Research

(in a sing-songy voice) 

It's Saturday Night and I know what I'm doing!:

Bridal Research!

 

A friend (Thank you Megan!) has just sent me *all* the books she used that a bride-to-be could want to help plan a wedding, keep sane, save money, check things off a list, and still have a gorgeous dream-like day.  These books on top of my splurge of bridal magazines that will help me pick my dress from the 750+ dresses out there, not to mention figure out which 4-tiered cake I want for the day or the fun, funky welcome bags we have to put together. 

I *should* be all set for planning the day now that I have fully armed myself with The Knot, Emily Post, Real Simple, Martha, Modern Bride, the Conscious Bride, Bridal Bargains,... oh the list goes on and on...

Never Coming Home

The treatment at the Madarian Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur  apparently is so good that William may not come home. 

He gets Crème Brule lolli pops – "best idea I’ve seen in a while" --during the break at the show he is running:

He gets slippers and  fresh fruit in his hotel room daily; it's part of the turn down service:

First, bananas, and yesterday, Ya Pears.  He said they were "utterly delicious."  The Ya Pear is also known as a Chinese White Pear and apparently tastes like a cross between a rose and a pineapple.  Um, YUM. 

He reported that the weather was a lovely 105 degrees F yesterday and will continue to be warm and sunny for the week ahead. 

All of this makes me insanely jealous as I am freezing (though, it is going to get up to a balmy 60 degrees today) and *still* dealing with high pitched humming & whistling of the newly replaced heat pump on the boiler, a sloooooooooooow leak of the already twice fixed burst radiator pipe, and a head cold.  

Perhaps, I will leave this all to Kelly and go join Will....  now that's a thought. 

Calling From the Future

Will is in Kuala Lumper... 13 hours ahead of me.  So, he is calling from the future... and giving me the lotto numbers. Heh heh heh 

I have been replaced....

with a low-calorie veggie appetizer.....

Kitty & Celery

PS Announcement: No Celery was injured during the making of this video.

It Wasn't Me

Dear Hurst Street, 

It was the Whitney Museum that made me do it, I swear. I know you have your issues and your concerns.  I didn't want to go, out of respect for you and your 5 year old self years ago, but I did.... and I liked it....  I went to the Frick and it was nice. 

I was in New York for an event and to pass the time, I went.  It was snowing and I had walked from Penn Station to 75th Street and Madison Ave (apparently that is like 8 miles), only to find that the Whitney was closed.  So, I thought about it and decided that it was to the Frick.  I needed to stay in that neighborhood for my work event.  I walked around it, thinking of you, but with my cold wet wet feet, I sucked up my pride and went in.  It was warm and interesting, and loved the portraits of Thomas More and Cromwell peering at each other; the Vermeers, the Rembrandts, the Gilbert Stuart.  

But, you can take pleasure that I didn't go through the *whole* place, as it was only half open since they are getting ready for a new installation.  

You can also take pleasure in the fact that afterwards, I tramped around in the cold, slushy, snow looking for a bookstore and waiting for my event, only to be disappointed as in the upper east side, book shops and coffee shops are hard to come by. 

At least I had this to warm me: 

It was the best hot chocolate in my life.

Anicent Chinese Secrets

Happy Chinese New Year! Welcome to the Year of the Ox.

Let's just see what the Chinese have to say about Will and I and our impeding union.... According to US Bridal Guide:

The Year of the Rooster (Will)

The Rooster is a flamboyant personality, feisty and obstinate. He is quite the extrovert who loves to strut his stuff and is proud of who he is. Outwardly confident, the Rooster is also a trustworthy, hardworking individual. He’ll tell it like it is with no qualms or reservations.

THE EARTH ROOSTER 1909 AND 1969

This Rooster is overtly organized. He is a little reserved and quite careful in his decision-making. These Roosters are hard workers as well, and can handle several tasks at once. They are detail-oriented who are quite efficient and self-sufficient. They take on responsibility without a cause and are motivated only in wanting to be successful. Sometimes they can be abrasive with colleagues if work is not up to their standards. This can cause resentment, so the Earth Rooster must be careful in his approach of his point of view, being sure to be honest and still kin

MARRIAGE

Roosters are not extremely easy to live with. However, if you can get past their bossy, obstinate, my way or no way exterior, you find a wonderfully romantic, caring individual hidden beneath. Their hearts are made of solid gold and they genuinely care abut their family and friends as mush as they care about themselves (believe it or not!). They are not suited for a sensitive partner, again, their candor and wit can be humiliating at times. Roosters can be highly critical of their partners, often expecting too much of them.

THE ROOSTER LOVE PARTNER

Roosters need a stable companion, one who can take everything he dishes out. He needs someone who will stand up to him and his mincing words and out him in place when need be. Roosters also need partners who will deflate them when they are a bit too high on themselves and who can take their constant boasting.

The Year of the Tiger (Me)

The Tiger is said to be lucky vivid, lively and engaging. Another attribute of the Tiger is his incredible bravery, evidenced in his willingness to engage in battle or his undying courage. Maybe he’s so brave because he is so lucky. But the Chinese say a Tiger having a Tiger in the house is the very best protection against the evils of fire, burglary.

THE WOOD TIGER 1914 AND 1974

The Wood Tiger is more adaptable to working with others and therefore does not demonstrate the typical "take charge" attitude of other Tigers. The Wood element adds stability, giving him warmth of character that draws people in and makes the Tiger a popular person. They are not selfish creatures and will give their time, attention or possessions to anyone in need. These Tigers bring a solid practicality to any problem. They can control their urges to completely take over, letting others do the work. They must be aware of their slightly volatile tempers and short attention spans, and not let those characteristics get the best of them or cause them or their loved ones undue pain.

MARRIAGE

Once a Tiger has committed himself to you, he can tend to want to dominate or lead you. This is a natural nurturing mechanism and must be kept under close watch to avoid complete control. For the negative effects a Tiger can have on his partner, there are a zillion positive things he will bring to the relationship. Trust, passion, politeness and spontaneity are only a few characteristics of the Tiger mate.

Partners in Love:

Rooster*Tiger

Both are strong-willed which can make for some difficult roads ahead.

Tiger*Rooster

Little communication causes big issues.

We are possibly doomed....cuz all of this stuff is true, right?