Posted on

Post-Rapture Fashion Discussion

I hope you all survived the supposed Rapture. (What must it feel like to believe that the Rapture is coming and then not get taken away to heaven? It must be pretty disappointing. Let's hope these cult guys don't go the way of Heaven's Gate, you know?) I've always been a little suspicious of these end-of-times declarations, because aren't there supposed to be specific signs of its approach? I don't think you can plan on the Rapture, y'all.

Anyway, so Post-Rapture – Malvina came over on Sunday and we headed out to Brentwood to the DSW; it was kind of a bust – I did see a pair of shoes I liked a lot but they only had one in my size and they were kind of chipped in the patent leather. Which I wouldn't have cared about for $10 but for $40, nope.

We had some good discussions about their plans for their upcoming nuptials (next year) in which I am serving as maid-of-honor. Awhile back we went to David's Bridal and I tried on a ton of dresses. We actually found one that had not been an original contender because it was strapless, and both Malv's sister and I are not fans of strapless. I think it's this one (though I thought it had pockets). It was actually really flattering and we were both surprised that I liked it because A) I am not a big fan of dresses and B) I am REALLY not a fan of strapless. I also figure I can knit myself a nice lace shrug or something should we go with it.

ANYHOODLE the big question on my mind is:

 

Bridesmaids Dress Dilemma

Bridesmaids Dress Dilemma by pynnski featuring gold heels

I am in the nude shoe camp, Malvina is in the black shoe camp. I tend to think that the black sandals might make the look too "heavy/hard" (does that make sense?)  Or, hmmm, maybe too rockabilly when there is definitely a princess theme going on in the grander scheme of things? 😉

 

Malvina mentioned that two of the venues they liked are kind of historical in nature, so if they went with those, maybe something with more of a vintage appeal would work. (I'm thinking in particular like a heeled Mary Jane or something in a softer color?) Like something vaguely 1920s or 1930s. I wonder if a blush pink would look nice with the brighter pink of the dress. Hmmm.

At the end of the day I can't walk in any of the shoes posted above, so it's kind of a moot point. Not super sure what should be worn with this dress, but I kinda heart the idea of elongating my stubby legs with the nude shoes (as high as I can go, which is not that high but whatevs).

I also put together a couple of jewelry choices for this dress – I really like the idea of a cascading necklace like the silver one. Maybe with pearls or something (I'm making the jewelry for the wedding party I think? Right? I've had a tough year and can't remember, haha. If not, I'm cool with that too.) I might make up some mock jewelry to play around with it. I think a contrasting metal will look best – too much pink could be a little overwhelming. I'll have to put together a mini shopping list for the November BABE! show when I can pick up some beads for it. Obviously I'm thinking into the future here…

Thoughts? Suggestions? Hand-slapping for over-thinking this? Hah! 🙂

Sometimes I feel like their wedding is so far away from now, but man, the way the last year and a half have rocketed by, it will be here before we know it!

UPDATE: What about these Fluevogs??? (I so need an excuse to buy a pair, you guys!)

Posted on

Adventures of a Stupid Nature

I pull into the Chevron across from the Big Target in Walnut Creek. I fish out my debit card from my purse and hop out of the car. 

The door shuts with a decisive snap. 

And then it hits me. 

"Aw, shit!" I say, reaching for the handle.  Locked. "Where are my keys!"

I have my debit card, so I start the pump on the car. 

I head into the gas station mini mart, where there is a nice Asian gal behind the counter. She lends me the phone so I can call a locksmith. But it's 5:05 and my dumb guy at my locksmith that I use all the time has closed up shop for the day. 

Another guy walks into the mini mart. Half joking I say to him, "Know how to break into a car?"

"No, why?" he asks. 

Sheepishly, I explain my problem. 

"How about Triple A?" he asks. "You could call them."

DUH. I had forgotten all about AAA in my freaking out. I have had AAA for just a couple of months, too. But of course – my card is in my purse, which is in the locked car. 

I call my dad, who has a card. He laughs at me. 

But he gives me the AAA number and the member number. 

AAA dispatches North Main Tow to my aid. "Are you in a safe place?" the lady asks while I'm still on the line. 

I look at the friendly face of the girl behind the counter, and the yuppie workers filling up their tanks as rush hour starts to hit. "Yeah," I tell her. I feel bad that I'm hogging a space in the gas station, so I buy a soda and M&Ms to tide myself over. Hey, if you're stranded with your debit card, you may as well use it, right?

I didn't have to wait long for the guy to show up in his yellow truck. 

He has several tools to try to open the door. One is a long, bendable piece of metal that after wedging open the car door a bit, he is able to stick into the car. 

"Where are your keys?" he asks as he fiddles with the lock. The lock is designed in such a way that it's not conducive to opening with his tools – not the bendy wire thing, or the slim jim. 

I actually have no idea. I thought I had left them in the ignition, but they are definitely not there. I don't see them on the seat or the floor either. "I think they're in my purse," I finally decide. It's the only place they could be – I certainly didn't have them right after I turned off the car and locked myself out, now did I? But I had been messing around in my purse when I got my debit card out of my wallet, so that was where it had to be.

The guy messes around with the car for some time before giving up. Piker.

He calls another guy from the tow company and then that guy shows up as the first guy is leaving. Lu is a big burly Samoan and gets down to business. I say to him, "That's the window we'll break when this doesn't work."

He grins. "Well, look around for a rock!"

The first guy had started to try to roll down the window to get to the lock.  Lu manages to get his bendy tool to get the window starting to roll down, and within a couple of minutes he was able to reach in and unlock the car. 

Lu, you are my hero, man. 

I grab my purse and fish around in it for a terrifying five seconds before I find my keys nestled nicely at the bottom. "SWEET BABY JESUS!" I bellow, ladylike. 

Lu needs me to sign off on the AAA paperwork, and tells me that it would have been around $75 if I didn't have AAA. 

"I would have paid it!" I tell him, not caring at that moment how much money it would have taken to get back into my car. 

So, to recap: it took two knowledgable tow truck/car guys/AAA dudes, eight different tools (between the two guys) and an hour to get into my car. 

If there is any doubt that I plan on ditching this car – but getting a new one without autolocks and such (I don't think that they would have been able to get into a similar car without manual windows), I certainly made up my mind tonight.

Car, we're through.

Posted on

When Times Get Tough, The Tough Bartend in Their Kitchen

Be forewarned, this entry is kind of whiny…

We buried my grandfather last Tuesday at the VA cemetary. It was quiet and peaceful and beautiful – the cemetary is only five years old and only 60 acres of the planned 500 acres has been developed. 

It was an odd feeling, seeing the flag-covered casket and knowing my grandfather was inside there (at all other funerals/memorials I've experiences, the deceased has been cremated). Not gonna lie – I kind of wanted to open it up and see him in there. 

(I am either disturbed, totally with it, or have seen too many zombie movies?)

Anyway…

After the brief ceremony, we headed into Vacaville where we went to Fenton's, a highly overrated and really kind of lame ice cream parlor. Their ice cream is good, I guess, made in house, but their sauces are totally subpar and ruin the whole experience. I've been to the "legendary" Fenton's in Oakland/Piedmont a number of times and it's just not a place that would even hit my radar in terms of places to go eat.

PARTICULARLY AFTER A FUNERAL. WHO GOES AND GETS ICE CREAM AFTER A FUNERAL, IT'S LIKE DANCING ON SOMEONE'S GRAVE.

Apparently, MY family goes and gets ice cream after a funeral!

In protest I had a grilled ham and cheese. It was fine, but nothing to write home about, and they put sweet pickles on the plate, not kosher, I mean come on.

From rereading the above, it's pretty apparent that my reaction to my grandfather's death skipped most of the steps of grief and landed squarely on ANGER which is manifesting in various classy ways! 

OMFG.

Anyway, next weekend is the memorial service which I am not looking forward to because I must continue to behave myself when I all want to do is drink cocktails and have myself a pity party for losing both my grandpas within six months of each other. 

Next time on Behind the Smile: Less complaining, more pretty things to look at!