wedding plans

The weirdest part of wedding planning, I think, is when you get to the point where you can start turning the planning over to other people. I'm talking about showers and the like. There won't be any for a few months yet, but I've sent the preliminary emails to the ladies in charge and it's weird to think that now I won't hear much else about those events until they happen. It's also nice.

As for other planning things, we're getting very close to being done. We finished our registries this weekend (Macy's and Crate & Barrel), we are thisclose to being finished with our wedding website, and we should have our catering decision made by the start of next week (tastings tomorrow and Saturday). Plus, my goal is to reserve a block of hotel rooms by the end of the week. Then, the only big things that are left are the cake (Coldstone), the florist (someone Brian's mom knows through the Chamber), and the videographer (Brian's domain). Oh! And the officiant! That's probably the biggest bogey in all of the planning - Brian is convinced we can find a judge to marry us pretty easily, but I'm not as convinced. And I really do want a judge. We're not doing any sort of religious ceremony, but I don't want any sort of New Age-y stuff either and that is often the alternative to a religious ceremony.

Anyway, it's not all wedding plans. There's also grad school (which I'm avoiding by writing this post). It's going much better this semester; I'm enrolled in a class about struggling adolescent readers and I feel like I'm learning a ton. Which is the point, I think. That being said, I am still REALLY ready to be done. In a fun twist of the calendar, my last paper is due on my 30th birthday. (30th?!) Can't come soon enough, I guess.

And there's work. Eh. Not much to say there. I'm having the kind of year that makes me wonder if there isn't something better I could be doing. Only problem is, I have almost no idea what that would be. Maggie said someone once told her to consider what she would be doing if she didn't have to have a job and she would figure out what she wanted to do more than anything, but I don't think that would work for me. First, I wouldn't do anything. At least not every day for 8-10 hours a day. I mean, really, I am NOT that teacher who is itching to get back to work at the end of a long break. And second, I would work with teenage kids. Probably not in a capacity that requires me to enforce a million rules and grade hundreds of assignments, but still. Not a super helpful exercise in this instance. Then again, maybe I'm doing it wrong.

So, exciting things, mundane things, puzzling things...seems like life continues as normal no matter how frequently or infrequently I post. Funny, that.

ah...self-consciousness

I never thought much about my less than model work habits until there was someone around to bear witness to them every week.

Not the happiest thought this Friday morning

Sometimes I worry about what my students will do in college since, as seniors in high school, they can't read quietly for more than five minutes.

Pictures have arrived!

After a month of anxious waiting, I got some of our engagement photos today. Yay! Here are a select few for your enjoyment...

This one is my new desktop background because I love it so much.

I love how cheesy and classic this one is (and I love the colors)

And the whole reason we chose the National Arboretum for our shoot is because it is home to the original Capitol Columns, so here are some of my faves from that location.

I am beyond pleased with the result. Hope you enjoyed!

A quick vent

So, this will be quick because my lunch break is about to end, but I need to vent.

Brian and I took our engagement photos on Tuesday, November 10th. At that time, our photographer told me to expect to see our photos within two weeks. A few days after two weeks passed, I emailed and asked for an update. She posted a one picture preview on the website and told me to expect a full web preview this week and the full shoot within the next week. Today is the end of this week and I still have nothing. Not only that, but the "Right Now" tab on her website (which links to her Twitter feed) informs me that she is spending the day shopping with her mom. Now, I don't begrudge anyone good mom time, but...really? Next Tuesday will be one full month since we took our photos and I'm not confident that we'll have anything at that point.

All I want for Christmas? My engagement photos.

(I should note that, other than this very long delay, I am thrilled with our photographers. They are fun, and dedicated, and passionate about their work, which they are exceptional at. I don't want to be a needy bride, but I really want to see my pictures...even just some of them.)

Okay, time to get on with my day. Happy weekend, all!

I do love Black Friday

I have a confession: I love Black Friday shopping. Now, I don't get up at 3am to get in line with the crazies in front of big box store X, but I do like heading to the stores in the morning and spending the day finding deals. This year was no exception - Brian and I got to our first store around 8am and, over the course of the morning/early afternoon we hit a whole host of stores (including a horribly ineffective stop at Wal-Mart). At the outlet mall across the Bay Bridge, we did our clothes shopping for the year (yeah, we don't really shop for other people on this trip) and I also stumbled upon my wedding shoes!

I couldn't find a photo online, so I'm including my own, somewhat grainy shots, taken in our bathroom (the only available counter space with an uncluttered background). They are much higher than I was thinking of, but I am in love with them. And, when I tried them on for Brian...he was very supportive of my purchase.


Hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Story of my life lately...

It's probably more accurate if I replace "save the world" with "write a paper" or "grade these assignments" or "plan my lessons," but you get the idea. (Also, not to be petty, but I would have spelled "shiny" correctly.)

Hope you're all well - I'll work on getting a real post up soon(ish).