In a Western Place

M brought home an orphaned baby pigeon last night. He named it Turkey Jackson and it’s now living in one of the cat carriers out on the back deck. This should be interesting.

We spent a majority of our weekend up in Sacramento to visit our good friends Will and Rachel, and to finally meet their new son, Connor. The temperature was a scorching 106 degrees in Sac town, but that didn’t keep us from celebrating Will’s B-day grill-style. This pic of M and little Connor (not to be confused with our big hairy Conor) cracks me up:

As I was standing in line at a car wash on South Van Ness around 3:00 yesterday afternoon I noticed a man walk toward the register with his two kids, look up at the television screen (airing CNN) after which he yelled: “What happened to Michael Jackson?!”

A few of us mumbled: “He’s dead.”

The man turned to his kids and proclaimed: “See! I told you that you don’t live forever! Now even Michael Jackson is dead!” Then, quietly to himself, asked: “I wonder who will get all of that money?”

All I have to talk about are the cats and the Wedding. Lame, but true. I’ve already touched on on the Wedding, so let’s move on to the cats, shall we?

Holloway is staying. She’s doing much better now that we keep her in the guest bathroom (at night and while we’re out during the day). M put an old sweatshirt in there and she loooooves to lay on top of it beside the toilet (it must be by the toilet — if it’s not there, she’ll move it). And even cuter, I don’t have to put her in there, she knows to go in on her own. Which reminds me, picking up Holloway is like picking up a furry kickball: she’s almost has big as Joey, but rounder and a lot lighter, like she’s made entirely of air. She better keep up the good behavior, or I’ll drop kick her.

The cats do quarrel, but it’s more out of annoyance versus dominance. Anyway, the house is calmer, and so am I. Cats and wedding aside, I really need to find a new hobby. Would driving my car count? It’s fuuuuun.

Oh, and I bought a dress!!! (Thanks for the reminder, Alexa!) M was with his band on a Southern California tour all weekend — so I made an appointment with a Bridal shop on Saturday morning. While I had a general idea of what I was looking for (with sketches to boot), I had no idea that I would find, buy and drive it home that very same day (in less than an hour, I might add)! Phew… I think I’ll take a few days off now.

Somehow, I’ve morphed into some sort of wedding-planning fanatic. After setting a date 2 weeks ago, we: figured out how much we’re willing to shell out for this gig, got a cake and secured band (OK, those were easy), found a location (ceremony AND reception), blocked out lodging, created a guest list, designed invitations, and developed a website (uh, me). I think we’ve accomplished months of work in a matter of daaaaays (screw you knot.com bitches!) And bonus, we did so with the following considerations:

• I’ve been crazy busy at work — Summer semester deadline.
• The landlord forgot to pay the DSL bill. So, uh, no Internet at home.
• M finishing up his last week of school. Seriously, those kids are craaazy.
• Our cats are annoying.

I don’t mean to toot my own horn… but toot toot. We’re going to have an amazing, fun wedding weekend along the rocky shoreline of Sonoma wine country (could we have picked a more perfect location?) If only I could be guaranteed a Whale…

On Sunday, we drove 100 miles North of the city to tour one of our potential ceremony/reception locations. This Thursday, we’ll be making the same trip to tour another one of our potential ceremony/reception locations in the same area. We’re talking lots of winding, cliff driving along the coast on Highway 1! I’m feeling thankful for my peppy little fuel efficient car (and a wee bit car sick, too.)

The Mendo/Sonoma Coastline | June 14, 2009

• Matty shaved off his beard and I haven’t seen his face since December 2007.
• While shopping for fruits and veggies at the Alemany Blvd. Farmer’s Market, we witnessed two middle-aged women get out of their cars to argue over a single parking spot, thus holding up traffic. Oh, the horns!
• We were sitting at a light on San Jose when an oversize construction vehicle took out some power lines and a transistor. Oh, the Fireworks!
• We received a sample of our wedding invitation in the mail. So pretty.

I read an article that mentioned the average cost of a wedding in the first quarter of this year was $19,000. And while that number is lower than previous years, I think it’s insane. That’s a car! A down payment on a house! (OK, maybe not around here… ) My Dad worked in the wedding industry for most of my childhood, so between that experience and attending the marriages of friends and family, I’ve been to and participated in a LOT of weddings. It’s safe to say that I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I don’t want, which is most of it. So I look at the average wedding cost and frown because I could care less about matching china, designer dresses, a wedding party, champagne toasts, bouquet tosses or the launching of doves. What do I want? The company of good friends and close family, to be surrounded by nature, to be catered a yummy healthy meal, an open bar, lots of loud, good music… all the little touches well representative of Matty and I. A good time for all (without going into debt).

So yeah, we’ve set a date and started planning. That’s all.