<p>The girl in the video is the pal I’m headed to SF and Napa with in the fall, and the videographer is the third musketeer who usually joins us in our annual travel hijinx, though she’s benched this year over a kitchen reno. They are quite a pair and I dearly miss them. At one point in time, I worked with each in separate cities during different time periods, and actually later introduced them to each other when both ended up covering politics in Ottawa. One decided she’d had enough of the political beat and moved to Newfoundland, where the other is originally from. The second now splits her time between Nl and Ottawa, so they see each other a lot more than I see either of them.</p>
<p>DTE - Gift cards in my family have a very negative feel. I have always felt that a gift card was either an “I didn’t really want to think about what to get you as I didn’t have time” or “You are so picky - go get yourself something”. I have used them on occasion and just this past week did one for D’s BF but I HAD been on vacation and didn’t really know what he needed. With them buying a house I figured a gift card could be used for almost anything. I think the reason in my family that they are so negative is that my MIL has never bothered to understand what we want and doesn’t go out of her way to get us something that would be something that the person wants (not sure why I would think that she would think that out as she doesn’t even know after 30 years that I hate tomatoes). I did talk with SIL and I was going to go to one store and get her something and he suggested another store. Store is 1 mile from their apartment so she can exchange if she wants although she has never exchanged anything ever. Guess she is just easy to please! So although a good idea I’ll have some fun and go and find something that I think she would look good in. :)</p>
<p>Yes, wedding is this weekend! Off to get hair cut and highlighted this morning. Then dentist appointment. Nail appointment on Friday. Have all of the projects done except finishing the wine bottle guest book and thank you banner. D2 will pick up her dress today. Still unsure of what jewelry I will wear. My dress is black lace over a nude sheath so I have nude shoes. I know that is very current but the traditionalist in me wants to wear black shoes. D2 just laughs at my fashion stuffiness. So strange to watch D2 pack up her things for the coming move. Their apartment isn’t ready yet so they aren’t quite sure where they will be after returning from their honeymoon. We offered the lake home but the commute would be an hour for future SIL. Who knows…they may be back here for a few days or weeks until the apartment building opens! </p>
<p>Sending all patience and restraint for dealing with tense family situations. Miss chatting with you and will try to catch up after the big event.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing the video, kmc. I didn’t even know that whales jumping out of the water was called a breach. Knowledge for the week.</p>
<p>NM, I think when my girls get married, we should just hire you. I also don’t know what the wine bottle guest book is, nor do I know where or when a thank you banner would be used. But I’d be great at negotiating the contract for the venue!</p>
<p>I agree, MP. What IS a wine bottle guest book? </p>
<p>Meanwhile, I’ll just stick my head in the sand and pretend that nothing has changed on the wedding front since our rather informal wedding. </p>
<p>There was an interesting call on the radio this past week – it turns out that bridesmaids often have expenses exceeding $2500 because of the destination bachelorette parties, attire, and numerous showers. This sounds awful.</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing, what is a wine bottle guest book or thank you banner? I bet pinterest would give me the answer. NM have a wonderful wedding!
My mom and sister have had their struggles along the way. I love them but have worked hard to be different. I get tired of being the sane one. Ignore ignore ignore. I am not one to really say much but my D is quite the dynamo, she was very prominent in HS and had many varied cool activities. I am more middle leaning in politics. I believe in many liberal agendas but not the way they want to accomplish it. Regardless, she is very liberal and her job affords her the ability to meet many interesting people, and I am proud of her. My family needs to watch it because we all know what side mother bear lands on. My daughter is a really good person and is doing her thing the way I raised her to do. However she should call more often haha
I am excited about school, a bit bummed because a job has come up that I would like, but I find myself in a position often of wanting my own practice. And wanting to learn and do more. My job is more youth centered so school it is. I love learning, one of the biggest attractions to my husband is his intelligence. (not common sense). It is a complete leap of faith, considering my age and health (potential) but whatever.
While I am making my phone calls etc… the back ground tv has the casting show where couples marry sight unseen wow! just wow! </p>
<p>I looked up wine bottle guest book images. Fun idea, the guests sign bottles of wine that will be opened by the couple on their 1st,5th,10…anniversary. I like this! Will pass it on to the couple who are marrying next month. Some question as to if they are married already as they married in a different state before ours allowed same sex marriages but a celebration is due in any event.</p>
<p>Shaw and MP we can use you in my family right away. Sis has hired her own lawyer and I think the other 4 of us are going to have to take her to court to get her removed as co executor. This is now over less than a $1000. The focus shifts constantly. She is mentally ill and there seems to be no stopping her. </p>
<p>dt congrats again. You are going to be a great student.
NM have FUN!</p>
<p>Planning a trip to Italy next spring.This time with a small tour and hopefully part of the time with D joining us. I have made it very clear that I am no longer planning everything and taking people on trips. I do not think that H believed me until this past Monday. He wanted to go hiking and I told him to tell me when to be ready to leave and to make a plan. He didn’t and we poked around all day which dissappointed him (I was just fine). Talking last night I could see he is beginning to understand that while I will be the researcher for the big things like housing and flights I have, otherwise, resigned. Feels good. Wonder if my reputation for being bossy will change.</p>
<p>Sadly my dear Aunt is on hospice and perhaps has 6 months. She is the mother I never had and her family treats me like a queen even though I rarely see them. The contrast between them and my sibs is extreme.
I have felt she was going to die soon for the past year. She had wanted to live to 100 and did everything right such as food, exercise and had a spot of bourbon every night.
The crazy Sis of mine called the family and started asserting herself by demanding Aunt be flown from Ind. to UCLA for a second opinion. Cousins find Sis impossible and she does not realize that even Aunt does not care for her.</p>
<p>Mod–DIL has submitted her med school application and is now working on some secondaries. She told me her list of school and I managed to just be supportive. What she thinks is a good match looks to me that she is overreaching. That said she is very smart and disciplined and said her MCAT was very good (cannot ask the score).
So fingers crossed her and your S. Maybe we will meet at a white coat cermony.</p>
<p>D passed the med boards and was super thrilled with her score. (remember she decided to postphone and study longer due to break up with BF).
There is a new guy in her life and she sounds happier in a lighter way than she did with old BF. Old BF and new BF have the same first name.</p>
<p>well oregon this too shall pass I think, Its hard to deal with crazy family.Ugh when does it get easier.
RM I think I suggested that because I do not like people buying my clothes. But if she is good with it, I think its wonderful you acknowledge how happy you are in this way. I am a thoughtful gift giver so I get the lack of personal. </p>
<p>DTE - probably helps that I LOVE to shop – much to my H’s dismay! And even though I might LOVE something I try to think about the person that I’m buying it for understanding what they MIGHT like even if it’s not tops on my list. I like bright colors and wear them a lot (yes I’m big but hey I’m big in black also!). I’m very comfortable with my self and don’t mind “standing out” even with my size. D on the other hand prefers to stay in the background and rarely wears anything bright. I’ve learned to live with that and think of her when I buy for her. Not always easy – but I try! ;)</p>
<p>Okay, getting caught up here: NM, hope the wedding goes swimmingly; I’m sure with your magic touch, it will. Congrats to DTE on grad school, and to Oregon’s d for passing the med boards (and for the new guy).</p>
<p>World Cup: Someone asked about D2 and the World Cup. She has now finished her official duties in the lab, and had planned a 2 week trip through Eastern Europe as a reward to herself and end of her time in Europe celebration. Then Germany won their semi, and so she delayed the start of the trip so as to be in Germany on Sunday, the day of the final. We were texting throughout as she watched with her friends in what she described as a packed sports bar; she described her friends as super hyped, nervous, stressed and panicking at the half. The Germans are really into soccer … She said the 2 best moments — better than even the celebration afterwards – were when Germany finally scored, and then when the refs finally blew the whistle to signal the game was over. </p>
<p>Now she’s on her big 2 week tour – Having been to Budapest, she’s now on her way through Croatia, Slovenia, to Prague, Krakow, back to Germany, and home exactly two weeks from today. She has planned her trip well and, in her obsessiveness about reservations, timetables, etc. reminds me of myself … She showed me a thick folder of all her printouts (maps, directions, vouchers, and the like). </p>
<p>MP: My parents cruised the Rhein not so long ago, and they are not spring chickens (Dad has significant health issues). D2 and I did a much shorter trip along the most scenic stretch of the Rhein and the Mosel when I was there; because of her mono we had to cut way down on walking, etc., but we used taxis and trams, etc. to get up the castles we wanted to see, and otherwise just enjoyed doing not much except strolling, sitting, and eating along the rivers. A good time was had by all. Details available upon request.</p>
<p>Z- Your D and I may cross paths…my family and I will be in Prague next week. We leave tomorrow for our first destination-Greece.
The video was cool, kmc.
Best wishes for a wonderful wedding day for your D2, NM. I’m sure it will be lovely.
Congrats to your D, oregon and good luck to your DIL.</p>
<p>NM - Hope everything goes fantastic for the wedding. Wishing you more than 24 hours in the day as you “finish” up. I have always wanted more time. :)</p>
<p>Oregon - not unsure S isn’t overreaching himself. 17 schools (decided not to do a secondary for Harvard because in the small print they require recs from every lab supervisor and he did not ask one of his from a few years ago because his school only wants five max and it’s kind of late to ask this guy - As S said, he isn’t even sure he could could write one from meeting him three years ago. Obviously a massive long shot regardless, he figures he’ll save the 100 bucks… Still, not one school over 10% acceptance and has yet to even get a secondary request from our instate flagship… which really does not make sense to me at all, especially with his grades and scores. I am a little nervous for him for sure.</p>
<p>Family in town here this week which has been a great deal of fun. Although family picture last night could not have made me look any wider while wearing horizontal stripes combined with posture and the weird angle of the camera - Of course if I could just drop another 10 pounds, I’d likely look a lot thinner in these things.</p>
<p>Some sort of polar vortex here - really cold with yesterday’s high barely breaking 65 and today about the same. Even Friday is supposed to only hit 70. Im not complaining necessarily because it’s still beautiful blue skies… just almost fall like in chill.</p>
<p>NMN - cannot wait to see pictures and hear about the weekend. You seem to have it all in hand, as usual and I am certain it will be a gorgeous celebration. Hope D1 is doing well with the festivities and D2 has the absolute best day of her young life to date! </p>
<p>FG I want to her about the food and new things your tried. Have fun!</p>
<p>I am sure many of will be thinking about NM and her D’s wedding. I am sure it will be amazing.</p>
<p>For the wedding we attend in August we are giving them canoe paddles…on their list…but rather fun.</p>
<p>Talked with my Aunt last night and she is making plans as to who gets what and so on. She said, “I just want to have fun!” And I know that she is going to have a ball (until she can’t) for these last few months.</p>
<p>My painting arrived! I purchased it in Banff with the $1000 blood money I received for my Sis taking the opal ring that was to be mine. My B emailed that the lawyers have come to an agreement but some of us are not going to be happy. I hope it is me–I can let Sis “win” becsause she is so ill and is going to be so alone.</p>
<p>A beautiful day here. I get to spend the afternoon at the social security office. Fun!</p>
I have used them on occasion and just this past week did one for D’s BF but I HAD been on vacation and didn’t really know what he needed. With them buying a house I figured a gift card could be used for almost anything. I think the reason in my family that they are so negative is that my MIL has never bothered to understand what we want and doesn’t go out of her way to get us something that would be something that the person wants (not sure why I would think that she would think that out as she doesn’t even know after 30 years that I hate tomatoes). I did talk with SIL and I was going to go to one store and get her something and he suggested another store. Store is 1 mile from their apartment so she can exchange if she wants although she has never exchanged anything ever. Guess she is just easy to please! So although a good idea I’ll have some fun and go and find something that I think she would look good in. :)</p>
So strange to watch D2 pack up her things for the coming move. Their apartment isn’t ready yet so they aren’t quite sure where they will be after returning from their honeymoon. We offered the lake home but the commute would be an hour for future SIL. Who knows…they may be back here for a few days or weeks until the apartment building opens! </p>