This Child is Cursed

The Renter (or "Young E" as we call him at our house) is plagued with unfortunate circumstances.

His check was not in his account on Friday, but it did show up on Saturday, so he let me know he would be depositing $500 into my account today.

Apparently he got into a car accident yesterday and then his parents called and told him his dog died.

Oy.

Mother of Teenagers

I am only 31 and have never birthed a child.

Yet I have raised numerous teenagers and young 20-somethings. Right now Scott and I are parenting a 19-year old girl and a 17-year old boy. The girl dropped out of high school (her parents let her) at 15. The boy's father (who he lives with) takes care of dinner by asking them which fast food they want.

I also helped raise one of my ex-boyfriends from the time he was about 20 to 26 and our roommate at the time from about 19 to 23.

Apparently, one of my renters thinks that he gets to hop on the Mom-Reese-will-take-care-of-me-wagon.

Well, I won't. He is about a month and a half behind in rent (make that 2 and a half on May 1st) and thinks it's ok to not contact me AT ALL.

How many chances should this child get? It is his first time living on his own. This is not my responsibility.

He can't seem to remember to check his email on a regular basis. Not my responsibility.

He won't return my text messages. Also not my responsibility.

For those that wonder why I don't just CALL him - the answer is twofold. Firstly, I DESPISE talking on the phone. I am too ADD to carry on an important conversation and can never remember my point or any of the relevant facts to the situation when I am on the phone. Secondly, half the time his cell phone has been shut off.

He moved in the Vancouver house from somewhere in the eastern portion of the US and thinks he has "nowhere to go" if I kick his skinny little butt out.

While we were in town for the wedding I reminded him that he had promised to give me at least $200 on the 10th. Since the 10th was two days before my wedding, I didn't go beat down his door on the morning of the 11th when I discovered he hadn't made a deposit.

I DID see him on the evening of the 14th and mentioned that I needed that deposit, he said "oh tomorrow is my day off and the money's in the bank so I'll transfer it tomorrow." Which he did not do and did not ever explain why.

Gah.

Don't Try This At Home

One year ago I weighed 141 lbs.

This morning I weighed 127 lbs.

This was not intentional, and pretty much due to stress.

Just in case anyone is worried, I am eating.

Evidence of Matrimony

From Surf to Snow

Yesterday we left Cannon Beach around 11am and drove to Walla Walla, WA. I enjoyed a nap while Scott helped the family prepare for dinner and then we all ate together at my Grandparents house.

After dinner we enjoyed time with my cousins and their families and spent a little more time this morning with one in particular, enjoying the twin 16-month old boys passionate eating.

Aloha Sushi in downtown Walla Walla prepared a fine lunch which we shared with a friend of mine from high-school, before the wedding we hadn't seen each other since probably mid school year 1992-1993.

Following sushi we packed up our stuff and stopped again at my grandparents house and then at my aunt's farm on the way out of town via Milton-Freewater and Pendleton.

In theory I should be doing laundry and packing. Instead I am going to look up whether the nearest UPS is open tomorrow and then go to bed.

We fly out of Portland tomorrow night - unless the airport closes for snow...

Sand and Surf

We are spending two nights at The Stephanie Inn in Cannon Beach, Oregon.

The hotel is amazing. Unbelievable.

We are enjoying ourselves thoroughly, relaxing and watching Invader Zim every night as we fall asleep.

The Mystery Revealed...

We purchased a pair of Converse All-Stars Chuck Taylor shoes for each member of our wedding party and then I embroidered their nicknames on the side.

I finished the last shoe as the rest of the wedding party was processing down the aisle while I was waiting for my turn.

The First of Many...

Moon Me, Honey!

I slept most of yesterday, in between drinking gatorade and eating crackers.

Our wedding day was the most fun we've ever had EVER. I know that's cheesy but it's totally true.

Today we're juggling logistics and making a battle plan for the week.

I'm finally starting to relax - I slept all night very well and have had no more intestinal complications.

Thank you all so much for your well-wishes, and it was wonderful to see those of you that were able to come!

All Done

We got married today.

Right now I'm trying not to throw up.

I really hate this anxiety crap.

Fun stories and pictures soon.

***********************************
Just threw up. Just a little. Trying to relax.

3 to Go.

I have three items left.

I'm contemplating doing one tonight. But I'm tired.

And I'm getting married in the morning.

I really wanted to get them all done.

Frustrating.

I do have to say that this is the ONLY thing so far that is not taken care of. That's pretty good.

:)

T-1 Day and Embroidering...

I am in the hotel room - after my bachelorette party. We went to a couple of places and had a couple of drinks, I wore a pink sash and a pink feather boa. I had a very good time but called it a night kinda early because I've just been tired all day and really didn't want to push it.

The "guys" (Scott and his attendants, which are of both genders) are still out on the town, which is fine.

I'm embroidering one item and then going to sleep.

That leaves 5 for tomorrow.

I miss my skunk.

T-2 Days and Counting...

I got a very good nights sleep.

At the couples shower last night there was friends, family, food and fun - we played the game "celebrity". I don't know if that's it's official, commercial name, but sometime I'll explain the rules. It's a lot of fun and quite hysterically funny at times, too.

I got my hair done yesterday and my face waxed, which has succeeded in causing Scott to stop making wookie noises at me.

Today we pick up our rental car, check in to the hotel, Mom and I are having a facial, I'm having what is hopefully the final fitting for my dress, another shower, and my bachelorette party.

I wonder if I'll have time for a nap.

Ha Ha Ha.

T-3 Days and Counting...

I'm up and awake... a little stiff but not too bad considering that I flew all day yesterday.

I have to call the reception location contact person and the bakery this morning. I have a hair appointment for the hair on my head at 1:00pm and then an appointment for the hair on my face at 3:00pm. I decided that Scott would probably rather not marry a yeti.

I'm remarkably calm. Not too exhausted, and have charged several people close to me with making sure that I have a bottle of water I'm drinking at all times.

I do still have 6 items to embroider. Fortunately some of them will go pretty quick, I'm just hoping I remember to be doing that in between other stuff.

Next on tap is my mom's fashion show so we can decide what she's wearing to the wedding.

T-4 Days and Counting...

I just called a cab to pick us up in about an hour and a half... we're mostly packed and just rounding up the last phone chargers, makeup, etc.

All the wedding stuff is pretty much ready to roll, we just have to show up and say yes.

I haven't puked again since Sunday morning and managed to eat a little Sunday and last night.

As one of my coworkers said to me yesterday - Feliz Matrimonio!

:)

T-6 Days and Counting...

I've puked at LEAST 6 times in the last half hour. I've been pacing in the back yard, praying, and calling to leave my boss a voicemail to let her know I may have to come in late.

I think that's the thing that gets to me most about the panic attacks, is that I get myself worked up worrying that I'm going to let someone down.

Ultimately I have to accept that life can go on with or without me, whether I'm in charge of it or not.

I think my problem tonight is that I haven't slept well again this week, got a sunburn on Thursday, and haven't been drinking enough water to make up for either of those things. Then I ate junk for supper followed by a half of a giant chocolate chip cookie that has since been regurgitated.

I am not really stressed about the wedding. I know that I will survive this and be fine, and if necessary will get a doctor to prescribe me drugs so I can get through the thing doped to high heaven.

Right now I need to relax and breathe. And pray a lot more.

T-8 Days and Counting

Coincidentally, I am wearing size 8 shorts today. Before any of you curse me (except those of you fabulous ladies that are size 6 and 4 and 2), my wedding dress was purchased a size 12. Ha ha ha. This will be interesting.

I have 7 out of 16 embroidery items finished, and am halfway through #8. One of the items that arrived in the mail yesterday was useless, as it is the wrong size, so it will have to be returned. That made me double check the items that arrived on Wednesday, and sure enough, one of THOSE was the wrong size as well. I gave it to our friend Jenny.

I still need to acquire 5 items and get them embroidered in the next 8 days.

T-10 Days and Counting...

What does the "T" stand for?

Teeth that are chipped. Apparently items made of canvas are more difficult to embroider than items made of denim or even, say, cloth.

Consequently, one of my top front teeth and one of my bottom front teeth are chipped a bit. Note to self: Do Not Use Teeth to Pull Big Needle.

In addition to all the OTHER things I have to do in the days leading up to the wedding, I need to get my teeth ground. Grinded? Smoothed? Whatever.

To my knowledge, the bridesmaids dresses have not arrived at the bridal boutique. This makes me a bit nervous, and it has also made a few of my "maids" nervous as well.

Today we received an automated phone call from ACME telling us that "some" of our canvas items were not going to be delivered and we should go to the store where we had ordered them and get a refund. Once at the ACME store we discovered that the outlook is not quite so bleak as I thought and we are only going to be missing two or three items instead of TWELVE. As it is I need to embroider at least one item every day between now and the wedding in order to get them done.

What the heck was I thinking?