Avversione Di Amore Del Venerdì
11 Apr 2008 Leave a Comment
in Love/Hate Tags: birthdays, books, Dating, family, friends, memories
(title, loosely translated: Friday’s Love/Hate)
Love: Hanging out with Darling at B&N last night, catching up about our weeks and laughing over some tasty morsels. Bonus: Finding a present for my dad’s upcoming birthday.
Hate: I neglected my operations & project managment book which really does need to be opened for the upcoming mid-term.
Love: Dad and I took some time away from the office for a lovely lunch at our favorite hole-in-the-wall Italian bar near the office. My favorite part is when he reminisced about the first time he went to Yankee Stadium with his father. I think I saw a glimmer of a tear in his eyes at the conclusion of the story.
Hate: That I never met Grandpa Morty.
Love: HB asked me early this a.m. for a dinner and movie night. He’s in charge of dinner (take out, I’m sure) and I’m in charge of movies and drinks.
Hate: I still get nervous before I see him. What is up with that??
Love: Wearing flip-flops.
Hate: Supposedly we are getting snow in the StL tomorrow. Seriously, who pissed Mother Nature off???
Love: Girls’ Night tomorrow.
Hate: The occasion… Sam-Sam and her Marine husband are moving in May. I may not see them as much as the “old days,” but it’s the end of an era. Looks like I’ll be making trips to North Carolina soon.
Thunderstorm Thursday
10 Apr 2008 Leave a Comment
in Nora Randomness Tags: apartment, HB, Mexican, music, rain
(Stealing Darling’s idea and writing a list, similar to what you find in my journal, back when I used to put pen to paper)
It’s been raining non-stop since last night. There are pools of water on the veranda outside my office and I notice the birds are taking refuge under the tables and chairs.
I highly recommend Revlon’s new Mineral Foundation Powder. While I’m sure it’s nothing like Bare Essentials, my skin has improved, it lasts for 12 hours easily and I look movie-star flawless. Bonus: It’s only $10 bucks a bottle.
Since Sunday, ten people have asked me if I tattooed my hands. Explaining that I was in an Indian wedding is getting tiresome, so I’m rather ready for the henna to come off.
HB is working 16-hour days as he was recently offered (and accepted) a huge offer that will change his work-life dramatically. I’m doing the supportive girlfriend thing, but it’s kind of not cool that we won’t see each other near as much. Which means I like him… more than I realized!
ManMate informed me he’s moving out in June or July. At first a shock, I have started making a list of reasons why it will be okay. Reason #1: Coming home last night after some superb Mexican with my friends to find him and his girlfriend in the shower. We only have ONE shower. So they were in the ONE shower that I use every day, doing God knows what. I’m taking Clorox to the shower this evening.
Vegas Countdown: I’ll be there this time next week!
DMH Countdown: Less than two months. First concert ever in the new Busch Stadium. Double-dating with my BFF Tlo & her man. Under the stars. The Black Crowes and DMB. I. AM. READY.
Indian Wedding Pictures, Part Two
09 Apr 2008 1 Comment
in weddings Tags: ceremonies, dresses, friends
Above: Bridesmaids (and bride) did a quick costume change in between ceremonies and reception. Pictured above with two of my old friends from high school.
Above: The bouquets for the wedding. Pretty stunning, despite the fact Flower Depot was over two hours late for the wedding events.
Above: my favorite picture from the whole weekend, I think. The weather cooperated nicely.
Above: Siri during the Pelli Kuthuru (I can’t find adequate information about this on the web) but basically you get to bless the bride if you are older than her; if you are younger than her, you can only bless the flower girl. During the blessing you sprinkle rice and flower petals on their heads.
Maid of Honor No-Nos
08 Apr 2008 Leave a Comment
in Nora Randomness Tags: caring, maid of honor, wedding
Maybe I’m a wedding snob. Or, maybe I’m a bridesmaid who cares about her job and her role in the wedding. You can say what you want about being a bridesmaid, how it’s an honor (true), that you are standing up there for your friends and a couple you believe in (should be true), but those of us who have been there know that really you are there for the bride. You do what she wants, when she wants it. You’re essentially a slave to the bride. Once the ceremony is over, the reception has started and you’ve made your speech, you are free to party.
Without being entirely too caddy, let’s just say that the MOH for this wedding ignored all bride requests (such as, don’t show your cleavage, it’s not okay with Indian cultural rules), showed up late to everything (rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, day of the wedding, picture appointments, reception), didn’t know where to stand at the altar, primped during the ceremony and apart from giving the bride a generous monetary present and a decent speech at the wedding, took little part in the actual wedding events and ceremonies.
My point: unless you really care and can do a good job at being a good friend, don’t accept position of MOH.
Closer to 27 Dresses
07 Apr 2008 1 Comment
in Nanny Nights Tags: 27 dresses, bridesmaid, ceremony, Indian Wedding, mehndi
Wedding #5, which required two dresses, bringing me to dress #5 and #6 is complete. The weekend was a whirlwind and I have slept very little since Wednesday but Siri & Jas are married and in St. Lucia as I type.
I have many things to share that are both wedding & non-wedding related and need to find the time to get it written and posted.
I shall start with a few things I learned about Indian Culture over the last few days:
- Mehndi (aka henna tattoos) takes only a short amount of time to apply but for best results should stay on as long as you can stand it. You can’t use your hands as the paste (think chocolate icing combined with puff pant) needs to dry and sink into your skin. Applying lemon juice & sugar water keeps the paste on your hand and makes the color darker.
- Eating with your hands is expected. Siri’s mom mushed up my food and fed me while I had the mehndi drying. I tried hard to be respectful and grateful for this, but someone else’s fingers mashing up my food and putting it in my mouth didn’t jive so well for me. (Enter HB: he brought me a chocolate shake and held it so I could drink it. Very sweet).
- Mehndi started out as a way to protect yourself against germs. The plant root has many anti-bacterial properties and was applied to the hands and the feet when women worked outdoors in India. Now it is more of a ritual for fun and beauty. There are books and books of designs for the hands, arms, fingers, toes, and feet. It’s all very beautiful.
- Mehndi can last for seven to ten days, unless you use harsh chemicals
- Indian culture doesn’t allow the color black or white in sarees at weddings; white is worn for mourning (rather than our traditional black) as it’s supposed to be calming and peaceful, working to bring the family and mourners to terms with the death.
- Indian wedding ceremonies vary in length depending on which Indian State you come from; they will last anywhere from ten to 2 hours.
- Indian women are constantly cooking and encouraging you to eat. Much like any Italian family I know, there is food… everywhere. All the time.
How to attract a man from Brooklyn
03 Apr 2008 Leave a Comment
in Nora Randomness Tags: henna tattoos, Mafia, nails, weddings
Siri’s wedding requires red nails to match the henna tattoos that we are getting today.
I went to my usual nail spa yesterday to get a “full set,” (normally my nails are awesome, but lately they have been short and stubby) and told her I wanted them short.
Apparently there was a language barrier, because when I looked down again after being engrossed in Oprah’s show– yes, that’s right, I said it — they were a bit longer than I would have liked and BRIGHT RED. We’re talking Mafia Wife looking. Bright-look-at-me-nails. And for some reason, I stink at confrontation at nail places. I’m always afraid they are talking and laughing about me while I’m there.
They do look awesome (honest!), they just aren’t me.
I’m hoping today’s tanning and the subsequent henna will tone them down. If not, a nail file will be in order.
***
The wedding whirlwind starts today so I’ll be back on Sunday with pictures and stories, I am sure.
Today’s Version of all about Nora
01 Apr 2008 1 Comment
in Nora Randomness Tags: fun, random, survey
What..’s your longest amount of time spent on a phone?
Probably sometime in middle school, a few hours I’m sure.
Have you ever been on drugs for anxiety, depression, metal illness?
Thankfully, no
Are you tired of bathing?
what an odd question. I rather enjoy showers and bubble baths.
Do you still have a blankee?
It’s at my parents in my Hope Chest. So in a sense, yes. I think it has a clown face on it
Have you ever peed in public?
Sadly, yes. I had to “cop a squat,” at a field party in Jeff City when dating my country college boyfriend. Port-a-Potties don’t exist at these parties and since we were 30 miles outside of town, I had no choice!
Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Depends. Sometimes you have to bite the ice cream in a cone.
What..’s your favorite zombie movie?
Idle Hands
Are you spoiled?
Did you read my last post? The answer is yes. I mostly spoil myself I guess.
Have you ever had a guinea pig for a pet?
Nope, but my brother did
Do you put your belt on the left or right side first?
Left
What do you want for Christmas?
Lower gas prices please
Ever been on a train?
Yup, in England. I had the best time with Darling and my gram; we laughed until we cried when Gram’s seat somehow fell off, causing her to land in my lap, and get tangled up in our bags. Really, it was funny.
Do you wear jeans more than once without a wash?
I do and I don’t see anything wrong with that.
Can you hula hoop?
I used to be amazing at it… now probably not so much
Do you believe in an afterlife?
I like to think it is there, yes
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Read people’s minds.
Do you like your eye color?
I’m pretty sure I would look foolish with anything else, so yes. Brown is beautiful, right?
What insect irritates you the most?
anything that bites me
If you could paint your walls any color what would you paint them?
I love green and brown right now
What perfume do you wear?
Versace (the pink one, i always forget the name, but i LOVE it)
Do you wear socks to bed?
almost every night. they don’t usually make it through until morning, though
Have you ever pierced yourself?
Nope!
Whats the longest your hair has ever been?
probably a good three inches below the bra line
Have you ever given/been given a dozen red roses?
let’s not talk about that… the recent events have me a bit “off,” flowers
When was the last time you went outside?
about four hours ago
what kind of triangle does the pythagorean theorem have to do with?
Right triangles
When was the last time you played a mario game?
It’s been ages. Probably since the 1990s.
When you were in elementry school did you like Lunch or Recess better?
Lunch. Darling made the best lunches. Always a surprise of some sort!
How old were you when you received your 1st kiss and where were you ?
It was on my 14th birthday, in my driveway, in my boyfriends Ford Probe. And it was pretty awful.
Is it cute when a guy kisses you on your forehead?
I think it’s very adorable
would you get your nipples pierced for $10,000 dollars?
I suck at pain, so probably not
Whats your desktop picture?
A very handsome Dolce & Gabbana male model
Do you believe it’s possible to remain faithful to one person forever?
Very much so
Which is better trust or love?
I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. I think they go hand-in-hand.
Have you ever used your cell phone as a flashlight?
The last time our power went out, yes.
Whats your favorite kind of chips?
Pringles.
What is your favorite ice cream topping?
Hot fudge all the way
How do you respond when people give you a compliment?
Smile and thank them.
How often do you do the dishes? Do you have a dishwasher?
I am the dishwasher. There were quite a few this a.m…. hoping ManMate gets to them first.
Does anyone share the same b-day as you?
TLo. We are planning a winery birthday bash this year.
Where did you get your last bruise from?
Running into the counter when half asleep at 6 in the morning. Brilliant, I know.
What is your weirdest dream that you remember?
Well just the other night I had a dream that HB was able to save the town from a Rogue Wave. It turned out to be an optical illusion but he was right there trying to evacuate the beach and save the people in the ocean. Very odd if you ask me.
What is the most expenisive pair of shoes you own?
Most of my heels are the most expensive pair I own
Are youddicted to soda?
Not anymore!
