TGIF

Busy week.  Getting ready for Race on the Base tomorrow in Los Alamitos.  No, I'm not running, but thanks for even thinking that for a second, LOL.  I'm supposed to be helping manning the booth when people at ARE running are going from the 5K to the 10K.  Yes, more than one person is doing that from my work.  I know, they ARE crazy.  I think 2 or 3 of them are also doing the reverse Triathlon as well.  I can't even imagine how tired they are going to be.  I might not show if there is a huge storm like there was last year.  And they are predicting rain.  Snow level is down to 500 feet!  I think it's a sign of the apocalypse.  Well, maybe.  It could happen.

My lovely daughter and I went to an event on Tuesday.  They put on a great show for us and all the other people attending, but they were WAAAY out of our budget.  But at least now we know what to call the different kinds of lights we might want.

I think she has picked out the florist (thank you, Nina, for the lead) and the photographer (thanks, Zack) and I found out one of my patient's cousins runs a Party Rental Place in San Pedro!  WooT! 

After my  last conversation with Christa, I think I am taking a huge step back, though.  I'm just getting way too frustrated with planning things and then, after being told that Trey doesn't want anything to do with the planning, having him come in and change everything that's been decided.  So, I think I will just let them plan what they want, the way they want it and just pony up the dough and attend the wedding.  Probably better for all concerned.  They can figure stuff out and work together to accomplish their vision.

Randy didn't qualify for the medical study.  His uric acid is normal.  Hopefully conventional medicine will eventually figure out how to help him.

I have a busy weekend.  Besides the Race, I have a party I'm attending and teaching Bunko to the group.  Should be pretty fun!  Then on Sunday Mirtha is giving me a facial for my birthday!  YEAH!!! She is leaving for Argentina for her god-daughter's Quincenera.   But is fitting me in before she goes.  I've already had a pedicure, dye, trim and waxing this week.  I love you, Mirtha!

Well, time to call Grace and wake her up for her dog grooming appointment.  For her DOGS!  You are so mean this morning!  I can't believe you even thought that I meant her!  How Rude!

Monday, Monday.

Made it through the weekend!

Outback didn't poison me.  A good thing.  But the waitress was not great.  There's always something with me. LOL.

It was so good to see Corina and her daughter, Alex and catch up.  Lots of wedding talk as Alex is getting married 3 weeks before Christa.  And health talk as Corina is now on the donor list for a kidney.  Scary.  But she was looking good and in good spirits.  And I caught her on a good day when food was tasting good instead of "weird".

I had a nice long visit with my Mom afterward.  She kept saying she feels like she's coming out of a fog.  She wanted to know what was wrong with her, how long she had been at the facility, where everyone lived, how old she was, etc.  True to form, she kept insisting on how hard it must have been for ME.  So it was a good day in that she was really there.  My Mom was all there.  But not a good day for her memories.  The 2 things she seems to remember is that Christa is getting married and Carole is moving to the South.

Randy went and saw her on Sunday and spent about 2 hours with her and said she was the same.  She is so funny about her food.  She thinks if they put it on the plate, she has to eat it.  She was still working on her pancakes when he got there around 10:30.

Randy dropped off his samples and gave some more blood to the place that is doing a study on Uric Acid and Kidney Stones.  He is hoping it might help with all the stones he forms.  I hope something helps.  He's been in near constant pain for about 2-1/2 years.  That is really wearing on him and is changing his personality.  Although he's coped with it way better than I would have!

I met Christa and Trey at the Bridal Fair they wanted to go to at the Seacliff Country Club in Huntington Beach. It was a site they had considered, but gave up since there were other events the same day as theirs.  It was a lovely place and they had food out everywhere.  Trey really took advantage of that, LOL.  He was bored out of his mind.  But he hit the cheese bar like 5 times and wasn't sad that the candy bar was there either.  They had a mashed potato station that was REALLY YUMMY.  We talked with several vendors.  Got lots of ideas.  We are meeting with a vendor in Irvine on Tuesday that has D.J.ed and done lighting for the venue we're using.  He has a whole album at his office with pix of the event.

I grabbed a Diet Coke and went back to Christa's house we talked about the various vendors and made a few calls.  She is thinking she will use Zack for her photographs. But she can't find someone she likes for her videography.  I mean she used to teach it, she should be able to find someone she likes.

Nina

The Winner!

Then off to Nina's bridal shower!  I knew I was late since Grace was heading up the walk in front of me, LOL.  But they had just served food and I got Grace situated and grabbed something for her and I to eat.  Nina looked lovely, if a bit hung over.  You should not schedule your bachelorette the night before your shower.  To be fair, her cousins from New York surprised her with it.  Looked like she got LOTS of presents.  My team won the Toilet-paper Bride Game. Then we had to fill out a paper with household products.  Only they said household objects.  So I didn't win that one! LOL.  It was very cute.  They told the love story of Nina and Wolhan using products like Joy, Brawny, Snuggle and Vanish.  They then did some poems with first candles and then panties.  ADORABLE.

 Nina was a good sport and even tried on the Granny Panties.  I left just
as the cake was coming out!

Came home and took care of my Randy by falling asleep on the sofa, DOH!

Rainy, Saturday, Busy weekend

Christa and Trey went to the restaurant where they will be catering from to decide exactly  what to have at the wedding.  They brought me back a sampling for lunch on Thursday.  Quite good.  Melt in your mouth Tri-Tip.  Moist lemon chicken.  Garlic mashed potatoes and garlic and cheese bread-sticks.  I think they said they would be having salmon and mac n cheese and two kinds of salad as well.  Should be enough there to please everyone.  And Trey's mom is making a huge pot of some kind of Cajun beans too.


When I told my sister, Ginger that.  She said, "Why?" and I told her to bring part of Louisiana to the wedding.  She said, "What kind of beans?" and I said, "I don't know." and she said, "Well tell her red beans are my favorite and no one would be offended if she made dirty rice or gumbo either!"  I told her I wasn't going to tell her that!  Ruger girls, always thinking with our stomachs!

Nina, my former co-worker who is getting married in April, gave me her florist's number and blog spot Nina's Florist  I gave her a call yesterday and I'm waiting to hear back from her.  Christa really liked her fuchsia center pieces.

I'm going to meet up with my friend, Corina, for her birthday today.  She picked Outback.  I haven't been to that one since they gave me food poisoning about 12 years ago.  Let's hope they've improved things since then.  I had always wanted to try a blooming onion.  Well I did and the oil they cooked it in was rancid.  I wont go into any more details except to say when it was hot, you couldn't tell so I ate about 4 pieces before it cooled down.  Grossest night of my life so far.

Tomorrow is Nina's bridal shower so I have to dash off to Target this morning.  I hope no one's bought her the cookware on her list yet.  I love corning ware and I know she will too.

Christa and I are also going to a bridal fair to see about more vendors for her wedding.  Going to be tight, but I should be able to make it to both.

I'm looking at my house and I really need a MAID.  If you know anyone, let me know.

I've got 10 minutes before my alarm is supposed to go off

So, a quick catch up.

They are still using the same venue in San Pedro.  We decided on plastic plates that LOOK LIKE china.  Christa is still interviewing some vendors and we are going to a bridal show on Sunday to look for more.  Ceremony music is set with a former patient of mine that's a harpist. Minister is set with the same gentleman that married Randy and me. Working on Flowers, Cameras, Equipment Rentals, DJs and MCs and Hotels for the guests.

Went out to dinner last night with Randy for his 52nd birthday.  Started at TGIFridays, but they pissed us off with the wait time on a TUESDAY and lying about how long it would be.  So we tried the place that Nina, my former coworker, is working at called Bake N Broil on Atlantic.  We had a really nice time.  The food was good the service was friendly.  Randy loved that they loved the shirt and tie dollar that he folded for them.

Gma is doing better.  Her cough has subsided.  Her roommate is really crabby lately.  So she finds more reasons to stay out of her room.  The nurses love having her around.

At work, we had one patient (slight dementia) take another patient's car keys and sunglasses home with her.  The patient's daughter brought them back after we called and confirmed.  The patient was like, "Why would they put someone else's keys in my purse?"   Funny.  But the patient that was waiting was very sweet and understanding or it could have gotten ugly.

Mid-Week Recap

My sisters did come and visit Mom on Sunday.  They were there about 3 hours.  We spent about 2 and a half hours with them.  First out on the side patio in the sun (which Mom loves to feel on her skin) and then, when she got cold, in the lobby.  I showed them pictures of Christa's dress on my camera.  We talked about the wedding plans, Connie being able to come or not, colors, etc. 

Barb had the necklace she made for my co-worker, Kristal.  Similar to the one I posted earlier, but longer.  She also left some with me to sell for her.  So far, I've only sold one more, but it looks like Kristal may take another one since Barb can modify it for her.  Everyone really likes the stuff, but everyone is also pretty broke.

I'm really pimping at work, LOL.  I'm selling Barb's jewelry, Girl Scout cookies for my boss's daughter and trying to get donations for Tami's son's Trike-a-thon. 

Randy wore a cheesehead that we were dropping off to Christa at her work while we were visiting Mom.  It was Superbowl Sunday and the Packers were playing the Steelers.  We were hoping to spend the game with Olivia and Josh, but neither of us has felt very well, so we canceled.  I was sooooo bummed!  They were roasting a pig in their new pit and I really wanted to try it.  Not to mention to get up there and play with the kids!  Christa says she's glad Olivia had children to save her the pressure of me nagging for grandchildren. Mom was so embarrassed that Randy was wearing the cheesehead and would actually duck when people walked by.  It was too funny.  She couldn't even really look at him.  She would start to say something and then stop and say, "I can't take you seriously in that hat."  Randy would reply, "You're not supposed to, It's for FUN!"

Randy and I have been hacking and sneezing all week.  Maiko, at my work, is just dying and she has to get on an airplane and fly to New Orleans to give a presentation at a Physical Therapy conference.  I didn't think she was going to make it through the day.  I bought her Gatorade, Dayquil and Ricoloa to help her along.  I don't know how she got through an Eval with a returning patient that is an absolute LOON.  She is either schizo-affective or a major druggie or both.  She can't even follow a complete thought or sentence.  Crazy.

I guess I'll finish this in another post.  My hubby wants me to come back to bed for an hour so he can sleep.  I can think of worse ways to spent the insomniac early morning.

Wedding Dress Purchased!

Started out the day going garage saling with Randy.  Very slim pickings despite the lovely weather.  Randy did manage to get a whole block of really nice quality knives for $5.  So not a total loss.

Christa and I had a Noon appointment at David's Bridal.  She was just going to get an idea of what she wanted.  We had planned to go to my girl Frances at Frances Boutique in Wilmington http://www.yelp.com/biz/frances-boutique-wilmington  after we figured out what she actually wanted.  I started out at her house and we looked at dresses on line and called the place we are thinking of using for catering www.stonefiregrill.com  We are pretty excited about the choices we have there.  Also, looking at party rental sites since Christa is adamant about having round tables instead of rectangles. And went over the rough draft guest list.

Not a favorite :-(

Didn't like it at all!

We stopped at Chic-fil-a to get Nuggets and soup since by blood sugar was so low and proceeded to our appointment.  The girl that helped us was named Veronica.  She was soooo cute. She was maybe 5 foot even.  I thought she was 14 when I first saw her.  Christa tried on about 10 dresses.  She really liked the first one, lacy and elegant and the third one, asymmetrical and satin, lace up back.  She tried on a couple of short dresses, but they just didn't look enough like a wedding.  Then she tried on the first dress in her correct size.  She liked it even more.  But not enough to buy it.  Then she had noticed one at the front of the store.  It was her size (6) and it was on SALE!  She tried it on with the veil she fell in love with earlier.  Everyone (about 35 people) turned and looked at her when she came out and drew in a collective sigh.  They continued to stare at her and smile.  She was just LOVELY.  It was her dress!  Then Veronica told her the sale price and Christa said, "SOLD!"  She is thinking about getting a lace up back put in instead of a zipper and of course, it needs to be shortened a little bit and have the bustle put in.  All that will be done by Frances.

The dress is hanging in the closet in my Mom's room so there is no peeking, LOL.

Between this one and the one below.   Except it wasn't!

When I got home, my wonderful husband had removed the old film from my window.  Unfortunately, he missed seeing a hole in the ground and twisted his ankle fairly badly.  So he spent the afternoon and evening icing.  We both have pretty bad colds too.  Which wasn't helped by my lovely daughter's perfume that aggravated my allergies, lol.  We took a nice nap for about an hour and a half after Christa went to work.

Oh yeah, I got to meet her new kitty, Madeline.  Very cute.  She loved sniffing me, but didn't want me to hold her.  She was too busy playing.

She did like the pin enough to keep it for the dress she bought.

There is also a crisis with the venue.  Neither of the couple bothered to read the contract they were signing and didn't see there there were no glass dinnerware allowed at the venue.  They don't want to use paper products and Trey currently feels that it's a deal breaker.  I tried to point out that there are plastic dinnerware that looks just like china.  We'll see.  Christa told him if he wants to find another venue, she's fine with it.  But she just can't face looking again.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.  My sisters are coming to visit Mom and I have a date with a pig.  A whole roasted-in-the-ground pig at Olivia and Josh's!

Mid-week Happenings

Started Tuesday by making my co-worker, Maiko, a fruit platter  for her birthday.  She said she didn't want a cake, but would LOVE this.  She and her girlfriend, Nutshell, took the day off Monday to spend it at a spa/hotel in Rancho Palos Verdes.  So we celebrated Tuesday.  I was so busy making the platter that I forgot to call and wake up my patient, Grace.  She had an appointment at 9 at another medical facility and asked me to wake her up at 6:30 which really means 6:00 if she wants to be up on time.  I wound up calling her from my car at 7:45.  Luckily she fell asleep in front of the t.v. and it woke her up at 7:00.  She actually made it on time to her appointment with they help of my other co-worker, Sean.  He is her Boy-Friday when he's not at work.  Sean had an interview with Western School of Medicine for a slot in their PT program.  It just goes to show that a lot of things you just can't judge on paper. I've seen so many people come through the clinic doing their clinicals for PT school that didn't have half the knowledge that he does let alone his ability to work with the patients and make them feel comfortable and educate them on their movements.


Saw my mom both Tuesday and Wednesday. She remembered my sisters' visit, but thought that Barb's grand baby was there too.  I guess they talked about her a lot and she got confused.  She was looking quite good on Wednesday and Randy joined me there to see her.  She really likes the man that comes and plays guitar every Wednesday.  He gives the residents great joy.  Her crazy, mean roommate, Clara, does not like him which makes me love him even more.

After visiting, Randy took me to lunch.  He is still not over his cold, but he was kind enough to give it to me, LOL.  I really think I'm getting the cough from the girls in Billing.  Kept me up last night, but I seem to be doing better now.  We really had a nice, relaxing lunch and just enjoyed eachother's company.

I called both a caterer and a harpist on my way to Mom's and still haven't heard back from either.   I read the agreement Christa signed for her venue and I think there are going to be some issues.  First off, no glass serving ware.  Does this mean no china plates?  What about a candy buffet?  Vases?  Second, she has her heart set on round tables.  The venue only rents long ones.  They will also not store anything for vendors so that means they will not let rental places come and get the stuff on Monday.  Same goes for the chairs.  She wants plastic white ones, they have metal.  See above.  Oh well, I'll talk to her about it today.

Time to call Grace, she has another appointment this morning and we are starting a whole barrage of phone calls to get her there.

Venue, Found!

Trey and Christa went to look at the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse on Monday and loved it.  Except for maybe the sea-foam green color on the bottom part of the walls.  But they did decide to take it.  So, I put down a deposit and we are on our way.  September 10th will be the day my baby gets married.  Now the hardest part is done, picking the place and the day.

Inside the bathhouse's banquet room.  

 

A lady named Katherine from the site, www.weddingbee.com sent me a picture of her wedding

I would have never thought of looking in San Pedro.  Luckily, one of my AFT patients (a program we have to continue conditioning after you're done with therapy) suggested it.  Thanks, Majella!  She has been so sweet.  She even started off my Candy Buffet with a donation of a really pretty jar.  I do really like the venue. It's so historic.  It was the last bathhouse built in California around 1932. It was at the end of the old Red Car line.  It used to be the Marine Museum.  The new museum is on the same grounds but is much larger and more modern.  I've been here several times for Grunion Runs.  I never caught any though.  Probably a good thing since I don't like fish and you have to catch them in your bare hands. Yuck!  It was fun to play in the waves though.

 

Christa is thinking of Aqua, Fuchsia and Orange for her colors now.  We are discussing groomsmen's  attire.  I'm thinking more casual than she is.  A first I'm sure.  Oh, and they have the most important part of the catering set up, the bar, lol.  You have to use a specific one for Los Angeles County Parks department venues, apparently.

I got to see my mom on Sunday after running around looking for more Candy Buffet containers.  No luck.  But I did find some cute "Just Married" magnets at the 99 cent store.  Mom was having a harder day then usual with her memory so I only stayed about 45 minutes.  We stayed in the hall as she was not enjoying her crazy roommate that day.  Her sweet roommate, Helen, is still quite ill and Mom is very worried about her.  We talked mostly about the wedding and Jon's baby, Alexandra and Carole moving to Savanah.  Her favorite subjects lately.  It was raining so I didn't take her outside anywhere.  People in the Mid-west will be happy to know that when I left for work on Monday, it was only 40.  So, see, it does get cold here in the winter sometimes!

My sister's (Barb and Virginia) came to see my mom on Monday and we went out to lunch at Wendy's.  Barb picked up some kewl stuff at a gem show and one of my co-workers was interested in a tourmaline necklace she made.  She says she almost went blind doing it because the beads are so small, she had a hard time stringing them.  She is opening a design line called B-hop and has a little logo idea of a bee buzzing around the hop.  Very cute.

I'm up in the middle of the night again writing this.  What is with women in they forties and not sleeping?  I have to get up early, like in 2 hours, to make a fruit platter for a co-worker's birthday.  She didn't want a cake, she wanted something healthy.  So, I'm complying.  Besides, I make amazing fruit platters.  With serrated citrus and strategically placed berries.  Very nice.

Randy is not doing very well this week. He has a bad cold and his kidney stones are really bothering him again.  He is going to apply to be part of a study on Wednesday.  I hope it helps him.  Nothing else seems to have and living in near-constant pain for over 2 years is really taking a toll on my poor Pookie!

Well, gonna try to get back to sleep now!