Well, sort of. I was warned about a month ago that it was normal if I felt a sense of malaise after the wedding. And recently I've seen several articles online and in magazines talking about this phenomenon. Apparently after spending upwards of a year planning the "perfect day," getting back to real life can lead to the blues. Thankfully, I have not experienced this. In fact, I felt a sense of release once the wedding was over. Now, don't get me wrong. It was the most beautiful event I could have wanted. The night was wonderful and amazing, and now I'm married to my best friend. The release comes in knowing that all the planning, all the meetings, all the time consuming little details are OVER. Done. Fini. My life is mine again. I spent the first week exhausted. I can't imagine taking our honeymoon right now. I wouldn't have had the energy! So I tried to get back into my workout schedule, and returned as many borrowed items as possible. This weekend I read Susan Elizabeth Philips much-anticipated Call Me Irresistible, and loved it! Today, after Ray left to drive back for work tomorrow, I ran errands, hit the gym, read. I relaxed for the first time in what felt like months. Most importantly, I feel like writing again. I feel like I've had time to refill the well, finally, and that I can be creative once more. And all I have to say for that is Hallelujah! I'm starting small. My friends know I like to have weekly goals for myself. A guideline to keep me on track and moving forward. These same friends were the first to kick me in the rear when not meeting those goals almost sent me into a corner to rock back and forth. Now, those same goals energize me. They are small, manageable, but infinitely doable. And that's just what I need right now to get myself back in the saddle.
This is kind of how I'm feeling this week. In a good way, of course. Lots going on, and not a lot of time to just stand around and enjoy it all. Still, it's all for a great reason, so I'll take it. Less than two weeks, my friends, and life will change forever. Or at the very least, I'll have an additional ring to weigh my hand down. Happy New Year to you all!
Are you sure it's December? What do you mean it's almost the middle of the month? Yikes! So much to get done, and I'm not even talking Chanukah, since that ended yesterday. Nope, we're talking finishing touches people. The wedding is so close I can see the lights of it shining over the horizon. They are big, red, and flashing lights, warning me not about marriage, but about the myriad of tiny little details I need to put on this thing. Details that frankly no one will notice if they are or aren't there. That's probably why I've left them this long. I'm not a detail person, I'm more of a big picture kind of gal.
How about you? Do you like to focus in on the minutae? Or are you more of a whole shebang kind of person?
I just came home from the bridal shower my aunt threw for me. We went to one of my favorite places, The Queen Mary Tea Shop and enjoyed wonderful tea and yummy treats. But better than all that tea (which yes, I'm still buzzing from), were my friends. I laughed, I cried (yes, I'm a sap), and I felt loved. What better way to celebrate the upcoming changes to my life? A few highlights from the affair: A happy hat to "watch over me" (no, literally, it has an eye). Marriage/Life advice - including lots of reminders to focus on what is really important in life. Tea! A giant rolling pin (seriously! It's longer than my torso). A giant wooden cutting board (this puppy can inflict serious damage). Several hours of laughing with my family and friends.
Now comes the ultimate decision though...do I wait to use all my goodies until after the wedding? Or do I indulge now? Hm...decisions, decisions.
I've been reading through some old blog posts lately, and realized something very important. I was a lot funnier five years ago. I'm not sure why, exactly. I can honestly say I'm very happy with my life these days. Maybe I'm under more stress? Maybe I just have a lot on my plate? Maybe facebook posts have killed my blog? Who knows. But in honor of the blog the way it used to be, I thought I'd share a couple random thoughts I've had in the last couple of days: -It doesn't seem to matter what time of year you're driving. Bugs go kamikaze any time of year. It was so bad recently that I could barely see through my windshield. What I did see appeared to be thousands of hail-sized bugs aiming straight for me on a suicide path. -Wedding registries are weird. They are the opportunity to ask for things from people you'd never have the guts to ask for in person. I'd never ask anyone to get me some of this stuff for my birthday, but apparently because I'm getting married, it's okay?
So it's your turn now, what's your random thought for the week?
According to books I've read, and my family, it's not a Jewish wedding without lots of music and dancing. Now, according to the newest viral video, it's not a wedding without Jewish (themed) music. Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves...
I met a co-worker for coffee the other day and she asked how the wedding planning was going. I told her we'd just about settled on a venue, so pretty well. Then she asked when the wedding was. "Next summer, right?"
Erm...no.
No, it's in just over 6 mos. actually.
Eep! Is it any wonder that my big project for the summer is to get as much planned for this shindig as possible? Still having some of the more important details figured out at this point definitely helps.
I've always been amused by how people connect. Some days it seems so very random. Case in point, several months back, an old friend from sleepover camp found me. Now, I've blocked most camp memories from my mind, as frankly, they are too scarring to deal with. Let's just say I'm not, nor have I ever been, a good overnight camper. She found me on facebook through one of my cousins, and asked to friend me. But it's getting to be even crazier. Now I'm starting to get postcard from wedding venues...despite not having contacted them about my engagement. Facebook, because of my "engaged" status, now recommends photographers, stationary types, and other wedding-ish ideas. And it just keeps coming. No wonder some brides go crazy early on. We haven't set a date, we haven't talked about much (really, all my fault, I swear), and yet I'm still inundated with wedding stuff. It's just so odd.
It's time to throw a party. Which I'm doing tonight, but it's not in my honor. Tonight's my friend R's bachelorette party, and it's going to be fun, if I do say so myself. And I do.
But I should throw a party for myself because I'm done! I finished writing manuscript #5, and I'm doing a little celebratory dancing around my apartment (of course, that may be attributed to the caffeinated latte I had for breakfast, too).
And our last reason to celebrate? Why, I'm announcing the winner of my contest of course. The winner of this week's contest is Ruth! So Ruth, please email me at erin @ erineisenberg. net with your full name and mailing address, and I'll get these books out to you as soon as possible. Congratulations!
And since there are no real losers here at my blog, check back next month for another contest! It's sure to bring out the Scottish in you.
There are many differences between men and women. Let's face it, most of these differences are very good things. They make life interesting...and they give me something to write about. And I can always use more fodder for my books. Sometimes those differences are exhausting. Case in point...wedding attired. Before you get too excited, let me remind you it's not my wedding. I'm a bridesmaid in the fall, and the three of us have been on the look out for our dresses for months. You wouldn't think it would be difficult to find a tea-length black dress appropriate for a wedding. You'd be wrong. Apparently it's like trying to find a left over bagel in the house after my family has brunch...which is to say nigh on impossible. We've searched high and low, a search impeded by the fact that one of us lives in another state, and all three of us are no where near the same body type. But we searched valiently. We sent each other pictures. We visited different locations of the same store on the off chance they'd have different merchandise. We searched and searched, and finally found it. It will need minor alterations (need I remind you I'm short?), but it manages to do the almost impossible and make me look respectable. Men, to be contrary, walk into a tuxedo shop, try on maybe one or two (if we're really lucky) and settle on the one that buttons. How is this fair? Still, we have the dresses. Sort of. They're being ordered, or picked up; they'll be altered appropriately. But then we have to find the shoes. Oy.
And gosh darnit, I'm going to give you wedding expo!
First off, let me make one thing clear...this is not my wedding. I'm a bridesmaid which means I get to participate in all sorts of new activities...like cake tasting, dress shopping and flower picking. Well, not literally...though almost all of these activities were available to me Saturday morning. So up and down the aisles we trolled, talking to vendors and generally feeling lost and overwhelmed. I do have a business idea, for anyone who would like to take it. Pins. One says, "I'm the bride, and this is my wedding date." The other says, "I'm a bridesmaid, I have no answers."
Most of the other visitors were fairly nice. No screaming over the crowd, "That's my cake you, b**ch!" or anything like that. Instead, we were all very civil. We flipped through wedding photos and listened to DJs try to explain their rates. We contemplated the difficulty of bringing in a dueling piano pair, and if they would blow R's budget.
Amidst it all my friend from back home called, which definitely changed the mood. Though just for you, I'll share the humor from this situation. First off, where else could you be sitting in the middle of hundreds of bridal decorations, dresses and cakes, and have a stranger shove tissue into your hand? Second, where else will you have a family member on demand, while you are out shopping for another person's wedding? About the time my friend left her message, Lil' Sis left another one yelling at me for not letting her know I'd be there. Yes, she was around the corner, trying to sell her little heart out. Okay, maybe that part is a little less funny, but it struck me as amusing...so you'll just have to deal.
As far as my experience? I'm tempted to elope when my turn comes, though I'm pretty sure Mom would cut off my arm if I try. I also did quite a bit of "research" for my next book, which involves weddings, Hawaii, and a whole slew of other things as yet undiscovered. I found a company who could do a book release party, when the time comes. I found interesting reminders for all those little details.
And I found out that spending the morning at a wedding show when you are single and your last date was *mmph* months ago is not nearly as painful as one would think.
Well, sort of.
