Not My Dress - Week 9
Crinkle chiffon A-line gown with beaded embroidered empire waist. Sweep train.

Reasons this is Not My Dress:
- An obvious reason first: The wedding is in January, and this just looks like a fair weather dress. Not only that, it looks more like a night gown than a wedding gown.
- Even with a wonderful strapless bra, those little straps alone holding up the dress are just asking for trouble. If one were to snap, that'd be it for the dress, it'd be down by one's ankles allowing all to see the aforementioned wonderful strapless bra.
- Even a girl with little chest looks droopy. :\


Today marks the first day under 200 in the countdown for January 23rd. *huge grin*


FYI: I've actually read a lot of the entries you all have put up recently (on the f-list), but did not comment on them. I hope that's okay. Getting back from the weekend and having a deadline yesterday, I just didn't have time to comment like I might have otherwise. Hope all you fellow Americans had a great 4th!

This is, if you hadn't gathered, a special edition of Not My Dress. We're on week 8 here of this entertaining column, and I found a dress that, while pretty if you like this sort of thing, is chock-full of fuel for the collective wit. Oh yes, and this is considered "Special Edition" for the simple fact that I went outside of David's Bridal website to find us a dress to poke fun at. ;)

Not My Dress - Week 8

I bring you:
Spectacular strapless sweetheart neck gown in satin featuring an elaborately beaded bodice and skirt. The narrow a-line skirt is enhanced with a fully beaded and embroidered tulle overlay that is finished beautifully at the hem with hand cut tulle ruffles. A small chapel train completes the look.

Now, at first glance, you may think, 'Oh, that's some pretty detail on the bodice!' Make sure you click to enlarge the image for the full view.

Reasons this is Not My Dress:
- While the detail on the bodice is, in my opinion, very pretty, I could do without the rather large section that is the "fully beaded and embroidered tulle overlay" at the bottom of the skirt...in the front and the back.
- I can honestly say that I have never considered aspiring to be a saloon girl bride.
- As I've told my mom at least thirty times since the planning began, I personally do not like tulle. It's just me, but I'm not going to change my mind no matter how many times you say it will look nice. It's just not my thing.

Special Bonus Dress:
This one was actually one I was considering before we went to David's and found the One.

Not My Dress - Week 7
This week's Not My Dress is a Chiffon slim gown with ruched bodice and jeweled halter neckline and Sweep train.

Reasons this is Not My Dress:
- Because it would only feed my Bling habit, and I'm trying to quit
- It would require a major feat of engineering to design a strapless bra supportive enough to work under that flow-y gown
- Because being of an hour glass figure, it would certainly be the best course to HIDE those curves on my wedding day (heavily laced with sarcasm)



Possible Bridesmaids Dresses (all in the color Pool if possible):

- Alfred Angelo #1 (spaghetti strap option)
- Alfred Angelo #2
- Mori Lee #1 (totally dependent upon color and strap options)
- Mori Lee #2 (ditto last ML dress)
- Jasmine Dress #1 (in color Bahama Breeze? w/ strap option)
- Jasmine Dress #2 (ditto last Jasmine dress plus it would be floor length)
- Jasmine Dress #3 (ditto last Jasmine dress)
- Jasmine Dress #4 (in Sea Glass...not sure if this or Bahama Breeze is closer to the Pool color) I really like this dress just based on the picture alone.
- David's Bridal Dress #1 (with optional strap that goes around the neck)
- David's Bridal Dress #2

It was a clip art cartoon thing of a woman with her feet up on the desk. Between her legs she was holding a gun pointed at a computer. I wish, if that could have helped, I could have struck that pose and then fired away. Sadly, because it was a problem with a program and not the computer itself...

Anyhow, I need this Not My Dress entry. Not only has work been crazy busy, enough so that I've had my status on gmail set as busy, but then that came up and I just mentally want to write it all off.

So, to help restore equilibrium (that movie is showing on Sci-Fi on Saturday, I think) and sanity, you're getting THREE (that's right! count 'em! three!) dresses to look at today, with comments. Truth be told, I'm finding that the more I look at dresses, the more I am able to think they are pretty but just not for me. The snarkiness is harder to pull out. So, instead of trying to come up with three points for each, you're getting one per dress. Heh.


Not My Dress - Week 6

Dress 1: Satin beaded corset with cuff neckline and beaded tulle ballgown skirt. No train.
Why this is Not My Dress: "Look Mommy! I want to be a ballerina when I grow up!"

Dress 2: Satin mermaid with double banded sweetheart neckline and beaded metallic embroidery. Chapel train.
Why this is Not My Dress: "My heart beats only for you. See? I even had it embroidered on my chest."

Dress 3: Tulle and organza A-line with beaded lace and vertical ruffle skirt.
Why this is Not My Dress: "Come out, come out wherever you are, Christian Siriano!"


Edit: Let me rant one moment at the tech guy (outside company) who was emailing us. Sure, he figured out what the issue was and it was strange. However, after three emails on both my part and his, you'd think he'd get my name right. He wrote in the last one: "Tracy/[name of another woman], In the future, please feel free to contact me directly if you have any issues/questions." I felt like responding: "Only if you spell my name right, buddy. It's in the email address and I signed it three frickin' times."

Yes, I am a little cranky. Actually, I should make my mood reflect that down below. *nods*

This week's installment of Not My Dress is brought to you by the letters N(o) W(ay) and J(ose).

Not My Dress - Week 5
This modern 3/4 sleeve taffeta dress is perfect for any special occasion! Features a flattering self tie at waist with crystal button detail. Fully lined. Front zip and bow tie. Imported polyester. Dry clean only.

I was going to put up a totally different dress (I flagged its page in my paper catalog for David's a couple weeks ago), but then I hit on this one and just couldn't help myself. The full description complete with "Dry clean only" was a must.

Reasons this is Not My Dress (need I even list them?!):
- What ARE those nobs in the middle of her chest. Oh, buttons. How very...quaint?
- Not exactly January in Maryland style.
- Though, the bow does kind of say "present" doesn't it?


By the way, I have not forgotten about posting Decemberists concert pictures, I just haven't had a chance today to do so.

Edit: For your amusement, I am copying and pasting (and tweaking for readability's sake) an email thread that my coworker Lauren and I got into after she checked out this new NMD entry.
Me: You may need a mental break...not my dress style. [provided link to entry]
Lauren: Looks like a jacket...the bride would reveal the actual dress underneath. Hm...?
Me: That would probably be the only dramatic effect possible with such a dress! I doubt there would be many gasps or oo's and ah's over it any other way!
Lauren: Can you imagine the dress (tiny?) that would be concealed under such a concoction?
Me: Seriously...it'd have to be some skin-tight mini skirt sort of deal. That should probably have been affect earlier. :)
Lauren: Perhaps this conversation would add to the overall a/effect of your TINMD blog? haha

And so it did, Lauren. So it did. ;D

never earnestly debated the existence of fish.


Now that you're likely thoroughly confused... ;)


Not My Dress - Week 4
Allover beaded metallic lace trumpet with V-neck halter.

This week, I'm taking a different spin on this. I actually think this dress is quite pretty, so instead of being completely snarky, I'll be practical and just plain honest.

Reasons this is Not My Dress:
- my mom has commented that halter tops create optical illusions where my shoulders are concerned
- I've got hips (obviously), and this trumpet style line would simply accentuate them too much for my comfort
- along those lines, I tried on a similar dress that fit more snugly in the hips and it liked to bunch, requiring lots of pulls to keep the under-layer smooth


Also, since this isn't a friends-locked post, I'm going to be posting a second entry that will include other life details. :)

This week's dress is a "Strapless satin A-line gown with beaded lace and scalloped sweetheart neckline."

Before I get to the first of what would be MANY reasons why this is Not My Dress, I cannot resist quoting a portion of the first review. Heh.
The design is great. I got married on the beach in the bahamas 8/15/08 & the red just stand out. [ya don't say?] I tried on so many different dress & they were just to tight at the top of the dress. When I tried on this dress, if fitted [Are you sure it fitted, because IF it didn't...]just perfect.

Yeah, I know that was nasty. Moving along...

A few of the many reasons why this is Not My Dress:
- Is that an open chest wound?
- Does some of that beaded lace embroidery-ish stuff look like pine needles?!
- I feel like the top (the scalloped sweetheart neckline) is channeling some saloon girl.

You're comment are well come.

...this week's Not My Dress!!!


This week's Not My Dress is the Oleg Cassini strapless, slim a-line with horizontal satin band detail and beaded lace applique.

Reasons this is not my dress:
- Can you imagine what kind of optical illusions those HORIZONTAL LINES would create?! We need not look wider. The only girls who need to look wider are the ones who also need to "eat a cheeseburger" as Matt's mom likes to say.
- Notice the rather large (you might have to zoom in) "beaded lace applique" flower on her breast. Yeah, no more attention needed, thanks.
- It's not that this dress is hideous, it's just not smart...that is, unless you want to look like a pair of Venetian blinds.


I hope you have enjoyed this week's installment of Not My Dress!

The First Weekly Revelation of Not My Dress!!!

Muahaha!!

This week's Not My Dress is:

Satin A-line halter with split front, beaded lace, removable modesty panel, and lace-up back. Chapel train. Available in White or Ivory with a variety of color trims.

A few reasons why this is Not My Dress:
- hideous bow (no matter what color)
- way too ornamental and overdone embroidery (the bodice is one thing, but the entire underskirt? ick)
- full satin is not my thing



So now, you're probably wondering why I've even brought up this brand new weekly installment, eh? It's because I did find my dress on Sunday, and we even ordered it! I am not, however, going to tell anyone (save my mom, godmother (aunt), grandmother, and mother-in-law-to-be...notice a trend?) which dress I picked until they actually have chance to see it. For bridesmaids, they might get a little sneak peek since we'll all be dressing prior to the ceremony and all, but not even my dad will see it until a later date. Anyhow, partly to tease and partly to narrow it down very slowly for those of you following along, I have brought to you the first Not My Dress post.

My mom and I went scouting at David's Bridal Sunday after church. We were just hoping to check out bridesmaids dresses due to the real possibility of having two pregnant bridesmaids. We narrowed it down to this dress in the color pool, both the dress and the color of which we loved. It's made of jersey (the bottom), which is super stretchy and will help with any belly issues, be they baby or post-baby. :D

And my dress? The short of it is, I was trying dresses on just to get ideas and didn't think I'd like any from David's. Well, turns out I absolutely adored one and couldn't get enough staring at it on for my liking. That's the really short version. My mom loved it, another shopping bride complimented me in it, and I just couldn't soak it in fast enough or long enough. So, my dress is all ordered!!! No more details now, though. Just come back for next week's installment of Not My Dress to see another that definitely did not make the cut!!

...lines from Chamber of Secrets:

"My cat has been petrified. I want to see some punishment!"

Nothing spectacular to post except...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, glastonburyrain!!!

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer [note: this is the English Standard Version], asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
--Matthew 22:34-40

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."
--John 15:9-17

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world-- to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"
After he said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.
--John 18:33-40

So, he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of the skull....There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them...
--John 19:16-18


Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
--Matthew 27:45-46

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit....So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness-- his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth-- that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."
--John 19:28-30,32-37

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
--Matthew 27:51

So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen clothes with spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
--John 19:40-42

Two amusing items for you all this lovely Friday afternoon:





This first one was compiled by whereismysam and should tickle more than a few of you: Spanning a few fandoms...

And this is just too good: Schoolhouse Rock - I'm Just A "Stimulus" Bill

And yet... Something powerful and sobering The letter writer, Scott Stream, was apparently an old forum poster on hatrack.com. This both at once makes me thankful that my brother's good friend Jason, who was in the Army Airborne in Afghanistan, made it home safely after several tours and nervous about my brother's upcoming extended period (as opposed to missions only lasting so many days or weeks where he stops in Kyrgyzstan or Afghanistan or Columbia) in Qatar. He doesn't have exact dates yet, but the estimated time frame is April to September.

.

So, I had this strange and anxious dream last night. It featured the characters (in all their quirkiness) of Corner Gas. Apparently, one of them had a hot dog shop and was in the habit of going on week long vacations (no, I haven't watched the Brent vacation episode recently) and asking someone to mind the shop for him/her in his/her absence. The last time this person was away, I believe it was Wanda who took over the shop. In the dream, though, a vacation had been scheduled and I had been volunteered to be the minder of the hot dog place. I finally found out and at first said, "Hey, sure!" Soon, however, I realized how impossible the task would be because I hadn't asked about getting off from my own job (apparently Baltimore City where my real life job is and Dog River, Saskatchewan are near neighbors in Tel'aran'rhiod ;]) and knew it would be impossible to get over to the hot dog shop the few times a day necessary to 'mind' it properly. Think of the hot dog shop as a pet or plants or something. There were no other workers in the shop, but it was somehow okay to only be there for five minutes at a time a couple times a day. Anyway, by the end of the dream I was trying to find Wanda to ask her if she could mind it again since she obviously knew what to do. She also worked closer, only a few stores away from the hot dog place as opposed to several minutes' drive. And of course, as dreams go, the location of the gas station and all were not at all situated like they are in the television show.


So, so strange and completely random.

Thanks to the Andrew Bird e-Newsletter that gets sent out, here I bring you Andrew's performance on the Letterman show. I actually taped it on an old VHS cassette, so I can assure you that the picture quality here is infinitely better! ;)

This is just a taste of the sort of show he put on at the 9:30 club. That was far superior, so I hope you can simply begin to fathom just how awesome that must have been. :D


This is pretty awesome as well. Check out andrewbirdmusic. :]


One more edit: Andrew Bird 'has' synesthesia, too!

Doctor Who Weekend Update

smor, whereismysam and I just finished watching the Agatha Christie episode, "The Unicorn and the Wasp." I've always wanted to go back and make a list of all the book titles they reference in the episode, so we did the following: Printed out the wikipedia list of her works, sat down next to wimsie with it and a pen, and tuned our ears to the dialog. The rough outline is this: 15 exact phrases were used in conversation and, in only a couple instances, mentioned by Donna or the Doctor as books she wrote, *2 books were shown as physical copies with the titles on each cover (obviously), and **one title was nearly mentioned, with the Doctor saying it 'needs work.'

So, here's the list (in order of book copyright, not order of appearance in the episode):
The Secret Adversary
*The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
**The Murder at the Vicarage
Murder on the Orient Express
*Death in the Clouds
Cards on the Table
Appointment With Death
The Body in the Library
The Moving Finger
Death Comes as the End
Sparkling Cyanide
Taken at the Flood
Crooked House
They Do It With Mirrors
Dead Man's Folly
Cat Among the Pigeons
Endless Night
Nemesis


We might have missed one here or there, but this is still an amazing list!

So yeah, we're having fun. ;)
Now, we have to make wimsie play Munchkin.

Who around here names inanimate objects? Some of you already know I do. Here's a list off the top of my head.

Sorka = car
Miss Kitty = old car
Rhoda = current computer
Ruth = the computer before that
Lazarus = (aptly named) the computer before Ruth
Filbert = a palm tree I used to have in college
Arwen = a house plant I used to have in college at the same time (we decided it was female, but I would not degrade Eowyn by using her name)
Betty = M.'s Garmin (GPS)
Ms G = is short for Ms Google (as in, gmail)

A college roommate named her home computer and printer Hellspawn and Demonseed. I can't remember which was which, as if they're not somewhat interchangeable. Heh.

I won't get into all the stuffed animals I've named over the years, not because I can't remember them or because the list is too long but because naming one's stuffed animals is too normal. ;)

So, how about you all? Have any names for us? Some of you I know named your cars, but I won't steal your thunder by saying what they are before you have a chance. :]

If I ever gain a pet, no matter if it's a cat or not, one of the names in the pool will be Miss Sophia Brown.

(read Tamsin)

We almost had to watch The Never Ending Story II. The II is key in there.

Vacation in Williamsburg was a blast (except maybe for getting sick at 6:30 am on Monday and waking up the rest of the family from the violent noise...not fun)! It was cold, yes, but we had a great time checking out the area and just having some good old fashioned family time.

My cousins are so amusing to observe. This was a favorite exchange, even if most of you don't get the Ender's Game (well, really the books following it in the series) connection:

Seth (who is 8) upon leaving a church cemetery: Hey, they buried that guy under a plant!
My Dad: Maybe they buried him first and then the plant grew.
Dylan (also 8): Or maybe they buried him and he grew into a tree!

Kids are so funny.

Other than that, I am alive, well, and plan to buy some Nature's Miracle stuff to treat the cleaned (late last night) spot on my mattress that was attacked by kitties who were not happy their mom was gone for five days. *le sigh*