10/19-20/07

Yesterday was a pretty productive day. I scanned and emailed a copy of the chapel information packet to send to my mom, and mailed her that along with a big awful picture of me and one of my company directors. They'll like it, I'm sure! The computers were down when I went to the post office, but apparently you don't need a special computer-generated sticker to mail an envelope under 13 ounces. Mine came in at 12, so for $3 it's on it's way. Thanks USPS!

After work, I drove to LA for a group meeting. I had bought a Wendy's meal with a side salad that I saved for dinner, but forgot it before I left. We worked until 10 and I got home at 11. I swear I think I was delirious at that point; you can only draw ERDs for so long! We also got nice certificates in the mail for completing the Disneyland half-marathon.

Today was a busy day also. I started the morning with a run, which went terribly because I haven't been running in almost 3 weeks (and the Pumpkin Run is next weekend, already!). Came home, had some morning-weekend coffee, and got ready to go on our LA adventure.

Andy got us tickets to a movie and had looked up a talk. First, we saw the Darjeeling Limited at the Arclight theater. It's at Hollywood and Vine, and sort of upscale - they have assigned seating. It was probably the nicest movie theater I've ever been in! We almost didn't make it because of the traffic / not really knowing where it was, but we ended up having 10 minutes to spare and time for hot dogs!

As for the movie, I'd heard plenty of good reviews and an interesting radio commercial. But the movie itself was, I hate to say, disappointing. I didn't think it was funny, and there were a lot of really sad parts. The scenery was beautiful and the acting was really good, though. As we were leaving, though, I swear I saw Doris Roberts at the box office.


Next up was the Ayn Rand talk at the 50th anniversary of Atlas Shrugged exhibit. The lecture was pretty good and only 30 minutes, but the questions went on for over an hour. Unfortunately there were some real crazies too. On the other hand, it was neat to see some of the handwritten pages. By the way, I'd recommend the book; it's long but the story is great!

As we were leaving, a woman driving the Doris Roberts - lookalike in a hybrid Civic took our spot. We got Goody's pizza on the way home (the only place with pokey sticks!).

Date

We'll be getting married Saturday, April 4, 2009, at 4 p.m.

Cheesecake

The Harry and David catalog came the other day. I want to send these ahead to Nebraska/Missouri, mostly because I want to eat them!


While I was on the site, I saw this also: 'tis the season to eat pumpkin!

Sorry about the enormous "special value." It's buy one get one free. But feel free to send your extra to me!

Also while on the site, I saw the candy cane flavor. Yum! Look familiar?

Spoiled

Chinese Women in No Hurry to Wed

Now, this article seems innocuous. Similar to what's happened in the United States. The part that I take issue with was this:

"In families that did have daughters, the one-child policy meant most girls were raised as only children, lavished with esteem-boosting attention from parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents in China’s multi-generational households."

Yes, thanks. Thank you, MSNBC, for perpetuating the "only child" stereotype. I'd like to think that I'm not spoiled, and a hard worker. I know some other only children who are well-adjusted. Being picky about a husband is hardly attributable to being an only child - when economic conditions are better, the need to be taken care of by a husband suddenly isn't a priority. What's wrong with women, with no siblings, wanting more out of life??

A Day of Reckoning for Gen-Yers

Once again, thanks for perpetuating a stereotype. A lot of my friends still live with their parents, and really that's understandable. Most people couldn't afford even an apartment out here on a starting salary. But not everyone in their 20's and 30's is living at home, leeching off their parents, incapable of making decisions, and expecting all of their wildest fantasies that their parents told them would come true to materialize.

Then again, maybe I've had my "day of reckoning." A little while ago, I thought I was doing pretty well. I'm able to pay my bills, live a comfortable and for the most part financially independent life. Then, we sort of set a date for the wedding. Chapel is $2300. I made a fairly big milestone in my savings account, but it's still nothing close to a condo down payment, especially if something were to happen like losing my job or my car were to bust. I went to the first information session for my MBA international trip, another $2800. I guess that's to be expected when you're going to a school you couldn't afford if not for a generous employer. There are a few trips coming up next year that I won't be able to go on, not only because between the wedding and trip I'll be wiped out of extra cash, but I won't have the vacation time either.

Does that mean I fit the Gen-Y mold? I'm finally realizing I need to join the "grown up" world? That's funny, I thought working full time at a respectable company, getting an MBA from a top university, and taking advantage of every opportunity I can was being part of the grown up world.

OK, < / rant>.

Upcoming week

Here's what's going on in my little world this week:

Monday: work and midterm
Tuesday: work, yoga, globe trip info session, L'Oreal E-Strat competition discussion, database management
Wednesday: work, maybe a reaction paper, self-help class
Thursday: work, yoga, leave early to reserve the chapel, maybe work out dinner at one of the potential reception sites ;-)
Friday: work, call home
Saturday: Bridal showcase (perhaps?), work on our database group project, hopefully write up some of the project management book report
Sunday: California Adventure, one way or another!!

Weekend

Well, I didn't get everything accomplished that I wanted to this weekend. I did not:

• Exercise every day. I wimped out Sunday to study, and I was sore!
  
• Find the maker's mark for my ring. I still can't get it off, but at least it doesn't hurt and looks less gnarly than before.
  
• Knit.
  
• Email my resume.
• Buy new sunglasses. It was cloudy all day anyway.
  

Accident

So, there won't be any wedding pictures like this:


Why? Because I managed to burn my finger. Now, I have a nasty burn, and can't even get my ring off... I guess if it scars, it'll be healed up in the next year and a half...