cancelled wedding

My daughter was supposed to get married in October of 2004. About six weeks before the wedding she decided that she didn't want to get married after all. Today I finally put all the engraved invitations into the recycling box. I did decide however to use the respond cards and the insert cards for the reception for notes. After all, they too were engraved and cost a lot of money. The inside envelopes (already calligraphied as were the envelopes) were also recycled. I did save the engraved extra envelopes with our address on them. After all, we can still use them. I put one invitation, one RSVP and envelope, and one reception insert and the copperplates in the box with keepsakes. I was really looking forward to the reception. We had booked the Tyrone Smith Revue. They played for George Bush's party at the White House. The reception was to be here, at our house. We had tents, a stage, lighting, a caterer, deluxe porta potties, valet parking and a policeman to keep any over imbibers from driving.

If you want to know what happened I can give you a synopsis. The groom's parents did not like my daughter. Also, they were strict Church of Christ and had a fit about any alcohol (and the dancing). They didn't want to have a rehearsal dinner anywhere that the guests could have a drink, even if the guests (or we) paid for it. Do you know what kind of places a rehearsal dinner where no alchol is served are like? They are like Cracker Barrell or the Old Spaghetti Factory. Bec got angry and cancelled out on a rehearsal dinner at all. It turned rather nasty. Then she got angry that her fiance never stood up to his parents and wouldn't tell them that he had a drink occasionally. The next thing I knew was that there was a lot of crying going on (both parties) and the wedding was off.

The whole time was a blur. I had to cancel flowers, the band, caterer, photographer, church, organist, minister, tents, porta potties, etc.etc. I paid the attendants for the dresses. Then I told my daughter, "We aren't doing this again." I would have liked to wear my dress, and Rebecca's wedding dress was so pretty. (We still have it of course.) Her father gave her the rest of the money we would have spent for a down payment on a condo.

I guess my point is that finally taking out those invitations after all this time brought up a lot of emotions for me. It was difficult.

bike riding

It was either work out on the machines or go on a bike ride today. No big decision- it was sunny and nice-and windy. All the way back we fought a head wind and it seemed that I was barely moving even though I was pedalling hard. It was good excercise and really nice to be outside. When I came home, I walked around the house to check for plants coming up and flowers blooming. The crocus in front are all out and a cheery yellow. The buttercups are blooming in spots, and budding everywhere else. I am ready for Spring, and I enjoy seeing the days get longer. When I was on a walk in the woods yesterday, I could hear a loud noise up ahead on the path. When I came to the little pond, frongs hopped everywhere. The Spring Peepers were having a wonderful time. There were eggs in the water also. I hope the pond does not dry up before they hatch and can make it on their own.

Bella was out chasing the vultures again today. She hates those vultures. They fly low over her, as if to taunt Bella, and she runs and runs across the yard with her head up in the air looking at them. She'll never get one, of course, but she never gives up. I think she enjoys it too.

Jon is watching Ben Hur on Turner Classic Movies. Rebecca is out on a "date" with a reporter from a local paper. I hope that she is having fun. Off to the shower for me.

weekend with Nancy

I feel that I don't have anything exciting to write such as other bloggers do. Isn't a Chinese curse, "May you have an interesting life?" On Saturday night we went to a Valentines dinner at a friend's country club. It was hard to be sociable for so long. I felt like my smile was plastered on. All of the people at the table, except Susan and Darrel) were strangers. There were 12 of us altogether. Jon was having a good time talking to his neighbor, but the guy sitting next to me was hard to talk to. He was a big hunter and fisherman, and that pretty much sums up his interests. Not only that, but he advocated killing hawks because they kill quails (bobwhites). I tried to convince him that the numbers of quail were down because of loss of habitat, but he just likes to kill "varmints" and that includes coyotes, snakes, cats, etc. My policy is that the animals were here before we were, so just leave them alone, or try to make things easier for them. Jon and I actually pushed a rattlesnake off the road, very carefully! I love to hear the hawks as they fly. They have to eat too.

The next day, Sunday, I felt awful. My stomach has been really bothering me, probably from taking ibuprofen for several days. I just can't take it, even though I hurt a lot, it isn't worth the stomach pain. So I put on my "sick outfit" of baggy pants and matching top and didn't do much of anything. Also on Saturday night in the middle of the night, there was a huge crash. Jon and I jumped up, he got the gun, and I went to investigate. Alas, my big venetian mirror in the powder room had fallen apart. The panels of mirror fell off. What a mess. On Sunday, I Googled "venitian mirrors" and found the Mirror Lady site. I also found that a quality mirror should have the mirrored panels attached to the wood with tiny screws and a medallion. I ordered a 36 x24 Venetian mirror from her. I think that we will spend all our retirement money replacing things that break down.

Last Friday I received my new gadget- a Garmin GPS for the car. At first I was reluctant to even hook it up. The thought of having to deal with another computer- new complicated instructions- a learning curve, etc. etc. was too much. But, when I took Rebecca to the airport on Friday afternoon, she brought it along and hooked it up. I think that it will be fairly user friendly, and "intuitive" as all the computer types like to say. The next day, I went to the internet and printed out the entire instrucion manual. Hey, what a racket, you have to print out your own 45 page manual. I wanted to take the manual in the car with me. The Garmin seemed to work great, but the first location that I entered from the "restauarants" menu took us to the wrong address- wrong street even. Fortunately, we knew where we were going anyway. It was just to see how it worked. I'm hoping that it will prove its worth when we drive to Seattle this summer.

Rebecca went to New Orleans this weekend. We took care of the dog and cat. Another reenforcement that I do not need any more animals!!!

I talked to the lawyer today about tht asshole who is suing me. For a change, I didn't cry on the phone so the lawyer kept saying , "you really sound better, you really sound good, etc. I almost hated to disappoint him, and wondered if I should sob a little. One day this will be over. Never , ever, ever be a president of a Home Owner's Association. Not only will you know WAY more about your neighbors than you wanted to know, but some insane asshole jerk could sue you too! No good deed goes unpunished!!!!!!