leaping leprechauns... I'm back!

This time of year just makes me feel like this picture (taken on Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea of The Fiancé... my own little leprechaun)... happy and carefree. This feeling may be induced (ok, is induced) by my brief hiatus from all responsibility... hence, no blogging, no working, no anything, really. Everyone needs that now and then, no?

We just returned from the holidays in New England with The Fiancé's family. I must confess spending the week apart from my parents, sister, brother-in-law and Bailee was more difficult than I'd anticipated. If we could shrink the surface of the Earth and make both of our families live close to us and to each other, that would be ideal. But that's simply not our reality, so the new reality is holidays divided between families. If I said I didn't deteriorate at one point and consider jumping on a plane back home, that would be a lie. However, the feeling was more indicative of my love for my immediate family than any lack of love felt in The Fiancé's family.

...Besides, The Fiancé's family exchanges presents (we gave up gift-giving in my family recently [I was the lone hold-out the past few years still demanding gift exchange...] once it was agreed that it was silly to buy presents for sane adults who are capable of buying whatever they need when they need it... oh, and then there's that whole wedding they're throwing us this year, making a request for additional gifts seem a bit superfluous).

The irony of the whole his-family, my-family holiday celebration division took a backseat, however, to the realization that this year, The Fiancé and I become our own family. (Or as the Fiancé called us, "our own corporate entity"... You'd think he was the attorney, not me). The new-found awareness of this fact hasn't fully sunk in yet. But I confess the feeling is somewhat akin to that photo up there.

mea culpa

I know. I know. I have been a terribly delinquent blogger lately. This thing called life keeps getting in the way of my hobbies.

Anywho, know that I'm still here, albeit less frequently. Inspiration is hard to come by when it's a whopping 7 degrees outside and Spring (and our wedding) seem like they are incomprehensibly far away. Today, the inside of my nose actually crystallized as I was walking to the train to come to work. Now, if that doesn't scream "CHICAGO IN WINTER" I'm not sure what does. I truly think the deep freeze is passing through to my brain and sapping all creativity.

As soon as I thaw out [soon] I will resume regular posting. This could be in a couple hours, could be a few days. Who knows. Like sunshine in December in Chicago, you never know when (and if) it's gonna appear.

inquiring minds want to know

If one were to be in the market for a new couch, when's the best time of year to get a good deal? Anyone know? Is it true what they say that post-holidays is a prime time ?

...just in case ... one [i.e. me] might be shopping [for a big pretty leather sectional that she has her heart set on at Macy's...]...

puff puff give

I'm just sitting here getting high on shoes... Thought I'd share today's contender for The Wedding Shoe. [For those of you keeping track, I think we're on Contender #4...]

Meet Natalia. Courtesy of Elie Tahari and Zappos Couture. She seriously makes me short of breath. I mean, just look at her and her big pretty jewel.

Detail shot...

Mmmmm... can't wait for Monday when they arrive. Ooops. Did I say that? Yep, she did it again.

bye bye lil' bud

Let me tell You what happens when You suggest putting a single orchid on every plate at Your wedding reception dinner:

You are summarily shut down.

By Your father.

And Your mother.

And finally, happy to be on his future's in-law's team so impactfully, Your fiancé.

And in this summary and consistent rejection, You realize the absurdity of Your idea. Think about it.

One orchid. It is a living thing. Well, till You chopped it from its stem and put it on a plate, anyway. It will not last. Hell, it might be dead before the night's even over. Now you have a dead flower on everyone's plate. It's not a favor. But it arguably costs more than one. It's not edible. I don't think...

Your friend Judy could wear it in her hair, but really, do You want that? Envision not just Judy, but Patty and Sarah and Jen running around with flowers in their hair at your reception. Are You a hippie? Is it 1972? Do You want that? Better yet, picture Bobby. Ahhh...seven year old Bobby... dismantling Your pricey little orchid and shredding it all over sister-Lucy's dinner plate. Yeah, not so pretty.

And in these visions, You realize that yet again in this wedding journey, You may have lost Your way just a bit. Thank goodness You have a family unapologetic enough to reign You back in.

So, as with damask, today let Us bid adieu to the lowly plated orchid. I'm okay with it letting it go. Really. *sniff*

if only I invested in Geico

Today's chuckle:

"Beware of geeks bearing formulas."
- Warren Buffett

I'm in a two-day legal seminar on financial accounting for dummies [I mean lawyers]. Apropo of current times, no? [Ironic, considering I registered for this seminar in June... I wish I was so insightful with all of the investments I made in June...]

Our lecturer shared this quote earlier today. Maybe I'm giving away my latent nerdiness, but I think it's hysterical. Especially if you read the New York Times.

a priest drives by a CVS...

"There's the CVS I go to. They have this delightful little Minute Clinic - you can see a nurse practitioner without an appointment. Very convenient," says Fr. Noah, our priest, as we drive by the CVS near his home after taking him out to dinner this past Saturday night.

"Yes, well, it's both good and bad," says The Fiancé. "The Minute Clinic is also where the thief who stole Bailee's Bride's wallet charged up about $200 in drugs."

"Oh, how horrible!" exclaims Fr. Noah.

Conversation about the mediocrity of thieves ensues.

"You know though, the Minute Clinic is very convenient," Fr. Noah reiterates some time later. "I called my doctor - he's an internist, lovely fellow, very bright, professor at I.U. - in January and asked for an appointment? He couldn't fit me in till March!"

We all agree with the difficulties in obtaining physician's appointments. I think to myself, wow - the doctor turned away his priest? Note to self: don't do that when priest calls for legal help.

"See, the Minute Clinic, you can walk right in. Get your prescription filled and everything." This man clearly loves this place. "When my doctor told me I'd have to wait three months to get an appointment with him, I told him, 'Thank goodness us priests don't require appointments for last rites. Wouldn't that be unfortunate.'" Deadpan.

Did I mention I love this man and can't wait to hear his homily at our wedding?!

Priest: 1 point.
Doctor: zero.