Friday, May 30, 2008

Once a fan...

WHAT HAVE I JUST DONE?!?!?

I just called into a radio station to try and win tickets to New Kids on the Block. What has become of me?!?!

When I was about 13-15, I was a huge NKOTB fan. My walls were covered in posters, I had the dolls, the tapes, the videos, the books. I knew volumes of facts about them, and considered myself to be a premium fan. It's kind of embarassing now, but in my defense, I also thought poufy bangs and pink glittery lips looked really good.

So imagine my glee when I heard they were reuniting. I saw their performance on the Today show in early May. I clapped and squealed at my desk at work while I watched it on YouTube. And then they announced they were coming to GM Place in Vancouver. Shut UP!!! Again, like George Michael, I don't think I can justify a few hundred bucks on one night in Vancouver. C'est la vie. When did I grow up?

Yesterday, a friend at work told me that a radio station has been giving away tickets all week. All you have to do is complete the lyrics. I rarely listen to this station, but I tuned in this morning and suffered through an hour + of crappy music. Yes, I realize the irony that I would suffer through crappy music to win tickets to see crappy music live.

Some airhead won the tickets. MY tickets. She said she was just a kid when NKOTB were popular but her older cousin liked them. I know there is no way she could complete the lyrics to "Cover Girl". I can. I know she googled them. I was robbed. She's not going because she's a fan, but going for the kooky irony of it all.

As the phone rang, I was instantly reminded of myself at 14 and how exited I would get at the mere thought of NKOTB. Back then, my hands would shake and my heart woud thump as I watched their videos on TV. Same thing here as I hoped the radio station would pick up my call. I wanted to squeal like I was 14 all over again.

Thankfully, my bangs are no longer poufy and I think pink glitter lip gloss is gross. But I will always dance to "Step by Step" and croon along with "Cover Girl".

Fanatically Yours,
xoxoSallyt

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Who's that stranger on my couch?

He looks familiar. He smells familiar. I have vague recollections of sweet kisses and warm hugs. Wait, is it? Could it be? Is it really Byron?

In the past week we've had to make do with tiny snippets of one another. I was away, he was working, I was working, and now he's going away for the weekend. I miss him.

I think we may have been spoiled. When we first moved in together, he had a surgery and was laid up for weeks. So every day when I came home, he was there. We could spend the afternoon together, have dinner together, relax and enjoy each other's company. Even when he started this new job, and he was in training, we got to spend every evening and weekend together. It's been a tougher slog since the shifts began. There is the ever-loathed 2-10pm shift, of which he works way too many. When I get home, he's gone; when he gets home, I am in bed. And our weekends are rarely our own. But them's the breaks, right?

At work, I signed up for emergency communications. If there is a forest fire, flood, or disaster in BC, I may be called to fly to far-flung parts of the province to be a "public information officer" at a moment's notice. Two weeks ago, the organizer came to our office to give us the heads-up that warm temperatures might cause flooding so be prepared. I went home that night and laughed with Byron that I'll be called out on day one of his days off. Oh the sweet revenge! Last Thursday was day one of his days off and I was called to go to Prince George for a flood. I was gone for 2 and a half days. And when I came home, Byron was just starting four 12-hour shifts. I know I'm going to marry some guy named Byron, I just haven't seen much of him lately.

He has the next two days off, then he's going to Alberta to help his Dad move into a seniors apartment. When I was in Prince George, Byron would call and tell me he was bored and lonely. I cringed at the time, knowing I'll be doing the same this coming weekend. But I have plans.

I want to sleep all I can on Saturday. I want to find a farmer's market. I have to do my weekly cleaning. I want to rent a movie I would love and Byron would hate (he refuses to see Juno). I want to go to Curves. I want to read "A Thousand Spendid Suns" on our newly furnished patio. I will miss Byron and our talks and laughs and kisses. I crave his company and love being in his presence. To re-frame this lonely spell, I keep thinking this... when we get to spend some time together it'll be the sweetest and most fun ever!

See? I polish turds for a living.

Polishingly Yours,
xoxoSallyt

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Freedom? Faith? Monkey?

On July 4th, in Vancouver, George Michael is in concert. AIIIIEEEE! I want to go.

I was falling in love with Byron when he told me that he, too, loved George Michael. At that moment, I knew we were together forever. This week's task for the wedding is listing all the songs we want played at the reception. It was Byron who said we needed lots of George Michael played. I love that man! Both Byron and George.

So last night, when I saw the George Michael medley on American Idol, and then George himself sing, I nearly wet my pants. And it got me thinking... why don't Byron and I go see GM in Vancouver?

Why don't we?

Because it would cost too much, especially when it's just a couple months before the wedding we're paying for. Tickets are pricey, at $75 each. Hotels are ridiculously overpriced. The gas and the ferry... it all adds up to an expensive night out.

Besides the love of George Michael, here's another reason I love Byron. He makes me think twice before spending. I have always had a problem with spending. I will buy something, think later. I will see $100 in my account, my last $100, and spend every last cent with glee. Since getting together with Byron, he's made me stop doing that and gets me thinking long term about money. Thank god!

So the old Sally would buy the tickets, book the hotel and not think twice about it. The new Sally thinks there are more pressing issues to address, namely how to pay for our wedding. The $500 we could easily spend on that one night can pay for our entire service at the church. Or it could pay for our accomodations the week of the wedding. Or it could pay for one of us to fly to Edmonton for the wedding. It could almost pay for the hall rental.

Sure, I could dance to "Too Funky" live. But really, I'd rather have a beautiful church in which to marry Byron, or a big hall to dance in with him. To a George Michael song, natch.

Decidingly Yours,
xoxoSallyt

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Disturbing

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Just marry me already

My wedding dress arrived yesterday. Byron called me at work to tell me a package had arrived and after work, I skipped Curves and skipped home.

My dress was a bit of a task. I went to a couple places here in Victoria, tried on a few, and found one that seemed nice, but not stellar. And since I am large, trying on dresses was futile. They carry the samples in small sizes so the best I could do was close my eyes and imagine. Then I could order one, hope for the best, and hope the $1000 dress was worth it. I think that process is bullshit.

So I went online, which is a scary idea for someone like me who is still wary of online shopping. I found this boutique on EBay, of all places, and found a dress that I loved. I did a survey of friends and family about this dress and they all agreed it was nice. There were, though, some raised eyebrows about ordering a wedding dress online. It was only $250, so I did it. I ordered it, knowing that I can return it if the dress turns out all wrong.

It's all right! I am not going to go into detail, or even post a picture since Byron reads this blog. It's pretty, girly without being precious, and is too big! That is a good thing! I'll get it tailored to fit me perfectly without being too tight. I do not want to look like an un-cooked bratwurst at my wedding.

As I raced home yesterday, I got sadder and sadder as I got closer to my door. I am all alone here in Victoria. My best friend is in Texas. My mother and sister are in Dartmouth. My sister-in-law is in Alberta. I have no one to tell me the dress is all wrong even if I think it's all right. I have no one to even take a picture of me in the dress so I can show Candie, Jane or Hillie! It was really sad. I have to get input on my dress from strangers at a dress shop, when I go for alterations.

Most times, I am glad the wedding is being planned away from family and friends. We can do things our way. For instance, we are doing a seating arrangement and that will be set in stone before we go there so no outside parties can meddle and move places a day before the wedding.

I had a wonderfully long talk with my mother last night about the dress and the wedding in general. I told her all the plans we have. She gave her input on music, and her ideas on our ideas. It was good to get some help, even though it's at arm's length. I guess the beauty of planning the wedding so far from loved ones is that this wedding will be OURS. All the influences, touches and flavours of the day will be ours.

Like they say at my work, it's all about re-framing. It seems like a sucky sitch to be away from loved ones right now, but I just need to re-frame it and see a disadvantage in a different light.

My last manager at my last job always said I was unorganized. She was always nagging at me, which made me shut down on her. Well, I made a list to beat all lists last week. Every little thing for the wedding, from buying plane tickets to buying underwear was assigned a week. It's colour-coded, detailed and highly organized. I want to take a picture and tell her to feast on my organizational skills. But right about now, I am ready for the wedding to come. I am sick of planning already. Just marry me already!

Clothingly Yours,
xoxoSallyt