Butter Flu

I think I'm officially sick. I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm dizzy, I'm not too hungry...
But I'll still be at work.

Ugh, this is one of those times that this Monday late-start is actually pretty nice. I've been on the couch playing with TiVo and Butchie's been keeping me company. Yesterday he was the best pupster ever-- we dressed him as a bride and marched in the country's largest dog parade. We saw a standard poodle dyed pink, and dogs dressed up even more creatively than their owners. Butch was perfect-- he didn't get carsick, he didn't get too nervous.... We had so much fun. Valentine's Day will be our sixth month anniversary of being Butchie's parents. Being a dog owner is just wonderful. And I can't wait to get married so we can mend Butchie's broken home (currently we hyphenate his last name).

After such a wonderful weekend it makes it even harder to go back to work. Pedro finishes class early on Mondays, so we're going out for naked burritos (just without the shell, silly). Then I need to pick up a cake I ordered (it's a coworker's birthday tomorrow, and since my birthday was the last one in the office it's my turn to buy this one) and head off to work.

Today's payday! YAY!

Butter's Break

After a very long week, I sure am glad it's the weekend.

What I've been doing since finishing work yesterday:

• Rollerblading at a place called Saints-- it's a "Family Friendly" skating rink, and last night it was gospel night. Pedro thinks every night there is a gospel night. We had a lot of fun, but definitly didn't recognize any of the songs.
• Laundry-- this isn't exactly memorable, but it's great fun because I put Butchie on top of the machines while I sort and change. He's the greatest pupster ever. Tomorrow there's a huge Doggie Parade in a different area of town, and of course he'll be in it. In drag.
• Fun with TiVo. Wow, how did I ever live without it? Now I'll never miss an episode of Seventh Heaven. Just kidding. Sort of.
• Ate a candlelit dinner for two, prepared by Chef Pedro. 'Twas wonderful, indeed.
• Embroidered the tablecloth I've been working on for a while now. It'll be so pretty on the cake table when I get married...
• Recieved confirmation from DWHS that one of my gown choices is in fact gorgeous. I really wish I was like, 6 feet tall. Just for this.
• Started reading a book I got in the mail: "Making a Successful Jewish Interfaith Marriage".

Now I think we're going to scope out a new taqueria. You know I need a burrito on the weekend.

Butter and Books

Today I learned that I should maybe take my coworkers at face value, rather than dig a little deeper. The girls up front (with whom I share my space) are nice enough, but certainly uneducated and unexperienced. I had to tell one that a carpenter does not in fact lay carpet, and the other one that Ben & Jerry's actually has real life stores, not just available in your grocer's freezer.

Then I mistakenly asked them what they were reading.

The Left Behind series.

They were talking about the "Sign of the Beast" or whatever, and I gave one of my "are you for real?" grimaces. I mentioned off hand that it was fiction, and then had to keep myself quiet. These two girls haven't even read the whole bible (I've finished both the OT and NT) and were saying rediculous things like, "I don't know how those guys could live to be over 100 years old."

Oy va voy. I have a huge bone to pick with the Left Behind books, the best selling novels of our time. These provincial girls are learning that those who don't accept JC are certainly inferior and will be sent to some undesirable place. And yes, I"ve read excerpts of theses insanely popular books.

I'm thinking my next job will be for Planned Parenthood or something equally liberal. I can't stand these conservatives way out in the 'burbs.

Butter & Jerry's

There's nothing like walking around the block to get a scoop of Berry Berry Extraordinary fat free sorbet when it's 5 degrees outside. Butchie and Pedro must love me-- they came too!

I came home to Pedro's place to find it completely rearranged and CLEAN. The couch is at an angle, the coffee table is clear, the kitchen table is in the middle of the kitchen, Butchie's crate is against a different wall, the bed is turned, the mobile from Ikea is hanged... I could go on, but I won't. Also, during my lunch hour, I got a call on the cell phone provided to me by work (suh-WEET) to inform me that my name had been drawn by the pitiful Mexican restaurant next door to work for a Cantina party for 20 of my closest friends. You know I'm always up for 99 cent margaritas.

I also called DDL to see what's on the agenda for this weekend. It's the first time I'll see her since I've been engaged and I have a zillion appointments set up already. Here's a breakdown of Saturday:
9 Go to Pedro's tux place
11 Meet DDL and RPH and check out location 1
2 Drop off Pedro and check out dress shop 1
4 Dress shop 2
7 Dinner with both families for the first time at a cute Greek restaurant uptown.
And Sunday:
1 Dress shop 3
3 Location 2
Don't forget I also have to drive back from Butterapolis. You know, this would be most peoples' nightmares, but I'm just so excited. I love this stuff!

Butter the Bride

Another weekend, another bridal show. Pedro came with me to this one too, and since it was downtown it was way nicer than the trashy one I went to last weekend. I still didn't see any dresses I liked (for myself or my future 'maids) but we did try some pretty good cake. Again, I loved wearing a pink sticker that said "BRIDE". That's such a fun title, and really, this is the first and only time I'll be doing this, so I don't feel too bad about loving it. Since Pedro thinks renting clothes is silly, I think we're making a trip to Brooks Brothers tomorrow morning for him to just buy a tux. I love that he wants a traditional one, and that we'll also get some use out of it.

Speaking of, I got an email from DRD asking about dresses for our upcoming balls. Too much fun, I get to pick up mine from the tailor next week. And I'll be going home this weekend for my very first engagement party. Certainly this calls for me to get my nails done (redone?). Other than that... TiVo is awesome, Pedro is the greatest, Butchie is clean and Pedro's place now has wireless.

Hair, Bikes and Daisies for Butter

At the very last moment on Friday afternoon, I turned to TNH, who has really cute hair, and asked who she goes to. 15 minutes later, I had an appointment for this morning. With Barrister's Ball coming up, I knew I wanted it dramatic to match my very dramatic and exotic gown. So yes, they made me a red head! I real one, too. It's dark and dramatic and very sexy. I think my hair actually matches my eyebrows for the first time in forever. It's a nice change. After my hair appointment, which Pedro sat dutifully through, we drove to a dumpy town for him to pick up a bike he bought on eBay. Bike as in bicycle, not motorcycle. Then we decided to hit the Farmer's Market. Now, ordinarily, this would be a good Saturday afternoon activity. This Saturday afternoon, however, it was 10 degrees. And the Farmer's Market is definitly not heated. Pedro ran around and bought everything-- including a pineapple and some daisies for me-- and I stayed in the central heated area with all the bums avoiding the cold. We went to one Irish pub for lunch, and another for dinner, where I enjoyed a fuzzy navel (now that brings me back to college). After a trip to Best Buy and Trader Joe's, our day is now complete. Saturday night holds scotch for Pedro, rawhide for Butch, and cognac for Butter.

Butter Family Update: MEL is "talking" to this girl in NY that he was set up with in FL. DDL is in a play this weekend; the troupe only includes actors aged 50-70, so she's definitly the baby. She loves that. REL is adjusting to me being engaged by signing his emails "soon to be real poor". He has no idea!

Oh, did I mention how cognac is my new at-home drink? I bought a bottle and have since definitly enjoyed it.

Chilled Butter

Wedding update: The folks at the JOI (Jewish Outreach Institue) are amazing, and have been able to provide me with some rabbis from Butterapolis who will perform a ceremony with Pedro and me. That's an unbelievable burden lifted off of my shoulders. Nothing has been even close to decided yet, but it feels so good just to know there are rabbis out there who will do an interfaith ceremony. Phew.

Life update: Pedro made chili from scratch tonight. His chili has cinnamon, potatoes and chipotle in it. Very interesting. We also set up TiVo tonight, so yay for that. It looks like a lot of fun. Work let the kids out early today, but of course, as staff, I had to stay late. Turns out the roads were better at 4:30 than they were earlier.

This weekend there's that other bridal show, sure to be rediculous but you know I'll be there anyway. I'm trying so hard to not only talk about wedding stuff at work and around Pedro, and since you elect to ride this, you might be subjugated to more than you'd like!

Butter's Really Back

Hey Guys,
I know it's been for-ev-er since I've last posted, but I've been busy! First things first: I'm engaged! Pedro asked me while we were out to dinner in Chicago for new years. It's been just wonderful planning for becoming Mrs. Pedro. All the parents and friends and such are excited for us, and I think I'm starting to get used to being a fiancee.

Yesterday Pedro and I went to our first bridal show. What a crazy experience. It was packed, of course, and aside from walking around with a sticker that said "I'm getting married" and sampling cake, it was horrible. This showcased every single thing I know I don't want at my wedding. I was most excited for the bridal fashion show-- but when it started out with three girls dancing to Shania Twain in leotards and skimpy tutus, I knew I was in for a shock. The real fashion show started, but these girls were tromping down the catwalk with their full skirts bunched in their fists to Beyonce. Oh, and all these dresses were from the Bridal Barn (SRW, you know what I'm talking about!). There were catering samples from Fazoli's. Do I really have to go on?

Even Pedro thought something was off. He came away from the experience knowing he doesn't want: 1) fondant icing because it tastes bad; 2) a pasta bar because it looks bad; and 3) to wear a vest with his tux because of the same reason he doesn't want a pasta bar.

I'm going to another bridal show next weekend, I think it'll be a little more sophisticated (this past one was in a trashy suburb-- the kind of people who looked at me twice when I told them I live in the city) and it'll also be a lot bigger. And if nothing else, I'll just keep finding out more and more of what I don't want. Sigh.