nolechica

Ok, so wedding day began with hair and makeup sessions after gathering shoes, dresses, etc. to take to the church. The hairdressers had lots of fun with my hair. Tons of ringlets and about a dozen bobby pins in my hair for a half up-do. Not my thing ever. I prefer my hair all the way up. Plus, I was the only one that didn't need her hair recurled before the ceremony. Next was makeup, and none of this group has ever seen me in makeup, that's fun. The smoky tones and mascara on my already jet black lashes? Looks amazing apparently. So many people assume I wear makeup anyway, that when I really do, it's a little overwhelming. Once everyone was done, we headed over to the church for what seemed like a zillion pics of us getting ready, then formal pics. Barely any of which I've seen, and some were awkward, to me anyway. We had orange lilies for our flowers, long stems, so they were cradled in one arm rather than carried upright. This made pictures kinda tricky, and as the tallest bridesmaid, I moved a lot.

After pictures, we went and chilled before the ceremony was to start at which time we went to the bridal room in back of the sanctuary. The processional was long with grandmother, moms, and us. However, I managed to get down the aisle and to my spot, in heels, without falling. Brandon will never know it, but that has more to do with acolyte autopilot than him. Carrying a crucifer in a robe that's too long is great for trusting that putting one foot in front of the other works. Plus, I found my parents in the congregation during the processional and from the alter. As for the ceremony, short and sweet, no funky stuff, just a unity candle. Unlike the dreadfully long vows from the last wedding I was in. After the ceremony, we waited on the limo before heading over to the reception with just the girls and Patrick in the limo. Interesting comments about his actually being married, WTF, holy shit!

( Reception and Morning After )

Ugh, my body hates me. My sleep is out of whack again, so I'm wide awake at 5:30am, but I had to take Valium because my meds are screwy and my hand's been tight all day. I met with Dr. Gray on Monday and he wants my intro finished ASAP, but the wedding will consume the rest of my week and I have reading to do before I can write the advertising portion of my historiography. The mascot portion is finished though, finally. Hoping I can at least finish the reading before next week, but we'll see. Might actually be sleeping on the bus, as Em's meeting me in Atlanta, with Nick on his birthday, poor him. Then we have to go to Augusta for manis and pedis for the wedding, the latter of which I desperately need, as my feet are shit and my heels are open-toed. I have managed to get out of any extraneous shopping due to a casual rehearsal dinner and having acceptable bridal luncheon clothes. Yay, but I do need to tan, my top is way to white, should have been wearing sleeveless tops and and studying on Landis, not in Strozier. If I still had my crazy creek, I'd probably be tan by now, damn it.

Anyway, my weekend was entertaining. Surprise trip by Sara to town for the game, but we mainly partied. Went to Bull's on Friday with Meg and Katie, that was interesting. I hate playing follow the leader around bars with staircases. We actually hung out on dance floor for a while and I had fun thoughts of the songs that should be playing the next time I'm on the dance floor. Shots were taken and Meg and Katie met up with old "friends". Good night over all. Until Sara dropped them off and didn't come back for a while, as her rendezvous was cut short by frat brothers arriving in town. She's lucky I was up at 5am. I paid for it later though, as I got up at nine for the game and was at the stadium to get seats at ten. Got sunburnt and dehydrated, and we lost, oh and it rained. Where did Murphy find me, and why last week? Lack of ability to defend a running quarterback, or convert at the goal line cost us dearly. Oh, and our kicker still fails at life. Why have home games sucked this year? Fortunately, our loss was small potatoes after UF's golden boy got a concussion and the whole state freaked out. They have this week off though, so he should be fine by their next game, hence me not getting the freak out. And yes, I've had a concussion, and dealing with mine was a pain in the ass, as it involved a trip to the neuro and much hovering, which I hate. This definitely colors my perception.

As for the rest of the weekend, we went out for drinks at the Painted Lady, but a Sex on the Beach is best made by your truly, Tally bartenders fail. Also, Sara and I are planning a trip to New Orleans for my birthday, possibly instead of Gainesville at Thanksgiving. The timing of the trip with depend on when I get the CD I'm awaiting. I hope I can pre-order, but am broke now. This should be fun, as Sara's never really been and I'm always up for playing tour guide and finally having a fellow history geek to go to cemeteries and the WWII museum with, doing that with the fam resulted in Twenty Questions about D-Day. Fortunately for them, I knew the answers. And the timing of this discussion was amusing as pics of Adam Lambert surfaced (with facial hair, never seen so much fandom drama ever) from his New Orleans trip, including a Hand Grenade container from the Tropical Isle, only my favorite drink on Bourbon St. I love hurricanes, but prefer mine from scratch, not Pat O'Brien's mix. Yes, too many Mardi Gras has made me picky, but I'm worse about King Cake. And on the food front, Sara and I discussed frying a turkey for Thanksgiving, which apparently Emily wants to do as well. I wish I still has the Emeril Thanksgiving special I watched years ago. Anyway, Thanksgiving could be an adventure this year, with a fabulous soundtrack. ;-)

Saturday was busy. I had to go get my dress fitted, which turned into an adventure. My phone book failed me and the first address I had wasn't in downtown Tallahassee, but downtown Quincy. As such, I had to find a second shop on the fly, as I didn't have cab fare to spend on a second trip for this. Then, trying on the dress was an adventure, as I had to take apart the sash and put the dress on over my head. Add to this my heels and strapless and I was not amused. I hope that I don't regret having the dress measure to the floor, as walking could be tricky. Fortunately, there won't be a groomsman to drag to the ground if I fall, as we're having a way long processional. Speaking of processionals, I told Greer she's owe me, as this'll be the first time I've been in a church since May 2004. That's damn near impossible in the Deep South, which Tallahassee still is, much to my dismay. Anyway, realized I need to quit biting my nails or a manicure will be pointless. I do apparently occasionally have vain thoughts. Still debating the tanning though, might do that the old-fashioned way, unless the rain continues.

As for the never ending thesis, got some reading done, need to write next and reed more. I want to finish the intro by Friday, as I have a meeting with Gray on Monday and game weekends are shit for being productive. Plus, my sleep is more screwy than normal. After a summer as a slave to youtube and mp3 editing, my body finally said enough. I slept twelve hours Sunday and then my power was cut off today and so my sleep is even more out of whack. I might be making a pre-dawn trip to Strozier to write. We'll see if I'm still motivated after I straighten out my ipod playlist, or maybe not exactly, but organize at any rate. I need to finish the mascot section and start on the advertising historiography, without seeing red. Some of the mascot stuff is tough because I'm writing this paper, but I still know the warchant by heart, still do the chop, paint my face (need to retrieve glitter paint for Halloween game), and will always have a soft spot for Osceola and Renegade. Add to this the fact that Dr. Frank probably won't like my thesis, especially after our last chat, and I'm kinda twisted in knots.

As for a brief football update, FSU went to Provo and beat #7 BYU! First victory over a top 10 team in two years. Maybe now beating Florida isn't such a long shot, and Thomas will have to stop being such a shit. Didn't expect a 54-21 victory though, but yay for a recovering secondary, even if our kicker can't make extra points to save his life. Scoring on our first five possessions felt damn good. Add to this an injury to the USF QB and I might make it through this week with sanity in tact. Provided it doesn't rain during the White Out of course. I hate white t-shirts at games, but might get a Nike one and hope for clear skies. Bigger problems come from a noon start, which means being at the stadium at ten. Now I know why Em bitched about Auburn games. That's too damn early, even for a girl who bleeds garnet and gold.

Vanity thy name is Mom. Apparently the way to get positive comments from my mom is to get back to my weight from the beginning of freshman year. What? How did that happen? I've lost twenty pounds and I couldn't tell you how if I tried. I assume utility bill control and being distracted out of meals helps. Anyway, now I'm hearing how good I looked at the bachelorette weekend and other wedding related things. Had to go strapless bra shopping yesterday, and it was surprisingly painless. Spent more time waiting on my cab than in the fitting room. This is amazing because bra shipping has always sucked for me and I was anticipating needing the pads from middle school to even things out. Anyway, now that I have everything, I need it to not rain so I can go to the alterations place, and then apparently the tanning bed. Mom is worried about strap marks, but if she'll pay, I'll go. Times like this I hate that it's Patrick's wedding and Mom's worried about me ruining pictures. I'm already getting manicure/pedicure/hair/make-up, and my brows waxed, but that's not new. Most of my friends won't believe the pics.

On to other things, now that the tour/summer obsession is over I'm using my crazy sleep cycle and the wonderful library hours to get some work done. I miss Night Staff/all-nighters hardcore and I need to complete the historiography from Hell soon. I finally figured out a layout, mascots and advertising instead of by chapter. Meeting with Gray next week to see where we go from here. Plus, football season creates a great light at the end of each week's tunnel as motivation. Get shit done so that I can enjoy stadium time. And speaking of football, went in Garnet and Gold yesterday just looking and discovered my icon has been redesigned.
( Pictures )

What about Thomas you ask? Well, it seems once he sobered up what he wanted with me changed. So, we had Sexual Inquisition Part Two. Only this time, I wasn't on the defensive as much. Convincing him that I know what I want is tricky because of his past, but I might be willing to try things out. This discussion happened after he made me see red over college football. The shirt above exists for a reason. Gator fans are cocky as Hell, but with good reason unfortunately. Anyway, we left things at we'll see, but I know he doesn't want a girlfriend and he knows I can't be his sports buddy, so maybe something in between? He might need to see my t-shirt.

Getting to a bus station at 7am is cruel and unusual punishment, even with my sleep cycle. That's exactly what I did on Saturday though. Had to be on the 7:30 bus to Atlanta for Greer's bachelorette party. I went shopping on Friday after hearing from Mom that Emily had gotten furry handcuffs. Who hears from their mother that their sister purchased handcuffs??? Anyway, with that knowledge, I found a two-piece set in Victoria's Secret that cost more than I intended, but was totally worth it, black and red tie back naughty maid looking outfit. Also for a cute top and let Rachel give me advice on what to wear with said top for the bachelorette party. Packed all of my stuff at 6am after searching out concert footage and reading fanfic consumed my evening. Anyway, got to Greyhound and got my ticket with no trouble, but the bus ride was cold as fuck. Sleep didn't happen for a while, but it did eventually happen. As such, I was fine for the night's festivities. First though,, the afternoon's festivities, which included many phallic toys and edibles, as well as gifts, which ranged from cute sleep shorts to lingerie to the riding crop Em got along with handcuffs. The combination of which sent my mind to a certain LA Darkroom picture, but I digress. After presents, we shopped, or rather, they shopped and I wished I could...

( Bachelorette Party details and going out in Tally )