Frugality

When money is tight, I NEED a clean kitchen. I need to see the simplicity that a space can have. I need it to look good empty- so that maybe my bank account will look good empty. I almost appreciate the comfort of appreciating what I have, as opposed to what I need. Sure, I need a wedding band, my air conditioning fixed, an outfit that I haven't work 15,423,472 times, the latest gadget, and maybe a new car. But now that I can't have all that right now, the weight of decision making is lifted off my shoulders. Now I need to bake, to invent a dinner from the things in my cupboard, to watch my favorite movie, to finish my knitting project.

You'll find me using vinegar to wash my counters and prettying the things I have instead of buying something new. Which is how it should be.

Sunday Grilling

I could be a vegetarian if only for the fact that I'd never have to cook meat again. I am not good at cooking meat. And my well-meaning, advice-giving people do not help.
"Cook it till it's done."
"Cook it till it's squishy but not too squishy."
"Cook it till juice runs out but not too much."
"I don't know- you can just tell."
No! I cannot! I was not blessed with this sixth sense you possess that tells you when meat is medium-rare. And the worst part about it is that you can't cut it open to check otherwise it doesn't matter if it's done because it will be as dry as a my callused heel.
I realize that I'm overreacting but after the 3rd time of putting Justin's filet mignon back on the grill, he finally looked at me and said, "Oh yeah, that's perfect." To which I replied, "It looks exactly the same as it did last time." I can't tell if he was just humoring me or if I honestly can't tell the difference in doneness. I may never know.

Pillow Talk

I would like to give you the script from the conversation I had with my honey as we're about to go to sleep.

Me. "What are we going to get your mom for her birthday?"

Him. "A bird."

Me. "I don't think she'd like that very much since we ate the last bird she had." (It was a chicken.)

Him. "Then I don't know."

Me. "Oh we should get her a duck!"

Him. "No."

Me. "I want a duck."

Him. "No."

Me. "Please! I'll name it Louise. And then Ally will be happy cause that's her middle name!"

Him. "No."

Me. "But I'll name it Marty! Marty the Mallard."

Him. "You're already changing the name, you're obviously not attached to it."

Me. "I'm just going through the types of ducks I could have."

Him. "You're not getting a duck- you can have a dog."

Me. "You know, growing up I had a dog, a goat, 5 birds, 10,000 rabbits, a guinea pig, and 2 iguanas."

Him. "And what happened to them all?"

Me. "Well. Died of old age, gave it away, flew away or died, ran away or ate their babies, ran away, and gave away."

Him. "So what you're saying is you take really good care of your animals?"

Me. "Good night."


He should be a lawyer.

Wait a minute, Mr. Postman!

Good gracious. Wedding planning is so much work! Then again, I'm the insane person who has more or less finished everything on my wedding checklist in less than a month. I just don't like leaving things unfinished- don't hate. But everything's better now. The date is set. The envelopes are stamped. The dress is gorgeous. The diet on the other hand...well let's just say that I've had better. In the grand scheme of things, my intention is to thoroughly use up this body that was given to me because you only live once. Probably.

Anyways, things have been busy here, but that's no excuse for my absence. A much better excuse is that I don't really have anything interesting to say. Recently, I found a florist. I purchased 50 bucks worth of stamps. Oh, and I listened to a rendition of "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt sung by a cowboy and a very tall black guy on a home karaoke machine. I laughed till I cried and then I laughed some more.

I just finished an amazing grilled dinner of steak (only 3 ounces for me- see I'm getting better!) and artichokes. And now I'm going to sit on my sunken-in couch and watch a cheesy, cop TV show with my raspberry milkshake (OK not that much better) and my soon to be hubby. Love you all! Thanks for your patience!