Updates

So much has been happening that I haven't had time to blog. Melissa got married the weekend before last. I was a co-maid of honor. The wedding was seamless and went off without a hitch -- perfect weather, wonderful food, incredibly happy bride, and well-received speech. It couldn't have been better.

Last weekend was my bridal shower. It was fun. There was good food, silly games, fun gifts, and great friends, and the theme was Pink Princess so everyone was dressed in pink and I was treated like royalty. My type of party! Hehe. :) Afterwards I went to Sean and Jen's b-day bbq, where there was more good food, great friends (though no silly games or fun gifts (at least not for me). :) I'm getting used to my house not being home anymore, but it still feels a little strange.

Yesterday morning I ran to the gym and then came back in time to make brunch for Pam and Allen, P. and the kids. I made some yummy crepes (if I do say so myself). Then just about as soon as we were done eating, we had to go to my dad's cousin's house for a early dinner. I felt like I spent the whole day eating, but it was good times. Peter and I then came home and started to open wedding gifts that have begun to pour in. Gifts are fun!!! Peter was particularly excited about the new coffee maker (thanks Jason!) and went around the house whooping with joy (and this was even before he drank a cup).

Anyway, things are great. I have four more days to be officially single. Peter and I are going to city hall on Friday afternoon to do the deed (too complicated to get legally married in Spain). Mom and Dad are here and Peter's mom just arrived this morning. We'll have the immediate family at the ceremony and then are going out for a celebratory dinner. I've been so focused on Spain (and getting married on June 24) that it just hit me that I'm getting hitched on Friday. Holy smoke!!! Yowsa!

I haven't been taking pictures (I need a new digital camera), but other people have. I'll upload them soon.

What's going on

"Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of
chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay
brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your
differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more
easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you posses.
To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest
than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart
will have peace."
Ken Nerburn
American Author, Artist and Theologian

On Saturday I gifted P. (us) with a Couples Massage Workshop 101 for our one year anniversary. It was just the two of us and a massage instructor. For 4 1/2 hours we learned about massage, how to give a relatively professional full-body massage, and each received a full body massage. It was divine and so much fun. And it's been great to trade massages ever since. :)

On Saturday afternoon, P., B., and I went to an art gallery opening in Downtown LA --Modern Myths. The show focused on the works of 13 different artists combining modern icons (Olsen Twins, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Howard Stern, etc.) with mythology (Zeus, minotaur, leprachaun). It's a very cool idea, but I was slightly underwhelmed. It could have been because I was too zoned out from the massage. In any case, it's always nice to do something cultural and artsy in this town.

On Sunday, we royally celebrated Easter. My brother's friend Ray organized his third annual Easter Brunch at Harbor House in Marina del Rey. It's a great venue for this thing -- beautiful restaurant overlooking the harbour and the crowd keeps getting bigger and bigger. This year we had over 40 people (including all my siblings). It was also a surprise 35th birthday party for Kelly. Good times.

After a brief stop at the old house, P. and I went on a fun and challenging ridge hike in Runyan Canyon with Marley. We all love that hike and it's great to go someplace where Marley can run off-leash.

Last night we went over to Corinne and Rob's to hang out with the new baby -- now one week old. He's such a cute baby boy (especially for a newborn, who I'm sorry to say are not generally the cutest things). It was nice to hang with them and to have some cuddle time with the baby. There are few things I love more than a baby's tiny little hands and feet. Too precious! P. made a comment that I was drooling a bit while I was holding the baby. That is not accurate, but it did make me feel the tick tock of my body's clock and the typical maternal tuggings of a woman. Luckily, I get to fulfill my maternal urgings during my quality time with my future step-children.

Quality Time

"No matter what you do, no matter how stupid, dumb or damaging you judge it to be, there is a lesson to be learned from it. No matter what happens to you, no matter how unfair, inequitable or wrong, there’s something you can take from the situation and use for your advancement."
Peter McWilliams

I've had some quality time with the siblings recently. The Sunday before Valentine's Day P and I invited our siblings + significant others (there were 10 of us total) to a dinner party. This sibling only dinner party was great for reconnecting. We luckily had the chance to do it again soon. The next week my aunt got in touch -- she was visiting from Boston and wanted to see her neices and nephews. I invited my siblings over for another dinner to see my aunt and my dad's cousins. I love my family and am so grateful that we all get along.

In wedding news -- we put the deposit down on our Greek honeymoon today, so that's finally *almost* settled. And in less than one week I'm heading to Spain to take care of many "on the ground" decisions. Yeah!!! I can't wait to go. :) Time is flying by, but everything will settle into place soon enough.

"Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: 'I'm with you kid. Let's go.'"
– Maya Angelou

Things have been very good. That last hockey game was outstanding ... we won in the final shootout. It was an action-packed game all the way and our seats were unbelievable.

On Saturday night we took advantage of some other free tickets and went to see the Nutcracker at the Shrine Auditorium. It was staged by the Universal Ballet which is based in Seoul, Korea. It was SOOO good! Clara was unbelievably outstanding and the sets were like nothing I've ever seen. I had a blast. Who invited us? P's ex-wife. She invited me, my mom, P, and the kids. Talk about a functioning extended family! I think it's great that we can all be friends.

This week is busy with seeing friends. I have three "it's been so long since we've seen one another, let's go out" dinners and a small tree trimming party on Friday. It's all lots of fun, but I wouldn't mind some total downtime.

Thanksgiving

"We are all of us from birth to death
guests at a table which we did not spread.
The sun, the earth, love, friends,
our very breath are parts of this banquet..."
Rebecca Harding Davis

Thanksgiving was truly a banquet! We had 40 guests and 3 large tables full with food, family, and friends. It was divine. Everyone feasted and then everyone got up to say what they were grateful for from the past year. I could have gone on for hours and hours, but I limited myself to a few key points -- my fiance, my step-children-to-be, my siblings and parents, my expanding family, my friends, my new business... The long and short of it is that 2006 has been a phenomenal year.

I'm off to see the Kings tonight. Since I left the law firm I hadn't had any boondoggle sporting tickets -- lo and behold my darling P also has access to his own corporate tix. We're taking his employer's tickets and making a night of it at the Staples Center. I can't wait. :)

Keeping Level-Headed

"We think, sometimes, there's not a dragon left. Not one brave knight, not a single princess gliding through secret forests... What a pleasure to be wrong. Princesses, knights, enchantments and dragons, mystery and adventure... not only are they here-and-now, they're all that ever lived on earth!"

Richard Bach, American Author
From 'A Bridge Across Forever'

Last night, my mom threw a little family engagement dinner for me and P. All my siblings were there and P's sister. It was fun, but... I saw it. I saw the pre-wedding stress. At times I was on edge, my mom was on edge, P was on edge and it related to the wedding. Yikes! This is supposed to be fun, right? My brother Marc let out evil little giggles throughout the night and kept saying "now it's your turn." No, I don't like that. There has to be a different way. I'm setting an intention for this process -- I want the whole engagement to be fun and chill and harmonious for all. If or when it stops being fun and chill and harmonious, I'm going to grab P and take the next flight to Vegas. Anyway, I've always wanted to be married by an Elvis priest.