February 2008 archive
If I recall correctly…the speech went something like this….
“You'd be dancing with a girl and then head to the restroom. Before you got back, Mike would be dancing with her.”
In reference to the fact that my brother was and always has been a ladies man. 
Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Michelle and Michael Mattner.
I couldn't tell you what we were laughing about. But who cares. We look happy and look like we're having a lot of fun at the wedding I had such a terrible time at.
In honor of this year being the 25th anniversary of Thriller (still one of my favorites- thought I was only ONE when it came out). I put Michael Jackson's CD One's back on the iTunes and iPod.
What can I say? I still love Billie Jean. Sure, Michael Jackson is a freak. But he wasn't always and his early 80's stuff (which I was too young to appreciate THEN) still rocks.
Friday: The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Craziness. Boring.
Survived my brother's wedding. Just barely, though. There are a few muscles in my feet that are cursing me right now for wearing the shoes I chose. I will say, that after Friday and Saturday….That I still can not stand the bride (though my feelings for her are growing a bit) and her cold, heartless family. Seriously, her family were the biggest snobs on the face of this planet and they have no right to be or act that way. My mom is perturbed as well, because they barely gave her the time of day either and it was also HER SON'S wedding. The bride's mother made it 100% about the bride and the bride only. Yes, weddings are usually about the bride, but come on. In today's modern world it's about the TWO of them. My brother didn't even know half the time what was going on with the plans. He was helping to foot the bill…but didn't know many details.
And except for a few wild Southern aunts, the bride's family were jerks. No joke. We would walk by them in passing and try to smile or make conversation and they would avert their gaze and just keep on walking. If we were in a group, their mom would kind of talk in general to the crowd, but never as individual's. I've never felt so left out of anything in my entire life. I knew all of the groomsmen, at least. Not to mention my ex, an usher. Which was awkward in itself. He was almost consistently, because of our “duties” (oh, yeah, did I mention I was asked to attend to greeting and guarding the GUESTBOOK? the insanity…). So, as an usher, and my right there with the guestbook, we were always next to each other. But somehow pretended that neither of us existed. I wanted to say hi or something nice to break the ice, but was too afraid what might fly out of his mouth. It had to have been weird for him, because all of the other guys were all joking with me and talking to me about life. Oh, and then my ex was also RIGHT THERE waiting to escort new arrivals…when Trent walked in. Who I introduced to the other usher. It was all very funny and awkward to see my ex size up my current boyfriend.
I was actually pissed at him the whole time. The ex. And it reminded me why I'm happy to not be with him. He dragged his girlfriend to the rehearsal and then made her get there early with him before the ceremony. Where she sat in the sanctuary. Alone. Picking at her nails or something. And when he was around her, he was so….suffocating. Hand on leg, arm around shoulder, whispers. Ugh, how in the world did I put up with it. She knew who I was. She also avoided me like the plague. We made contact a few times and she gave me the death look. Er….ok. Cause, you know, I'm going to make a move on her man. Whatever. I just know that I won. Yes, I won. My presence drove my ex nuts. I could see it. Especially seeing me happy with someone else. I am pure evil to be happy that I drove him nuts. Is that evil? I feel evil.
I was even more happy because when the dancing began at the ceremony….He didn't even get his girlfriend up there to dance. And at the first slow song, Trent and I got up there….I caught my ex's glance….And within 30 seconds, he got angry and next thing I knew he and his girlfriend stomped out of there. One of my brother's supposed CLOSEST friends…Left before the reception got started. He didn't even say goodbye to my brother. Ha ha ha ha…..Yes, I am evil. Some people would use other words. My mom is like, get over it. But I got my revenge. That's what I needed. I needed to piss him off for breaking my heart. And I succeeded. And now I'm going to feel better about that for the rest of my life. All my guilt for breaking up with him? All gone. Yes, I broke up with him, but only after he killed my feelings….And I hope he regrets hurting me for the rest of his life.
- - -
In other news about the weekend, I ended up buying a new camera on Friday. Forgot my digital camera at home and was desperate to NOT use a disposable peace o'crap. I ended up searching the local Meijer and Wal-Mart for clearance cameras. Meijer had 4 or 5 I would have loved. Uh, but didn't have any in stock. In fact, when the woman I opened the cabinets to look…it didn't look like they had much of ANYTHING in stock at all. Peeved I was, I asked the woman rudely why she wasted my time…oh, and where's the nearest Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart, which I typically hate, actually has good deals most of the time. But was on the way to make me hate them again. I would have gone to Best Buy if it hadn't had been a good 25 minutes away. I was close to the hotel and wanted a camera NOW gosh darn it. Wal-Mart had two that I liked. The woman, who was completely worthless in helping me, was looking for the cameras and I swear she didn't have a clue. She was like, oh, here it is…spouts off some model number. “This is the one, right??” Uh, no. That's not even the right brand.
I ended up getting lucky and getting to deal with another woman instead and ended up with a digital camera that was on clearance for $109. It's 7.2 megapixels. And it's pink. Casio Exilm Z75. I'm actually thrilled with it. Even though I didn't really want a pink camera. Lol….Trent's like….Ew…. Still need to get used to the settings and all. In fact, it took me FOREVER to figure out how to delete a picture. Only because I left the instruction book in my suitcase when I brought the camera into the church with me. Whoops. Now what to do with the Canon 5 megapixel cam….Trent and my mom are fighting over it. I'm not sure about keeping the new one though. I've read nothing but bad reviews about it. I had SOME issues taking pictures inside the church during the ceremony, but nothing else went wrong. I loved it.
Anyway…let's see…what other things occurred….
Some dancing. Just a few songs. I was tired as heck. First for beginning to start coming down with a “sick” of some sort. I felt fine Saturday morning. Took a tranxene for the anxiety I woke up with. Had breakfast. Took a shower got ready. Felt totally relaxed. Got to the church, ate some pistachios (protein!) and a Luna bar (more protein) and whatever few snacks the bridesmaids had in the “get ready room”. I felt fine. Started to feel a little tired, but otherwise fine.Near the end of the ceremony, started to feel a little headache-y. Cool, clammy. Just. Not right. A little nauseated as well. Ugh. So, I'm sure for the professional photos, I've got a big fake smile on my face. Kind of like my brother's after awhile. We couldn't stop laughing at how pasted on his smile began to look. I kept looking at Trent and he'd usually be giving me a silly face so I could at least have a REAL smile on my face. Because my fake smile is similar to my brother's and I didn't want to look ridiculous. Nor did I want to appear to be thinking of my warm bed at home. Thank goodness I've been tanning a couple of times a week. Otherwise, I would have been PALER than PALE with not feeling well. I was tan enough to not wear coloured contacts and let my blue eyes shine through. Which only happens in the summer normally. I wish I hadn't deleted it, but someone got a good/bad shot of Trent and I with the flash on at the reception and my eyes were wide open and the blue just POPPED. I can't wait to play around with the camera this week and get blue eye pictures posted.
Let's see….That's pretty much it. Oh, and I pissed some of my family off. Again, because that's what I do. But Trent and I got to the reception hall and sat with my “brother from another mother” (my “sister from another mother” was unable to attend…) and his/”my” parents. (Long story short — my brother and I grew up very close to this family. Tom was my brother Mike's age and had become friends in kindergarten. Heather was my age and we became friend's the day I went over to their house with my mom to go pick Mike up. I wish she and I were still close, but that's another story for another time). Anyway, so we sat with them because they didn't know tons of people. Tom knew a few of Mike's friends and that's it. So we're sitting there and waiting to be called for our table to eat. Next thing we knew, my mom came up to us kind of pissed. Apparently, they had made place settings for Trent and I to be sitting at that table. I explained to her that the Radde's felt left out and so Trent and I decided to crash at their table. She was peeved because we have family that came up for ONE DAY and she was angry I didn't spend more time with them (however, I am in contact with this family almost everyday via phone/facebook/myspace, etc).
Tom's mom was like “Oh, please. Stay here. Just ignore her and don't worry about if she made you mad.” He he…I always loved her. So we did. And when they left they were oh so thankful that we stayed with them to make their evening enjoyable.
Trent and I kind of wished that we would have been at the other table though. For only one reason. Food. Apparently, people were being greedy about portions and they ran out of A LOT of stuff before even HALF the crowd got to it. And it was cold by the time we got over there. @#$&@^$ My mom overheard the bride's mother (snob!) saying “Well, if we run out of food, TOO BAD.” They hadn't even ordered enough with the caterer and the funny part about it — not everyone who had RSVP'D even showed up. So what would have happened if everyone HAD showed up?? By the time Trent and I got up there, we ended up only noshing on hors devours/appetizers. Needless to say, a trip to Taco Bell occurred the moment we had arrived back in Kalamazoo.
I really could go on and on about all the crap that happened. It was all pure crap. They served beer. Fine. Some of us brought our own wine. Cool with my brother. I even double checked with him first (lol). But some of the groomsmen had brought some stronger stuff, like….rum for their coke, or jack for their coke. Something of the sort. AND THE BRIDE'S MOTHER TOOK IT AWAY FROM THEM, because she “wasn't going to have any of THAT nonsense ruining the night.” Hence why there was no open bar type thing. What a conservative nut job. To take a small amount of liquor from GROWN LEGAL AGED MEN.
Gosh, the list goes on and on. But the one thing that will stick in my mind forever is the disappointment my mom felt. I mean, I can say how disappointed I was about the experience. But she felt completely left out. She had gone to help on Friday with decorating the hall and her family acted like they didn't even need her or want her around. It's like SHE was just there for decoration. My mom had the best dress on ever. Way better than the mother of the bride's ugly, matronly thing. SHE WAS GORGEOUS. I love my mom so much.
For a positive vibe, however, as this post has been all CRAP. A nice pic of me and Trent.
Before I post about the wedding drama and craptasticness of it all. Between the drama of the two families and my pathetic ex…it was craziness all around!
Of course, not all was bad. Trent and I looked good.
And dancing crowds always make people laugh.
A groomsmen requested “It's Raining Men”…all of his friends danced around in a circle around him.
There's my brother, in the white vest. In the one photo I could actually get of him (I took like 20 during the song and you could never SEE him except in this one!).
Leaving in 10 minutes for Niles/South Bend. Brother's wedding is in 26 hours.
Whoo hoo.
Geezus, I could've had an extra $724 in a pocket. But I did the right thing.
Yesterday, I went to the credit union service center in town to deposit my unemployment check (ugh, they're almost dried up, too). The service center is exactly what it sounds like. It services all the area credit unions. Well, I go to deposit and the woman waiting on me tells me that she's deposited it in my account, but it won't post yet because the computer between them and my bank seemed to be down. This irritated me. For one, she didn't tell me prior to her going through the transaction. Second, because I expected that a certain check would be clearing this evening. And while it would go through without a problem…I had other purchases to make and uh, yeah, it would then bounce if it posted before my deposit did. I kindly asked the woman for my check back. She canceled the entire transaction and endorsement and I went on my merry way down the road to a branch of my credit union, where I got it deposited yesterday.
After making a few purchases yesterday, I check my account balance last night when Trent and I got home from dinner (and I was totally tipsy from two Cosmos — our favorite restaurant has them on special for February 3.50 a piece — THAT ROCKS). But anywho…I noticed the balance was a lot more than it should be. So in my head, I thought yay! My fed tax return came in a day early. I click to check. And nope.
The deposit posted twice. Once at my bank and once from the service center. Hot dawg!
I look this morning and it's still messed up. And the balance is even bigger (thank you feds for your lovely tax return).
So I called my bank. Explained what happened. They seemed confused. Another lady in accounting called me later to thank me PROFUSELY for alerting them to the double post. Apparently, it was a mistake that may not have been caught until MANY months down the road, if at all.
I could have used that money. But not telling the bank would be dangerous. I could get into serious trouble for that one.
It just makes me wonder how many people out there would have been that honest with themselves and the bank. I bet not many….Maybe that's why the woman thanked me as much as she did. Like it was a sigh of relief for her. How wonderful it is that someone was actually honest??
That's scary.
With a new set of knitting needles. I spent $22 on a size 15, 40″ circular needle. Addi Turbos. The Cadillac of knitting needles, apparently. Better be for that price. And they sooooooo are. I went to the shop today and nearly passed out when I picked them out. Yikes. I had never spent over $10 on any needles.
And now I need to replace every single set of needles I own. With these. They are perfection. Smooth. And the cable of the circular portion?? THE MOST FLEXIBLE EVER.
The prices are atrocious and range from 12.50 - 26.50 depending on size and length of the circular cable.
I still love them anyway.
And they just SOUND COOL!
Addi Turbos are simply a delight to use, and represent a delicious combination of engineering genius and ultra-high standards of quality. This is not just the needle of choice for professional designers and test knitters - - addi is the needle of choice for anyone who wants their stitches to glide effortlessly from needle to needle and back again.
The engineered design is brilliant: a hollow brass core offers strength and very light weight; the nickel plating provides the smoothest ride possible for your stitches; and addi's cable is the one that raised the bar for everyone - - here at last is a cable that is flexible, strong and never coiled or kinked. I should also mention that the tips are shaped exactly as Montse Stanley describes the ideal knitting needle tip to be in her Knitter's Handbook. No wonder we all love addi's so much.
To no longer let my family drama affect me personally. My parents separated nearly 6 years ago…and got divorced 4 years ago. And growing up seems to not be on the checklist…..for a certain parent. I won't say which.
I spent way too much time on the phone today dealing with way too much drama and crap today while trying to study. Certain people were making sure that it would be impossible to have a nice quiet afternoon. TO MYSELF.
After leaving a not so nice message for one parent, I ended up turning my phone on silent and went to the school's computer lab. And finally got my quiet time. Without snacks or my Dr. Pepper (no food or drinks allowed 
boo hoo), but I DID have peace and quiet. And a chance to turn off my anxiety for the rest of the day.
I'm now enjoying a nice glass of Pinot Grigio. And am going to try and avoid doing any homework. Do you know how tough that is for me?? I'm going to try and finish “Eat, Pray, Love” tonight….Even if I'm up late. Because tomorrow, I'll be reviewing lecture tapes and notes, packing…oh, and ironing Trent's clothes for Saturday. Crap…Where is my can of starch?
