Labor Day Post (HA! Delayed Summer Wrap Up)

**I wrote this post at least 2 weeks ago** Updates will be in italics as seen here! I updated the draft about 2 weeks ago, so even more recent updates (9/28/09) will be seen in bold as seen here!



On the running front I am doing day one of week 6 tonight. I am glad that I am finally at the point where I just get to run through the whole thing. I felt dumb stopping to walk building up to this point, but I also credit the lack of pain or injuries to that. So, basically from here on out I run for 20 minutes slowly adding 2 minutes each night...with a little bit of walking every here and there. As for losing weight I have yet to see it. I haven't weighed myself in a couple of weeks. I am going with a different method this time. Instead of weighing myself every morning and wigging out about every little flux, I am just going to wait till I can see and feel a difference then hopefully be blown away by some awesome number on the scale. **I got sick Thursday so I still have day 3 of week 6 to do, should knock that out tomorrow night. I am hoping the lack of nutrition whilst sick will make up for the lack of running for 5 days. I did weigh myself out of boredom and cabin fever, the results are not yet blogworthy. But it's GOT to be riiiight around the corner!** Well that update was about 2 weeks ago and I HAVE STILL NO LOST A SINLGE PIDDLEY POUND! I understand that I am gaining muscle and/or my body is going into survival mode because I am making it run through the wilderness of Champion Forest every evening, but Lordy be can't you throw me a 5lb drop! I still have 10 lbs to get to my goal weight. I think that now that I am doing 'real' 30 minute runs something has to happen. I think I can see a slight difference in the mirror, and I def can feel my clothes fitting loosely, so those are good signs.

I have more to tell you about the running program I am finishing up and how I have done it and what I think about it, but I'll save that for my next post...you know around Thanksgiving or so.



As for tennis, it is going well! Lessons were rained out a couple of weeks in a row which was annoying, but we're back in the game and as of last week we were doing official advanced beginner drills. Woohoo! Advanced beginner is one step closer to intermediate, which is also one step closer to a cute new tennis skirt. **Lessons were rained out again last Wednesday and this week I have free tickets to Britney Spears. I did go practice the other day and was satisfied with my overall performance. I have also kept an eye on the US Open, so that helps right?** Last week was my first lesson back after missing 3 weeks due to weather and Brit Brit. It was very, very bad. I have to be better this week :(




Another summer happening for me has been Book Club. We talked about putting one together and we have a good little group going and we're already on book #4. Here is my opinion of them,

June, Eva's pick, The Maltese Falcon: I didn't read the book. I lied at the very first book club. I think most of the girl's read this and now the secret is out! BUT, I also know at least one other girl there did not read it. I am not calling anyone out, I'm just saying. I even tried to watch the movie but never even made time for that. Kind of pathetic really! **same** same

July, Allison's pick, Buffalo Lockjaw: Thumbs up, the storyline of this book was very sad but I found the book very humorous and really enjoyed it. When I compare it to some of my other favorites I do notice a pattern in enjoying books with a dark humor. **same** same

August, Beth's pick, Time Traveller's Wife: I was not excited at all about reading this book. I thought it was going to be cheesy to read because the movie was coming out. Well, I was wrong. I loved the book, couldn't wait to see the movie. Liked the movie alot, but the book more. I had seen the previews and hated the concept but once I was involved in it I loved it. It was also interesting starting a book after seeing the previews because the trailer provided me with the faces of the characters before I could develop them myself. Luckily I love both of the actors so that worked out just fine.**same* same, and I kind of miss Clare and Henry

September, Kori's pick, The Middle Place: I just bought it at Target a couple of hours ago. I should be cracking it open instead of blogging. I'll let yall know how it is...**I just spent 5 hours reading it front to cover. Not because it was such a good read, but bc we have book club on Thursday, and I have Brit Brit on Weds and well I had to finish it today. Other than that it was very good. It was recommended to me with a certain description that didn't marry up to what I got out of the book, but overall I would recommend it as a decent read** same

October, Audra's pick, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo: I have to get it tomorrow during lunch, and I plan to read it during my flights this weekend...

Oh and my new job. I haven't really touched on that here. So as everyone reading this knows, I have been job hunting since Feb there were a couple of things that came up but ultimately did not pan out. It was really exhausting. Well eventually the stars aligned and I got the job. The job update will also be in the Thanksgiving post!

Boring Running Update

I have completed 9 of 27 and/or 6 of 24 workouts. So I am both 33% and 25% through the workout.

I finished week 3 tonight. I haven't decided if I am going to repeat week three for a fourth day or go on to week 4 as scheduled. I feel ok about week 3, but just reading week 4 makes me feel like death could be a very likely result of the workout. I really need new running shoes and that ipod shuffle that I left on an airplane last year. I also think I need an ear bud custom fitted for my right ear. I have tried out 3 different sets of ear buds and the lefties are all perfect fits but the righties just won't comfortably stay put.

I have yet to announce to you all that I got a new job! Although since I know who each of my 6 readers are I feel like by now you all know. I will update more about it soon.

I Was RUNNIN'

Lame title, I know. Did you know to read it in Forrest Gump-speak?

Well I started running and it has been suggested more than once that I use the blog as a form of accountability. So let's hope this doesn't lead to me telling guilt based big fat lies about my athletic endeavors!

Anywho I am doing the Couch to 5K (C25K) program. I have done it before and it worked well but I got a little distracted after a month. When you read the program you think, "90 second intervals, big woop." Well it is a big woop for me!!! This time around I skipped week one and I feel good so far, so I think that was an ok call on my part. It is a 9 week program with 3 workouts a week. It says not to do them on consecutive days, but since I'm off work I am using this week as a little kick start and my body is just going to have to deal!

I figure there are 2 ways to measure this, I have either completed 5/27 workouts OR 2/24 workouts. I know I technically have not done 5 workouts, but I feel like it wouldn't be completely unfair to still get credit for being able to bypass week 1, right?? I mean if it makes me feel better and keeps me motivated, what's the harm? So, I have completed both 18.5% of the program AND 12.5% of the program....but NOT 31% of the program. You follow?

Maybe I should wait till my brain comes down from the workout to rationalize all of this! Oh, and I have zero plans to run a 5K, I just want to weigh 1xx pounds and/or wear a size y.

Summer Happenings

So obviously I have neglected the blog. Let’s move on.

This summer is already half way over! I’d say I’m sad but after a month of 100+ temps and zero rain I am kind of looking forward to the Houston "winter."

So I have picked up a new little past time since my last update. I had been thinking about taking tennis lessons for a while and I finally got a couple of girls on board to take them with me. So for the last nearly two months I have been taking lessons o Weds night and practicing 1 other night each week. I don’t know if I would recommend picking up a sport like this in the heat of summer, but I figure it will just make it that much more nice in a couple of months.

As far as my skill level, well let me fill you in on where we were starting from. At our first lesson Amanda, Jimilee (JL) and I walked on to the court, our coach, Gary, said hello and inspected our racquets. To Amanda – “looks good”, to Kori – “umm, is this a junior racquet?”, to JL – “whoa, whoa, whoa lets just put that down right now. That is what we call an antique; you would hang something like this on the wall. Here now use my spare.” All of this said with his adorable little St. Lucian accent. Once we were through cracking up about our racquet issues he asked us about our skill level. Amanda – Level 0, Kori – Level 0, JL – Level 0. At this point he turned to the two men that had been in his beginner’s class for a couple of months and said “Congratulations guys, you have just been promoted to intermediate. Please move over to court #2.” Note: We had not even swung at a ball and it was that obvious that we would be needing some special attention!

I think we have all greatly improved since then. JL got a new racquet, I am picking up my new one tomorrow. (He said mine was ok to use for a little while.) We recently picked up a co-worker's wife so there are now 4 of us in the class. Before we had the solid fourth in our class, we noticed each week we seem to have a new straggler and then they never return...I can't imagine why not!?!? First there was a young Asian guy with his Dad there. He didn’t play, they just observed the lesson for about 10 minutes and then disappeared. Hmmm. The next week we had Badminton Theo. He was pretty young too, maybe about 18, and he had a badminton background and braces. Badminton Theo and I were paired up and I was very envious of his gracefulness going after the ball, pointing his back toe as he lunged and swinging…that is until I heard Coach Gary’s comments of “Ohhhh, there’s that badminton background.” The last straggler we had was a young woman from Bermuda, Tiffany, she and I were paired up as well. We were buds by the end of the lesson, to the point where I could call her Tiff. She was going back to Bermuda for a few months and then moving here to be with her bf/finace in early 2010. Hopefully we'll see her again...actually hopefully not, I don't think I'll keep paying if I'm still a beginner after 7-9 months!

Note that I was always the one paired up with the stragglers! Amanda and JL decided at Lesson 1 that anytime Coach Gary said "Let's partner up," they would run and grab each other like little girls claiming a hopscotch court, silently making the point that they thought I was a bad tosser (it's part of a drill we do, don't ask). BUT, I have a feeling those thoughts are a changin' as I have been approached a party of that pairing about changing some things up a bit. Mmmm-hmm! I would also like to note that despite my merry-go-round of partners I was the first to get 3 out 3 on our front, front, back drill and then again on the back, back, front! BOO-YA!!!

So that is tennis so far. Oh, I have not yet bought a skirt, I am saving that as a reward for getting promoted to intermediate. At this rate I'll probably be getting something from the Adidas' 2012 collection!

Other summer happenin', I joined a book club and had a birthday but I'll save that for another, very soon to come, entry! Thanks for your patience :)

That's How She Rolls!

This is Glamma Pat's new ride.

It reminds me alot of one of these.

Oh Yeah, I Have A Blog

Just kidding, I didn't forget I had a blog. This is still a new element to my life and working it into my routine wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. My plan was to try to get at least a post a week out and I planned to do that at work when I got bored. Well, work hasn't been very boring over the last month and that directly affected my blogging. Sorry friends.

The good news you didn't miss anything too exciting! I just read my last post to see where things left off, so I'll start there. I have since found out alot more about that one job opportunity that didn't work out. It all reminded me of how soap opera and incestual the agency setting can be. Long story short is they told me they were moving forward with 2 other candidates, but what really happened is they didn't land the client they were hiring for. I don't care that they didn't land the client, I care that they made me think that 2 other candidates were better than me and made me second guess my awesomeness! So annoying. I took a 6 week job search hiatus.

Fortunately things at my current job have stopped getting worse and I am actually in a much more stable environment. ALOT of changes have been made over the last 2 months. The biggest one being that we moved offices. This was my not-blogging excuse for a solid 3 weeks. I have started to dabble into the job hunting again but not nearly as aggressively.

My personal life since April 11th has involved:
- My sister moving into her first apartment and me sending the majority of my furniture to Cleveland to furnish said apartment.
-Me panicking and throwing a fit that said sister was ungrateful for such a kind act.
-Babysitting my youngest sis and busting in her biggest teenage moment to date while the 'rents were U'hauling, rather Penske-trucking, the stuff up there. No details allowed on here though. Sorry.
- A trip to Dallas to see 5 of my leading ladies!
- A sunny and relaxing Memorial Day weekend
-Glamma Pat purchasing a SmartCar and getting her own apartment
- Lots of crawfish in between all of that!

This was just a boring recap post, I'll be back again soon I have made getting back on track blog-wise my June resolution!

Waiting To Exhale

So, I have been very consciously absent from blogging lately. I kept kind of waiting to have something exciting to share, but nothing has happened!

I had a pretty exciting job opportunity developing, but I squashed that at the 2nd interview. I have never blown an interview but I am pretty sure that is exactly what I did on this one. I was over-prepared for the interview and wasn't natural at all. I had researched the agency and client so much I didn't have any questions and I had very artificial and prepared conversation ready. Oh well, I guess these are the times I benefit from taking rejection abnormally well. And by that I mean that I am well aware that there is nothing wrong with me and clearly it's the woman I met with that has the problem!

On the weight loss front I am still just hanging at my 10lb loss. With bathing suit season basically here I hope to kick into gear again. The half bag of jellybeans I ate today should be a good start, right?!

Other than that not much to report for now. I'll be back more this week, I just wanted to drop a post so you didn't think I had forgot about you Kelsey readers.

Bouquet Toss Update

Since my blog did kick off on this subject, I thought I'd give an update. Here are pics from The Toss at Ashley's wedding. As you may remember from this post, I was drunk off cajun seafood and who knows what else.

I don't know how large or clear this pic will post, but in the pre-toss I am up front staying warm with a black wrap and bourbon and diet. The other girls look ready and I am pretty sure wandered to the front of the crowd because I felt like that was the bridesmaidly thing to do.

Now, I need to preface this action shot and let you readers know what I already knew at the time, THE TOSS WAS THROWN! Obviously it was literally thrown, but also Ashley had promised to bouquet to a damsel that believed this might be that little push she needs to get a ring and have a wedding in time for 2009 tax breaks. I knew I didn't have much to reach for so it looks like I did my best "Oh, it's not coming this way, but where is it gonna go, darn it I wish it had come this way, not really, that was a lie!" Clearly I also took an unconscious reflex step back as I seem to disappear into the crowd and the girl that was behind me is now in clear view.

So there is that. I went to another wedding last weekend and there was no bouquet toss, that or I missed it as the bars were set up in the foyer to the main room.

But, don't you worry I have another wedding this Sunday night. Yes, third wedding of 2009 and it's not even April. What's even more strange is that all three of my 2009 weddings have been Christian/Jewish unions! AND, the only half-official date I've been on this year was with a nice young Jewish boy. What is God, or should I say G-d trying to tell me here?!?

I Guess This Makes Taffy A New Millennium Mom?

When I was about 15 years old I came home with a second hole pierced in my left ear . Once my mom noticed, she told me I looked like I belonged in an African tribe and, for at least two weeks, proceeded to give me looks of utter shame every time I entered the same room as her.

Last week my youngest sis, Kassidy, celebrated her 15th b-day on St. Patrick's day. She had a hair appointment that afternoon and unbeknownst to her, or myself, our mother had set up a little b-day surprise. Kass has talked about coloring her hair for a while. So she was excited and confused when McKenzie, our lovely hair lady, rolled out a coloring tray with a huge Happy Birthday balloon and told Kass, "You get to pick the color!"

Here is the result.



Umm, I know it's been about 13 years but seriously isn't that a lot of progress from the same woman that shunned me for a pin point hole in one ear? As 15 year old Kori would say, WHATeveeeerrrrr!

*Doesn't she look a little stoned? Are her eyes dilated, a little red. Doesn't she look a little too giggly??? I know the smiley face shirt that says "World Peace" makes her a little less hard core, but I'm just sayin'.

Stairway to Heaven???

I swear I will write about other stuff soon, but I am really not all that exciting right now.

Part of my little weight loss journey has been trying to work little workouts into my day. I work on the 7th floor of a 10 story building and for pretty much the whole twelve months I have been here I’ve always thought doing the stairs would be a great little thing to do for myself. But that’s as far as it every got, thinking about it. About a month ago I finally put the thought into action and I have followed through with it about 4 out of 5 work days since then. I'm lying, really about 3 out of 5 work days.

I know what you're thinking, big deal, right? 10 flights, that’s not much I could probably end up doing them twice. HA! That has yet to happen, but is still a goal. These are huge flights of stairs, I work in a building that houses furniture showrooms and has very high ceilings on each floor, I’m pretty sure the 10 flights are more like 15 to 20 normal ones…or at least this is what I tell myself.

I thought I'd share how much of a process this 15 minute work out is for me. It starts at lunch. While I am sitting alone in the kitchen I think about the 1 point soup or 6 point Lean Cuisine I am eating and remind myself of what the scale said that morning. And at some point convince myself that doing the stairs will accelerate the process and I won't have to count points forever.

So around 3pm I fill up my cup with water and turn off the space heater at my desk. These two tricks took me a couple of trial runs, but they make the cool down process much better. My system is that I go down the first 7 flights as the warm up, get my heart rate going stage. Then I climb straight up all 10. This is obviously the hard part and it is usually the 6th floor that I start getting dizzy and can’t breathe right and start convincing myself there is mold in the stairwell and the workout is hazardous to my health. I also think about how embarrassing it would be if someone else used the stairs and saw me wheezing my way up them. Fortunately Houston is lazy and I have never actually seen anyone else in the stairwell.

So once I have run through all of this in my head I usually suddenly find myself on the 8th floor and I think about the girls on the Weight Watchers message boards that have stats in the 200's and figure I can go ahead and do the final two flights. At this point my gross motor skills seem to fail me, I keep having to turn right to go up and my legs are in a groove but every now and then when the dizziness gets to me I kind of miss a step or hover my foot above the step to make sure it's there. Seriously, how out of shape can I be...mentally and physically?? I blame it on the repetitive-ness of watching the little green skid strips passing me by with each step I climb.

Once I'm on the 10th floor, I slide back down to 7 and make it back to my desk with wobbly legs. I chug my water, fan myself down the front and back of my shirt and hope I don't have to answer the phone before my panting subsides.

I do actually like this routine, and today I am going to try to do it twice, once in the AM and once in the PM...but if you have any ideas on any other mini workouts I'd love to hear them!!

Four More Pounds and Misc.

I have been procrastinating on this post because in my head the next post was going to be my end of the month weight loss progress. And that is still what this post is, I was just trying to edge out a little extra time for the results.

So in Feb I lost 4 lbs, which I’m ok with because I changed my routine quite a bit. In January I had kind of holed up and really focused on getting the whole thing going which did result in a bigger drop, but I couldn't live like that forever! In Feb I added adult bevs back into my routine, I worked out on more of a set schedule and I didn’t eat the same things over and over. So for that to balance out to 4 lbs is fine by me. Plus I mean Feb is SUCH a short month. That means my total is 12 lbs, which averages 6 per month which I am totally good with. This also leaves me 6lbs from my goal. Which is exciting!

The downside is that this is generally where my 20 year old metabolism resurrects itself and tells me I can get rid of it in 2 weeks so it’s ok to cheat a little until right before that wedding at the end of the month. So I am doing my best to look at it through the eyes of my 28 yr old metabolism and say Look how close you are, you go girl, stick to it! Totally not as fun. Also, when I do hit this goal that is seemingly so close, there is of course a follow up goal. But, there is not a follow up to the follow up, you follow?

Other than that the last week or so has been fairly low key. Oh, except for a couple of interviews, a night out and almost getting laid off. The run down on those events are:

Interviews: I forgot to mention in my last post that I had an interview that Friday, it was all very last minute and in the end was a bust because yesterday I got an email that they filled the position. It is def for the better, bc while I didn’t have any major drawbacks to the position, I also didn’t have any major pluses about the position either. It was just..a job.

I have also had 2 phone interviews this week with a new opportunity and tomorrow morning will go in for a face to face interview. If I pass that round there will be yet another interview and then a decision made. So there will be nothing major on that front for at least another week. As with a first date, there is no point in giving details on the jobs unless something comes of them.

Night Out: Last weekend was pretty nice because I didn’t have any mandatory major events to attend, host, dodge, etc. I usually have grand plans for weekends like that. Doing all kinds of things for myself, but then they all turn out the same. I go out Friday night and I’m a little too excited about the 48 hours of nothing, I have a little too much “garlic” and I’m down for the count the rest of the weekend.

So this weekend was no different. Friday I has sushi at Blue Fish with a couple of peeps, drinks at Zimm’s and then ended the night at, where else, Kay’s. Saturday I had a hangover lunch with a friend, and that night I watched Nick & Norah’s Infinate Playlist with my mom and Glamma Pat (formerly known as Granni Pat). Sunday I don’t remember, must have just hung out doing nothing telling myself not to get so rowdy the first night of an open ended weekend.

Almost getting laid off: Well, I thought Friday, 2/27 was my last day, then around 2pm I was told that they had worked some things out to keep me around. And, well that's really it on that story.

I have yet another weekend on the horizon and I am looking forward to it. Tonight (I think) I am meeting up with a friend that just moved to Houston. Tomorrow night the plan is to keep it low key, but I depending on how the interview goes I may need to go out. Well, really either way it goes it will be a solid argument to go out. See how quickly low key gets thrown out the window?? Saturday night I am celebrating my friend's bday. There are 4 of us all trying to organize it and we can’t get it together. Last I heard it was El Pueblito and Karaoke, but that is the 4th version of plans, there is easily time for 2 more revisions to be made by Saturday. Sunday, well Sunday I don't know. I just checked the weather and it may be rainy, which is ok, actually it's good. I know that Sunday patio sitting weather is coming and this will hold that off one more week. Not, that I don’t like the patio sitting, it’s just that every Coors Light is 2 points and that is not easy for my new mature metabolism!

Week In Review

Ok, so I have about a week to catch up on. First did anyone catch who commented on my last blog post? JAIME from Marathon Love!?!!? I feel famous. Actually, I feel very honored that he took the time out of his day to read my blog and even leave a note. I think he must have found me through some kind of reverse link thing. I really have no idea what I am talking about, but it sounds like something that could exist out there in the world wide web.

Ok, so Wednesday was the date, it went well. I wore a plum sheath dress with a black cardigan with a matching plum belt over the cardi with black alligator skin pumps. We met for drinks at 6 and we were going to figure out dinner from there. We ended up getting some appetizers and hanging out at the bar for a while. By 8:30 we had been there for a while but it was still kind of early so he suggested we get a change of scenery. I was down with that. We were getting along fine and there was never a lull in convo. He lives right by a strip of bars and lounges and suggested we park at his house and walk to one from there. This is not my first rodeo and I knew that was really a pretty convenient way to end up at his house. I was down with that, he was harmless. So we got to his house, it was nice, we had drinks outside, then inside. After a while I pulled the good old, well it's getting late line and that was that.

I know I didn't give any details up front, but things were basically exactly what I expected. The things that I thought would be good were good and the things I was a little wary about, were worth being wary about. We got along fine and had plenty to chat about, but he is very Prada, Mercedes, Pellegrino and I'm just more Gap, Nissan and Canada Dry, you know what I'm sayin? Oh, and as young children he was rockin the Torah while I was being dedicated the Good News Bible at confirmation. Not a deal breaker, just something to be noted. As for any kissy-kissy details, well, a lady never tells!

We've emailed a few times since then. He is on a major case at work right now (mmhumm). I'm sure we'll hang out again, but I think it will be on more a friendly level.

Thursday I had dinner at Collina's with some girlfriends from high school. We try to get together once a month and it's always a good time. When we started doing this a few years ago we had one married girl, one engaged girl, one girl in a serious relationship and me. We have since gone through all the stages that led to one girl married with a baby, one girl married and pregnant, one girl married and me.

Our waiter was totally strung out on something and put our order in twice. After about 2 hours we ended up with 4 huge pizzas, several baskets of breadsticks and only a $15 tab because they comped most of it. This was very exciting to the preggo girl. Between the feast, wine and few laughs that resulted in tears, it was a fun dinner.

Friday night I was going to go home and rest, but I was offered a spare ticket to the House of Blues (thank you again Amber & Nathan!). They are members of the Foundation Room so we got to hang out in the private club upstairs. It was very nice, fun people watching and clouded with incense. There was supposed to be a New Orleans funk band there in honor of Mardi Gras, but they cancelled so it was just some random reggae band. It was nice being able to come and go from the main music area.

I felt a little bad because Nathan brought a friend and I don't know if I was supposed to be chatting it up with him, but Amber and I had some juicy stuff to get caught up on and I barely learned his name. (I would appreciate it not being pointed out that "this is why you're single")

Saturday night I had a lingerie shower/bachelorette party to attend. It was fun. We had a limo and hopped around to a few loungey bars that we had a hook up with, we got free bottle service and champagne toasts, so that was nice. Lingerie showers are interesting, earlier that week Kelsey called me while I was shopping and asked what I was doing. I had to explain the whole lingerie shower and our convo ended with him wishing me good luck on shopping for other people's underwear.

I'll share how I was a little scarred by the first lingerie shower I was ever invited to. It was a courtesy invite to the shower of the fiance of a friend of the guy I was dating at the time. I knew her and her fiance on a social level, but not very well. I got the invite in the mail and I logged on to her Victoria's Secret wish list and the first outfit that popped up was this skank-tastic, raunchy elastic, lace, and satin thing. The lingerie thing was a whole new world to me and I didn't really know that people actually wore the stuff, much less stuff that looked like that. I ended up skipping that shower and not sending a gift. I haven't seen them in years and really think I saved $40 out of the whole thing. From what I hear she is pregnant, so clearly they were able to work things out in the bedroom without the stripper suit.

I have since warmed up to the showers and I think have picked out a few nice things over the years. In October I threw one for a friend and not to leave her husband out, I found this,
Soooo, needless to say I was exhausted by Friday morning and was really just going though the rest of the weekend on auto-pilot. I actually kept thinking I had been out 5 nights in a row, then I learned to count and realized it was only 4. Still way too many for this old lady!

This week I am going straight home and working out Mon- Thurs, no happy hours. This coming weekend I actually have zero obligatory commitments, no bday parties, baby/bridal/lingerie showers, bachelorette parties. NOTHING and I couldn't be looking forward to it more!

4 Weddings And A Funeral (Minus The 4 Weddings And Plus An Almost Date)

I don’t have much to write about today, but I also don’t have much work to do right now so I’ll just run through a few things.

Saturday was Valentine’s Day, I watched Marathon Love and after crying for the last 30 minutes of that show I decided to pop in The Notebook to really top it off. So cheesy I know, but I hadn’t seen it since the theater and it was given to me as a gift a couple of Christmases ago (thank you Christina). I wanted to watch it again because I remember making a pact with the girl I saw it with that we would not let each other get married unless it was “The Notebook Love”. That movie came out in 2004, I was making childish marriage pacts at the age of 24. Seriously, Kori? But for whatever reason I always think of that pact when The Notebook comes up so I figured I should remind myself of what that great love was. And it was SO good. I still stand by my “Notebook Love” pact. I should also mention that I think Ryan Gosling is a hotty-bo-botty and that very well may be what I’m so intrigued by.

This week is a sad one because my dear friend lost his father to a terrible disease on Friday. So I’ll be attending services tonight and tomorrow. I’m very sad for what he is going through and it a reminder of what stage of life I'm entereing. This is the second close friend of mine to recently lose a parent as an adult. I really don’t like to think about being at the point in life :(

I do have a tiny issue that I am selfishly concerned about. See, I have an almost date on Weds night and I am trying to figure out my schedule for the day. The funeral is at 10 and then I’m sure there will be lunch/reception. By mid-afternoon I’ll need to come up to the office to check in on things. Then I’m supposed to meet almost date for drinks at 6. Problem: I’m going to be wearing funeral clothes. I don’t think I should go to an almost date in funeral clothes. I have toyed with the idea of bringing a change of clothes, but that is a huge pain and I won’t want him to think I wore some cute date outfit to a funeral, but I also don’t want him to think I went through the trouble of changing just to meet up with him because it’s just a casual meet up thing. The dress I’m wearing tomorrow is cute and I have also gone through all of the “go from day to night” wardrobe tricks, but I think I am still going to look funeral-y. Any suggestions?

I’m also thinking it’s going to be a lovely kick start the evening when the convo opens with “So how was your day” and I get the respond with “Oh, um, well I went to a funeral this morning, then …” I am not going to explain much about the almost date guy because I know how these things go and I’m not going to waste anybody’s time just yet. Plus my mother and other family read this and I don’t want to get asked about one detail of one date that I went out with (possibly) once.

He wears glasses? All the time? Sometimes? Has he tried contacts? What about Lasik? I think you should wait til your 30 to get Lasik. A guy I know got Lasik but still has to wear glasses. Did he wear glasses as a kid? Do you like his glasses? Didn’t David wear glasses? You must really like boys that wear glasses. You know my co-worker son that we want to set you up with wears glasses, you’d really like him.

Walk Of Total And Complete Innocence!

So just to remind everyone I was in New Orleans about 2 weeks ago for the wedding of my dear friend Ash. Most of this post is just a chronological memory log for me to read in 10 years because by this time next week all I'll remember is who got married there and the color of my dress. Most details won't be of your interest, but so far I have thought that to be the case of all of my posts, and you're still reading. So, there.

FRIDAY
I woke up at 5 to pack and get out the door for my 8:45 flight. I am not capable of packing until the day of a trip, seriously other than having a capable body I can not capably do it. So, up at 5, fold a load of white separating out items I'll be packing and gather other items on my packing list. (See this is my secret weapon to packing procrastination. The only kink in this is that if you can't find something, you're screwed. I like to look at those situations as the travel gods letting me know that I can survive a trip with out my purple suede headband or whatever the accessory of the week is.)

I got to the airport and used my passport because my license is expired (way back on 7/7/08…if you don't see a theme, see: procrastinator). The TSA guy was joking with me about using a fake passport. Isn't that against the rules? I didn't know if I was allowed to chuckle or not. I can't joke about that kind of stuff why can he? I arrived in NOLA and met up with Beth, a co-bridesmaid who came from NYC and landed 10 minutes prior to me in the gate across from mine. We hopped in a cab and headed to the Omni Royal, checked in. Ash was having brunch with family so Beth and I browsed a few shops on Royal, got a cup of tea and learned how to pack our own tea bags. I bought a gold ball-y necklace to wear that night and we ran into some of Ashley's fam on the street. Beth has no luck finding eel skin purse/wallet for her mom.

Around noon we met Ashley and some other ladies in the lobby to go and get our nails done. Finding a nail salon in the French Quarter is not an easy task. We poked our heads in one salon but we had too many people for them to do. I was kind of glad because that salon was scary. We finally found the Relaxation Salon they popped the bubbly and we were set. It was right next to the Aloha Salon which had a locked door and secret doorbell. Hmm...? I went out for Subway and black tights while waiting for my turn and nearly died while illegally crossing the street. I got called out by the "Smile Police" who I thought were real and ticketing me for my illegal street crossing, but he was giving me a citation for being too beautiful. I know I am very gullible and usually find humor in stuff like that, but I had just nearly died and was not in the mood to be humored. Side note, eating subway while having someone rubs your feet is gross. Got ready for the rehearsal, met downstairs, rehearsed. It was very very cold in the courtyard. Walked to Mr. B's for dinner. This was my first official break of WW Points. I had Shrimp & Grits. It was fabulous and the shrimp was wrapped in bacon which was an added diet breaking bonus! Slide show, speeches, wine, champagne. I can't remember dessert?? Wine, champagne?? Headed to Pat O's to meet up with peeps that weren't at the rehearsal. Saw some girls I hadn't seen since Spring Break 2000 in Padre. We did not speak of that trip, husbands were present. Hurricanes taste grosser than I remember. I had also forgotten about those awful spiral stairs that lead to the bathroom. Headed home at a decent hour to be in good shape to perform my bridesmaid's duties.


SATURDAY
We headed to Parker Paris Uptown and were there from 10am to 2:30pm! We had Whole Foods boxed lunches delivered; of course they messed up the bride's order. I was told my eye makeup was "smokey", to me they just looked too gray and kinda like I had two black eyes but still probably better than I could do. Babette got Ronald McDonald hair, they had to wash and redo it.


Got back to hotel, got dressed which was quick and easy because hair and make up were already done. Pics with Ash, then pics with Chris. Ash's dress was stepped on and got NOLA grime all over the bottom, it wiped right off, crisis averted. I ended up putting the flowers and ribbon on the cake, still don't know if I did it the way Ash envisioned, sorry!?

Ceremony starts, one BM down the aisle the speaker playing the live music starts screeching. Gets taken care of , crisis 2 averted. Beautiful ceremony. Officiate had a top 10 ten list and my mind wandered to Letterman. Chris had the biggest smile the WHOLE ceremony, so sweet! At the end of the ceremony I walked down with wrong groomsman, thought maybe I screwed something up, I didn't, whew! Pics again.

PARTY STARTS! Wine, Cajun seafood, champagne, Cajun seafood, vodka, Cajun seafood, back to champagne, red velvet cake.

BOUQUET TOSS! Let's all be honest here, at this point I was drunk off cajun seafood and who knows what else. They did not play my predicted "Single Ladies", but instead stuck with the tried and true "Girls Just Want To Have Fun". I still think it'll happen at one of my '09 weddings. I'll keep everyone posted. As for catching the flowers, Ashley had crushed me earlier in the weekend by letting me know she had promised them to someone else. I don't remember the actual toss but I know the flowers went to my left, my best guess is that I went to the right.

We then tossed flower petals and saw the newlyweds off. And this my friends, Saturday night at 11:45pm, is where my weekend started and I suddenly realized I'm in NEW ORLEANS for Pete's sake. I was officially off the clock as a bridesmaid, and the New Orleans air had finally permeated through the armor I had on to get through this point without screwing up my friend's big day.

So we're all in the hotel lobby everyone was throwing out destinations, Cat's Meow, Tropical Isle, Big Daddy's (don't ask). It was all the same to me so I jumped into an almost full cab with people I half recognized from the wedding. The cab doors shut and I looked around and though, Crap, I totally got into a dud cab. It was me, groom's bro, groom's bro's girlfriend, groom's aunt and groom's former roomie Kyle. Just as I thought the night was going to be a bust because I landed in the dud-mobile I asked where we were headed, and in unison I heard Harrah's. AWESOME. I love casinos and had never actually been the NOLA Harrah's.

So we roll in, lose the groom's relatives at the slots and Kyle and I end up at a black jack table with some old men from North Carolina. The one next to me has major whiskers growing off the top of his nose and I tell drunk Kori not to comment about, or try to touch, them. I am also sitting at the dealers first hand which makes me nervous because that means I control others cards. I announce a disclaimer that, I will not take the blame for any bad hands, to make myself feel better. The following convo ensues,

Them: "Fine but if we get a good hand you're gonna have to show us your boobs to celebrate."
Me: "Um, no."
Them: "One boob?"
Me: "No."
Them: "You'll grab you boobs?"
Me: "Deal."

I thought I was already winning having widdled a flash down to a self-grope.

We sit there and play a while and it's going pretty well, then it's going really well then it is just freaking hot. There was "celebrating" with pretty much every hand. I think the dealer appreciated it and was dealing better because of it. I really did not find it as morally wrong as it may sound. After a while I had tripled my money and Kyle had at least quadrupled his. They closed our table and we moved to a new one, just as hot. Finally we went to play roulette for a while, snore. Back to blackjack. This table was ok, but nothing like our other tables. Someone gets up and mentioned the time being 4:50. WHAT? No way. We decided we had taken our fair share from Harrah's, plus Kyle was about to get kicked out for licking his $500 chips. So disgusting, I reminded myself that he had been drinking, for free, since probably 4 that afternoon and to just let it slide.

We wandered out of Harrah's and back towards the quarter. Kyle was starving and we were supposed to be getting something to eat. (Here is also where everything is going to sound worse than I mean for it to and it's going to sound like I'm hiding something or lying, but I'm not. It's my blog and all about me and yall already know me, so trust me, there wasn't anything that happened that I'm too scared to disclose here.) Since I had no clue where I was I was just following Kyle, yes the guy that moments earlier was so drunk he almost got kicked out of the casino. We ended up at my hotel, and looking back maybe he was trying to ditch me, but we had a drunk conversation about food and walked back out of the hotel and around the quarter for a while. Eventually we ended up at his hotel without eating. I was hitting a wall and wasn't about to try to walk back to my hotel alone. His room had 2 beds, perfect, but Kyle, can I borrow a t-shirt? I don't want to sleep in my BM dress. (Oh, yes and all the while he had been in a tux and I was in a cobalt blue full length bridesmaid dress. Those details come into play soon.) He offers me a muscle tee styled shirt. It was once a basic Hanes Hefty-T, but he had not just cut the sleeves out but had cut huge gaping holes down the side of the shirt. Really Kyle? Is this the only T-shirt you have, I feel like I might be a wee bit exposed in it. That was apparently my only option at now 5am. I crawled into bed and passed out.

SUNDAY

I woke up around 7:30 and looked over at the other bed and saw that it is still perfectly made, I thought That crazy guy went back out last night (last night being 2 hours ago...I was in New Orleans!). I got up to use the rest room and there, wedged between my bed, a dinette table and the wall, is Kyle. Fully dressed, bow tie perfectly in tact sleeping on his back looking like a very dapper corpse. I literally watched him for a second to make sure he was breathing. He was.

After all of that I got back in bed and started thinking, Oh crap. I have to get back to my hotel, I only have my bm dress to wear. The sun is out. Crap! I started to remember what time everyone said they were leaving on Sunday and decided later in the morning would be better because the early birds leaving for the airport would have filtered through by then. I text the bride to update her on whatever ridiculous text I had sent her in the middle of the night and confirm check out time to avoid another big rush of people. (Ash, sorry for texting you on your wedding night, although really the texts were in the morning) I knew I had a late check out so that was no problem for me. I dozed off for a while longer and got up around 11. Kyle had made it into the other bed by then and I decided now was as good a time as any to make a run for it. I got back into my bright cobalt blue BM dress and pulled out the dangling bobby pins from my hair. I found one lonely piece of gum in the bottom of my purse and felt ready to go. Kyle was on the phone making plans to go back out, I threw up in my mouth a little bit just thinking about it.

I got downstairs and there was a lady at the front desk. Front desk? I don't remember a front desk. I ask her what the quickest way to get to my hotel was and she gave me perfect directions. I walk out into the brightest, most sunny, beautiful day and turned left and speed walked straight with my head staring at the ground. I turn left again and I could see my hotel! Yay, so close! I quickly analyze that I could stay on the sidewalk I'm on which is crowded and slower, or go across the street to the less crowded and quicker sidewalk. I decided to stay on the crowded thinking all the people would help hide me, right? WRONG! It was at that point, I had just bowed my head for the rest of my walk, of total and complete innocence, that I hear "Kori? Kori! Koooori!?" On the third call I realized I had to stop and look up and low and behold there was Ms. Lorraine Hughes, mother of the bride. With Ashley's Uncle Moat and Aunt Lulu. Seriously?Really? Could God not humor himself with something else that morning?

Apparently she had heard about Kyle's and my night at the casino and she simply asked What were you playing last night? I had already retreated into being 15 years old and busted for sneaking out of Ashley's house and replied with Oh, uh, Kyle's hotel was closer to the casino! I don't know my way around the quarter! It was all Ashley's idea! I'm so sorry! Are you going to tell my Mom? I really have no idea what else was said but at some point I was able to scurry on towards the hotel, I rounded the corner into the elevator banks and hear Well look what the cat dragged in! Oh how sweet, Chris and Ashley had pried themselves from their bed of wedded matrimony to watch me walk in, don't mind that it was lunchtime. She said she just had to see this one. I got a chuckle out and pressed the elevator button 20 times in a row. Now as a cherry on the top of all of this, you're going to have to follow closely here. The girl on the elevator when the doors opened had really hit it off with Kyle at the reception. I had actually wondered at one point in the night why they didn't go out together after the party. The doors opened she looked me up and down, looked at Ash and said Where did she stay last night? I shoved her out of the elevator, hit my floor and was FINALLY out of the clear.

The rest of my day consisted of lunch with Ash and Chris, helping them move hotels and a painful trip to the airport and back home to Houston.

End of blog, it was a long one, I barely edited it and I'm not gonna do a wrap-up.

Filling Empty Promises

Well so far I owe a NOLA recap and a hair pic. I have great reasons for the delay on both of these. I have been waiting for a decent hair day and today is finally about as good as it's gonna get. So here is the new hair,

As for New Orleans I have a draft done, a very long draft. It's actually a boring read so I think I am just going to share the one big story of the weekend later this afternoon.

Good Morning Monday.

I got a little too excited about my coffee this morning. It was strong Cafe Du Monde brand coffee and on Mondays I tend to guzzle my coffee much like an athlete with Gatorade. I must have thought I was in a marathon running by the drink table because three sips in my coffee ended up like this,After cursing my coffee, my white shirt, my car and the traffic, I called my boss and let him know I had to go by Target. We argued about whether Target opens at 9 or 10. (Obvs it's open by 9!). I quickly browsed all the new Spring stuff, grabbed a white 3/4 length sleeved shirt with vertical rouching, a pair of gold earrings and a pack of gum. I made a quick change in the Target bathroom and was out of there only $19.43 poorer.

I lost 8 pounds and 13 inches!!

Well, those measurements aren't as related as I make them seem, but it's all still true!

I've been strictly following Weight Watchers Points since January 3rd and it has been surprisingly easy. I've never been on a true diet before so I had my reservations. Prior to WW I would just take the temporary eating disorder route. You know, spend a few weeks eating very little and working out alot and melt away the lbs. Oh, to have the metabolism of a 20 yr old again! Anywho, these 8lbs are exciting to me and only leave me about 10 more to go. But no promises to post a bikini pic here like this crazy lady!

As for the 13 inches, I lost those inches up top, er well around back then up top. I chopped my hair! Finally! It all started waaaaay back in March 2006. I was sitting alone and unemployed at The Ranch in Durango, CO while my brother tended the bar. I didn't have much to do or think about and was pretty much just sitting there absorbing the new, much more casual environment I had put myself into. This developed into an internal dialogue ultimately deciding that this more low key world would be ideal for me to grow my hair out in and then donate to Locks of Love. Ponytails and wash and wear hair was the norm and mine was already the longest it had been since I was about 10. So, it grew out the required 10 inch minimum by the end of 2006. Ready to cut. Done, move one, maybe grow it out again to help someone else, right? Wrong. I kept it. I kept the long hair for another 12 months, through then end of 2007. Then, ANOTHER 12 months. Through the end of 2008. Seriously, how selfish could one girl be? I grew my hair out for a good cause. Then I kept it being selfish for almost three years liking it because I could curl it, or straighten it, or pull it back, or wear it down. All while little sick kids were going without. Terrible, terrible, terrible.

Over the last few months the guilt hassle of all of this hair started to get to me. I decided it was time for me to follow through with my original plan so I set an appointment a couple of weeks ago. I literally got hot and had my heart beating fast when I called to schedule the appointment. They had a Tues or Thurs appt and I actually considered the Thurs just so I could have it for a few more days, terrible. But, finally decided on the Tues to make it more of a quick process, you know rip the band aid off. What was my big attachment? Why was I freaking out about this. I really didn't even like my long hair in pictures. I've learned from the Duggar's that a woman's hair is her glory. That must have been it.

Anyways, that Tuesday appointment was last night. The deed is done. The final measurement was 13" of glory. I was going to take a pic of the ponytail next to the ruler, but it really is kinda gross and creepy to look at. This whole post is pretty anti-climatic because I don't have a new 'do pic to post. I'll post one tomorrow because I want to wait until it's styled by me so everyone can have realistic expectations of what it will actually look like day to day.

I swear a NOLA recap is coming but it really has taken me a couple of days to recover and process.

Not Quite Dear Abby

Does your grandmother send you articles like this, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/magazine/25desire-t.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink? Mine does. It is a pretty interesting read just funny when I think of the source. Granni Pat has also requested we call her Glamma Pat now because it's more chic.


I will update on the NOLA trip by the end of the week.

Busted...

Ok, Amanda just sent me proof from her June 2006 wedding that I can lift my arms, but it seems I just can't bring myself to engage my wrists. From what I remember Krista, the girl in black in white on the right, caught the bouquet. That was a frighteningly close proximity. I blame my front and center location on bridesmaid duties. If I know Amanda, I'm pretty sure she was calling me to get up there.


And while I'm following up I should show that back at Kacee's wedding once the flowers were about to be airborne I did managed a 90 degree lift of the arms...

All The Single Ladies!

This Friday I am heading to New Orleans for the wedding of soon-to-be Mrs. Ashley Ramirez. I am looking forward to the whole weekend…mani/pedis, yummy rehearsal dinner, Pat O's, the salon, the wedding itself, the reception and lastly super bowl Sunday in NOLA. It is pretty much a guaranteed good time. There is however this one moment at all weddings that I have come to dread politely avoid. The bouquet toss. I duck the inane ritual just as naturally as I did softballs in 4th grade P.E.

In the past I have often successfully avoided this pesky right of passage with strategically timed restroom visits, hitting up the bar located farthest from the dance floor and squeezing the leg of my date to let him know he has no chance with me if he dare calls me out. I know there are many a lady that really get into the bouquet toss and believe in it the same way I believe in horoscopes and Zoltar. But, for me, no thanks. I'm good.

I actually have photographic evidence that does a great job demonstrating my natural reaction to the bouquet toss, as well as that of a few of my dear "Single Ladies". This is a picture from the spring 2005 wedding of my sorority lil' sis Kacee Newton Harvey. I have also numbered some other key players in this particular toss…



A. I'm starting with me because well it's my blog and I can. As you can see my enthusiasm is oozing. I am courteous enough to smile because I do know there are pictures being taken, BUT please note that my hands are firmly at my side.

B. Behind me is Christina. Her enthusiasm is even oozier than mine. She took a little different approach. My guess is that she was going for the darn-it-to-heck-I-have-a-drink-in-my-hand-and-can't-fully-go-for-it strategy.

C. Then we have Sister P. She's not letting that drink in her hand blow her chances. I'll give it to her, I can appreciate the dedication there...to both the competition at hand and the drink at hand ;)

D. Sikes is a bit of a romantic and looks quite confident this particular evening. In hindsight, as many bouquets as I've seen this girl catch she has reason to be. From what I can tell she is pretty tough competition on the bouquet toss circuit.

The gaggle of ladies on the left can be replaced by different faces at different weddings but they always have the same gusto. As you can see, we have elbows, bridesmaid's dresses, teeth clenching and excitement of what this all could mean, EEEEKK!!!!! Really, I love all the girls in this picture and I don't let that 5 minutes ruin my night. And to be fair, I should note that all four of us are still single. Sooo, maybe there is something to this game after all…nah. I still can't convince myself of it!

Now then, back to this weekend and the title of this post. I don't have an elaborate itinerary to avoid the b-toss this Saturday night. I am actually looking forward to it and will be a very eager and happy participant. You see, I have a feeling about it. No, not that I'm going to catch the floral promissory of nuptial bliss. My feeling is much deeper than that and it involves Beyonce. Yes, Beyonce.

It came to me about half way through the first time I heard her latest ex-girlfriend empowering ballad "All The Single Ladies". Pretty sure my thought was "Oh God, this is now going to be the song of choice to round up all the single ladies for the bouquet toss. Why am I thinking of bouquet tosses while driving home from getting my brows waxed. The bouquet toss is so stupid. I think that is reason enough to hate this song. No wait, I like it? Nope, I don't like Beyonce. I don't care if she's from Houston. Maybe I need to hear it again." So the next time I heard it my thought was "Oh God, this is REALLY going to be the song of choice to round up all the single ladies for the bouquet toss. Why am I thinking of bouquet tosses again? The bouquet toss is so stupid. Did I hate this song? No, wait I liked it? Nope, still not a fan of Beyonce. I don't care if she's from Houston. I think I'll have to hear it again." Well, after seeing this little girl I've actually decided I like it!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU2JhYM8tY (Hey, I'm still new to this blogging thing, I'll embed videos once I get a little more blog-savvy.)

So, don't worry Ashley I really am looking forward to the bouquet toss and testing my new theory. I guess I'm turning over a new leaf for yet another year of wedding festivities. Plus I know you'll read this and I've blown any chances of ducking out this time around!

Laissez les bon temps roulez!!!

Let's get this first post out of the way,

So, I'm finally blogging. This may not turn out so well, but we'll see. It is not about my new marriage, new baby or new home. It is also not specifically about a deep passion or hobby of mine. I am guessing it will be a catch-all of various thoughts, theories and events in my life. Real original, I know. It may become private, I haven't really decided on that. I'm hoping it will encourage me to take more pictures and possibly lead me to buy a digital camera manufactured after 2003 and with a screen larger than 1" by 1".

I probably should have started this years ago because I would have had some really good stuff back then. I may remember bits and pieces and share them along the way, but overall I have an absolutely terrible memory. A few good ones I'll try to get to are; "How A Good Girl Can End Up In The Bellaire Jail", "How To Build a 4 Poster Bed While Wearing Heels", "When I Knew It Was Time To Call The Lubbock Cops During A First Date" (well really the Lubbock days could have an entire blog of it's own), "That Time I Got Drunk With A Hot Canadian In First Class On My Way To Cancun" (that would actually be a chapter in "How I Got A Passport Issued In A Day"), "This One Time I Moved To Durango, Colorado For A Year And A Half..." and "Why All High Schoolers Should Be Able To Recite The Fourth Amendment".

I am starting to settle down a bit more. I have been "starting" this process since early 2008. My 2008 resolution was to take my relationships and career more seriously. I really put that in motion by quitting a stable, resume building job in February and followed that up with a March trip to Hawaii to meet up half way with an English-Australian "friend" of mine. Needless to say, I had put my resolution on the back burner 2 weeks into last year. I am considering reviving it for '09, but no rash decisions on that just yet ;)

Well, I think I am going to wrap this up because I'm really only blabbering on to get my first post out of the way. Please feel free to leave a comment so I can feel the love!