There Are Angels in My Angles

I should know better than to torture myself with babies (Congrats Chris and Laurie!) and weddings all in one day, but I guess we all like a little spoil in our apple.

I've always said that when I get married the one thing I will gladly spend the most money on is photography. I love LOVE photography, and an inspiringly creative wedding photographer is perhaps the most crucial part of my hypothetical wedding plan.

Several years ago, I stumbled upon a San Diego photog and instantly fell in love with her work. It was very journalistic and candid in nature, which I am a huge fan of. I even emailed her. We bonded over Grey's Anatomy (that was back during Season One when I was madly in love with it) and joked that when I finally did meet my McDreamy I would look her up. (Eds note: Apparently she's moved from soCal to Oregon...of course...lol)

Then tonight, as often happens, I went bouncing from blog to blog until I stumbled onto this. First of all, I realize that the people in this couple are crazy attractive and photogenic, but if I could mimic nearly every detail of their special day and call it mine, I would. His socks. Her yellow strappy shoes. Not really in love with her dress, or the flowers (except for the throwing poms part!) and I'm not totally sold on the whole candy table thing...but I'd take everything else. I love grey and yellow. The group shots in the hotel lobby?? Do not get me started. And if you further stalk into their engagement sesh like I did...you will rightfully assume that I am in love with it as well...her dress? Yes please. The yellow balloon? So cute. The lightposts at LACMA??? Don't you know that once upon a time NDG and I were grumpy, and so we went there and just laid in the lights and pondered life?? I LOVE LAMP. (I would prefer to also throw in some beach shots, but otherwise? Perfection.)

So I think you get the picture. I super love those pictures. But here's what bums me out. That I didn't think of it all - and do it all - first. Sure I can take some of what I see and make it my own, and nobody I would invite to my wedding went to that one. And I hope to have a destination wedding so that would add a bit of flavor as well...but still. I don't want MY day to be a total copycat, you know?

I guess it's a good thing there's still a part of me that freaks out if I think for an extended period of time about getting married...lol...

Pop culture wise, still reading Jane Alison's The Sisters Antipodes. No excuses for how long it's taking me to read this book. I've also now started studying my Southeast Asia on a Shoestring book. So excited about Cambodia. (it's the first country I've read about in there...lol...)

I haven't seen a movie in a theater in 35 days and I'm in shock. I have a few on my list that I wanna see, but just haven't gotten around to it.

Thanks to Netflix (and in two cases, Hulu), I've seen several movies...I've yayed or nayed them here:
His Girl Friday...Yay...Like there was ever a question as to whether I would like this movie.
The Future of Food...Yay...Farmer's Markets...Boo...Monsanto
Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices...Yay...("Damn the man! Save the Empire!")
North by Northwest...Yay...I liked it that I had just been to Mount Rushmore
Elegy...Yayish...I didn't love it but didn't hate it...I think I remember some sexy parts.
Sophie's Choice...SERIOUSLY? I remember being preoccupied with Meryl's teeth. Sometimes they were capped, at least one time they weren't. I know that's not what I was supposed to be paying attention to. I guess Yay. If you wanna feel like poo. I was too disturbed and stunned at her choice to cry. Which then led me to wonder if something wasn't wrong with me.
Nothing But the Truth...Yay...Sure I figured it out, but I thought it was clever.
Life After Tomorrow...Yay...It was a Hard Knock Life for the girls who starred in the play...like that one girl from Kate & Allie. I loved Kate & Allie. SJP and the girl who plays/played Lily on As the World Turns also show up...

In honor of the passing of Bea Arthur, I'll leave you with this picture of me with my favorite Golden Girls: my gma, her 98 year old friend "Miss Ruthie", and me. Talk about BFF.

Celebrating St Louis

Several years ago when I lived in St Louis, my roommate and I took the same week off work and spent 5 days being tourists in our own town. I think often when you live in a place, it's easy to forget all that city has to offer. It's also easy to, once in suburbia, get so comfortable that crossing the river to head to "the city" doesn't seem worth it. Oh, but it is. And it's in the hopes of continuing my city loving lifestyle that I ventured over the river and into the 314 to find a little fun.

Thursday.

I started off (as promised in my last blog) at the Jewel Box in Forest Park. Where the tulips are in bloom.

There were tulips of every color. Daffodils too. And even tho this tree has not leafed up yet, and the sky looks ominous, I love this picture. (Perhaps those - and it's seemingly natural, yet arranged, symmetry - are the reasons I love it tho.)

From the Jewel Box (the interior of which was more green than flowery), we headed over to the Saint Louis Art Museum. I should mention here that the fantabulous thing about Forest Park is that most everything you do there is free. We paid $1 to get into the Jewel Box, but the art museum is free, as is the zoo (if you park on the street). I can't remember if the history museum is or not. The weather was iffy is the only reason I chose the art museum over the zoo. I LOVE the Saint Louis Zoo. It's much better than the San Diego Zoo that gets so much credit. For me, it doesn't live up to the hype. Except for the pandas of course. I love me some San Diego pandas.

Ok so anyway, the art museum. They're apparently planning this big renovation that according to the models looks like a horrible idea. If you clicked on the link you can see how beautiful and artistic the building is. Well now they're going to add on this super modern part. I'm not a fan of the plan. I was a fan of the photography on display. And an angry sculpture involving a whole bunch of broken glass. They also had a Camille Pisarro painting. I fell in love with his impressionism work when I lived in Paris. It's hanging in the same room as one of Monet's waterlilies, so that room really took me back.

After art, it was time to eat. Our tour of St Louis was going to continue at favorite Crown Candy. Unfortunately the line was out the door, and the place is super small with only like 5 tables so we had to skip it because of time constraints. We instead headed to McMurphy's Grill.

Remember how I used Delancey Street movers in LA because I believe in the rehab cause? Well what that org does for former prisoners, McMurphy's (and the St Patrick Center) does for former homeless men. Such a great cause. I believe it's so important to give people tools that better lend them to success in the outside world.

Next stop: Washington Ave and Levine Hat Co. So fun to just peruse the racks and racks of hats. It's in a super old building and I loved climbing the narrow stairs to the second floor past the antique elevator. I also super loved the Angelina cloche.

Time was almost up but there was one more stop on the spontaneous and unplanned itinerary. The George Fox Steedman Architecural Library. It's located in the Fine Arts dept of the Central Public Library downtown. (which, ironically, was designed by the same person who designed the art museum and the World's Fair Pavilion in Forest Park). So anyway, this article says this particular room is only open to architects and students, but we asked the fine arts librarian, and he unlocked the door and let us into a whole new old world. I'm a big fan of 1920s era architecture and this room with all of its built-in bookcases and huge fireplace did not disappoint.

I felt like it was a special treat that he let us into see it so I didn't dare whip out my camera. But I'm definitely willing to take anyone who wants to go back.

Friday Night

Ellen and Hannah, two former Reelz coworkers, were passing through the StL on their way across the country. I picked them up at their hotel downtown and showed them that St Louis rocks in the way of treats.


After Ted Drewes, I took them on a glitzy drive and showed them things like Shrewsbury. Then I figured out the right way to go on Chippewa and we headed to the Central West End. I used to LOVE going out in the Central West End. In addition, the weather Friday night was perfection. LA kinda weather. So we walked around for a bit and stopped at one of my old fave spots - Llywelyn's. Since the weather was so nice, we ventured out back to the beer garden and enjoyed some cider.

Not sure yet what this week holds in store...
I'm looking forward to eventually making it to a Cards game...and I know my gma wants to venture into the new Super Wal-Mart by her house, so I will definitely have to temper that with something a little more high brow.

Then next weekend, I'm planning on taking advantage of the nice weather by heading to the lake with my dad and at least one bro. Fishing is the main goal, but don't you know I'll be reading and sunning too...

All This Time

I've just spent way too long reading my own archives, remembering my old life, and missing it. A lot. My job. My celebrities. My town.

I had a terrific day here today. I spent it with my grandma who, hands down, is one of the best friends I have. We both enjoyed a day of shopping and talking and walking around.

I'm upset that I don't have any movies or concerts or anything to talk about. True, I have three Netflix movies waiting to be watched, and I'd like to see a couple at the theater...but I'm still waiting for my unemployment check to show up so I have to kinda put a pause on the whole extracurricular activities thing.

Such a different life for me right now. And I'm not necessarily freaked out about the job situation. I know it's tough times and I know that I'll get another job. And I'm having fun with family, hanging with my gma, playing with the kids. I'm going to get the opportunity to visit with some old friends in the coming days and I'm looking forward to that too. I guess it's all just an adjustment.

Speaking of adjustments. I'm currently reading The Sisters Antipodes. It's the true story of two diplomats who after falling in love with each other's wives SWITCH FAMILIES. The memoir - it's a true story - is written by one of the four children involved, who was 4 when the switch went down. Crazy.

Going to head to the Jewel Box tomorrow. I love me some Forest Park.

In Case You Missed It...

Did I ever tell you I was on The Price is Right?

Well thanks to all things online and magical, you can watch it here.

We had a hookup for the seats which means we were not eligible to play. We still got a lot of face time.

Enjoy!!

Attitude of Gratitude...

Keeping you on your toes posting back and forth, but I figure since the other blog should be strictly about traveling that this entry belongs on this blog.

I admittedly do not do well under stress. The past couple of weeks have been extremely stressful sending me into crisis mode. Shocker here: I don't do well in crises either.

So I'd like to give a "shout out" to the people that got me through those last moments. Cleaning, packing, laughing, bitching, listening, witnessing, crying, etc. I know it wasn't easy all the time. Or any of the time. But I appreciated it all.

Dad, Nicole, Melody, Patrick, Barb, Katherine, Kait, the one mover from Delancey whose name I can't remember but whose words meant a lot...seriously, thanks.

I realize other people also listened to bitching and stuff but these peeps kept my head out of the oven and feet on the balcony. However I appreciate and am grateful to everyone. You included.

Nicole also took an amazing picture of us in crazy cleaning mode. In light of this blog thanking her, I hope that she posts it somewhere, maybe Facebook, or maybe just in an email sent to my gmail. Love you mean it.

I also loved the mix tapes, snacks and Japanese charms given to make my roadtrip more enjoyable.

While I'm thanking people, I might as well thank in advance those people who have opened their homes to me as I journey through the western US...

Tara (who is also sending me off with a Barack book (the Dreams of My Father one) on tape so his smooth voice can guide my path), Elena, Heidi, Jill, Elliot's friends in Bozeman (?), and probably a Motel 6 somewhere between South Dakota and Nebraska. Thank youse toose.

And so it is...

I am so so SO upset I didn't take a before picture. So upset in fact that I asked (only HALF jokingly) them to empty the pod and reload it so I could get a before shot. To say we fit a ridiculous amount of all of the furniture I love into this incredibly small space is an understatement.

The morning started with the movers shaking their head at my load and its intended destination and me in my closet, hugging my knees and crying to my dad over the phone. Two hours later, the pod was full to the point that it was a game with the guys asking me what ELSE I had to put in there!

I again used Delancey Street Foundation. I so believe in the cause and think it's a win win for everyone. The guys aren't allowed to except tips so in lieu of money, I gave them all MAB hugs. I'm not sure who needed it more at that point, me or them...who are we kidding...ME.

I spent my tonight (I refuse to call it my last night) eating sushi on Beverly with Lucy Liu. I embarrassed Kait by saying "with my girl Drew" (a la the Destiny's Child song) under my breath when Lucy walked into the restaurant...

I hit the road tomorrow for San Francisco...

For all the tales from the TRAVELS of a Fourth Grade Nothing, tune into my new companion blog, Rollin' With My Gnomie.

See you there!

All the Things She Said

It's been a while. I know. And lots of stuff has happened (gma bday trip, last day at work, big trip planning, the price is right) (not a job tho, so don't get too excited.) So I have lots of stuff I could write about, but not really into it at this exact moment. So I'll entertain you with a couple of random things I've said recently:

"I might shave my legs this week."

(Sexy, right? I just haven't felt like it lately. I'm not making a feminist statement. I just prefer brainstorming over doing anything that isn't hygienically necessary in the shower. (For some reason I think the clearest in the shower and in bed at night when I can't sleep.) Anyway, it's weird because I'm really particular about maintaining hair in other places (eyebrows and underarms, etc.))

"She can be a lesbian, but she canNOT play soccer."

(This was in reference to my hypothetical daughter. I have friends (and a sister in law) who played girls soccer, and I realize it did them no harm. I just have an irrational fear about the way the legs of the girls who play soccer look. Mainly like tree trunks. Fitness good. Tree trunks bad.)

"These are my people."

(I went to a taping of The Price is Right. You've seen it. You know the crowd. Well imagine that crowd dancing around like it's a wedding reception/prom in the 80s (that's the kinda music they play to pump up the audience before the show). Hilariously awesome.)

I get into moods where I listen to one song on repeat over and over and over. Lately it's been these two: