Archive for February, 2006

Dress Dilemma

Published by kindli on February 28, 2006 in wedding prep. 0 Comments

I guess it is not really a dress dilemma, it is more of a me dilemma. The dress does not have straps, I have rather obvious tan-line straps. I was aware of this when I got the dress, I knew I had rather obvious tan lines, and I knew the dress would not hide those.

The idea of going and baking in a tanning bed and coming out an unhealthy shade of orange-brown does not appeal to me, nor does the haphazard method of self-tanner.

This leaves two options:
1) I could hope the rest of my tan fades

2) I can lay on the back deck and hope that they even out with a fresh tan

Both of these have problems:
1) I’ve had these tan lines since June, they are still obvious, I don’t think they’re going to fade in the next few months…

2) It takes time, lots of time, and, although it has been warm enough to lay on the back deck, the sun has been inconsistent. Mom says there is still enough UV to tan me, but I like the warmth contrasted with the breeze, not just the breeze.

Before everyone gets worried about tanning, I’m not going to go lie out in the sun and roast. I’m going to be smart, rotate occasionally, even-out the tan lines and take precautions to stay hydrated and avoid the noon day sun. I’ve done this before.

Its a Bathroom Gremlin Conspiracy

Published by kindli on February 26, 2006 in fun. 0 Comments

I cleaned my bathroom 1/2 an hour - 45 minutes ago, went downstairs for dinner, came back and my counter was dusty. I know good and well that when I left the bathroom it was clean –Mom double checked it cleanliness. There was no dust on the counter, there was no toothpaste grime in the sink, there was nothing, it was spotless.

So how did 1/2 an hour later dust end up on the counter? Usually I am not a huge conspiracy theorist, but in this case, I am suspicious. I have ruled out the CIA, FBI, CSO, NSA, OSL, and KGB –I doubt they, or any of those other acronym groups would do it.

Consequently I have a new theory, it’s the Bathroom Gremlins, clearly someone must be messing up my bathroom. The BG must be working in close connection with the Dust Bunnies Union. The DBU frequently visit my desk, bookcases, and every one of the surfaces my mother lays eyes on. This is the only thing that makes sense, because I know the bathroom was clean when I left it.

I wonder if the BG and DBU have Boston chapters…

Now I need to find my Pretty Princess rain clogs…

Published by kindli on February 25, 2006 in fun and wedding prep. 0 Comments

I just got a very happy phone call: MY DRESS IS READY FOR ME TO PICK UP!!!! Ok, enough caps. I’m excited. I ordered it on February 16… today is… February 24… that’s less than 10 days… I was nervously anticipating 10 weeks, I was terrified it wouldn’t come in on time for the wedding in May.

That being said I am so grateful to Amber at the local Alfred Angelo who was SO HELPFUL, and really wonderful to work with (usually I want to beat sales women with sticks, Amber I did not mind). I would have NO problem recommending Alfred Angelo to anyone who is getting married (although I would strongly encourage investigating elopement first).

I’m going to go pick up the dress later tonight. I’m a little nervous, I hope it fits. If it fits anywhere near as well as the one I tried on then I’m in luck. The one I tried on fit perfectly (but it was ivory… and the showroom sample…).

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
———-updated later for various reasons———-

I just got back from picking up my dress. It fits perfectly. It looks great. Now I just need to find a place to put it until the big day. Heidi is not home, I can make space in her closet… she’ll never need to know.

I never claimed to be Martha Stewart-esque

Published by kindli on February 24, 2006 in cooking. 0 Comments

I was going to make Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte today (Black Forest Cherry Cake). I had the recipe all set out, and the ingredients carefully lined up in a row. The 2 cans of cherry filling, the sugars, the cooling chocolate cake segments.

Draining the first can of cherries was no problem, I put the cherries in one bowl and the “liquid” in the other bowl. Then I opened the other can of cherries. I would say, about half way through draining the liquid I noticed the “sell by” date on the top of the can 09/04… as in September of 2004. Carefully, I tasted the “liquid.” There is a reason those dates are on top of cans.

Mom suggested I “cut the recipe in half” (how exactly?!) because “we don’t need all that sugar anyway.” Yes Mom.

So, once my 9-inch-cake rounds finish cooling, I am going to go downstairs and try and salvage the cherry disaster. I do not have any “liquid” to speak of, and half the number of recommended cherries. This should be interesting.

————Later—————-

The cake has turned out VERY SPECIAL looking, but so far everything that I’ve tasted from the crumbs that have fallen off has been delicious. It is in the fridge for the time being, I didn’t want all that whipping cream to get too warm, and it is on a drippy pan incase anymore crumbs want to jump.

I can’t deny it is special looking, like a volcano about to collapse into itself. But the crumblies taste good… I would know, there were lots of little crumblies…

*…da dum de dum* please hold *da da dum de…*

Published by kindli on February 23, 2006 in fun. 0 Comments

The people at the Alumni Directory sent me little postcards, so I called the 800 number they gave me and talked to rather perky people.

I tried to explain that after May all the information they would have on me would be wrong, and I wasn’t sure what the new information would be just yet (ok, so I lied a little). I told them to just “keep that information, my parents live there” and if someone really wanted to get in touch with me they could call them.

Then came my favorite question: would you like to reserve your copy of the limited deluxe edition for just two simple payments of $39.95?

Um, not particularly. Yeah, so my information is in there, I know where I am, if I want to find someone, I’ll use facebook, or google, or my network of friends (or call someone who made the two easy payments of $39.95).

The one good thing was the person on the other end of the line spoke english, and not some odd-accented out-sourced-to-India version of the language. I was glad that at least one or two obnoxious 800 numbers were still U.S. run –that or they trained the out-sourced-Indians really really well.

I also liked there was NO hold music, the phone rang maybe twice and a perky voice rambled off the necessary greetings, and quickly and efficiently got my information. There was no holding, no transferring, no real problem.

I guess if people are on hold over something as trivial as a Alumni Directory they’d hang up if it was too much of a hassle. I could see being on hold for computer warranty issues, or if money was on the line, but an alumni directory? Meh, no real loss to you. So kudos to them for efficiency.

Woe is my Closet’s Situation

Published by kindli on February 23, 2006 in fun. 0 Comments

In a fit of “not much else to do” I decided to clean out my closet out. I’m going to be moving to Boston in May anyway, so I should get rid of stuff to make the move easier, right? Riiiiiiight. I found things I’d forgotten I had, things still in the original, unopened packaging, and things I wish I’d never come across. It was a special experience:

The painful part was parting with shoes. I got rid of my three-inch-heeled black velvet pumps. Tragic, I know, but I’ve almost never worn them (I got them on sale for about $5, so I’m not totally bummed about them going, and 3” is a little too high for me to walk safely!)

I also found my old caps and gowns from Clear Lake High School and Principia graduations. What am I supposed to do with them? I’ve got no real use for them. I’m not going to go back and graduate from either place again. It’s cheap polyester fabric, I’m not going to reuse it for anything. What does one do with old caps and gowns?!

There was also the micro-purse from Neiman Marcus (someone gave it to me), still in its little red and silver box, still in its original wrapping. It is black and beaded and sparkly-ish, and never ever ever used. It is maybe big enough to hold chapstick, a tampon (a few quarters would fit better), and a car-key… and that’d be pushing its limits. Who needs a bag that size? And it is a clutch, no strap, just a little bag you’re supposed to hold on to and manage not loose.

I also found my letter jacket from high school, my honor cords for Quill and Scroll, and the tassels from my horrid little cardboard graduation hats. I suppose things like this can just safely hide in the closet after I leave.

Why Avid Inkling?

Published by gcarothers on February 20, 2006 in fun and wedding prep. 1 Comment

Over the past month Kindli and I spent a bit of time trying to come up with a domain name for our website. gavinandkindli.com we felt was rather dull. carotherstrudell gets long, and there is always the question of whose name goes first. Then in a fit of, I’d like to say brilliance but it was closer to desperation, we discovered Anagrams! Now there were some rather bad ones, Diva Linking for example, or just strange Invalid King. But after a while we did find one we liked, Avid Inkling. Thus was www.avidinkling.com born. So update your bookmarks and links!

More possible Anagrams

I can make my own Ice Sculpture Center Piece… or NOT

Published by kindli on February 19, 2006 in wedding prep. 0 Comments

I went to Arne’s (the big party supply place in Houston) today to scope out wedding stuff ideas, to see what was out there. There are a lot of unique ideas out there, unity candles, cake cutting knives, flower girl baskets, pillows for the rings, cake toppers, invitations, do-it-yourself ice sculpture kits, tulle, aisle runners, guest books and photo albums in frilly white.

That’s great, but we’re not using a unity candle (no fire!!), nor are we going to need cake cutting knives just for our wedding, we’re not having a flower girl, or a ring bearer, there will not be a cake topper, no invitations will be sent, no ice sculptures will be made, no tulle or aisle runners will be used, and our guest book and photo albums will not be frilly white.

So then why did I go to Arne’s? I wanted to see what they offered. Clearly they offer a great selection. The women next to me in the check out line were preparing for a wedding… with 300 guests… a color-coordinated tulle, plates, favors, and the list went on. Their basket was piled high, nearly over flowing with bridal paraphernalia. My basket contained three glass vases that I liked and want to use for the flower arrangements that will be the table center pieces at both the Rehearsal Dinner and the Post-Reception Lunch.

A wedding for 300. Wow. I wonder how planning for a wedding with 14 or 15 people (TOTAL) differs from planning a wedding of 300. We talked for a little bit, the wedding party had more people then my entire wedding! The more I look, the gladder I am that I am doing something small. I don’t have to worry about a flower girl throwing a fit, or a ring bearer getting stage fright, or where I put the frilly white photo album. We’re using iPhoto for that.

I’m Doing the Very Happy Dance

Published by kindli on February 16, 2006 in wedding prep. 0 Comments

I got my dress ordered today, it should be ready in the end of April. Then Daddy and I went to DSW and I found the perfect pair of shoes. They’re low-heel sandals, and they’re cute and I can walk in them!

YAY.

I am now debating the veil and other such accessories, but right now I am thrilled about the dress and shoes.

“Traditions are group efforts to keep the unexpected from happening.”
  - Barbara Tober

White Satin madness continues… Day 3 Adventures

Published by kindli on February 16, 2006 in wedding prep. 0 Comments

Wednesday we continued to search for dresses for the Mother of the Bride. We also took a last-ditch effort to find a dress for me. I have found a dress I really like, I am ready to quit looking and just get it (that will happen later today).

Because we are having a spring time out door morning garden wedding, most of the dresses for the Mother of the Bride look… awful. The material is heavy, and the way they are cut make them look like they should be on women far older than Mom. Ideally we’ll find something light and flowy, or we’ll find a great fabric and Mom will make something that she really loves. I’d like for her to enjoy the outfit she chooses and wear it again.

Dresses for me turned out to be quite a different matter. We went to David’s Bridal –just to look around and see what else was out there. We were met by one of the pushiest, unprofessional sales girls I’ve ever come across. She wanted to register my name and information immediately… I just wanted to look at dresses and see what they had. I managed to escape with one of their information bags, complete with a power bar and fruit gummys. Right.

I did not enjoy the approach. I just wanted to look around and see what they offered, I didn’t want to register until I found a dress that I really liked a lot. No one is getting my name, address, phone number and e-mail address until I BUY a dress (because I don’t want junk mail, much less more spam).

After David’s Bridal, we went to Garden Ridge, to look around and see what was out there being offered. The Bridal section was rather unorganized, but full of interesting ideas… and some things I had no interest in. This weekend we are going to go look at more places to get ideas. I have a while to decide on these things, and I want to see what is out there before I make up my mind.

My logic: I’ve found the dress I really like, that’ll be off my list this afternoon, the rest of the things can wait… not quite until the last minute, but until March or early April.