For: Posterity

Saturday I undertook the seemingly immense task of finding a wedding dress. It's one of those things you always figure you'll do, and never expect you'll do. But, at some point, I was gonna have to do it.

It was a small search party. Pi's mom couldn't make it, so it was just my mom and I. We weren't sure if this was going to be a multi-day hunt, so we decided to keep things simple and start small. We got an early-ish appointment at DB in Clackamas and set out on a beautiful, sunny fall day.

Upon arrival, things were just very surreal. I was in a store full of wedding dresses. Something's not right with that picture. I'm not a dress-up person to start with, much less a wedding dress person. But I remained amicable and gave the check-in lady my info, was introduced to M, the girl who would help me, etc. I had done a little research in the preceding days, and had a sticky note with a number of styles that looked good online to try.

I think the trouble hit when things started to go far differently than I expected. "What size slip do you wear so I can get one for you?" "Um.... I brought one, actually..." (referring to my multi-colored Joe Boxers that serve as a comfy slip, won by a friend for me at Bingo at the high school senior all night party almost ten years ago). "Well, wearing this kind of slip sort of floofs up the dress and makes it look right". "Okay..." "And bra size?" "I brought a strapless, actually..." "Well, you're certainly welcome to try on with it, but a long bra will make things look more accurate" "Okay..." Squirm. Squirm. Then they had a shoe department, so it was recommended that I grab a pair for trying on with. Apparently the clerk and my mom weren't fans of my cute new black heeled lace-ups.

That's about when I started to feel obstinant and resistant. This wasn't comfortable. I just wanted to try things on in peace. Ah man...

It didn't help when I put on the proffered undergarments. The trouble was mainly the bra. Despite being labeled as my size, I could barely fasten the hooks on the smallest setting. Trying to slide it around so it was right side forward was a gargantuan task. You might imagine, it was not comfortable. With breathing and bending now out of the question, the clerk helped me into the first dress.

Squeezing through the door in the fluffy skirts and uncomfortable white dress shoes, I worked my way around the corner and up to the stage. Yes, a stage. With three pedestals on it. So much for just going shopping with my mom. Now I had to parade around in front of a bunch of strangers in comfy chairs. Oh dear. Uncomfortable.

So I climb up on the little round pedestal and take a look in the wall of mirrors. It was a lovely dress. But, as I had feared regarding strapless dresses, I looked like a German bar maid. That was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back. All compliance was gone. I was not happy. I'm not a dress up person. This was ridiculous. Way out of my league, very uncomfortable, very unhappy. Wedding dress shopping sucks.

After some dodging around things and generally emitting a grumpy mood, we managed to pinpoint that I didn't like the pushup bra, and she swapped it out for a regular long one. So. Much. Better. Although it was the same size, I could actually breathe in this one, and best of all, no more German bar maid. I tried on a second dress, which was really very nice and stayed in the running all the way to the end. It was such an improvement, I tried on the first one all over again, just to give it a second chance.

Over the next 3 hours, I squeezed through the dressing room door, stood for pictures to help remember what things looked like, slid in and out of dresses, and had a strange girl lace me up, dress me, and undress me. There were obvious nos - the ivory one that had no decoration at all, the one with sleeves that was more immodest than any of the strapless, the chiffon-draped one that made me feel like I was going to a hippie wedding. There were also lots of really good ones. The pink one, the Duchess one, the June Allyson '40s musical one. Finally I narrowed it down to three and tried them on again. Some looked really good, but were just a little too me. They made me think prom dress. Others were very different from anything I've ever worn, and very grand and elegant. I finally settled on grand and elegant.

So, at the end of a long, and very surreal morning, my mom and I left the store with a big garment bag containing a sparkly white dress. I learned that day that I really like sparkle. I don't like chiffon, and I don't like pushup bras. Now, I guess it's on to the next project. How very strange to have bought my wedding dress.

Date:	2009-10-25 22:28
Subject:	:)
Security:	Public
Mood:	content

So very happy. :)

I know what I wanna be for Halloween! :D

9 hrs of sleep. Homemade French toast. And enough time to run to Walmart to get auto oil before church.

Date:	2009-10-14 22:12
Subject:	May be a little biased...
Security:	Public
Mood:	happy

I have a wonderful boy on layaway. Now, to wait 233 more days...

Have dinner.
Gather blanket and books.
Walk to park.
Read said books on said blanket.
Walk back.
Take a semi-guilty trip to Sheridan's for frozen custard.
Sleep.

:P

It's amazing what a clean bedroom floor will do. I'm so inspired to do things! I even kind of want to start reading my textbooks! (which is good since I kind of need to...)

:D

Date:	2008-11-22 07:33
Subject:	Okay, so politics aren't usually a big deal for me
Security:	Public
Mood:	disappointed

but I do NOT want Hillary handling our international affairs!!!!!!! :(

Date:	2008-11-20 06:50
Subject:	The answer to all the hows
Security:	Public
Mood:	content

I am very blessed.

You look in the mirror and think, "Hmm... my pants have shrunk enough they're what most people would consider just the right length... It must be time to buy new pants!"

You are a Social Liberal (61% permissive) and an... Economic Moderate (43% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

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Date:	2008-05-27 21:30
Subject:	Frustrated
Security:	Public
Mood:	frustrated

Why is it that manufacturers seem to think that women don't need pockets in their running shorts?!? They put cell phone pockets on everything else but the kitchen sink these days. That's all I want, a simple little pocket to hold my cell phone as I run. Is that too much to ask?

no seré una mujer perfecta,
de las que golpeas al ver pasar,
no seré alta y maravillosa,
pero se lo que puedo hacer,
no sabré andar como una princesa,
ni vivir como en alta sociedad,
y no se engañar a tu corazón,
pero se que te puedo hacer feliz

y aunque muchas veces no sé lo que quiero,
y aunque hay días en que veo todo negro,
no quiero irme de ti, para estar cerca de ti,
porque sé que te puedo hacer feliz.

no seré lo que te imaginabas,
no diré lo que quieres escuchar,
no sé bien si será para siempre

pero sé que te puedo hacer feliz.

y aunque muchas veces no sé lo que quiero,
y aunque hay días en que veo todo negro,
no quiero irme de ti, para estar cerca de ti,

porque sé que te puedo hacer feliz. (x2)

Andrea wants a cute dress and a reason to wear it.

Date:	2008-04-05 15:32
Subject:	Go little Gerbie!
Security:	Public
Mood:	pleased

So proud of myself and my little multi-tool pocket knife. I just cut up the big ugly plant on our back porch, and how you might ask? With my little pocket knife. Go Gerbie. (even if you're not an actual Gerber). Very impressed with you.

Ahhh... the remnants of my time at the O'Neill.

:)

Seriously, God. Ben? Of all people.

And going to two funerals of 25-year-old friends in the course of a year is just a little too much.

It always makes me laugh that I never cease to amaze people - principally hairdressers.

"Your hair is so curly!" "You've got so much hair!"

Oh my word! Really?? Somebody hand me a mirror!

Oh bother. :)

Date:	2008-03-19 22:07
Subject:	My evening - well used? Well.... not sure...
Security:	Public
Mood:	tired

So, my 5 precious hours at work were spent: running, quick shower, preparation of dinner, rather brief eating of dinner, and the remainder in the kitchen baking. Running and kitchen. That's it.

Oops.

I have amazing luck. Somehow, it never starts to rain until I'm already out on my run, usually if I've gone without a jacket, too. Then it lets up right about when I'm done.

So. Very. Wet.