countdown beginning...

One of the things I'm most looking forward to in our new house is central air conditioning!! And our own washer/dryer!! Having to haul all my clothes to the laundromat every two weeks or so for the past three years has gotten a bit old, especially since I'd always been able to do laundry at least in the same building in every other place I've lived (including at college!).

And even though I always tell people (and myself) that we don't really need air conditioning in Rhode Island -- where it's pretty hot for only about two weeks a year -- it's freakin' HOT right now, and the ceiling fans can only do so much. Thought I'd be used to it after three months in the Caribbean, but for some reason sweating continuously down there wasn't that big of a deal...and certainly nothing to complain about given the conditions that people were living in. Up here, it's not really that cool to arrive at the office with my makeup dripping down my face... Hopefully it won't last much longer...or I'll toughen up some more...

As far as wedding plans go, no more progress to report, I'm afraid. I'm still browsing dresses online but otherwise not thinking about it too much, except when other people keep asking when and where the wedding will be. I do know the wedding will be before the next Twilight movie comes out, however...given that Breaking Dawn won't hit theaters until November 2011!! Strange to think I'll be married by that time...and yes, of course I'm looking forward to the wedding more than the movie! :)

renovating...still...

The real priority this summer will be moving into our house...the house Jack bought in 2007 not long after we started dating and that he's been renovating for the past three years! We've come a long way since it was gutted and the foundation rebuilt three summers ago, but I have to admit it's not going quite as quickly as I'd like. The end result will be amazing, though, and hopefully moving into it before being completely done will serve as incentive to finish it up sooner rather than later...

Other than a final coat of paint, the outside of 22 Bianco Court is pretty much done -- new siding, metal roof, studio dormers, door awnings, and cement foundation -- and it's beautiful! The inside work is still ongoing, with most the rooms now framed. Next steps will be to get the mechanical elements installed (boiler, ducts, all that good stuff so we can have central A/C and heating!), then electrical wiring, insulation, and finally the sheetrock (walls!). I never knew how involved building a house was and how many little details have to be worked out in sequence before the next steps can be taken. So if I want a working bathroom and kitchen by the end of August, we have to figure out where we want to place all the electrical outlets, what kind of bathroom and kitchen fixtures we like best, whether we want dark (nope!) or light tile in the bathroom, the list goes on and on...

We haven't exactly been arguing but let's just say there's been quite a bit of discussion with few final outcomes as of yet. Part of me is fine with whatever Jack wants to do -- he's pickier than I am when it comes to design elements -- but I'd like the house to reflect some of my preferences and personality too. Just hoping there aren't any big blow-ups over the next two months... :)

In the meantime, think we're going with Kohler Stillness fixtures in the bathrooms, and sink (or sorry, washbasin) is a toss-up between the Duravit Vero 045480 and Lacava Aquamedia 5061. Who ever knew there were sooooooo many options for sinks?! It's seriously a whole new world for me, and so many options tend to be paralyzing. Thank goodness it's just a few more weeks of having to make such decisions!

engaged!

And now it begins! Hard to believe I've been back from Haiti for a month now...and that we've been engaged for that long also! I figured since I've been involved in dozens of weddings -- even planned/coordinated a few -- I'd have a better idea of where to start when it comes to my own...but no such luck. Just going to www.theknot.com is overwhelming, and their incessant "countdown" and checklist aren't really helping to make the whole thing less daunting. Still, have to admit looking at dresses and cake designs has been kind of fun, even if in some ways I feel like I'm doing all of this for someone else, still hasn't really sunk in that I'm the one getting married!

I should probably concentrate on first things first, like deciding where and when the wedding is going to be... That we haven't really nailed down those details is a bit stressful, since not much else can really be done until we have that info, but the procrastinator in me knows I have more than a year to plan this thing, so what's a few more months of uncertainty?!

So instead I've been exploring random possibilities such as buying a letterpress -- and all related equipment -- so I can design and print my own invites...as if we have the extra disposable income lying around! But I would consider it an investment for (hopefully) many future projects as well... :) I discovered the definitive website for all things letterpress yesterday (www.briarpress.org) and am a little obsessed right at this moment, despite the fact that I'm a complete novice and have only taken about 20 hours of letterpress printing class so far. Still, I'm maybe 30% convinced this hobby could actually stick (unlike others I've taken up over the years)...

Okay, back to the issue at hand... The one thing I'm pretty sure has been decided about the wedding so far is the color scheme...in case you couldn't guess already from this website: black/white (or natural)/red. Not bad, right? Maybe a tad formal but it's not going to be stuffy at all, just simple and clean. Any other suggestions ranging from venues to vendors are welcome -- could use all the help I can get!!

debate central

i'm ashamed to admit that tonight's is the first presidential debate i've watched so far... although my excuse is that ultimately it doesn't matter what all these candidates say during the campaigns, since it's business as usual once they get to washington. still not sure who i think would make the best president when i have the sense that our political system lends itself basically to perpetuation of the status quo.

i'm disappointed to have missed most of the republican debate, would have liked to have seen the verbal brawl, but the democrats have been mostly articulate in terms of specific plans and policies they would put into place once in office. i still wish they'd focus on the issues more instead of harping on and on about change versus experience -- as bill richardson said, when did experience become a bad thing? change doesn't necessarily equal positive change either, depends on how that change is brought about and the implications that come along with that change.

just some musings as i get more into the "politics" mode... rhode island's primary isn't until march 4, and we have a whopping 32 delegates. hopefully by then i'll feel informed enough to at least decide which primary to vote in!! :)

2008 around the corner...

another year come and gone...and now i'm 30!! it's so strange to be able to say i remember something from 20 years ago. for some reason -- completely irrational -- never thought i'd get to this age.

but it's funny...as great as my 20s were (both ups and downs), i'm looking forward to my 30s too, think it'll be a time of challenges, change, and maybe some more stability too. i can't wait to explore new england some more (skiing is high on my list for this winter), get to know providence better (taking advantage of more arts and cultural events), take on additional responsibilities at work (if i don't burn out anytime soon), and spend time with loved ones (around the corner, country and world).

in the meantime, hope everyone has a great start to the new year and that we get to see each other soon...

so i've been reading...

maybe it's because i'm currently working at a bookstore (which i've enjoyed much more than i thought i would, given that working retail during the holiday season can be pretty grueling), but i've had the chance to catch up on my reading, getting recs from co-workers and seeing what's new on the shelves. okay, maybe dorky but i love it!!

and i came across this great poem in "march" (by geraldine brooks, written from the perspective of the dad in "little women"), which really resonated with me, although please don't think i'm having morbid thoughts or anything! just think it's kind of profound in a simple sort of way and expresses how i feel sometimes:

I am no longer eager, bold & strong.
All that is past;
I am ready not to do
At last, at last,
My half day's work is done,
And this is all my part.
I give a patient God
My patient heart.

kind of about trying to find my place or figuring out my life but not having the energy to think about it anymore... reasons why i also really love dido's "life for rent," all about viewing life as a temporary gift and realizing that if i don't put down roots, can't blame anyone but myself.

wow, think this is enough introspection for one night (am writing in taiwan), but some good thoughts with which to ring in the new year! am looking forward to 2007 and hopefully some welcome changes or at least some signs to point me in the right direction... :)

reflections

i sometimes wonder how my life would be different if my dad were still around... would his presence have been more of a stabilizing force? i miss him a lot, and i can't help but think things might have been better if i had someone to talk to about job choices, potential boyfriends, big life changes...

not that my mom isn't great, because she is. but we're so different, and we don't really understand each other...which makes it easier to just not really tell her anything than to have to answer all her questions and explain myself.

or maybe i just think my dad would have given me some boundaries, more direction... so i wouldn't have just quit my job and taken off to another country or moved to another state where i would have to start all over. maybe i just needed someone to say put his foot down and not put up with my b.s. rationale of having to experience my own mistakes to better learn.

what if? what if? what if?