Plus One Isn't So Plus

So, I have blogged about wedding guest accommodations (i.e. We're at the point where you assume that everyone is a "plus one".) And having a plus one to those major social events is, well, a plus...at the time.

Yesterday, I was thinking about how it would be nice to have a date to some of the various weddings, parties, etc. that are lining up for this year. Then, like a bolt of lightening, I realized that ALL of my past events where I have been stag (I may have had a boyfriend at the time, but for various reasons, didn't bring them) have been a blast! The bonus is that I get to look back at all of those events and smile, laugh, and reminisce with everyone and not have to say, "Oh, that's when I was dating so-and-so...he turned into a douche," or "So-and-so was being such a whiner about having to hang out by himself because I was doing this or that."

Sure, having a built-in dance partner, drink getter, arm candy, etc. would be a bonus, but looking back, that's where my friends' other halves are stand-ins. (Without that whole commitment thing...he wouldn't get mad if I found someone else to stand-in.) And I don't have to entertain someone that may or may not know my friends or their dates and may or may not be comfortable in social situations...although this is also a Litmus test for the relationship because, as you know, I am a little social butterfly...if he can't hack it there, he can't hack it in my life. ha.

I am looking forward to my wedding season! As with last year, here's the list of weddings on my social calendar this year:

Kalyn & Jeremy
May 1, 2010
Lamar, CO
She's got her cowboy wrapped around her Wyoming bound finger.

Kevin & Jessica
June 4, 2010
Brewster, MA
My middle dot is dwopping her ah's (R's) fa life.


Chelsea & David
August 14, 2010
Beaver Creek, CO
Meeting at a wedding was foreshadowing their life together.


Caitlin & Mark
October 9, 2010
Collinsville, CT
A beautiful, New England, fall location for them.

Chelsea's wedding also entails a bachelorette trip to Sin City in June....so you know there will be blogs a go-go. And since my travel schedule isn't as hectic as last year, I will be able to fully blog about all of them because I won't forget as much as time passes!

I Have Found the Devil Incarnate

Her name is Kendra. She poses as a yogini at Core Power. She guides the Power Fusion class on Mondays.

Here's how I know she's the physical form of He Who Must Not Be Named:

• She doesn't break a sweat in a room heated to 100 degrees.
• She takes pleasure in pushing you further into your pose than you can get into on your own.
• She has a calm, soothing voice that makes you think you aren't killing yourself.
• She burns well over 500 of your hard earned calories (via chocolate, no less.)
• She makes you want to eat a big breakfast before going because you slept in on your day off, but wanted to try the Power Fusion class and didn't want to go ravenous.
• She made you drink milk. Milk was a bad idea when it's that hot. (OK, so that was part of my breakfast, but as you read above, I didn't want to be hungry.)
  
• She makes you think.
• She leaves you with a cool lemon-lavender wash cloth to end your session.
• She gives you a quote that is still resonating with you: "Accept that you cannot accept that you are your own resistance."

So, that last part was legit. Yogini Devil may have pushed me to my limits (love/hate her for that) and my bad choice of a large meal before the class led to nausea and light-headedness, but she opened the class with that quote and ended with me heavily panting while realizing that I have to accept that I am my own resistance. The audacity of some people to make you work hard and make you think and have breakthroughs. Ugh. ;)

Doggie Wisdom

I have a little (well, if 42 pounds is little) English Cocker Spaniel named Harry...he's three years old and if you ask anyone else, Harry is my Grandma's buddy and therefore, I am simply his food provider, chauffeur, and walker. He looks like a bad ass with his mohawk, but really, he's a cat trapped in a dog's body.

Here's some wisdom my friend, Chelsea had blogged from her step-puppy, Obie (for O'Bannion from Dazed and Confused, not Obi-Wan Kenobi as David, her fiance, is quick to correct) for a guide to life and I totally agree: (My comments are in italics as you know I always like to put my two cents in.)

Aspects of Life on which you should never compromise:

• Eating carbs. Basically, you will be happier with carbs. (I tried the Atkins diet once, I was also close to going postal on EVERYONE.)
• A good groomer is worth a little extra dough ;) (I'm a blonde naturally, but not the pretty color my stylist can maintain...and there's no way a box could make this happen at home.)
• Your church. If you're not feelin' a certain church, don't stay just for the sake of saying you were in church. Find one that resonates with you! Or maybe another spiritual route is better for you. God knows anyway, so keep it real! (I love the G-O-D...it's his fan club that can get on my nerves.)
• Us. The dogs. Love our owners, you gotta love us. Simple, yes? (Loving unconditionally and without boundaries opens you to receive that same love in return. Pure and simple.)
• Never underestimate a clean house and a clear mind! Don't compromise by letting your mind and home get cluttered. (Always know where to find clean underwear and your keys.)
• Stick your ground. Even when it is not always well received. (Harry has run of the house and will push you out of his space.)
• Follow your instincts. If I think a bone isn't stinky enough...I won't eat it! Something is wrong with it. (You know when something feels right or doesn't feel right. Listen to what's inside you, not what someone's telling you to do.)

March for Babies

Not to be confused with March Babies Birthday Bash, which is a party that my friends and I have held in our honor since there's seven of us with birthdays in March. (There will be another post about that - **teaser** it's Jersey Shore themed.)

You may have noticed the new widget to the right that has a sweet pea in an oversize hat. That's the link to my fund raising page for March for Babies. It's a 5-miler that I will be walking (no need to over work myself on my first race.) with my friends in loving memory of my friends Mandy & Shane's son Brendhen McVeigh. Brendhen was taken from this world prematurely due to complications from a full placental abruption in the third trimester. Since it is a rare occurrence, the research that March of Dimes - and by extension the fund raising from March for Babies - may be able to prevent this from happening to another family.

Contributing online is fast, easy and secure. You can donate directly from my personal webpage with a credit card or PayPal. If you prefer, I can also accept cash or check. Just click the appropriate box on my webpage.

The March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will support lifesaving research, services, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start.

Having you support for March for Babies and our team in honor of Brendhen McVeigh is greatly appreciated and means more than you know!

Migraine Miracle

I left work early because I ended up developing second a migraine. I don't get them often, but when I get one, I have a very prescribed routine to try to minimize pain, sound sensitivity, and nausea.

Here's my plan of attack:

1. Take some ridiculous dose of ibuprofen. Like, bordering on idiocy.
   
2. Drink some caffeine.
3. Pop into a hot shower and stand there catatonic for a period of time. Then, if it's been 5 days since washing your hair, go ahead and kill two birds with one stone and wash your hair.
4. Dry off and hydrate your skin since it's winter and you're not a barbarian.
5. Take some ridiculous dose of acetaminophen since it metabolizes in your kidneys. The ibuprofen will kill the liver.
   
6. Put on eye mask, a movie, and pass out.
7. Take a ridiculously long nap.
8. Wake up, eat something.
   
9. Hide cell phone. Mysterious outbound phone calls and text messages have been known to materialize overnight. See #10.
   
10. Take an ambien, go back to sleep until work the next morning.

Works every time.