Thanksgiving and Orange Friday

This Thanksgiving was super chill and just perfect. There was a good turkey dinner, of course, time by the fireplace, some Atari (I may or may not rock Pole Position with my 40,000+ points), and a little reading. Good times.






On Friday, we painted a boring white wall a beautiful rusty orange.




















Saturday, some friends came up and I managed to lose at Boggle and Scrabble but did manage to hold my own, eh hem, at Pole Position.

Wine Party

Christina and I had our second annual wine party. So much fun! We had a big turnout, so naturally lots of wines to try.

My Encounters

Recently, I went to the Dr's Office for an "annual." It's a dirty word and not really an enjoyable experience. I hear my name called as I wait in the lobby. I hop up, head to the door and waiting for me is an old client. There were some awkward exchanges. I minimize my discomfort as she measures my height, takes my temperature and my weight all the while wondering how I will demand she not be anymore involved in my appointment. She reports she is doing well and I try to recount her compliance. I was the most uncomfortable while she flipped through my medical file. She left to get the Dr and I didn't see her again until the end of my appointment, when she returned with a large needle - to give me a long-over-do tetanus shot. I don't "believe" in Karma, but if I did.....

While walking out of the courthouse a nice enough looking man asked me if he could exit out the employee only doors. I assist him by scanning my card. He's chatting it up on his cell, holds the door for me, finishes his phone call and then thanks me for my help. He then inquires if I will assure that he gets to his car safely. Is he flirting with me? Is he an employee? Is he a defendant who just got out of court for a violent crime? I am a "better-safe-than-sorry" kind of gal and keep things real distant, short, curt. After I shoot him down, he finally says, "do you work at probation? I just started today."
I am a jerk! I am rude! How will I ever meet nice boys if I assume they are all criminals?!

Today, while on my way out for lunch I waited at a crosswalk. Out of the blue a man stands next to me and starts conversation by telling me, "did you hear they think they found Noah's ark?" He proceeds to explains where it was found, how it was recovered from a mudslide and was pushed further down some mountain by a lava flow. Nice enough man (and after my co-worker blunder - see above - I'm working on being a little less defensive) but it was taking me off guard. He talked to me all they way across the street and a good way down the next block. "wow!" "really?!" "huh?" were my responses. I ask him, "is this breaking news today?" I thought maybe he had just seen it on fox news and couldn't wait to dialogue with someone. "No, it's been out for a while." Hmph, no explanation on why he was sharing it with me....today. Perhaps it was an exercise for an Evangelism Explosion class. He plugged a website - maybe it's his own and he wants more hits. I'm not sure... maybe he was an angel and God wanted to remind me of His promise.

The Wedding

I am pleased to write that the out of state wedding that has consumed me was a smashing success. It was my first role as a maid of honor, MOH, as my bride coined it. I will miss referring to myself as "mo." I have to say it was a lot of work, and I wasn't even around for most of the planning. But, shortly after I arrived on Wednesday until the end of Saturday, I felt like I was earning my keep. I was not prepared for what exactly a full mass would encompass and was a little overwhelmed when the rest of the wedding party sat while myself and the best man stayed with the bride and groom on the stage. It gave "standing beside you at your wedding" some serious meaning. I was close to those vows. There was plenty of discomfort upon realizing I had no program and didn't know what I should be saying, responding or singing. I did a lot of smiling. There was one part where the bride and groom went to a side room to lay a bouquet on the alter of Mary. I was to follow behind them. I felt like a strange chaperon, like they shouldn't be alone until it was all "official." According to 2 of the groomsmen I made a priceless face as I turned back toward the crowd for some sort of direction as to how long we were to hang out in this room - the three of us scratching our heads, trying to figure out when to return. I also did the horribly non-catholic response when the best man blessed me with with a "peace be with you" I replied, "thanks." What a goon! We rode to the church and reception in a pimped out limo. I do love the limo - but always struggle to climb in and out without flashing everyone. I was also responsible for trailing behind the bride, carrying her train. It's a humbling experience... and I had to ignore the photos being taken which I'm sure are not the least bit flattering of me - it wasn't my day. I was nervous about my toast - but feel I did well, and strangely enough, had guests tell me it was one of the better MOH toasts they've heard. It must be the influence of my Toastmaster attending father and I'm sure the drink beforehand didn't hurt. There was a great dance hall and the groom had a big turnout of highschool friends - so the dance floor was packed. I even got to slow dance with the best man, who was gentleman enough to ask me. Totally weird to watch your junior highschool friend get married. You say things like, "when I get married, you're like totally going to be my maid of honor" when you're 12 - but when it's actually happening it's fairly surreal.
I did really well being very happy for them throughout the whole weekend. It wasn't until Sunday morning, while I waited 3 hours at the airport, emotionally and physically exhausted, that I began to feel sorry for myself, for being single, feeling overlooked and somewhat hopeless, and I silently balled as I watched planes land and take off. Very dramatic. No worries... a couple of naps and a layover later and I was mostly recovered. No one deserves love, it is a blessing. Should we all be lucky enough to find it.