The invites!

Once again, I have to give MAD MAD props to Tracy and Michelle for designing and printing the loveliest invites a girl could ask for. 

And even more letterpress printing..

More letterpress printing...

Princess Day!

Hey!

I had a great Saturday - cheer practice, a dress fitting, got to see my invites being letterpress printed by Michelle, then a pride mani/pedi, bevs at Lime, and dinner with Jon, Leslie, YB and my love, Egan. 

Letterpress printing plates!

The months are flying by... The last time I blogged, Egan and I had just gotten engaged, now the wedding is less than two months away! Ack! I figure I should give blogging another shot since this experience should be a tad more interesting than my foot surgery. But you be the judge. 

ANYWAY... 

My good pal Tracy designed the invitations and they are BEAUTIFUL. They are currently be printed my my pal Michelle who is a master letterpress printer. Being a book geek, I couldn't help but photograph the printing plates. Hopefully I'll get some shots of Michelle printing them as well!

The pink plate! 

The thank you card!

RSVP

Ok, I'm a dork. 

Engaged!

Wow, was my last post really September? Well, a lot has happened since then. First of all, I can walk! So hopefully my future posts will be a little more interesting, although I will still be updating you regularly about Louise's day to day life. 

But the great news - besides walking - is that Egan and I are engaged! Here we are on the big night. the ring is Egan's great grandmother's and she must have had some seriously tiny hands. The ring has now been resized, fits on the proper finger and looks lovely and sparkly. We are shooting for late August of this year, so the planning is already underway. More to come! 

Lucky 13!!!

Louise turns 13 years old today!!!


I can't believe it's been so long since I adopted the cutest little black kitten on the planet. We've been through a lot since then - lived in three states, survived a fire, dealt with major kitty health problems. Two years ago, I almost lost Louise to complications from diabetes, but with the help of friends and family she is healthy, totally lazy, and with me today, just as cute as ever.


Awwwwwwwwww....

Louise has a lot of fans, but some special thanks need to go out to peeps for helping me in the last few years: my dad, Leslie, Tracy, Renee, yasu, and of course, my fave kitty daddy who helps me take care of her on a daily basis, Egan.


(Sorry honey, she likes your spot.)

Gotta Getta Goetta!

Yesterday marked my seventh (I think) venture out of the house in five weeks. Renee and yasu hosted a mid-western themed brunch, and being from Ohio, I had to represent. Egan drove me the three blocks, and Todd and Rand had to manhandle me up the stairs, but after that it was smooth sailing for a feast to rival any Thanksgiving. Renee and yasu always make too much food, but that's just part of their generous nature. And, you won't see me complaining about having too much deliciousness on my plate!


Mmm, goetta, hash, summer tomatoes...


I haven't seen the new 90210 yet, SOB! Renee and I used to watch the original religiously (+ Melrose, + Party of Five, + the ill fated Models, Inc). I see a new tradition starting...



yasuaki on his second plate - waffles were next. I have no idea where he puts it, I just know I'm jealous, because I wish I had that place. Or at least I wish that place wasn't my ass.

Hamster Love!

Tony and Randi came over for a glass of wine Saturday night and brought a very special guest - Jasper!


The adults were too boring for him, but Jasper found a kindred spirit in Jose Luis.

Cat on a Hot Wood Floor

Ok, I know I've totally discarded my mid-western roots when I start bitching about 80 degree heat. But, I'm sorry!!! It was freaking hot last week! Yes, of course, it pales in comparison to the 90-100 degree heat + 90% humidity days of my childhood, or worse, my mid-twenties spent in New York. Ahhh, memories of being trapped underground on a hot, crowded subway train at rush hour when a fight breaks out because someone got their toe stepped on and the other person claims to have a gun... those were the days. Sigh.

But still, for a delicate flower like myself, I felt...wilted. Terribly... so...so terribly...wilted. And I wasn't the only one in our household who felt that way.
Louise moved from spot to spot, ignoring her usual comfy places like her quilt, the bed, the carpet, stretching herself out to cool off.


Egan came home with a headache.


United in suffering.

An exciting 48 hours!

Wow, this deserves a blog. I got to leave the apartment more times in the past 48 hours, than I have in the past two weeks. I went to Chow twice, got my eye brows done (thank god) , went to see my doctor for a 4 week check up, AND went to see The Mommyheads last night!

First, the doctor's news...
My foot is healing really well and is beginning to look less like a monkey paw and more like a foot. The x-ray showed amazing straight bones, so I no longer have to wear a splint and that is helping with the swelling.


Unfortunately, I still can't walk for another three weeks. But it's my hope that come September 23rd, my next appointment, I will get a walking cast and be able to walk on my birthday the next day. (Eh hem, the 24th...write it down.)

Now, The Mommyheads:
Later that night, Egan and Renee and I went to Cafe du Nord, which seemed daunting at first due to the stairs, but they have a very secure railing which is good not only for me, but for all the drunks they probably deal with on a nightly basis. Renee and I have been major fans of The Mommyheads since college, so we had an awesome time reminiscing and singing along. Egan had fun too, although he wasn't so hip on the name and thought they should be called something like "Savage Thunder." Anyway, The Mommyheads broke up 10 years ago, but recently reunited to play a handful of shows to promote a new album.


Since this was their first live show in 12 years, and their only SF show, I wasn't going to let my gimpy status stand in the way. Lots of great tunes. You can hear a sample and buy their album here: http://bladencountyrecords.com/

Oh, and can you believe I didn't somehow find a way to post a picture of Louise?

Boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!

Egan gets back from L.A. tonight and I can't wait to see him! He's been gone since Thursday and although we've talked several times a day, I still missed him a ton. So did Louise. In fact, I spent a good part of yesterday sending him photos of Louise...

Ok. I know, I know. I need to stop with the cat pics, but she's so cute and I am trapped inside! What is a girl to blog about in such circumstances? Yes, you should worry.


Egan's parents sent me an Oregon State stuffed beaver last fall. Louise is a fan.


See! How could I not share this?

Ok, I need help. Someone get me out of the apartment before I am past the point of no return.

Sunday

Saturday morning...

I was brought to the window by the cries of a rather desperate sounding tranny, ("No, YOU don't understand, I lost my purse!!!!!") and this is what I saw.



Not only has someone defaced the Oak Fair Market, but there is a garage sale not even a block away. Can I make it? I want to... And I just saw people carrying stuff. Stuff. That's what I want. I don't need anything, but I want something. Something to break up the lying in bed watching movies and VH1. But I'm not sure I can get there. And, if I did, how would I carry anything back? Maybe a stranger would take pity on me, but do I want a stranger in my house? And, god forbid, what if the garage sales sucks? I don't want to spend 20 minutes getting down the stairs for some asshole's dirty pint glass, or stained tupperware, or shitty George Foreman grill that they're totally ditching cuz it sucks to clean. Been there, done that. I guess I'll settle into the last half of "Empire Strikes Back" and pretend I still have a life... or maybe I'll blog about my cat some more.

Scaredy Cat

Louise is at her breaking point. For the past three weeks, every time I approach her on my crutches she freaks out and scrambles out of my way as if the crutches are going to come alive and hunt her down. Last night, Egan got out his suitcase, a sure sign of impending abandonment. And now...now?!?!? The cleaners have come, and they brought a noisy, scary vacuum cleaner!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!


There's nowhere to go! Nowhere to run!


Why God? WHY?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?


Put the blanket back, you FOOL! You're going to get us KILLED!

At the three week mark.

As of today, it's been three weeks since my surgery. Here's what my foot looks like at this point. A little less creepy than before...



My foot is definitely less swollen and less purple.



I still can't put any weight on it and won't be able to for another 4-5 weeks. But at least now I can get a better picture of what my new foot will eventually look like.

The path to freedom...

If you notice at the end, Tiff walks off with my second crutch.

Folding Cranes

Today I've been folding cranes for Renee and Yasu's Cincinnati wedding reception. They had over 2,000 cranes at their wedding last month! It was gorgeous, and touching that so many people gave their time and folding abilities. I was sad to stop folding, so when Renee asked if I could fold some for their Ohio party, I was thrilled! It's so relaxing and an honor to be able to contribute to their special time.


Renee, the lovely bride, with a lovely crane!


Renee gives her crane the breath of life.

I'm a believer

After another tasty slow cooked pork meal, I have no choice but to sing the praises of the slow cooker. If you don't own one, you must buy one. Last night Tiff and Mel came over for some bbq ribs, and they were pretty amazing if I do say so myself.




Tiff made corn pudding.


Mel brought a very special little guest, Owen!


Egan, with a mouth full of ribs, joins the cult of the slow cooker.

I'm a lucky gal

Egan is my knight in shining armor. Only he's not really dressed in armor, that's just a figure of speech. But I guess he's still kind of shiny... Anyway, he's been taking care of me as I recover from surgery, which I imagine can be somewhat trying, especially on my cranky days. And especially given that this the second time in a year that he's taken care of me after surgery. Yup, I am one lucky lady.