Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Weekend duty

Is it really August 10? Do I really have to start teaching less than 3 weeks? Are there really over 100 unread items in my reader from 4 days away from my computer? (deep breaths...)
No remixed 6 items today, as we've had airport/plane drama the past 24 hours and I am currently trying to work in a hot NYC apartment, with not much on. It may have to be this way if the weather stays hot. But I will try again tomorrow, when my desire to interact with the real world comes back.
Blokey and I were in Chicago, one last time this summer, for our lovely friend's wedding. It was a lovely outdoor backyard affair, and I was a bridal attendant (since we were mixed gender, it seems like bridesmaid is not the right word. Plus, the whole married thing). Thanks to your feedback, I bought a fat, vertically ribbed grossgrain ribbon and used that to "lower" my waistline about 1 1/2" (ideally, it would have been 2", but it did the trick). I tried satin, but that was too slippery. You can kind of see the results here.

Photo courtesy of Anne. The man to my right was tactfully cut out because he faces re-election this year. The drink is a fancy lemonade plus soda water.

I also gave myself the best backcombed hair "pouf", a la Snooki* (my fellow Jersey girl) hairdo. I would have gone profesh, except I always hated people doing my hair, including hairdressers. I think it worked out OK.

The key was first blow drying moused-up roots, while bent over, backcombing the front, and then lots of hairspray.

Anne and I also took WW pics, but those are for later.

Finally, the lovely and generous bride gifted us a beautiful key necklace. I own almost no jewelry, making this a welcome addition to my sad need to accessorize. Also, she really knows me, because I don't usually go for very girly pieces. This had just the right amount of "hardware" elements to make it awesome for everyday, and teaching.


It's currently baking in my bedbug oven (yes, we own a Packtite), following an emergency stay in an [uncompensated] airport hotel, as United Airlines couldn't get us on a flight back to NY after canceling our Monday noon flight, until Tuesday at 7AM. Stay classy, corporation.

*I've never seen her in action, as we don't have a TV, but I've read about her as a cultural phenomenon.

19 comments:

  1. You look fantastic! I cannot believe you did your own hair that way - it looks great.

    Also, what is a Packtite?

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  2. It's pretty crazy that both of your flights got cancelled. What are the odds? Or is United really that bad?

    I think I like the term "bridal attendant" better than bridesmaid, but that's probably because I envision having at least one dude in my hypothetical wedding party.

    It's a shame that you have to cut out the rest of that picture though, since your dress was only half of the awesome style going on there. I think our friend should start his own man style blog. He could go headless, a la In Professorial Fashion.

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  3. That dress is smashing! And the key necklace is magnificent - can't wait to see it on.

    And seriously? They wouldn't even put you up in a hotel? Bastages.

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  4. I am with you on the term bridal attendant, partly because of the presence of dudes in the bridal party and partly because the term maid is so virginal. And while I imagine at least 1 virgin in any hypothetical wedding party, as my family always has someone in the flower girl, excited to be in a wedding age range, none of the other candidates have been virgins in, you know, over a decade.

    You look fabulous. And I am so sorry about the airplane drama!

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  5. Your attendant dress looked great, and I'm impressed that you did your hair yourself.

    I hate dealing with airlines. So stressful!

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  6. That dress looks awesome, and so does your hair! And you totally scored with the bridal gift. (I am jealous as, for my last 3 bridal attendant appearances, I have a [long-ago-donated] piece of shiny glass on a plastic string, an awkwardly-shaped glass vase, and one of those weird photo-box thingies with a very sticky lid.)

    Also, United sucks hard. Neither me, nor anyone I know has ever had a pain-free travel experience with that really horrible airline. They suck even more than Air Canada, and that's a LOT of suckage. (both airlines motto/s should be: "We're not happy until you're not happy.)

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  7. p.s. 'Sorry your travel experience sucked and that you're melting. I hope things get better immediately. And welcome back!

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  8. Both dress and hair look great! I can't wait to see the necklace in action, once it's decontaminated and the heat lifts enough to make accessorizing fun.

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  9. Aw, shucks, thanks for the hair compliments! I think I should definitely try it again. And the dress will be worn again, as soon as it's washed (and this 6 items remixing ends).
    Yes, and pooh to airlines! Too bad we fly again in 1 week. But not again after that for 4 months.
    @PineappleMint: A packtite is a crazy person's bedbug fighting luggage oven. It is really crazy and is probably very environmentally bad but my fear of bedbugs is also very very bad.

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  10. Oh Rad, you are so lovely in the photos. The ribbon worked out well. I'm glad your back, I need my TCC. When I dare to go out into the mall, I'm buying you girlie accessories and sending them to you! You can't say no because it will make me feel better!

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  11. You look gorgeous in that dress, and the ribbon worked out so well! You did an awesome job on your hair, too!

    I applaud the choice of the word attendant. All the weddings I've been in lately (including my own) had mixed genders on both sides. One of the many reasons that I couldn't love _I Love You Man_.

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  12. Looks like the ribbon worked out well, and the dress is lovely!
    The key is so beautiful, what a wonderful gift you will surely enjoy for years and and years.

    Chic on the Cheap

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  13. That dress is so darling and cute!! And what a nice gift!

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  14. Love the dress! You look beautiful and you did a great job on your hair! It looks lovely!

    The key necklace is so pretty, that will go with practically EVERYTHING! How thoughtful!

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  15. You look absolutely stunning! I just knew that dress would work out!

    Also, I'm giggling at the idea that standing next to you in a photo might harm someone's chances for re-election... ;-)

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  16. OMGOsh, lady, you look absolutely stunning in that dress! Love love love it.

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  17. That dress is so darling and cute!! And what a nice gift!

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  18. Oh Rad, you are so lovely in the photos. The ribbon worked out well. I'm glad your back, I need my TCC. When I dare to go out into the mall, I'm buying you girlie accessories and sending them to you! You can't say no because it will make me feel better!

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  19. Your attendant dress looked great, and I'm impressed that you did your hair yourself.

    I hate dealing with airlines. So stressful!

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