To Hyphenate, Or Not To Hyphenate: That Is The Question!

Should I? I really like the idea, but then I've never had to live with a hyphenated name. Does anyone know anyone who's done it?

Rock On!

Okay, so we were all settled on saving Big Bucks by creating our own iPod playlist for the reception. No troubles, right? I mean, Ms. C has a massive collection of CDs, including pretty much all the Chicago and Earth, Wind, and Fire and Motown and Michael Jackson and...well, you get the idea. We're on it. (Okay, it's not all 70s...there's a bit of 50s & 60s, as well as more recent stuff. Anyway.)

Then: we went to a concert in B'ville and see this excellent Chicago tribute band called Chicago Transit, who also performs lots of Motown-style-stuff under the name Powerhouse, and suddenly the fiancee's thinking, "Hey, wouldn't that be amazing?" And I reply, "Um...eight-piece band? Budget? And will they fit in the barn we're thinking of for the reception?"

Her plan, budget-wise: cut the food. Put out some bowls of potato chips. Okay, she's kidding. But something would have to give, and it's not like I planned on spending much on a dress.

But, nothing ventured, nothing gained. So, we tracked down the band (not easy, let me tell you), and the next step will be for Ms. C to call them and find out a) this is so far outside of our budget options we can just forget about it, or II) maybe not.

Wedding Colors

Now, don't laugh: this is an important question! So much depends on this decision. C. is leaning toward pink, of late, and while I like that, we're tentatively planning on Fall 2010 for the reception, so I'm thinking a pale pink needs a richer tone to go with it. Would burgundy be too obvious? What about brown? 

Keep in mind the site in the running right now for the reception is the loft of a big barn that houses a winery's retail and tasting area. Cool, huh?

And am I using this discussion to avoid working on my online class? Moi? Nev-er!

Wedding Stuff Continued

Okay, so now that I have the beautiful car purchased (and making progress learning how to back into my parking spot...sigh...), back to the other fun stuff: wedding! Plans! Dreams! Oh, and realities--usually of the budget sort. 

1. The NY State Senate continues to behave in an especially boorish fashion, so no progress on getting the gay marriage bill passed. So, we're still up in the air on the actual nuptials location. 

2. The rings arrived! We're wearing them--why not? I've never worn so much bling in my life, and you all know how I am with shiny objects. (I warn students that my strict rules on talking/texting/whatevering during class have more to do with my own distractibility than anything else.) Pretty pretty pretty. (I tried unsuccessfully to take a photo, so you'll just have to wait 'til you see me in person.)

3. During a break from working on an online syllabus this afternoon, I stopped in to Macy's and tried on a couple of dresses, just to get an idea of necklines and such, and to feed my daydreaming. So far, I've settled on inexpensive, v-neck or halter, empire waist, and full skirt for happy dancing. And that's enough on that for a while--I mean, it's a year away. Face it: I love avoiding my work, and this feeds my avoidance. 

4. I bought a copy of Martha Stewart Weddings, and I'm not allowed to buy any more wedding magazines. They say the same thing over and over again. And the featured weddings in Martha are, of course, fabulous *and* crafty. I am not crafting a paper bouquet. I don't think I'll even have a bouquet, for that matter. Nor am I rubber stamping and calligraphing place cards. Ain't happening.

We interrupt this message...

The planning of the wedding celebration has been temporarily interrupted (except for affirming that there will be no playing of the Chicken Dance!) with The Great Car Shopping Expedition of 2009. Yes, it is at long last time to let go of the '98 Forester that has done such good service for the last 9.5 years. Here are some highlights:

1. Car shopping is a good test of compatibility. Thus far it has demonstrated that C. is a) willing to tolerate my giant anxiety attacks over this big step, and b) willing to compromise even though she prefers an automatic transmission and a white exterior. She's respected my shifting priorities and made excellent suggestions, even if I occasionally have felt overwhelmed by those suggestions. ("No, I hadn't considered that--how many cars does that make it we're gonna test drive?!") She is not so tolerant of my desire to put stickers on my car. 

2. My fondness for the Honda Fit was done in by the fact that it was very difficult to find a model with electronic stability control and the fact that I drive through three weather zones twice a week all winter long--including the Tug Hill Plateau, known for its massive snowfall. 

3. This fact also, ultimately, led me to lean toward AWD. Since I'm used to it. 

4. This means that my goal of slashing my gas bill in half will not be achieved. 

5. Of course, since I keep cars 'til I drive 'em into the ground, I gotta have something reliable and long-lasting.

6. I don't want another red car. I'm just sayin'. 

7. I test drove the Kia Soul. Just because of the hamsters. No, it's not on the final list, but it was awfully roomy and fun! (Mood lighting--who knew?)

8. Driving a stick is a lot like riding a bicycle. At least in terms of body memory.

Stay tuned for the continuing saga! Hopefully, I'll have photos to post very soon of my new baby. 

Engagement News, Volume 1

So, the big news: We're getting married! I asked my sweetie two weeks ago, and she said yes. (I asked her here. At night. Tres romantic.) We've tentatively settled on a big celebration next summer involving lots of good music, liquor, and dancing. The ceremony's still up in the air, since we don't know if we'll be able to get married in New York State, or will need to travel to Maine or Canada or one of those more forward-looking places. (I suggested a destination wedding in Iowa, but that was nixed immediately.)

Most wedding planning seems to be taking place while jogging. This means that either a) we will be in incredible shape come next summer or b) we will be in horrible shape and nothing will get planned.

Yesterday we picked out rings. That was way fun, possibly because the ladies at the jewelry store held a wine-tasting event that afternoon. Regardless, we picked out lovely palladium bands (had you ever heard of that stuff?), and mine will be set with a beautiful diamond C.'s aunt gave her years ago. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing. 

Stay tuned for further important wedding decisions, such as: can Susan pull off strapless? Will we be overcome by a sudden desire to recreate Ellen & Portia's million dollar intimate celebrity wedding, plunging ourselves into debt from which we will never recover? And how much does an open bar cost, anyways?