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We win!

Published January 5, 2011 life and pups , local 7 Comments

So, we’ve come full circle really: pumpkin to the wedding.

What a great (and entirely exhausting) weekend! Aaron and I had the greatest wedding ever! Ok, well, maybe not, but it was exactly as I wanted it to be, minus a couple of people who could not attend. I thought it was really warm (sometimes too warm, really — we couldn’t find the thermostats), intimate, fun, cozy, friendly, loving and just…well, sweet. The ceremony was brief — Aaron read his cute vows, I read mine, Maggie figured out how to untie Sarayu’s knot on the ring pillow, we exchanged rings, Maggie the Minister announced our marriage and we all toasted with champagne! Ta-da! Then we dug into Aaron’s delicious carnitas and Bloom Bakeshop’s amazing cupcakes. Yum! [Sidenote: I could not recommend Bloom more — the owner is an absolute delight to work with, the cupcakes were gorgeous and taste-a-licious (I thought I might die when eating my cookie dough cupcake), and she readily made a couple gluten-free treats for my gluten-sensitive friend. Also, I didn’t even specify ANYTHING for her — just two gluten-free — and let her do what she does best: make delicious, and fun, cupcakes. Four thumbs up!]

The night went along and we played games, chatted, ate, drank, lit sparklers, Steve lit many sparklers at once causing the most disgusting blister I have ever seen, toasted to 2011 and finally went to bed. On Saturday, we were all treated to the World’s Most Amazing Breakfast (WMAB) courtesy of Terry & Steve. The b-fast included hot items, cold items, protein, carbs, starches, dairy, fruit, coffee, eighteen kinds of juices, bloody marys, mimosas, and leftover cupcakes galore! It was truly spectacular.

Then came the Rose Bowl. We’ll gloss over that part because, really, who cares. Hot dogs, leftover carnitas, hot hors d’oeuvres, more drinks, more games and more celebration carried the day (and evening).

On Sunday, almost all folks hit the road. I cried a lot when Sarayu left; I felt so grateful for her coming all that way to spend time with us. I felt that way about everyone, of course, but it hit me particularly hard to see my Little Indian head out to head home. Four of Aaron’s friends stayed until Monday, though, which meant Go Packers! Go Post-season! Go Sister Bay Bowl! And Go Kate & Aaron are up until 2 am again! Zoinks.

Monday morning came fast and the six of us acted like a well-oiled machine to get the house back in order for the Incredibly Strict Owner’s scrutiny. We had to be out by 10 a.m., but we beat the buzzer by at least 15 minutes. The ride home was rough — Gracie and Aaron and I all had a hard time keeping our eyes open. I really don’t think I’ve ever been so tired in my life. Aaron was a champ with the driving (I suggested we ask if Rosendale had a secret hotel somewhere) and we were home before 3 pm. We unloaded the car (and by “we” I really mean Aaron), which was even more full than when we drove up, if that’s possible. I took a nap and was still down for the count before 10 pm.

Best weekend ever? For me, definitely.

A special thanks goes out to Gwendolyn for her beautiful flower arranging; Heather for the last-minute chip run; Jane for making the world’s most beautiful ring pillow; Maggie for being an incredibly flexible and sweet minister; Terry and Steve for hauling our loads of crap, helping out in every possible way and for hosting the WMAB; my mom and Severa for the cupcakes and hors d’oeuvres; Mike, Jess, Stacy & Zach for the clean-up help; Sara & Chuck for not killing us for being short a room; CJ for letting Sara & Chuck stay with her; and Sarayu for best all-around: she did my make-up, she listened to me complain and didn’t get angry when I snapped, she did my hair, she slept in a different room every night of her stay, she slept on a couch, she bought me batteries, she brought me prosecco, she made my martinis (are you seeing a theme) and she had my back every time I needed it. Which was kinda a lot. I’m incredibly blessed to have the friends and family I do. I am so lucky. And I’m so very lucky to have Aaron. He’s a true gem.

And Gracie is the best dog ever.

Hello

Published November 22, 2010 bling blog , life and pups 8 Comments

I am really kicking myself for taking this long to make a new post.  I have had lots of ideas for topics, but have yet to sit down and write about any of them.  As you may have noticed.  I’m really just writing this post so that you don’t forget about me or give up on me (I’m hoping that you haven’t already). 

In my defense, November has been a rough month.  It’s the month where I really remember that winter is coming again and that it’s going to be dark too much of the time.  Even when it’s day, it’s dark.  And then there was the election, which was incredibly disappointing.  It’s not a good time to be a State worker.  Sometimes I can’t believe that my parents, one a State attorney like me and the other a social worker for the county, raised a family in Nakoma — they had a nice house, good meals, sent me to camps and college…I can barely afford my one-bedroom condo.  Anyway, yes, the election.  And I got some disappointing personal news, as well.  So, not a good month.

I am trying to look on the bright side, though.  Aaron and I are hosting 15 for Thanksgiving on Thursday and continuing to plan our New Year’s Eve party, which this year will be in Door County and will include a wedding.  Here’s to hoping December is a beautiful month!

[Addendum: yesterday’s game was fantastic!  While I think firing Childress is probably the right thing to do, they really need to bench Favre.  That Jackson looks like he could be a good quarterback, but he’s never going to be as long as the Drama King stays in the game.  The problem with benching Favre, though, seems to be that he might not come out — he doesn’t appear to listen to anyone — so then they’d have a 12-men-on-the-field problem.]

Pause to rant

Published September 28, 2010 bling blog , life and pups 21 Comments

What I really wanted to post, what I intended to be my next post, was a love letter to the great state of Wisconsin and, specifically, a note to the city I call home, Madison.  But I have to hit pause on that while I complain about something going on in Wisconsin.  His name?  Ron Johnson.

Who is this idiot and why is he, supposedly, faring well in the polls?  I cannot understand this.  I get that the economy sucks, which is never good for incumbents, but Ron Johnson?  What in the hell is going on?

It goes without saying — though I will — that Wisconsinites should be extremely proud to call Russ Feingold their Senator.  There is no one finer.  At least no one who is willing to run for such a major office.  But even if he were merely mediocre, what is the meaning of the world when Ron Johnson is running a campaign that people are taking seriously?

Johnson’s latest?  Oh, this is good.  This is Onion-quality good.  He tells us that he is going to put a “cap” on federal spending in some areas.  Where?  Oh, he won’t say.  He doesn’t want to be “attacked.”  WHHHHHAT the WHHHHHAT?  So, here is a guy running for the United States Senate on the Republican ticket who tells the great people of Wisconsin, “I’m going to put a limit on how much the United States spends in some programs, but I can’t tell you which programs because I’m scared someone will be mean to me.  It’s a secret!  Shh!!I don’t want anyone to get mad at me while I’m running my campaign.  But once I get into office, BAM!  There goes education!  Or there goes infrastructure!  There goes defense!   But you won’t know until I get there!  For now, you just have to guess!  And vote for me!  Hee hee.”  How in the hell is this a serious campaign?

Once again, America, you have me baffled.

More miscellany

Published September 22, 2010 life and pups , movies , tv! 16 Comments

Aaron and I saw The Town yesterday.  I liked it; Aaron was not overly impressed; and Sarayu should think twice before she sees it as there’s a lot o’ violence.  I thought it was a pretty fun nail-biter, though the ending was a little…well, soft.  Ben Affleck has really turned out to be quite a good director, in my — sniff sniff — insignificant opinion.

There’s no one I really like on Project Runway this season.  At least not yet.  I don’t like Gretchen or Ivy, obviously.  I like Michael somewhat, but I can’t tell if it’s only because everyone is so mean to him.  But there’s no Andrae or Chloe or Leanne or Daniel(s).  There’s no certainly no Santino!  And although I don’t like Gretchen and Ivy, I can’t even get that excited about not liking them, which could happen from time to time with folks like Kenley or, you know, Santino.  We’ll see.

Also, a word on sighing.  Yes, sighing.  I looooooooooooooove the sound of Gracie’s sigh.  It’s just so adorable.  And so confusing to me.  Why does she sigh?  Ben once told me that she sighs for the same reason I sigh.  Hmm.  Is that true?  Why do I sigh?  Maybe I’m not aware of how often I sigh.  I think of sighing as a sign of exasperation or forlornment or resignation or fatigue or sometimes, contentment.  It also seems like something one usually does on purpose.  But Gracie’s sigh doesn’t seem deliberate.  It just seems…calm.  Like she’s really at peace.  Like she can really settle down and is letting it all go.  Like she’s telling herself, “Look, the mail already came so you are done with the barking job of the day, your people are both home and safe, the dog next door is inside his house and not in your backyard.  You can now rest.  Good job.”  So cute!  My favorite sound.

Bad start

Published August 10, 2010 craptastic treatment , life and pups 5 Comments

This morning I took Gracie out for a walk around the block in this absolutely nasty weather.  I am not usually on the morning walk shift, but Aaron is out of town this week so I’m all dog duty, all the time.  It’s really not a big deal, of course.  Anyway, so as Gracie and I were rounding third, I noticed a dog and its owner were jogging towards us and going in the same direction we were headed.  The dog + owner were still about a half a block away so Grace and I walked a few steps and I checked again.  Obviously, we were not going to be able to make it home before they passed us, so I choked up on the retractable leash, had Gracie stand on the terrace part of the grass — smelling every blade — and waited.  I kept my eye on Grace.  Maybe that was my mistake.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the woman and her dog running and they were just out of arm’s reach.  I think they startled Gracie, so she growled and lunged and the other dog growled and snapped and we (the owners) pulled the dogs away from each other and the woman + dog continued on with their jog.  The whole thing lasted maybe three seconds, though that seems exaggerated.  As the woman + dog are jogging away, the woman continues to glare back at us and I hear her say to her, apparently very intelligent, dog, “Are you ok?”  Then after another couple of steps into their jog, she stops and examines the mouth-area of her dog, apparently looking for the savage bite Gracie inflicted.  I think I said aloud, “Come on!” 

Here’s the thing: I know I am not the best dog owner in the world.  And I know my dog had a life on the streets that I know nothing about.  And I know she can be unpredictible around other dogs.  Usually she’s a-ok, but every once in awhile — and after six and a half years I still can offer no prediction as to when it will happen — she meets a dog who looks at her wrong or something, and she snaps.  I take her to the dog park all the time and it’s never happened.  But sometimes when we’re out for a walk, she snaps at another passing dog.  Maybe even one that’s across the street.  Sometimes, though, she completely ignores another dog that is barking relentlessly at her.  I have no idea what she’s thinking or intuiting or feeling or whatever it is.  Maybe she gets some signal or maybe she’s just in a bad mood or maybe it’s some weird thing about the leash…The point is that I don’t know.  What I do know, though, is that it can happen.  And for that reason, when the woman + dog came running towards us, I did what I could to mitigate the situation.  The woman, however, did not.  She did not slow her run while she approached an unknown dog from behind.  She did not run further into the lawn to give the dogs space.  She did nothing that, in my opinion, she should have done.  And having done nothing, she then blamed me.  Look lady, you ran up on an unprepared, unknown Gracie.  What did you think would happen?  Ugh.

And don’t get me started on the woman on the bus this morning who had a screaming toddler in a stroller.  The screaming toddler was one thing, but the woman ignoring the tot to text for five minutes was quite another.  And then what happened?  I’ll tell you what happened.  Finally — she must have been through with texting — she turned her attention to her toddler (mind you, she had another kid sitting quietly next to her, looking the picture of good behavior) and decided maybe he would stop crying if she took his sandals off.  Now I know I’m not a parent, but this didn’t seem to me like it would quiet the unhappy boy.  I was right.  Screaming continued.  And then a bizarre thing happened.  A man in the back of the bus, presumably annoyed with the noise, decided that he would start mimicking the kid.  So the kid would cry and then the man would scream out in imitation.  It was really a lovely ride into work.

And then, as soon as I get into work and set down the pasta salad I brought for today’s work baby shower I am bombared with a ten-minute tirade about how my office neighbor’s computer doesn’t work properly and all of the permutations the IT folks are trying to get it up to snuff.

All in all, a great start for a Tuesday. 

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