fatigue.

The New York Times had an article about it that came out last week, exactly a month before we're supposed to do this whole knot-tying thing.

Here's a small excerpt that particularly spoke to me:

The idea for these experiments also happened to come in the preparations for a wedding, a ritual that seems to be the decision-fatigue equivalent of Hell Week. At his fiancée’s suggestion, Levav visited a tailor to have a bespoke suit made and began going through the choices of fabric, type of lining and style of buttons, lapels, cuffs and so forth.
“By the time I got through the third pile of fabric swatches, I wanted to kill myself,” Levav recalls. “I couldn’t tell the choices apart anymore. After a while my only response to the tailor became ‘What do you recommend?’ I just couldn’t take it.”

As I've taken to saying (btw, theknotdotcom tells me that there are some 24 days left), I would gladly plan anyone else's wedding because it would be up to somebody else to DO THE DECIDING.

Finally we have some sort of scientific proof that I haven't completely lost my marbles.

33

On a normal day, I'm extremely reluctant to go to bed (which often leads to my falling asleep unwillingly in the middle of a conversation/a compelling program/dinner). But today was one of those days that I REALLY don't want to go to bed, for that would mean this day would be over. 

Truly, I am one of the most blessed people out there. So much so that I'm paranoid something terrible is coming my way to counterbalance how wonderful the people in my life are.

But you can't predict the future, and I'm trying not to worry too much about things beyond my control. So in the meantime, I'll just appreciate how great it is to be spoiled ROTTEN. I love you, everyone. Thank you so much for your love and kindness, today and every day.

 

photo by Jonathan Muller

Angel 07 made me this very special cookie. It's too cute to eat!

updates--details to come another day

I think about blogging often. And then I feel guilty about not doing other stuff that *needs* to get done asap. And then I either fall asleep or get distracted and don't do any of that.

Things have been go go go lately, so I don't even have much time to think, let alone put a coherent post together. But I love all two of you who read here and I miss you terribly.

on to the updates!

1) Jon had two weeks off, during which we had planned on getting everything done. oh, how naive we were.

2) Our roommate, madelyn, is cool, especially since her *room* is a cordoned-off dining area.  The three of us work in shifts, so it works out pretty well.

3) Some of our wedding invitations are coming back and not being received, so that's heartbreaking, because the person who printed them did a fabulous job and we want everyone to get them! We have not heard from the majority of our guests, and I keep thinking a handful of people are going to have to find room in their stomachs for A LOT of Indian food.

4) We are very nearly through with all the booking/contracting portions of this wedding-planning business. Which is great, because having to depend on other people pretty much guarantees that you have to have your stuff together at a reasonable hour. Let the procrastinating begin!

5) CC moved to Chicago! She was originally going to be here just the summer for a freelance gig, but they obviously realized how awesome she is and begged her to stay for a salary. She has been instrumental in making sure I'm not procrastinating too much.

6) We had our engagement photos taken last week. Our photographer is so awesome that he was battling a 102+degree fever and still did our shoot because the weather was bearable that day. I really appreciated that, because I think my coworkers are going to start taking toes for all the days I've requested off in the next two months. But nothing is worth sacrificing your well-being. His fever went to 105, but he's seen a doctor and is feeling better, thank God.

7) We had the most awesome shower ever. Seriously. PP, CC and Ri helped my mom and together made such a wonderful day. We were absolutely overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. Unfortunately, there was one gift that had no card and I'm trying very hard to try and thank someone for it and no one is stepping forward.

It came in this. Anyone? I'd love to send you a thank you card.

8) It's REALLY FREAKING HOT outside. Even for tropical people like myself.

9) Team Cadiz and friends are taking me to Las Vegas this weekend. I cannot convey how excited/touched I am at all the trouble everyone has gone for to make me smile. I love you all!

10) Regular posting should commence soon. I really have missed you guys.