Visit From The In-Laws, Take 1

A call from my mother today:
So… the in-laws? … the apartment? How did it go!? You didn’t paint did you?

No. I didn’t paint. I also didn’t buy all new furniture. Although I was *theees* close to buying a new chocolate leather ottoman to be used as a coffee table in my living room. If I had had another day, I very well might have. But I DID finally finally finally get my place in order (Courtney's house: now without cardboard boxes!). And it is LOVELY. I’ve actually never felt so proud to call a place home.

It was close though. I was definitely frantically arranging fresh flowers in my kitchen, and placing picture frames on shelves and wiping last minute crumbs off counters and lighting candles like a mad woman just seconds before Kyle walked in the front door with his parents. (I sent him to the airport without me so I could finish up the house… luckily our exit off the freeway was closed for construction on his way back, which bought me a few extra minutes… every once in a while the world is actually on my side. Amazing.)

So anyway, the ‘rents-in-law walked in and were absolutely FLOORED by how great the place looked. His mom was speechless. I kid you not! It was maybe the best feeling I’ve had all year. Except of course for the whole engagement thing, and the nephew being born thing… Ok, it was maybe the third best feeling I’ve had all year! Still, it was up there. So they oohed- and ahhhed a bit and then we all went to bed (it was almost midnight!)

Saturday morning we got up at 6am (yikes!) to drive down to the South Bay to watch Kyle and his bro compete in a soccer tournament. They kicked butt and took names. It was fun. Afterwards we took Kyle’s parents to see our reception location. They loved it! (Which, again, sent me over the moon… it makes me feel so much better to know that other people like the site we’ve chosen… hopefully now I’ll stop having nightmares that we somehow picked the wrong place… oh the nightmares… that’s a whole other post!)

So after the soccer, and the reception site seeing, we went out to lunch and then home to watch some football. Cal lost and that’s all I say about my sorry excuse for a football team, total head cases ever since the stupid quarterback forgot to throw the stupid ball like 3 whole weeks ago! Get over guys. Get your heads out of your butts. STOP LOSING! But right, we’re not talking about them.

Saturday night we went out to dinner and then Kyle and I were supposed to go to a Halloween party. But we were so full from the yummy dinner, and so tired from the getting up early, and so content to just stay home and hang out with the parents that we never made it out. To be honest, I’m not even really bummed. Oh there definitely would have been a time in the not so distant past that I would have been all sad-faced at the thought of missing a party. But not so much any more. I mean it definitely would have been nice to see all my friends, but I just didn’t have that *NEED* to be not missing out on stuff like I used to have. I guess this is that whole growing up and settling down thing that everyone keeps talking about. It’s quite nice.

So Sunday, we spent the whole day in Monterey, at the aquarium and hanging out with Kyle’s mom’s aunt and uncle (Good golly this boy has SO MUCH FAMILY!) They were a riot! AND they told Kyle that I’m a “total keeper.” So I officially love them now. Monday I went to work and Kyle stayed home to be with his parents a bit more, and then we all went out to dinner (so much eating when guests are in town!), and we drove them to the airport, and then they left.

It was definitely an amazing weekend. The house looked great. Kyle’s parents seemed to have a good time. All things were right in the world. Yay. Now, if I can just make it through NEXT weekend (p.s. his GRANDPARENTS are staying with us!!!!! GAH! And oh by the way, they’re not too keen on the whole me and Kyle living in sin thing. Lovely.) I think I might actually start to like this whole in-law thing. No promises though.

Awesome Cause Alert

I promise to update about my in-laws, and my house, and my insecurities... but first... go check this out! It's an awesome cause set up by this awesome blogger!!

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Why Yes I Am Flipping Out, Thanks For Asking

Hits a smidge close to home...

Kyle's parents are coming to visit in exactly 83 hours. And they are STAYING WITH US. In our house! With all of the yet to be completely unpacked and put away crap EVERYWHERE. For a WHOLE WEEKEND!!! This is not ok. This is not ok at all.

I know they don't care if our house is messy. I know they love me no matter what. Blah blah blah. My brain gets that (mostly)... I just can't seem to make the rest of me get it too.

I do not like house guests.

Mostly because I'm insecure.

Which I hate admitting.

But hating it doesn't make it any less true.

So there I said it. I'm insecure.

Yuck.

I don't like the thought of people seeing my stuff. My personal, private, stuff... you know like the living room couch... and the coffee table. VERY intimate stuff! I don't like them seeing it and judging it and picturing it again later and judging more. (I'm starting to perspire a bit just thinking about it. Ugh.)

And now Kyle's parents are coming. And they will be LIVING with my stuff for 3 whole days! What if they don't like my sheets? I should buy new sheets. And maybe a new comforter. And probably a whole new bedroom set. And paint. We should definitely paint before they get here (in 82 hours and 46 minutes) so that the walls match the new sheets. It is VERY important that the walls and sheets be coordinated!!

And what if they open a drawer in the kitchen. My silverware - it doesn't all match! What if we're sitting at dinner (which we are TOTALLY ordering in, because the stress of cooking might actually send me over the edge) and they realize that the knives are from a totally different set than the spoons. Then what will we do?!?!?!

My girlfriends were amazing enough to come over last night (which, p.s. was crazy difficult for me to let happen - because hello! My house? It's a disaster. Remember? And I am not comfortable with other people knowing about my disaster. Gah!) But over they came. And I took a few deep breaths (Actually I hyperventilated for several minutes before they got there, but it was a soothing, calming, hyperventilation, I swear) and it was ok. They stepped over the piles of unfolded laundry, pushed aside the dirty dishes in the sink, helped me go through and THROW AWAY! box after box of toiletries. (I'm slightly addicted to buying new shampoo, and lotion, and face stuff, and random creams, and gels, and products that I don't even know the use for.) They even ironed my curtains! (Yes, when future in-laws stay with me the curtains get ironed, darn it!) It was shockingly, amazingly, wonderfully ok. (Note: This is a *big* deal for me!)

But still... the in-laws. They are coming. And while I may have survived letting my girlfriends see my scuffed baseboards and my desperately needing to be swept entryway, I am NO WHERE close to being ok with Kyle's mom and dad knowing that I'm not secretly the long lost daughter of Martha Stewart.

We Should All Be So Lucky

Today I wrestled with a woman who was twice my age. And I’d love to say that I use the term “wrestle” to imply some sort of mental struggle, a methodical, philosophical, debate that we engaged in over differing view points. But no. I’m talkin’ hand-to-hand, physical confrontation. The lady tried to take me down.

We had our company picnic today. An annual party put on by management to thank us worker bees for a job well done. It was fun. Well, it was fun until one worker bee partook in a teensy bit too much honey. Eh, who am I kidding, this chick got wasted. And when management (and others) told her she was cut off from the Merlot, well, let’s just say that she was none too pleased with that decision. In fact, she may or may not have called our boss in his office and thrown a few swear words in his direction. Ugly.

The obvious general consensus was that there was NO WAY we (me, mangement, her friends, anyone standing within 400 feet of her) were letting this woman drive herself home. So I took her keys. Well, if she was a touch upset about being cutoff from the vino, let’s just say that she was downright LIVID that I would take her keys.

Now I need to stop the story here for a minute to say that I’m all for taking advantage of free beer and wine. Especially when the boss-man is paying. And I know that most all of us have had one too many a time or two in our pasts. We’ve gotten drunk. We’ve said stupid things. We’ve fallen down. We’ve made perfect asses of ourselves. It happens. I get it. And I also know that this woman is going through some pretty rough stuff at home right now and that she started this particular day a bit closer to the emotion edge than she normally might have… so it probably didn’t take more than a couple glasses to push her over. So I’m not even beginning to judge her for getting (more than) a little tipsy. It’s probably not the best move career-wise, but hey, it’s none of my business. Bottoms up, lady!

What I don’t get is the adamant refusal to accept the gracious offers from friends and co-workers for a ride home. Think about it. People care enough about you to go totally and completely out of their way to make sure that little old you gets home safe and sound. That’s huge! Feel grateful! Sure, no one likes to admit that they need a helping hand here and there. We all want to feel like we can make it on our own. But you know what? We can’t. We’re social creatures. We need each other. Accept that. Accept the hand of someone reaching out to you and be thankful that it was there.

Instead of being (embarrassed, yes, that she’d obviously over indulged, but also) grateful to be surrounded by people who care about her (and other drivers on the road, frankly), this woman got angry and attempted to convince me of her sobriety by shouting obscenities at me and then brawling with me to get her keys back. Note to the internet: this is a terrible way to convince someone that you are sober. Trust me. Also, comments to effect of “But I always drive like this” will not help your cause. Ever. Instead just sit down, shut-up, quit making a scene, have another glass of wine (or better yet, a glass of water), and realize that you are lucky as hell to have people in your life who would rather be wrestled to the ground than let your risk doing harm to yourself or others.

Sheesh!

In the end, I drove her (and her car) home. Another co-worker followed us and then gave me a ride back to my own car. It was an inconvenience, yes, but nothing compared to what might have otherwise happened.


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*Note: I exagerate the "brawling". Mostly she just grabbed my wrists and tried to force her keys out of my hands. I ran away from her, because I'm a lover not fighter... and because I'm pretty weak so she probably could have taken me.

Also, I wasn't alone in my "thou shalt not drive home" stance. If I hadn't taken her keys, someone else definitely would have. And mangament was there too to make sure she was ok.

It's Gonna Be A Long Year

While flipping through a wedding magazine the other day, I saw a really pretty pink and green bouquet for a pink and green themed wedding. I was suddenly sad.

"Kyle," I said, holding up the glossy page filled with hydrangeas and peonies and moss colored ribbon, "look how pretty this pink and green bouquet is."

"It's lovely," he replied and then went back to reading his own book.

*dramatic sigh*... "I'm never gonna get to have a pink and green wedding," I whimpered.

"What??" He looked up again, concerned at my dramatic sigh and whimper (I've trained him well) "What's wrong? We can have a pink and green wedding if you want one, sweetie."

"But then I'll never get to have my 'various shades of red' wedding! And what about the plum and burnt orange wedding that I've been dreaming of on the side?! It makes me so sad that I can't have them ALL."

"Interesting... Do I really have a whole year of this to look forward to?"

"Yes!" I grinned, "Aren't you excited!"

Fun While It Lasted

Well, for a soild 30-40 minutes we had a shot at being NUMBER ONE in the nation. In the NATION!!!! And then we threw it all away because our quarterback forgot to throw the ball. I kind of really don't like him right now. Ugh.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Feels Like Fall

I think Fall is officially here. It's dark when I wake up in the morning, there's a distinct crispness in the air, and our kitty, Yertle, has taken to sleeping under the covers with Kyle and me. (Beyond cute!)

In honor of the season, a bunch of us went apple picking this past weekend. I had never been. And if you have never been, well, let me tell you, you should go! Apple picking is good stuff. The apple cider and apple cider donughts aren't half bad either.


My very first hand-picked apple!


Kyle with the cheater stick.


My future brother-in-law, ladies and gentlemen.


Pretty.


I don't think I could possibly love this picture more.


Our apple pickin posse. (Say that three times fast!)

Note: I may or may not have come home with 12-15 lb of apples... does anyone have any good apple recipes? Otherwise, I'm just going make a gallon or two of apple sauce.

We're Number Two!

I'm not sure how to feel about the whole thing. I mean I'm all for a good upset. Who doesn't love rooting for the underdog? Especially when the... upperdog?... overdog?... is the arrogant, spolied, our band only knows ONE FREAKIN SONG, USC Trojans. Barf.

But Stanfurd? REALLY??? Come on football gods, work with me here. The only team I dislike more than SC is the annoying, no mascot having, can't even fill their football stadium when they GIVE tickets away because their fans are so apathetic, Stanfurd Cardinal. Double Barf.

On the up side, Saturday's craziness left Cal in the #2 position!!! Woo-Hooo!!!! On the down side, it feels a bit precarious here at the top... please please PLEASE don't let the Bears blow it.

Here's To Happily Ever After

The post wherein I hug my monitor and squeal over my cube walls to any and all that will listen...

THEY DID IT!!!! Two of my very favorite blog friends got hitched!!! And I am so beyond excited for them. Both had beautiful beach weddings where the brides glowed and walked barefoot through the sand while their true loves waited with smitten smiles at the end of the aisle. Surrounded by their closests friends and family, they vowed, and promised, and kissed and were pronounced. Ta-Dah!!! My heart fills with butterflies when I think of each of them living their own version of happily ever after.

Congrats and Best Wishes to Mrs. Kerri Anne and Mrs. My Life Is Brilliant.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!