Blondie's Last Night

Sunday morning I stood under the shower letting the warm water wash off the drunk from the night before. Hot water may have never felt so good.

Saturday night was Blondie's lingerie / Bachelorette party.

Per her request we had rented a cabin for the night. All the bridesmaids brought a tailgating dish and adult beverages. 

I got there early along with Blondie and Nashville Chick (who is another bridesmaid). We sat on the porch visiting and enjoying listed to the creek flow by down below. 

That was perhaps the only calm part of the evening!

Soon the other girls and guests began to arrive and the fun began!! I had prepared a batch of Pink Panty Droppers (a Vivi Special) for the party, the drinks were poured and the party began!

Blondie opened her scandalous presents. Some tasteful, some down right slutty. I of course was guilty of getting her the latter of the two. ;)

We have all been taking bets on how long it will be before Blondie gets knocked up so one of the other bridesmaids slipped in a pregnancy test with her gift.

I truly admire Blondie and her confidence. I myself am so shy that I'm practically a prude (sad but true). Blondie had invited her mother and future mother-in-law, who are both great, but I couldn't help thinking how uncomfortable I'd be opening these type of presents in front of my mom and future mother-in-law. Don't get me wrong I'm tight with both of them but no need to show "this is what I'm going to wear when I do your son later." lol

It went great though! Both mom's even participated in our little game of pin the penis! haha

We didn't have a blindfold so Blondie put one of her new presents to work........ (thanks to Conscious for the leopard print blindfold).

It was an interesting game to say the least..... and like usual Vixen won. We all think she cheats.

Then Vivi had to go and pull out the veil.

Now there is some back story to the veil. Everybody gets a turn with it! Giggles refused to wear it at her bachelorette party and we decided to leave it at the hotel. So when Vivi pulled it out several of us gasped in shock!

"The veil lives!"

Blondie takes one look at it, "Ah hell."

Yes this veil has a little bit of everything on it..... KY, Condoms, Empty Birth Control pack...... you name it!

Vivi also pulled out THE monster bottle of crown she bought on the last cruise we all went on together.

We all laugh and say that when we're 80 we are going to be sitting around on a front porch somewhere still drinking on this bottle of crown!

 It was a fun night and my only regret was not spending more time right here.....

Robin Scherbatsky: Check out what I got Lily for her shower! It's kind of racy; think you can handle it? 

Barney: I've been in a ten-way, so... yeah. 

~ How I Met Your Mother ~

Making The Best Of Any Situation

So I know I was a little frazzled last week (missed it? check here). Thanks for sticking with me. I appreciate all the comments and advice.

I have calmed down and decided to make the best of the situation. Cause really what else is there to do?

Maybe it will be fun planning stuff with Blondie.

With that said I made a few frantic calls last week securing in some details; afraid that some vendors may not want to work weddings two weekends in a row. I had done the research and had my first choices already selected. Just need to finalize the details.

I booked a photographer.

Double checked with the carter.

And confirmed with the DJ.

The only thing left I really needed to do was pick bridesmaids. This is the one part of the wedding I have stressed the most about. How can I possibly pick between my friends? I am close to them all in different ways. I love them all -- how was I to choose?

Well I came to a solution.

I wasn't going to choose. They were.

Perhaps it was unorthodox but I found myself last night typing an email to my nine close friends (Giggles, Vixen, Vivi, Hollywood, Babbles, Conscious, Nurse Betty, LC and Blondie).

I would sum it up but instead I'll just let you read the email:

Hi Everybody,

Ok so I'm sorry to send this in an email but I wanted to ask you all at one time and all of us being together at one time is a little difficult! 

The most difficult decision I have had when figuring out wedding details is picking bridesmaids. So I'm asking you to do it for me!! You are all my closest friends and there is no way I can choose between you. At the same time I know a lot goes in to being a bridesmaid - time as well as money. And it will not hurt my feelings one bit if some of you cannot be bridesmaids. I UNDERSTAND!!! There are other things I will need help with that day if you would like to be involved but not a bridesmaids. Or if you want to just show up and have fun and drink I'm cool with that to :) 

I can't really afford to pay for everyones dresses and I understand that money is tight with everyone now so I don't want to ask you and you say yes out of obligation but feel you can't really afford. Plus I know right now we are all at different places in our lives and that some of you may have to many other obligations. And I'm ok with that. It will not hurt my feelings one bit!! I promise!! :) Like I said though I love you all and there is no way I can choose between you.

Attached are the two bridesmaids dresses you can choose between if you do want to be one they are both $135. I know that is a lot and like I said I completely understand either way :) 

Love you all and look forward to hearing from you!!

~E

PS I know this is not normal. But you all know I'm not normal :)

As soon as I hit send I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I didn't want anyones feelings hurt if I didn't ask them, nor did I want to ask someone to be in it that really didn't want to be. Plus I know its expensive. And I meant it that my feelings won't be hurt either way.

Vixen frantically asks me what if everyone says yes?

I tell her that I will be thankful, honored and blessed to have my best friends in my wedding.

Still frantic she asks, "Does Marine have that many groomsman?"

"Probably not." I answer honestly.

"Well what will you do then?"

"Make it work. They don't have to match." I reply much to her horror I think.

I'm over stressing. I want our wedding to be beautiful - yet fun and relaxing. I can't control everything. Things will go wrong, I'm sure. But I'm happy knowing that day that I will marry Marine. Nothing else matters.

I'm ok with having uneven numbers. Two Bridesmaids per Groomsman. Doubt anyone will mind.

Sometimes things have to be a little imperfect for them to be perfect.

Double Booking Fiasco

There are 52 weekends in a year.

52.

Five - Two.

I announced in January 2010 that Marine and I had set a Wedding date for May 7, 2011.

That leaves 51 Saturdays in 2011.

Why then must Blondie choose the direct weekend before as her wedding date?

We just had back to back weddings - Giggles and Vixen's. Giggle's had planned her's for a year. Vixen announced her's four months prior.

We have the same friends. The same people are (and were) involved. It was a complete STRESS MESS!!! Not to mention a complete financial drain. I mean showers and parties for two of your best friends. Not to mention two bridesmaids dresses.

The only thing we all asked (our group of friends) was that the next two to get married could not do this back to back thing.

I try to nicely point this out to Blondie... "Everyone is going to kill us! We promised no more back to back weddings. lol"

Blondies response, "I don't really care! I'm tired of trying to work into everyone else's schedule! If they have a problem with it they don't have to come!"

Right now this post is coming out of sheer panic. And in reality this is not as big of a deal as it seems at the current moment. I know that.

But I need to vent. And it's my blog.

So what do I do?

I really do not want to put my friends thru this again.

I love Blondie dearly and I don't want to hurt her feelings. Her wedding day is such a special day. I want her to be able to enjoy it and not be stressing about the things that have to be done for the other wedding she will be involved in (mine). And vice versa.

So what do I do?

Do I change my date?

Only problem with that is that I picked the first weekend of May for a reason. I will break it down into 2 categories:

Life

• Marine get's out of the Marine's the end of March
• April will be an adjustment period as we get all his stuff moved back and try to get the remodeling stuff done at the house so we can get moved in
• By end of April this should all be settled so May is looking good

Weather - Marine and I have both agreed we want an outdoor wedding

• March is normally to chilly for an outdoor event
• April it tends to rain
• May - April showers are gone and the first hints of summer are in the air. Just enough to be warm but not hot. Perfect for an outdoor event.

Now you may read this and say - "What about another weekend in May?"

Nice suggestion but no. Marine's Marine roommate is getting married also in May. Marine is a groomsman. So in order to attend this wedding if we change our date to another day in May we will not be able to take a honeymoon till June.

We are taking a 7 day cruise for our Honeymoon of the Western Caribbean. The Honeymoon is the main thing Marine and I said we would not skimp out on when it comes to the wedding budget so taking a shorter cruise is out of the question {perhaps I'm being difficult but gotta put your foot down somewhere}. If we push the cruise back to June it will cost almost $300 more. Plus June is Hurricane season. And I for one really don't want to be out in the middle of the ocean on a big boat during a hurricane. But maybe thats just me.

So again what do I do?

Do keep our set date and put my friends thru the torture and hellacious ride of back to back weddings. AGAIN.

Or change it?


Note to Vivi: Input would be much appreciated since you will be apart of the madness

{Thank you listening to my rant. I promise to be normal again tomorrow. ~ E. }

Vixen's Fairytale Wedding

The time had come for yet another wedding weekend. 

Giggles and I met after work Friday to make a stop at the liquor store than to head to Vixen and VB's wedding rehearsal. This was my first time visiting the location and it was beautiful. 

But lets face the facts - Its June. In the south. Which equals hot, , Hot, HOT!

The rehearsal goes by rather quickly and then we head to the outdoor seating area for diner and sweet tea.

This was all fine and dandy but the fun begin when we got back to the cabin we were staying at for the night. We being Vixen and her bridesmaids - myself, Giggles, Blondie, Vivi, LC and Girlfriend. We changed into bathing suits and climbed in the hot tub. At the liquor store Giggles and I had purchased TGI Sex on the Beach (which is a premix with vodka already in it) we also purchased a bottle of vodka to mix with it. Giggles started making the drinks. We sat in the hot tub and told stories, laughed, and sang along with the radio. 

I couldn't tell you what time it was when we decided to call it a night. Nor could I tell you how many drinks that I had had. But I can tell you one thing, when I crawled in bed with Giggles and Vixen I had drank enough they voted to put me on the side closest to the bathroom while taken drunken bets on how long it would take before I made a mad dash to pray to the porcelain gods. 

Vixen and Giggles should know me well enough to know that I can hold my liquor.

I should have known well enough to not let make Giggles mix the drinks. 

And we all should have known better than to drink that much the night the night before the wedding.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda. 

The room was spinning when I went to bed and the next morning I was first awoken to the front door slamming and someone retching of the front porch.

Not exactly what you want to hear first thing in the morning.

As soon as you close the door it automatically locks. Something important that Girlfriend should have remembered. We heard her attempt to turn the turn knob. Giggles climbed out of bed and went to let her in and we all went back to sleep -- trying to get every spare minute that we could before the alarm went off. 

A short time later Giggles and I were awoken to Vixen jumping up and down on the bed yelling, "IT'S MY WEDDING DAY!!!!"

My head is spinning a little but I throw on clothes and the group of us head down to the lodge for breakfast. 

Now here I should state that Girlfriend may be a better friend than I could ever be!! Two weeks ago she tried on her dress and it would hardly zip. Her boyfriend told her (jokingly) that she wasn't going to be able to eat for a week in order to fit into it. Well Girlfriend literally did nearly that. Eating small portions so that she would fit into her dress.

Very little food mixed with ALOT of alcohol was a big mistake on her part. As we sat in the lodge - surrounded by a large church group I might add - Girlfriend takes a bite of some fruit and sips on some Sprite. A minute later she jumps up and runs out the door. We all look after her but none of us move. 

Somethings are better done alone.

At this point the church group gets up and heads outside.

Girlfriend appears a few minutes later... "So I'm puking behind the car when the entire restaurant decides to come outside." She does a blushing smug smile, "Pretty sure that secured my place in hell."

 ~~~~~~~~

After breakfast it was time for our bridesmaids gifts. Vixen had arranged for massages. A WONDERFUL gift.

She had a line up and we went in order and once done begin the long beautification process. And then it was time to head to the site and start getting our dresses on. For 8 bridesmaids and 1 bride in one small bridal suite I think we did rather well.

Vixen was stunning and her dress may as well have made especially for her. She was absolutely beautiful. 

Everything went smoothly and despite the rumors of it being the hottest day of the year it was still a beautiful wedding. 

Now as Maid of Honor I tried to ensure that things went smoothly. This meant that when the wedding bands were lost by the photographer (well perhaps misplaced is a better word) I was able to track them down without anyone being the wiser. When the best man popped a button off his tux jacket I was quick to snatch the jacket and button and find a safety pin and fix it so it looked good as new. When the Grandparent memory frame was floating around and no one knowing what to do with it, I tracked down the coordinator and told her where to place it. 

While I was taking care of these small details the other bridesmaids were helping Vixen to get ready and also putting out small fires of there own when we discovered one bridesmaid's had a bustle ripped on her dress.

To all of this Vixen was never the wiser.

Now remember Little Man, Hollywood's son. He was the ring bearer for the day. Before leaving him in my charge Hollywood promised if he behaved and did a good job she would take him and let him pick out a new toy. Little Man's Nana added to this saying she would also take him to the tack store to pick out something new for his pony.

Yes, bribing a two year old.

The time has arrived and it is time for the bridesmaids to line up outside. I hold Little Man's hand and we walk across the yard. I keep a tight hold on him because I know Little Man and I know as soon as I release his hand he will do what any two year old little boy would do ------ run across the yard with wild abandonment. 

I show him how to hold his pillow and I carefully explain to him that he will not walk down the aisle with me, but that he will follow me. "Understood?"

He shakes his little head yes, "Can I get a firetruck?"

He may be two but he is no fool.

"You mom said you could pick out a toy if you do good... but you gotta ask her," I reply.

He thinks about this for a minute. "A Mater truck?" 

"You'll have to ask your mom but I'm sure if you do good she will let you get a Mater truck."

We walk forward as another bridesmaid has started her walk to the ceremony site.

"I want the firetruck," He states.

"Ok well make sure you do good so you can get one," I tell him. "Show me how you're going to hold your pillow."

He holds his little pillow up smiling at me proudly.

Yeah this is not going to go well. Finally it is almost my turn. The coordinator is standing telling the next girl to go. "Little Man stand right here until its your turn." I say to him and then turn to coordinator, "You may want to hold his hand....he's a bit of a flight risk."

Vixen's sister snickers at this and then she begins her walk. It is now my turn and I head down the aisle. VB looks handsome and it is obvious how excited he is to be marrying Vixen.

Little Man and the Flower Girl make it down the aisle. Things are good. Vixen appears with her father and the head down the aisle where her father gives her away.

Little Man is standing beside me. I am now holding my bouquet and Vixen's bouquet in one hand and my other hand has a light grip on Little Man's shoulder.

All of a sudden he goes to make a run for it. I catch him the arm and his forward movement matched with my firm grasp sends him falling backward. 

I can't catch him.

He falls at my feet and is now looking up at me. 

The preacher has begun to pray and when I see the look on Little Man's face I start saying my own silent prayer that he won't scream.

"Little Man I am so sorry!!" I whisper as I pull him to his feet.

He never breaks eye contact with me. He holds up his fingers, "Two firetrucks."

"Ok you stand here beside me and do good and you get two firetrucks."

Yep, I had just been swindled.

The rest of the ceremony goes fine and then it's back down the aisle. We pose for pictures and then head inside for the reception.

The food was wonderful!! Best wedding food I have ever had. Hands down.

The cake looked like it had been taken straight from the pages of Modern Bride. Just like the rest of the day, it was perfect and exactly what Vixen had wanted.

But with every wedding day something must go wrong. The air conditioning in the reception hall was not working and given the formal attire and the hot humidity everyone was sweating. 

Trying to make the best of the situation the windows were thrown up and I tried to encourage people to dance. 

All the bridesmaids danced (trying to help Vixen think she had gotten her money's worth out of the DJ) and occasionally were able to con other friends into joining them on the dance but it was so hot that most remained seated. 

Before the cake cutting I stood and gave my speech. 

I was nervous as all get out but it went well and everybody even laughed at my jokes. 

To top the night off I also caught the bouquet.

Lily: [about throwing the wedding bouquet] It's such an evil tradition.

Ted: You're not gonna do it at your wedding?

Lily: Hell, yeah! I'm gonna take that flower grenade and chuck it to the crowd and scream, "Crawl for it, bitches!" It's just what girls do.

~ How I Met Your Mother ~

The Fling Before The Ring

 Reason To Carry Cash Number 27: 

someplace's you don't want to explain when they show up on your bank account.

I am about to break a cardinal rule, one that normally if you were told you would then be killed.  

I am about to tell about what happened at a Bachelorette party.

Saturday was a little hectic - but by 3 that afternoon Vixen, Giggles, Red and I were headed north. We checked into the hotel and were joined shortly by Blondie, Vivi, Girl-Friend, and Queen (our gay guy friend). 

The hotel suite was WONDERFUL (thank you Vivi!) and after a few rounds of drinks started to get ready for the night ahead.

Let me backtrack a minute... my first great idea of the night came on the drive up as I saw a billboard for Racetrac.

"Let's get icee's and mix them with vodka!" I suggested. 

GREAT IDEA... at the time. So we stopped and three of the four of us went inside to purchase Strawberry-banana icee's  and then once back in the car I dug around in my bag and pulled out the bottle of Grey Goose I had brought for the nights festivities. Delicious! 

So as we got ready we all pre-gamed before leaving the hotel and heading for the first stop. We had chosen a hotel downtown so we could walk as many places as possible. For diner we had chosen a fabulous brewery and grill. Over diner the eight of us laughed and drank. It was here that I had the best Rum Runner I have possibly ever had in my life, but for $8.50 had better been good! It was my treat to myself before switching to  $1.50 beer - and what a treat it was!

From here we bar-hoped drinking beer along the way and finally landing a local joint that had an 80's cover band scheduled for the night.


We danced, sang at the top of our lungs, and stood right up front like star crazed groupies. Giggles was laughing and everyone seemed to be having a good time. 


Red and I headed for the bar to get another drink and I hear someone yell my name..... I stop as I hear my name yelled again. I turn around and scan the crowd when a man standing in front of me shouts, "E?"


"Yeah...." I reply trying to get a good look at the guy who in the dim light and with the baseball cap I do not recognize.


And then it hits me as I see a woman approach his side. It's Marine's aunt and uncle who have also made the two hour drive to see the band. 

Small world.


We talk a minute and laugh at the coincidence before I wave goodbye and Red and I join our group again.


At this point I admit I am drinking heavily. I know where our next stop is and have decided I will be less uptight if I'm a little tipsy.

Everyone knows where we are going but Giggles. We leave the club at exactly midnight and walk outside to hail a cab. The 8 of us pile into the death cab mini-van driven by a 23 year guy who is apparently training for Nascar. 


Or maybe he was driving fast because two of the drunk girls are hitting on him and Queen is yelling from the back, "So girls or guys!?"


"Girls," He answers as he punches the gas.

"Awe well if you change your mind." Queen laughs at his own joke and the rest of us hold on for dear life as we take a curve on two wheels.


I thank the Driver as we get out and ask if he will come get us later. He gives Vivi a card but I suspect there is no way in hell he is coming back for our wild group.


We walk toward the door, and Giggles shrieks at the surprise as we enter the Gay Bar. The drag show starts at 12:30 and we are just in time. Exactly as planned.


We head up a spiral staircase and take places around the balcony area to watch the show. A voice booms over the speakers and the show begins.


OH MY!!!


Thats really all I can say. 


This was a totally new experience for me. And an interesting one at that; and one that left me with many unanswered questions --- I am so naive!


But let me admit I was also impressed!


"Is that a guy or a girl?" I whisper to Vixen.


She laughs hysterically, "A guy..."


"Well I wish I could move my hips like that!"


"Uh, yeah me to!" She replies.


We watch in amazement, cheering as one leaves the floor and another one enters. 


After the show we hang around for a bit dancing and drinking. Then the bartender snubs Blondie. Blondie is one of those loud-mouthed girls that after few drinks doesn't back down from a confrontation. We see the steam escape her ears and grab her and head for the exit.


From here we hop in a cab, not the same cabbie, and headed back downtown. 


Some how we ran into some guys from earlier that had been trying to hit on Girl-Friend and we follow them into a nearby joint. Pool tables fill the center of the room and tables and chairs are spread around the outskirts. The place is packed with local college students. 


The mood is not as fast paced as what we are wanting. So Vivi, Giggles, Red and I stand at the top of the stairs waiting for Blondie and Girl Friend to say goodbye to their new friends and this guy comes up. He introduces his-self to all of us, we all are polite but it's obvious we are not looking to hook up here. As he starts to talk to me I politely raise my left hand up to push my hair behind my ear doing it slowly enough and obviously enough flashing him my engagement ring. Boy is drunk and the subtle hint does not work. Neither does the silent treatment he is now getting from the rest of the group. 


Poor dude.


Girlfriend and Blondie stumble over and with a "nice meeting you" called over the shoulder, we head down the stairs and out of the bar. 


Outside we snap a few pictures and then head back to the hotel on a foot. It's only a few blocks but the few blocks walk seem even shorter as our laughter rang threw the streets. 


Once in the room some sat up in the living area of the suite but it was nearly 4 a.m. and I'll admit my head was ringing. I stumbled into one of the bedrooms and changed into PJ's and crawled into bed. 


The suite had 2 bedrooms and the one I had chosen had two queen beds - which were quickly full of Giggles and myself in one and Vixen and Blondie in the other. Apparently we aren't as young as we once were. lol


The next morning my head still was ringing and I really just wanted to come home and climb back in bed. 


But we are group of eaters and headed to the City Diner for lunch before heading home.


Queen to Giggles, "So how you feeling?"

Giggles, "I'm not as over hung as I thought I would be."

[Scene: Monica's apartment, where Phoebe's bachelorette party is taking place.]

Phoebe: (to Rachel) Thank you so much for this.

Rachel: Oh, d'you like it?

Phoebe: Oh my God, it's all so elegant! When's the dirty stuff starting?

Rachel: What?

Phoebe: You know, the strippers, and the guys dancing, and you know, pee-pee's flying about.

Rachel: Pheebs, I... there isn't gonna be any flying about! We actually thought we were a little too mature for stuff like that.

Phoebe: Oh, ok. I see what you're doing, that's fine. This is all there is, just tea, uh, ok. (she drinks her tea) Hmmmm... raunchy!

Rachel: Seriously Pheebs, it's not gonna be that kind of a party.

Phoebe: Really? So this is... this is my big send off in the married life? Rachel this is the only bachelorette party I'm ever gonna have! I've got a big wad of $1s in my purse! Really? I mean, really? It's just tea?

~ Friends ~

Fun and Laughter -- Just What The Doctor Ordered

Saturday night I attended a Blog Party. I have a friend who I greatly admire (one who I must give a name because she has been covered by my broad term GirlFriend up to this point - From this point forward she will be Red). She has more guts than I do, that is obvious.

She writes a blog - dating and humorous stories about her life - but instead of writing anonymously she proudly puts her name on it. I think half of our small town reads it and she has developed quite a following in less than 6 months. In away I envy her, wishing I was brave enough to not write anonymously. But honestly I like my screen and the ability to say (write) anything. 

Red considers herself pretty plus and always says, "God didn't make me skinny cause he knew I'd be a whore."

In reality Red is a knockout with a great personality - the total package. And a beautiful redhead if you couldn't figure that out by the name.  

Anyway, she had a Blog Party at a local restaurant and I attended for diner and laughs. The party went good -- as well as any non-alcoholic party can go that is. After the party some of us went to the pub for drinks. I meant to stay only a short while..... Giggles ducked out at 10 p.m. and I decided I would stay a little longer... but a short while turned into 1 a.m. and us stragglers heading to Waffle House --- Red, I, Guy Friend, Vivi, and a friend of Vivi's.

I didn't walk thru my front door till around 2:30 a.m. with 2 relizations:

1. I'm sososososososososo tired leading me to believe that I'm not as young as I once was

2. Well there is no two.

It was a much needed night of fun and laughter.

All that stuff I read about deployment may have been right. It said that the first few months its easy to get depressed. I thought that was a load of crap (to an extent), I'm such a positive person I figured that first stage wouldn't hit me so hard. I was wrong. Lately I've been a little down and out.... so I think a night of fun was just what the doctor had ordered.

Laurie, "Am I in a different conversation?"

Jules, "Almost always."

~ Cougar Town ~

April Showers ~ Where's My Umbrella?

April is the month for showers.... In my case baby and wedding showers.

Saturday: Giggles Wedding Shower

Sunday: Vixen's Wedding Shower

I am lucky enough (or cursed) to be both brides Maid of Honor. I love my two best friends dearly, but I think I speak for my whole group of friends when I say that we are about wedding-ed out!

Saturday evening was Giggles and her fiancée's couples shower. It was held in the banquet room of a nice Italian pizzeria. The menu was comprised of pizza, Blackened Chicken pasta, and an amazing looking salad (amazing looking because I don't eat salad ---- **Shock**, **Gasp**....... I know).

The food was delicious and all my favorite girls were in attendance: Vixen, Vivi, Babbles, Conscious, Blondie, and Nurse Betty.

Conversation was unfiltered and no topic was off limits. Just the way we like it!

I loved the center pieces - I really like hydrangeas, may have to consider them for my wedding.

After the shower Vixen, VB, Babbles and myself met up with a different group of friends to celebrate Marine1's Sisters birthday (again I have never given her a name ~ to many people to keep straight).

We met the group at a restaurant I had never been to before. The food looked good but we had just ate at the shower so I passed on diner. Afterward we went back to Girlfriends house and sat around visited and ate cookie cake.

Most people were enjoying hunch punch... and I was tempted to have a glass -- but my bed was calling my name and my house was a 30+ min drive.... so no drinking and driving.

The birthday shindig was a total blast from the past! Girlfriend had decided it was going to be a birthday party like those of our past. Many of us in attendance had been friends since pre-school and the birthday parties of our youth are quite infamous --- and unfortunately on video-tape.

In the basement Girlfriend had set up pin the tail on the donkey and a pinata. All the girls were required to be blindfolded and play while the guys watched and laughed. The winner won a special designed wine glass.

Definitely unexpected. But a change from the norm and made for a fun night.

Sunday was much of the same. Wake up. Feed horses. Let Harley out for some exercise. Then off to yet another shower!

Sunday was Vixen's family shower.

It was a different atmosphere; but the food was great and Vixen and VB got a lot of great gifts.

After the shower Vixen, VB and myself headed out side to take pictures by the river and the train tracks that ran behind the building where the shower was held.

The afternoon was beautiful and taking pictures of Vixen and VB made me miss Marine and the simple things, like enjoying the beautiful afternoon. But he will be home soon and once home I plan on taking him back to this spot and getting some cute couples pictures of us!

Monica: This is a great picture!

Chandler: Yeah, but I'm not in that one.

Monica: I know, but look at me, all tan!

~ Friends ~

Grab A Lizard By The Tail

Let me sum up my day Saturday:

1. Dining alone.... interesting.

2. You just haven't lived till you've grabbed a lizard by the tail --- literally.

3. New skill to add to the resume: knows how to put out small forest fires.

That is the highlights. Now for the in-depth version.

Saturday I traveled south to drop off the hellacious office printer (same one as this story) with the printer repair man.

While down that way I decided to meet up with College Girlfriend who has been calling wanting to hang out. So a lunch date was set. I spoke with her Friday and plans were still on.

Well she has one of those crazy city cell phone providers who only has service in weird metro areas. So I assumed she wouldn't have service when coming north to meet me, calling her phone and being sent straight to voice-mail confirmed my hypothetical theory. At least that is what I thought.

I enter the restaurant and ask for a table for two; might as well sit inside and enjoy a beer while I wait.

I wait and wait and wait. I was ten minutes early, she was now 15 minutes late. The waiter is eying me in pity.

Repeated calls all go straight to voice-mail.

Oh what the hell.

The waiter makes his way back over and I go ahead and place my order.

Ever since watching the Friends episode where Rachel debates dining alone, I decided that one day I hoped to have the courage to do so as well. So I added it to the Life List: Eat a meal at a sit down restaurant alone.

That has now been crossed off the list. Despite the fact I was eyed as the "girl who had a make-believe friend coming so it would look as if she weren't eating alone". That or maybe they thought I was stood up.

Me? I couldn't care less. It was actually kinda nice. Peaceful. Relaxing. A moment to just breath. Something I would do again.

From here I head to Vixen's to prepare for the couples shower for Vixen and VB.

VB is the only one there and is blowing leaves out of the driveway with a leaf blower.

I make my way to the gazebo to start arranging chairs and such. I grab a chair and in the process grab a lizard by the tail.

Not sure who freaked out more.

Me or the lizard.

I jump. He jumps.

Except he jumped the wrong way and has now jumped on me. I scream and jump again.

He falls to the ground and in terror runs one way. I do not run but watch as he flees, shaking myself to rid myself of any other unwanted guests. I DO NOT LIKE FOR THINGS TO JUMP AT ME.

If something jumps at me weather it be a lizard, mouse, or any kind of bug - I am going to scream like a little girl. Can't help it. It's like my natural defense mechanism.

I take a deep calming breath and turn around.

To see smoke billowing from the woods beside the house. I look down and see the leaves on fire.... and spreading quickly!

OH Sh*T, Oh SH*T!!!

VB is leaf blowing oblivious to anything.

"VB!!!!!" I scream from where I am above him now standing on the bridge that crosses the waterfall. "VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB!!!"

He continues to blow.

I race down the stairs frantically flailing my arms and screaming his name. As I approach he stops and takes the ipod earphone out of one ear.

"FIRE, FIRE, THE WOODS ARE ON FIRE!" I point.

His reaction was same as mine.

"OH SH*T!" He drops the leaf blower and Ipod and takes off running, grabbing his rake as he passes the house.

I run down the driveway, unhook the water-hose and start dragging it up the hill. I get to the spicket that is in close proximity to the fire only to be told that it doesn't work.

I drag the hose back down the driveway, hook it back up and turn it on.

I grab the end and once again start running up the driveway.

The hose has about a million holes it.

I am getting soaked.

And the hose has more knots in it than it does holes.

At this point the hose is useless and:

1) it more than likely wouldn't have reached the fire

and

2) if it did no water would have made it to the fire because it's all coming out the holes!

VB is still raking like a mad man. I rush into the house and start filling up the four pitchers that I had sat out for the party.

Once full I balance the four pitchers running out to throw the water on the burning leaves. I am on about the 4th lap of this when Vixen pulls up.

VB is still raking and between raking and me water racing we have things under control.

But not out.

Vixen takes one look at the situation, walks up the hill and flips a switch that is hidden in the outdoor power box.

Viola the broken spicket works!!

The hose is hooked up, and fire is out.

Vixen stands one hand on her hip eying VB and his melted plastic rake and me and my water splattered attire, "So? What happened?"

I'm clueless so I turn to VB, "Well I must have blown some of the ashes from the burn pile from last night. It was all out. Some of the bottom ashes must have been smoldering. Guess they hit the dry leaves........"

And well we knew the rest.

Vixen shakes her head. VB and I laugh as I tell the story of the discovery and admit that if we would have gotten our reactions on camera we so would have won America's Funniest Home Video.

Other than that the Couples Shower went off without a hitch. Fun night of friends, good BBQ, and some friendly corn hole. Ever played corn hole? Very fun!!

Giggles Fiancée And Blondie's Boyfriend

Somehow we always end up in the bathroom....

This is the goofy picture ~ Notice the dogs face,

I think that pretty much says it all!

Of course we always end up in the bathroom.... not using it but gathered around telling the latest news or gossip. Bathroom confessional so to speak.

Somethings never change.

Thank goodness!

And all of this happened Saturday. Very Eventful day to say the least!

Ross: You can't possibly do this alone.

Rachel: Excuse me?

Ross: Come on, Rach. I mean, you can't even eat alone in a restaurant.

Rachel: What?

Ross: I'm just saying, if you can't eat by yourself, how do you expect to have a baby by yourself?

Rachel: I can too eat by myself!

Ross: When have you ever?

Rachel: When certain people leave the table and I am not finished!

Ross: Well, certain other people take 2 hours to eat a bowl of soup!

Rachel: Oh, please, you inhale your food!

Ross: I grew up with Monica. If you didn't eat fast, you didn't eat!

~ Friends ~