General Weekend Musings
This long weekend has been relaxing and beautiful, just what I needed before I tackle two back-to-back work projects. There’s one down, though, and it was supposed to be the most stressful (knock on wood): we survived it just fine. During the entire project, I would look at the snooty academics I’m forced to deal with and just think: Dude, you’re paying for my wedding. I never realized that y’all look like dollar signs!
I find myself less and less annoyed by people’s idiocies. I find myself less and less concerned about getting everything “perfect” and making sure that our customers are “beyond happy.” I just don’t have the time or energy to make sure that the guy who likes Coke gets a Coke instead of a Pepsi. Our vendor sells Pepsi. I believe that procuring Cokes is the responsibility of the customer at this point, no? I’m very much through with rushing around, trying to find a solution — if it’s a participant’s fuck up, it’s not my problem. Sure, I’ll help within the reasonable, expected scope of my job, but I’m done with going above and beyond, and it’s very, very liberating. It’s also nice to go home and not be stressed at all about these things. Woot! I don’t think I’ve reached a point where I can honestly say that staying at my current position is now easy-peasy thanks to my new attitude, but it will help me get through the fall.
The long weekend, though, wasn’t work-focused at all. On Saturday, IP and I worked to secure little brother Mathgeek’s Amtrak ticket to visit us during Thanksgiving. I’m unsure of what Mathgeek will want to do while he’s here (hell, he’s at one of the most rigorous, exclusive colleges on the planet — if he wants to sleep, he can sleep), but we’ll figure something out soon enough. I asked him to think about what he may like to see in DC but he’s one of those kids who had a DC field trip in school, so he’s been there, done that. As for Thanksgiving dinner, we’ll go traditional if Mathgeek wants — we get as far as pumpkin pie, IP and I do, and then make whatever the hell else we want.
Following Mathgeek’s visit with be a visit in December from Mom and Dorkus for dress shopping. I think I’ve already detailed my excitement over that. Whee!
IP and I took the time this weekend to host a bar night, hit the gym, do some reading and writing, spend some time outside, and sleep. I was able to go for a four-miler yesterday afternoon, enjoying the setting sun and the cooler temperatures. I’ve finished yet another Jasper Fforde novel this weekend, leaving me sans-Fforde until a new tome of his comes out; in the meantime, I can pick up Sarah Vowell’s latest with the handy, dandy 15% off coupon that Barnes and Nobel sent me. When I finished the book this morning, I realized I needed to take a break and update this year’s book list; the list has about six books to be added to it, so I need to get hopping. Will I do it sometime soon, though? I certainly hope so.
Getting through some emails that I owed to people was also necessary, with College Friend L leading the pack as she had deigned to respond to me about a month and a half after I last spoke to her. Her email was pleasant enough, expressing excitement over my impending nuptials, and then offering to help organize anything for the wedding. I think I’ve said it before: she was auditioning for the role of Bridesmaid Number Three, which isn’t happening. She then regaled me with stories of all the guys that she’s into, which makes me once again think to myself: isn’t middle school over already? I wrote back a perfectly polite email, thanking her for her offer of help but explaining that there will be no bridal shower or bachelorette party—the logistics make it damn near impossible—and trying to give guy advice even though I don’t feel any investment in the friendship or her lovelife.
I of course spent some time wedding planning, mostly researching celebrants and contacting a couple. On Friday I received a call from one celebrant but she put me off almost immediately. She was a tad too sarcastic and was sort of rude when I asked her what would be the best time to call her back — she had reached me at work and of course IP was not present. I’m all for sarcasm but not when I’m thinking about having you perform my ceremony. IP and I are still researching this, so we’ll just have to get back to ya!
I put together an inspiration board (finally) and was very happy to see that I’ve been following something of a pattern when selecting invites, cake designs, and the like: I’m apparently going for a very geometric wedding with origami flowers thrown in for flowery measure. If that doesn’t sound like it works, trust me: it does. Even the mantilla that I like forgoes the classic lace edging for a be-ribboned look. I have to say that the most befuddling thing so far besides the music are the centerpieces — I really don’t know what I want even though a lot of my ideas could work. I also apparently want my hair half-up or completely down (NO UPDOS) on that day with somewhat loose curls, a dress that has a lightly beaded bodice with a full skirt (A-line, no ballroom gowns), and an empire waist is an option but not a necessity. IP gets to choose: navy or tan suit for the men (him, his two brothers, my two brothers, and our fathers).
The rest of today will be spent hitting the gym and grocery shopping; some time should be spent outside, too, before the long weekend finishes slipping away from us.
