Siu's Rant

Everyone probably knows already, but just for the record:

AAAHHH! WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!!

It's likely that nobody reads this blog anymore since I haven't written in it for like two months, but since I have a little downtime tonight, I thought I'd pop my head in and say "haaayyy"...

Since Demian and I got engaged last month, wedding planning has had its ups and downs. The first down came when I realized that we wouldn't be able to get married at the Pulgas Water Temple in Woodside like I've been dreaming about for YEARS now--pretty much because there is a strict, non-negotiable, completely irrational two-hour time window in which you're allowed to set up, get married, and clean-up at the site--for what's turning out to be a huge production, that's just unfeasible. I was pretty crushed for about a week or so, until we went venue hunting and found a place that I think will be a more-than-adequate substitute: the Hakone Gardens in Saratoga. Nothing's finalized yet, as we're still working out the date, but I fell in love with the venue the minute we set foot inside--I just knew that this was the place I wanted to get hitched! Once we settle on a date, hopefully we'll be able to snatch up the place before anyone else does.

Pluses in the planning process have definitely been meeting with my potential vendors, including the wedding coordinator (which I've realized is a must for the day-of) and the photographer (who works with her fiance and is just the sweetest person ever). I've also touched base with a possible florist who can do wonders with Chinese banquet halls and with a letterpress invitations designer who is a real steal for the amazing work she does. Oh, and another highlight of wedding planning was visiting the Testarossa Vineyards in Los Gatos--we had thought of the place as a potential venue, but given the increasing enormity of the guest list, it won't be able to accommodate us. I just loved the event planner there, though, and the wine was really deeee-licious! We might even end up buying our alcohol for the reception from there--or at least a couple of cases to take home...heh...

One thing I'm REALLY looking forward to is dress-shopping, although that won't start happening until the end of the month, just before we leave on the cruise...I'm so excited to find the one dress that makes me look classy and timeless, yet smokin', at the same time teehee.

Man, so much has happened since the last time I wrote--Ashland, Vegas, etc.--there's no way I'm going to be able to write about it all. Maybe I'll eventually post the pictures from our trips (which turned out pretty cute), but don't hold your collective breath!

As wedding planning progresses, we're hoping to set up a cute website, so I'll do all my wedding blogging from there, but until then, HA HA! YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT! Or...just not read it...

*snif*

Anyway, "What Not to Wear" is calling my name, but hopefully the next time I write will be soon...ish...or maybe I'll force Demian to post, since we're going to SuperCon tomorrow! Toodleoo!

Oh man, there are just too many cute things to buy these days, and too great a need in my life for retail therapy right now.

After I left work on Saturday (yeah, I know...WAH!), I went to Stanford Shopping Center to unwind and see if I could use my $35 worth of gift card at BR--I ended up not using it, but buying some sexy Siu-style stunnah shades at Macy's. I say "Siu-style" because these aren't really the huge glasses that are in these days--those types suprisingly look okay on me, but I'm just not hip enough to pull them off. In any case, the ones I got are just trendy enough to make me not look like an old lady, like my other super-conservative Ralph Lauren sunglasses do. I rationalized the purchase by telling myself that I need these babies for Vegas, baby, Vegas!!! Which is in only two more weeks!!! WOOOHOOOO!

Over the weekend, I also went American Idol crazy and bought myself the Carrie Underwood CD and the new CD from Elliot Yamin, who, after Chris Daughtry got booted off, should totally have won over Taylor Hicks and Katharine (barf) McPhee.

In the end, though, I think my favorite purchases of the weekend were my two little egg pet plants--one chickie "Nyokki" and one lavender "Eggling." Look at how cute these guys are!!!

I can't wait for them to arrive in the mail! The Nyokki come in all different kinda of animals, like piggies and monkies and froggies, and the Egglings also come in a bunch of varieties (different herbs, veggies and fruits, and flowers). See? So cute!!! I think these'll do a great job of brightening up the office, and they'll keep me company during the sucky times that I have to work on the weekends. I had also considered buying a Taterpot (basically the same thing, but in a potato-shaped cup with a cute face) but then decided I should probably make sure I don't kill these two first.

BUT! Don't think that all I did this weekend was work and take my frustration out on my credit card! I also

* Finally watched "Borat," which was about as funny as I thought it would be...not VERY, although it had its moments, and

* Played basketball with Demian...although I use the phrase "played basketball" very loosely, since I totally suck now. Still, it was lots of fun just to work on my form and run around flailing my arms to grab errant balls (if you think I'm exaggerating, ask Demian!!!)...there was lots of exercise and laughing involved, which are pretty much the best things you can do for your body. Except now I'm hungrier than I've been in years (I just can't get full!!!) and I can already feel my muscles tightening...damn, I'm weak. Hopefully we can make this more of a regular thing so that I can get back into shape.

Anyway, Top Model reruns call...have a good week, y'all!

Hey...that rhymes!

So I had a pretty crappy week--very tiring, very stressful. But maybe that's the price I had to pay to see

THE BEST CONCERT EVER!!!!

On Wednesday, I was able to sneak away from work at a decent hour so that Demian and I could go to the Josh Groban concert at the HP Pavilion. Oh man. He is just SO good! He has such a beautiful, powerful baritone and he knows how to use it--he puts so much heart into every note and lyric, but at the same time makes it look so effortless. To back him up, he had a full orchestra and his favorite hapa violinist, Lucia Micarelli. It ended up being REALLY long set (two hours), during which he sang most of his CD (including my favorites, "You Are Loved" and "Februrary Song"). The best part of the night for me was when he sang "Remember When It Rained," which I think is the best showcase of his voice and during which he plays the piano himself *swoon* What can a say--I'm a sucker for pianists. Turns out that he's also learning the drums--he's very decent for a beginner, although it's clear that his true talent lies in his vocals. I also really liked how he comes off as a total dork, in a cute, funny, endearing way--surprise, suprise, I'm a sucker for nerds too. He was very interactive with the crowd, since the stage extended almost to the crowd on either side and he'd come up and sing--we were sitting SOOO close that if we wanted to, we could've just walked down and touched him...instead, the crazy, creepy, obsessive Asian lady sitting next to us did. That was one downer of the show--all of Josh Grobans' fans ARE OLD LADIES!!! OLD LADIES WHO WANT A PIECE OF HIM! EW!!!!!! Oh well--I prefer creepy old ladies to annoying, young brats any day. In any case, let me repeat my overall assessment of the evening:

BEST CONCERT EVER!!! AAAHHH!!! I can't wait for him to come back!!!

After many hours of serious thought and empirical testing, Demian and I finally came up with the perfect response to the bike lady's "can't you see us?!" query:

NO, BUT I SAW YOUR MOM!

Nonsensical, yet offensive at the same time. Brilliant.

Now to get in some more bikers' ways to test this puppy out.

And by "party" I mean work.

On the plus side, though, Demian's taking me out to lunch today, and then, on Saturday, to MOMA for the new Picasso exhibit and Chez Panisse in Berkeley for dinner (when I'll get to wear my sexy new polka dot black dress and killer red heels)!

I have a good feeling about the big 2-3--I think 23 is going to be the new 17...or the new 15...or 12...or 7 (my favorite years). Or maybe I'm just telling myself that because now I'm

SOOOOO OOOOOLD

*sob*