The Beauty and the Mess

Happy wedding day to Shana and Phillip! Shana's life and my life have parallelled in sometimes-scary ways since we've known each other, so it's not very surprising that we're getting married less than two weeks apart. I pray God will bring her and Phillip many blessings! I'm so excited.

Let me tell you how awesome my husband is. :) (Husband! Woo!) He was off work yesterday and spent the whole day organizing and shopping for things we needed for the apartment. When I came home and didn't have time to make dinner, since I had to leave almost immediately for a flute practice, he cooked Hamburger Helper for both of us. While I was gone, he completely rebuilt our back-door doorjamb and installed a new chain (it needed to be done...long story). Then he cleaned up the whole mess himself. Today he gets off early and is going to put up a new cabinet in our bathroom. Am I blessed or what?

One frustrating thing is that, since the wedding, I have no idea what's happening in the world. I can't watch the news in the mornings anymore because Evan is usually still sleeping. Then I forget to check in at another time. Someone mentioned terrible fires in Chicago...not only do I have no clue what that's all about, but I am also too busy to even look it up online or something. And Christmas? What the heck? When did this happen? I haven't bought any presents yet and don't have a clue what anyone wants. My Christmas card list will have to be so short this year, and that makes me sad. Of the (literally) 100 or so thank-you notes I need to write, I have completed exactly six. Our apartment is in a nightmarish state. Almost every spare surface is covered with mail and boxes and stuff. I want to decorate for Christmas, but adding more clutter to already mind-boggling clutter goes against everything I believe in. We have a tiny tree that Kathy gave me a long time ago. I think I'll put that one up somewhere, and maybe a wreath, and call it good.

Oh, and even bigger proof that Evan is wonderful: while I was at practice, he found out the Clay Christmas special was on and taped it for me! I didn't even know there was going to BE a Clay Christmas special, and he doesn't even LIKE Clay (though he admits to liking his version of "Mary Did You Know"), but he hurried to tape it just to make me happy. That's love. *cartoon hearts*

Okay, I'll get to work on wedding entry #2 soon. I just needed a break from the recapping. :)

I know I owe comments and e-mails, and I'm very sorry. I just don't have time. I can't keep up with anything at work anymore....every time I get clear and can maybe start working on my file project, someone brings me something else. My eyes hurt from all the small print and my hands hurt from excessive typing. And tomorrow I have to throw the March birthday party, which always results in 1) people getting huffy when I ask to borrow the department cake knife and 2) people criticizing the cake selection. Yippee.

I was at Target at lunchtime, and a lady came up to me and complimented my shoes. I happily engaged her in conversation, because I will talk about shoes to anyone who will listen. It turned out she just wanted to sell me Mary Kay. I felt dumb and used.

My foot is hurting again, out of the blue. I tried soaking it this morning, and this time it did nothing. So when I should have been exercising, I was picking at my foot. Now there's a small, deep hole in the bottom of my foot, but the Mystery Object is still in there. I might have to go to the doctor.

The only semi-positive thing I have to say today: I bought the Wayitaire single. I'm not fond of Solitaire on its own merits, but we all know I'd buy a CD of Clay singing the Alphabet Song. He was incredible on AI last night.

Okay, I've already spent too much time on this post, so back to work. Sorry for the grumpiness.

Since it's 3/11, everyone should do their civic duty and listen to a 311 song today. :)

Yesterday morning I stepped on something in my apartment...it may have been a shard from a glass Gandalf broke recently. Whatever it is, it's firmly lodged in my foot, and I can't walk flat-footed because of the pain. I have tried repeatedly to get it out, but I can't find it in there and I am a wimp. Evan thinks I should go to the doctor and have them take care of it, but that seems over-reactionary. We'll see how I feel about it in a few days. :P Ironically, I can walk fine with heels on, so the Rampage shoes are making a comeback.

I watched a few minutes of Jay Leno last night and saw a far-off shot of Elijah Wood getting ready to come out. He was wearing a pinstripe shirt and jeans, and I thought, "Is that Clay?!?" But at least I wasn't too disappointed to find out who it really was. :) He seems like such a great guy. I want to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, mostly because of him. Also, it looks so weird it's bound to be interesting.

I haven't heard it yet, but apparently there's a new local radio commercial about being addicted to McAlister's tea. It goes something like, "I am not addicted. I just pick one up when I'm taking the kids to soccer practice. And sometimes coming back from soccer practice. And on the way to work, and on the way home from work..." Yes, I am not alone.

I say "apparently" way too much. I'm working on speaking more concisely. :P

( American Idol and a survey )

Attention: Due to my extensive problems with Hotmail, I've changed my e-mail address. It is now monalisa816 at fastmail dot fm. Change your records. :)

This weekend was great. Really great. On Friday night I went to the Grizzlies game with my mom. After the game, Avalon gave a free concert. It was great- I like that Jody McBrayer. (I took pictures, but they came out badly.) On Saturday afternoon, I went back to the Pyramid for the Tigers game. Ryan and Myla came with me, and of course we had an excellent time. After the game we went to McAlister's, and Luke joined us for a snack. As has become our custom, we sat there for a couple of hours. We have a favorite cashier now who knows us and doesn't need me to give her my order. :) By then it was evening and Evan was off work. I went to his place and he sweetly cooked dinner for me. Then we watched Underworld and finished just in time to watch Clay on SNL. He was so great! I was swooning. Evan rolled his eyes, but after I left he watched the show to the end. :) I taped it. I'd really like a tape of all of Clay's appearances, but I never remember to set the VCR. Anyway, Evan is wonderful about taking interest in things that I like. He cheerfully watches American Idol and Friends and other things he formerly professed to hate. Love changes your preferences, I guess. I need to work on reciprocating...I'm not equally cheery when I go to Truck Night with him.

Yesterday we took Communion at church, which is always beneficial for me. We declared lunch to be at Applebee's since we had coupons. After lunch Evan and I did our usual lounging around, and in the evening went to IPC for Sunday night service. It was the last night of missions conference, and Steve Brown was speaking. He was great! (One of my co-workers is letting me borrow the CDs of his other talks.) Then our little group had dinner at Huey's, and then Myla came over for a planned time of girl talk. It was good and refreshing. Myla is one of my favorite people. If we weren't both so busy (she more so than me), I think she'd be as close a friend as Kathy is. As if that weren't enough, Kathy and I had a good talk after Myla left. I am so blessed in friends.

Okay, now I'm done posting for the day. :)

Good/random things:
- The weather is sunny and beautiful.
- I'm getting a haircut tonight. It's just a trim, but long overdue. I'm looking forward to healthier, shorter hair.
- One of my co-workers made an amazing cake for Boss's Day.
- I'm enjoying the 40 Days of Purpose book. I'm reading along with my parents, so today is Day 5.
- Now that I've listened to Clay's CD a few times, I'm able to really get into it...when I can get past "Invisible." That song is like crack. I can't stop listening to it.
- I get to see Evan tonight and watch a new episode of Friends. It doesn't look that great, though, from the commercials. Does anyone else feel like the writers are just piddling around? There are, what, fifteen new episodes? They better start moving things along. At least I know Scrubs will be hilarious. Last week's show with the Sea World guy and the Journey songs cracked me up.
- Last night in the car, I heard a song and the singer sounded so familiar, but I couldn't figure out who it was. When it ended, the DJ was like, "That was a new song from the Bangles. Let me say it again. A new song. From the Bangles." :) I think it's cool that they're making a comeback. I still love "Eternal Flame."
- I keep telling myself I need to spend time with people other than Evan, or just away from Evan in general, but when the time comes, I can't make myself do it. :) The truth is, I really don't have anyone else to hang out with. If I wasn't with him, I'd be alone all the time. Everyone ditched me long before we started dating. This is a mixed blessing, I guess. I still miss my friends. I'm a person who needs other people.

I'll do the Jessica survey later or tomorrow. I'm too busy and my hand hurts.

I just wrote a long entry, and LJ ate it. I guess it's for the best. It was complainy and probably full of things that didn't need to be said.

I have the new Clay CD! I've only listened to Invisible so far, but that by itself put a big smile on my face. :) Ah, memories of the concert and the jersey. I refrained from buying Matrix Reloaded, which was a battle of wills with myself. Evan points out that there will be a boxed set eventually, so why waste the money now? Also, The Sound of Music is on sale for ten dollars. If I had been sitting down in the store, I would have been sitting on my hands.

Last night I made homemade pizza for Evan. It didn't turn out as I had planned, but he liked it anyway. I feel so inept in the kitchen compared to Kathy, mainly because I hate cooking meat and she's good at it. Meat = long cooking time, and, more importantly, too many fat grams. When I lived alone I think I made chicken for myself one time. Mostly I ate noodles and vegetables. However, this meal plan doesn't fly when there's a guy around. As a result I think I've gained a few pounds. :( It's hard to stick to rabbit food when your boyfriend wants things that taste good. I need to exercise more. I've become such a slacker. Maybe I can schedule that somewhere in the mass amount of free time I have. :P

Anyway, Debra came over later and we watched Contact, one of my favorite movies. You're not going to believe this: I've seen that movie at least ten times, and last night was the first time I ever realized that the other scientist guy was blind! My powers of observance are weak. I guess I always just thought he had strange expressions or something.

Okay, that's all.

Everyone should go buy the new issue of Elle, which has a major story about Clay, complete with stunning photos. I'm getting my copy on the way home. That darn Clay is turning me into a magazine-buying fool. :)

Last night I went to sleep at 9:30. I hadn't done that in a couple of years. I had a bad headache and was extremely tired. Today, I feel more refreshed than usual, so maybe I should make an occasional practice of it. In the night I accidentally kicked something at the foot of my bed. Then I felt tiny teeth biting my foot, realized it was Gandalf, and went back to sleep.

What are some songs that always cheer you up (for one reason or another)? I thought of that topic over the weekend. ( Here are ten of mine: )

Thanks so much for all of your birthday wishes! :D My birthday weekend was excellent. ( Lots to tell. )

I am busy. Not much time for talking. I'm just here to exhort you to visit your local music store today, and get a little Clay Aiken in your life. Thank you. :)

This is probably my shortest entry ever.

Hello. I'm here. I know I've been quiet. I feel awful. My throat hurts and I am just exhausted from stress. And I still have an hour to go before I can go home. Thanks for praying for my brother, though, guys. I just talked to my mom and he's doing okay today. He's not out of the woods yet, though.

One good thing, though- the American Idol tickets have been bought. Kathy and tingilya and I are going to see Clay in August. I'm going to have Birthday Clayke. :)

And one other fun thing. I discovered that helenangel, who works in my building, has an LJ too. Welcome to the friends list. It's usually not this depressing around here. :)

Oh, and for those who think I'm exaggerating when I talk about how Dangerous Minds-like my high school was, wonder no longer. Hail Kirby High, our colors blue and gray. I am so proud of my alma mater. :P