Father's Day was a wonderful trip up to Half Moon Bay suggested by Dad and Debbie. My first visit there was back in September after we first moved to the area, and I was not as impressed. It struck me as a long drag, crammed with parking and traffic, all leading to overloaded restaurants. This time around we explored south of that first visit's area, on main street and also Francis beach. Lovely is an understatement. Of course, as it is with all California beaches, the water temperature is approximately the-coldest-water-you've-ever-felt degrees. But the blue skies, the arc of the bay, the massive waves and footpaths winding along the carved cliff coastline, create the most intense feeling of living in a picture... It's like you've walked right into the "Visit California" ad's with all the movie stars. We had a nice sushi lunch and relaxed together, catching up.
That evening we met up with our friend's Lisa and Joe, and had a fantastic time. They covered so much of the 'to-do's' in San Francisco, it was kind of incredible. It's hard to describe how even as I'm starting to feel like living out here is home, we miss our friends. If only we could afford to transplant them all out here for the time being! Having dinner and drinks in the city with close friends puts such a refreshing spin on life here. Another thing we realized, well not realized - we're aware we just forget, is that it's quite nice having other people around to do things with. To his credit, Ed is truly a good sport about seeing movies like Twilight and Hunger Games and going to the library and participating in deep discussions on the pros and cons of the three houses the featured couple on House Hunters are considering. Lord knows, I'm sure Ed would greatly appreciate someone to run off into the wilderness and jump into his scuba diving, sky diving, or general wilderness insanity that I am not all that keyed up to do. It's a small luxury people probably take for granted.
Sunday we made our way up to Oakland for a Scissor Sisters concert which, as the was the one in D.C., a hugely fun time. Fox Theater was the nicest venue I have ever been in. The seats had been removed, so maybe the seats are terrible and would change my opinion... but this stage was immense and flanked by giant gold statues with glowing eyes. The cut out indoor windows in the theater had this Moroccan flair, and the lighting design they had set up for that night was (of course) rainbow colored. The effect was so exotic and wild. The performance wasn't my favorite, but that may also be related to their current album not sinking it's hooks into me as deeply as the last album. All in all, an incredible weekend.
Other than that, life is really good. Everyday feels like a long wedding slog, it's amazing how the time races by when I'm working on all the details. I'm not sure how anyone with a job gets any wedding stuff done... I'm grateful I have time to do this because it is certainly saving a lot of money. NPR had a piece on the average price of weddings these days. I'm glad to say we're significantly beneath it, but I now have a full appreciation for how much the wedding business really screws you over with expectation. My favorite current example is the demand for a calligrapher and that labels (which we used) are tacky. One 'professional' opinion was that labels were impersonal. A very sensible bride replied with: how is paying a stranger to do it more personal? I agree sensible bride. I agree. If you have the money, if I had the money, it's great. Calligraphy is beautiful and if it's in the budget then that is awesome. But where do these 'professionals' get the nerve to guilt money-strapped brides into nonsensical expectations? The list goes on....
Current wedding planning highlights include:
1. THE INVITATIONS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY SENT (This is huge. I was already a few weeks late of the 'deadline' to send them out)
2. I have all the paper products and they are about 50% completed
3. We have a photographer! I'm still filling out the contract but unless I get hit by a rogue comet, her name is Debi Parker and I knew from the moment I saw her photographs she's exactly what I wanted (Also she's was an incredibly lovely person to talk to on the phone, check her out! debiparker.com)
4. I hand printed thank you cards to use when all is said and done for guests and vendors (Made while watching Melancholia - ironic I know)
5. DJ is almost in hand
6. My wonderful Uncle John has agreed to be the officiant (and I could not be more excited)
It's almost the 2 month mark and I'm feeling pretty good. And now my favorite part of wedding preparation begins! Girly experimentation with beauty products! I'll post on that next time, so any reader not interested in my ranting and raving about the greatest moisturizer/teeth-whitener/exfoliant/serum are welcome to skip the next post. :)
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