Last weekend in August...

and I'm Mainebound again! My sister and I have been chattin' up a storm this week and it's looking like quite a few of the wedding details are coming together...I'm bringing rough drafts of the ceremony & reception orders, the program, lists for both the bride & groom to accomplish...oh, the joys of event planning :)

I think what cracks me up about event planning is when people SO LISTEN TO YOUR OPINION...I mean, I worked with some people who, yes, they know and trust me, but at times I think I could suggest that they tie orange polkadotted ribbon around the guests' heads and they'd almost do it...ok, slight exaggeration there but I had to tell my sister that the song, 'At Last', wasn't probably the best song choice for her wedding. Why? you ask. (As you should - I LOVE THAT SONG.) Both bride and groom have been married before and I feel that song speaks more of that 'one love' that you've been waiting your whole life for that you've finally been blessed with 'at last'. She heard me out and agreed. They're going with 'From This Moment' which I think has the better message of 'from this point forward' - just the tone they're aiming to set. :) What do you think?

Tonight, before I head north, I'm going to a birthday party! It's for my friend's grandmother - she turns 90 years old today! Can you believe it? Another friend of ours turned 30 this week (Happy 30th, M!!!) and I was IMing with her earlier saying how weird it is to think when she was born, Gram was turning 60! Crazy.

Next time you tune in to 'apartyhappening' you'll hopefully see something new & improved! Eddo of PostedNote FAME(he hit 5,000 unique visitors to his site this month! Way to go!) created the most delectable template for us all to enjoy here! He's just an amazing guy!

Take care & I'll be reading you all soon!

This song is just so...

hiphoppy. Natasha Bedingfield's 'These Words'...so am loving this song. I heard her perform it last week on Conan - she was great. I'm putting the lyrics here cuz, well, just cuz. :)

These words are my own
Threw some chords together
The combination D-E-F
It's who I am, it's what I do
And I was gonna lay it down for you
I try to focus my attention
But I feel so A-D-D
I need some help, some inspiration
(But it's not coming easily)
Whoah oh...

Trying to find the magic
Trying to write a classic
Don't you know, don't you know, don't you know?
Waste-bin full of paper
Clever rhymes, see you later

These words are my own
From my heart flow
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
There's no other way
To better say
I love you, I love you...

Read some byron, shelly and keats
Resited in over a Hip-Hop beat
I'm having trouble saying what I mean
With dead poets and drum machines
I know I had some studio time booked
But I couldn't find a killer hook
Now you're gonna raise the bar right up
Nothing I write is ever good enough

These words are my own
From my heart flow
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
There's no other way
To better say
I love you, I love you...

I'm getting off my stage
The curtains pull away
No hyper bowl to hide behind
My naked soul exposes
Whoah.. oh.. oh.. oh.. whoah.. oh..

Trying to find the magic
Trying to write a classic
Waste-bin full of paper
Clever rhymes, see you later

These words are my own
They're from my heart
I love you, I love you
That's all I got to say, can't think of a better way
And that's all I got to say
I love you, is that okay...

Natasha repeats the chorus a few more times than I have it here but you get the point.

I don't know about you but I get so jazzed when I find a song that so fits a moment or experience I've had. Like Gwen Stefani's 'Cool'....it's SO the story of me and an ex of mine. I really like the smooth sound to that song too - it's kinda how I wish all relationships could end if they needed to end - smoothly.

Now, I would so love to hear what song 'marks a moment' for you...if there's more than one song, all the better..
Have a wonderful Wednesday...

Where does a week go?

I wish I knew. I think I got so caught up in extra-curricular activities and reading everyone else's blogs, I think I 'felt like' I had blogged. Last week was an odd one...every weeknight I ended up being 'out' till WAY too late - like not home till 1am-ish. Friday and Saturday evening, home by 11. Whatever.

So it's August 23 already...oh, I so don't like this time...right before Labor Day, feeling like summer is literally slipping through your fingers. I really don't like seeing summer pass by...don't get me wrong - I love autumn. LOVE IT. But come on, summer is more than a season. Summer is a state of mind.

My summers have always held such pivotal moments in my life. My first real kiss, first 'real' love (kiss & love not same guy), first horrid breakup, first real job, first family member's death. With summer coming to a close, I'm always wondering what could have happened or should have happened that didn't. It isn't a regretful pensive moment but more a 'ok, this hasn't happened yet - maybe it will this fall' kinda feeling. Alright, that's not an easy one to explain as it is so fully caught up in my emotional state right now :)

Some bloggers have been mentioning 'Blogger's Block' lately and I guess I'm jumping onto that bandwagon as well. For what seems like months now, I've just got quite a bit roaming around this mind of mine and I'm not really sure of how to get it all out on this monitor. I know I don't suffer from a seasonal change disorder but this time of year just holds a lot of memories for me, quite a bit of hope & dreams all tied up neatly with some angst. So, I'm just thinking through a bit o'stuff but am so grooving on reading your blogs...I may not always comment, oh, but I'm reading.

Have a fabu Tuesday...my grandfather would have been 104 years old today if he'd lived this long. Wow. Take care ~

Wedded bliss...

I hope. This past Saturday evening (oh yeah, the HOTTEST day of the summer thus far in MA) was yet another wedding for me to attend. Me and 1Guy went together as it was the daughter of a family that we're still connected to even after some moves and church changes...it was this family's eldest daughter. The bride is turning 19 next month.

Yes, you read that correctly - she's not even 19 yet. Amazing. I am not going to judge this couple's relationship or question whether or not these two youngins should have gotten hitched - I'm not mom or dad and I know they've walked them through this decision. I don't think college was in the plans for either one of them so this must have seemed like the next logical step.

It was just SO interesting to experience this wedding as compared to my former roomies almost two months ago (!!) and then as I help prepare for my sister's 2nd marriage next month. It's like there's this tangible 'maturity' to each relationship. Saturday night there were these two youngins marrying and it all seemed so innocent and pure. Fresh out with no regrets, no relational baggage they're carrying (at least no heavy suitcases, maybe just some small overnight bags), I'm pretty sure the bride was wearing white because she traditionally could...and so on.

For my best friend and her now-hubby there was still some innocence there but hey, being in your mid-30's, the baggage weight definitely goes up. Life experience in general has molded your world perspective quite a bit and your thoughts, hopes, dreams about what your marriage will look like is OBVIOUSLY different than a 18 year-old's. Then jump ahead another 20 years, have grown children, survive the death of a spouse, and there's my sister and her husband-to-be.

I just had this all running through my mind this weekend and it's actually helped me process why I'm still in this 'season of singleness' (why do I not like that phrase?) yet again. He knows the whens, the ifs, the whos so much better than I do...I don't know about you but I can almost sense when I'm about to literally pick up the reigns in my life again and try and 'take over'. Because there are still those areas that I need to re-release to the Lord I've had to be reminded again of just how amazingly in control God is over my life and to LET HIM have that control...to trust Him with it.

Why can't I just do it once and be done with it? Life would be SO much easier. My ex emailed me yesterday (we have some mutual friends going through a rough time and he was asking about them) and he said how he was praying 'that all goes well as they negotiate this earthly pilgrimage we're called to'. This earthly pilgrimage...reminds me of one of my favorite Steven Curtis Chapman songs, "Not Home Yet". I'm not 'home' yet and so look forward to that day when I will be looking my Lord & Savior in the face, realizing truly & completely what His love for me is all about...until then, I will strive to live my life seeking after that truth daily. I hope as I 'negotiate my earthly pilgrimage' that His love will spill over onto those I meet and am traveling with...

Thanks for reading my ramblings...I've just had a lot going on up in this head o'mine and needed to get some of it out. :) Take care!

You know the nagging feeling...

that today is a special day for someone you know but can't remember? I get to work and it hits me! My friend's sister turns 18 today!!! Happy Birthday J!! When my friend's mom and this younger sis first came to the church I was ministering at J was a mere 11 years old...she got the lead in the annual Christmas children's production that I used to direct that year, too. What a kick...now she's off to college in a couple of weeks...weird.

So this past weekend was even more of a kick. The celebrations went off beautifully and my sister and I (and the new hub-to-be!) sat down and ironed out a vast majority of the details...I'm planning to head back up to Maine and nail down the rest in another week or two. It's going to be so sweet...a small ceremony & catered reception in my sister's huge backyard. I think my brother-in-law would be very happy so many friends & family members are going to be there surrounding my sister with their well wishes and love. I'm welling up just thinking about it - stop making me cry! ;)

It was just another incredible weekend at home with my family...one sis is hitting the big '50' tomorrow so we celebrated that as well. An older sis made a FABULOUS collage of pics for the sis hitting 50 - scary to think that of about 85% of the pics, I wasn't even alive yet! It's so surreal sometimes to think about how my family was over 20 years in existence then I came along! On Sunday some family friends went to church with us that were visiting from Alaska (how cool). They had helped my parents start a church, oh, a good 17 years before I was born. I had 'met' these friends when I was two. Didn't really remember that (my 1st memory is about 3 months later at my eldest sister's wedding) so felt like I knew these people so well due to my parents' telling me about them since I really CAN remember!

Anywho-we had lunch at my parents' home after church and it was great to catch up...kids in college, in ministry, getting married, etc. When they met me they couldn't believe I was A & C's 'youngest' - it was all just a tad trippy. At one point I completely forgot I was 35...I felt like 15 all over again with my life entirely out there in front of me. On my way home Sunday night - back down to Boston, I revisited that feeling.

Being unmarried & with no dependents (that I'd call my actual 'children' ;) ), in a transitiony job, & still pondering what my life is meant to be 'all about' - I guess whatever life I have left here, it is still all out there in front of me. I mean, yes, I realize I'm 'as old' as I am and have made certain decisions that have landed me here but I was getting kinda jazzed about the 'where I am right now' deal.

I really can't focus on the not being married & not having the house-full of munchkins running around (I know, grass is ALWAYS greener, etcetcetc) because there's not too much I can do about that right now. I've gone down many a road to try and change that situation but after this last relationship...I'm done driving. My hands are quite literally off the steering wheel in that realm. (I know, they shouldn't have 'been on the wheel' to begin with...) Seeing how blissfully happy my sister is as she approaches marriage once again...yes, I want that but boy, I'm so not going to force it. I do not want to be the woman that's out there every weekend trying to 'find him'. Not that I think I can just sit back and honestly expect that knock at my door from Mr. Right, but for the here & now, I'm very content with just waiting a bit. I trust God and really, that's all I need - my faith in God Who knows exactly how He made me.

Didn't really plan for this post to head in this direction...I only wanted to dwell on the bliss of being 'home' this past weekend...oh, yeah, and to share that 'The Dukes of Hazard' was pretty funny. Saw it last night & felt like it paid just a lil homage to the TV show (ohhowIlovedJohnSchneider!!!) but Johnny & Seann William were easy on the eyes and a hoot to watch. Whatever Jessica did to get her bod looking like it did (and does?) - wow. She does look amazing in the flick & she really wasn't too bad actingwise. (code for 'she doesn't have too many lines!)

Gotta go sip some of my moonshine! Have a great Wednesday, y'all!

The post below was going to be 'Spotted Dick, anyone?' but...

if anyone read Eddo's post from yesterday, I didn't want them getting the wrong idea about my post today. :)
Go here if you want to read about 'another' kind of spotted dick. Ewww.
August 3rd's post-ewwww.

Funny kid story...

When I was in Texas last summer visiting a girlfriend of mine (and her hubby and 2 ADORABLE girls) I went with my now ex so that he could meet them. This friend is precious to me and it was important that she meet the guy who I thought at the time was 'the one'.

In case you hadn't caught on or you're reading this blog for the 1st time, my ex is a Brit by way of Nigeria. Long story but I'm trying to tell you he's black. Key point of info for the story you're about to read.

My friend was a little concerned about how her eldest, let's name her Janey, would respond to meeting J for the 1st time...being from CA and now in Texas, they hadn't had many opportunities to mix with a lot of people from other nationalities. Bottomline - what would Janey, this INCREDIBLY precocious 4 year-old say when she met J???

Everything was fine...Janey took to J like cream to coffee. Really it was wonderful...bedtime rolls around and Janey wants me to read her her bedtime stories. So we go in and begin reading and then J sticks his head in and says he's going to bed - still trying to get over his jetlag. I kiss him goodnight and then turn back to Janey to begin our final book.

Janey looks at me and says, "Aunt Adrianne? Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Janey - what is it?"
"Um, does your friend, J, well, is his bottom brown, too?"

By the grace of God I did not fall off her bed laughing my head off.

Instead I kept my composure and answered her by saying, "Well, Janey, you know how you're all one color all over? That's what J's skin is like...all one color all over." :)

Like that wasn't enough to keep me chuckling all night...I come out of Janey's room to let mom and dad know it's time for kisses and prayers. Once that's all wrapped up, we end up in the living room where I'm greeted by some Spotted Dick. Yes, that's an actual dish in Great Britain - go here for a great explanation of what it is.yumyum,spotted dick

My friends had thrown a 'Britain-themed' party back in CA and still had a can of SD left so they put it out for me to enjoy and obviously get a laugh out of...well, little did they know HOW funny it would be once I told them their daughter had asked about J's spotted bottom! That's how I initially told them...no, just joking...oh, it was just hilarious. It feels like it loosing some of it's hilarity here but trust me. I know funny and THAT was funny.

Thanks to 'Fresh Catering' for the inspiration for today's post...that was one of the highlights of that trip - Janey memories always make me smile. Hope you're smiling now too....

It's done...

Today I broke off my middle fingernail - WAY past the cuticle. There wasn't so much pain as utter shock & disbelief. I'm so saddened by losing a nail and I'm really not sure why...it's not like I'm some scary diva that needs her nails looking perfect 24/7...I just like uniformity, I guess.
When I was in Jr.High we had this 'Miss Manners' course thing at my church that a bunch of my friends and I took. Hilarious now that I think about it...one of the many things that stayed with me was the whole 'If one nail breaks, you should trim the rest so that they are all similiar in length.' I try and uphold this truth as though God Himself told me this.

Oh, Happy August!

Hi folks...
I am exhausted...I can barely find the keys to type this, I'm so tired. The past four days have just been wonderful. Really, some of the best moments I'll treasure for a long, long time kinda days...

Friday night some friends and I saw 'Must Love Dogs'. Johnnie boy still HAS IT. That's all I can muster at this moment - too tired to elaborate for fear I'll get TOO excited. ;)

Saturday was another slice of birthday bliss. I'm telling you - I LOVE MY FRIENDS but I usually 'know' the extent they'll go for birthday celebrations. Boy, sure didn't call this one - nope. To make an absolutely incredible story just a little shorter, they all surprised me with a boat ride to George's Island (off the coast of Boston) where we had a fabulous BBQ - with Hilltop meats no less! (Peeps from around here know the Hilltop reference) It was yet another GORGEOUS day out and the time we all had to just relax, eat, enjoy...seriously made my eyes water.

Remember the 'Friends' episode where Rachel wanted to celebrate Emma's 1st birthday a certain way and it seemed like it sure wasn't going to happen that way? Then at the end, with everyone around Emma just loving on her, Rachel gets all teary eyed because what was happening WAS exactly what she had wanted? Yeah, that's how I felt Saturday...just everyone I love there with me and we could all just enjoy the moment, know what I mean? Nothing too crazy (however some of my friends had to carry a BUTTLOAD of stuff with them - like an entire bag of charcoal? Do my friends rock or WHAT???), nothing too costly, just time spent together...my best friend and her hubby even BROUGHT A CAKE - I'm still not sure how that badboy made it over...

We eventually made our way back to Boston and hung out at Fanueil Hall...it was so beautiful out so we just walked around, got ice cream, coffee, etc. Once we were hanging in the 'middle section' of the hall, some friends went over to the musician (VERY James Taylorie) with his sound system all hooked up and ready and asked him to sing 'Happy Birthday' to me - hilarious. If you've never had a couple hundred people you don't know sing that to you while you're celebrating your birthday - really, try and get that done. Absolutely hilarious.

Sunday was great, too...after church we helped our youth pastor and his family move into their new home - a wonderful home that's nice and spacious for them! Then I had a 'date' with a friend's daughter - we saw "Madagascar" - great flick. C. & I had a super time catching up and joking around - she's 6 and is a HOOT. Seriously, I love C. and her family...you know those people God allows into your life and you would do almost anything for them? Yeah, this family is that to me.

So Monday rolls around ALL TOO SOON. I was up and out of my humble abode around 5 AM. Ouch - that was a toughie and as I was on my way to 'Black Rock Country Club' in Hingham, I thought I wasn't going to make it. But there was a golf tournament to be volunteered at and thank God I went - my friend who heads up the volunteer group said that 20 people backed out as of the day before. Well they missed out - it was an incredible day...this organization raised over $100,000.00 from the auction last week (yeah-what was my guess? Like $75K???) and they were pretty sure yesterday's event would raise at least that much...how great. To think of the children's charities and hospitals that will benefit..just great.

Some highlights from the day...the Farrelly brothers were there. Yes, of 'Something About Mary', 'Dumb & Dumber', and 'Fever Pitch' fame...what a hoot. Tim & Johnny were there, Mayor Menino (of Boston) golfed, Mike Meyers came, too. Then there was Dwight Evans, Jim Lonborg (SUCH A GREAT GUY), Jerry Moses, Ken Hodges (had dinner with him and almost wet myself he was so funny) - just had such a great time - doesn't even feel like 'work' - not at all.

Oh, and by the way - ILOVETODDENGLISH. Love him. And who usually goes to this event? Oh yeah, Mr. 'I'm such a fabulous chef' English himself. He owns four different types of restaurants and has them scattered all over Boston with some in DC and Seattle. Got to chat with him and I didn't faint or say anything horrifically embarrassing! Yeah me!

Honestly, it was a fantastic day - the weather ended up being perfect, everyone was in good mood and we sang 'Happy Birthday' - no, not to me - to Tim Wakefield who's 39 today (well, they said that but I'm not sure if they were joking or not?) So Happy Birthday, Tim, and here's to the 'year of FABULOUS birthdays....

Take care of yourselves :)