Thanksgiving

Historical Thanksgiving:

Modern Thanksgiving (at least for us, since we'll be celebrating at Knott's Berry Farm this year!):

There are so many things that I am thankful for but here are the top twelve, in no particular order:

1) imagination - it makes life infinitely more interesting

2) love - what would be the point of almost anything if there wasn't love? i feel so grateful for the love of my friends, family, and my dearest, Todd.

3) rotten San Francisco days - they make the sunny ones seem that much better :-)

4) the way that Todd and I can have a rip down, drag 'em out debate about something and still be able to kiss and say "I love you" afterwards

5) mom, for always being there even when she's 3,000 miles away

6) surviving law school (thus far), and having some fabulous professors to boot!

7) our apartment, with its misty valley views, its pine trees in the crisp cold air

8) setting out on a Saturday drive with no plan, just a sense of fun and adventure

9) books - for being such fine companions on my walks, and for suggesting new paths to my thoughts

10) kids that I tutor at the after-school program - there's nothing quite like the high that comes from connecting with and teaching children

11) the exhilarating feeling of arguing in court 

12) the myriad ways in which Todd shows his love to me each day - even if it's just by doing something as simple as watching an episode of "Bridezillas" with me, and not complaining!

Bangs and Christmas!

Exhibit 1:  Me, looking rather bleary-eyed about 10 minutes ago at midnight after working on my minor's counsel paper for a solid seven hours.  Todd got home from work (Sharks match in San Jose) and he took a picture of my new bangs in all of their disheveled, tired glory.

But it's nice to take time - once in awhile - to get a cut and color, and just relax in a chair with a tabloid magazine and a very chatty stylist who is an expert at scalp massage, and happens to be three and a half months pregnant.  Thursday afternoon was very enjoyable.  Even though it meant that working on my paper is what I'm doing Saturday night!

Last weekend, before seeing Quantum of Solace, we took a loooong walk all over San Francisco (Chinatown! North Beach! Financial District! Ferry Marketplace Building!) and everything was becoming so Christmas-y.  There was even quite a nip in the air!

We gazed off across the Bay behind the Ferry building...

Saw the just-opened ice-skating rink in the middle of union square (with scads of youngsters lining up to skate before it opened!), which is reminiscent of Frog Pond on Boston Common...
And saw a brave team of tree lighters/ trimmers attempting to corral the massive Christmas tree, shape it, and put millions of small white lights around all of its branches... 
Next week is Thanksgiving and as of Monday, when I turn in my final paper (at least until December 5!), all I am going to be thinking about is Disneyland, Thanksgiving at Knott's and at the apartment with the most wonderful Mr. and Mrs. Enlow (can't wait to help with those Gocco-ed menus! and Todd found a great recipe for a spin on cranberry sauce in the new Food Network Magazine!), USC football with Todd's family, and cruising down PCH in a Mustang convertible (we feel slightly guilty about diverging from our usual Prius-renting ways, but hey, being able to put the top down is just too tempting!).

Oh, the things we do for love...

This is a BIG SECRET from Todd, but since he never reads this blog, I have little to fear from writing about it here.

Yesterday, in between the final revisions of my (now 42-page) paper on California's juvenile justice system (turned in today, triumphantly, to Professor Bloch), I was looking at the fabulous selection of garter sets on Etsy when I found this one:

Now, being a loyal UCLA alumna, normally it would be anathema to wear anything even vaguely referencing the merits of USC football.  However.  When I saw this set, I thought about how Todd's face would light up when he saw the garters.  I imagined how happy he'd be.  And so I decided that his expressions of delight far outweigh the minor traitorous activity of wearing USC-emblazoned whozeewhatsits...

And, I have to say, the set IS pretty snazzy.  Especially the pouf of marabou on the "keepsake" (top) one.   Am I being mildly sarcastic? Perhaps.  But garters are just a bit of fun anyway, and I'm happy that mine get to incorporate something that Todd holds near and dear to his heart.

Coincidentally, Todd and I, his parents, and his sister and her husband, are all going to the USC-Notre Dame football game next Saturday!  I can't wait to see everyone :-) And I also hope that Traveler manages to make several appearances...

Inhabiting a Painting

The painting below is called "Le chateau des Pyrenees" and it was painted by Rene Magritte in 1959.

Right now, a huge reproduction of it is resting against the wall in the breakfast room of our apartment. (I think I've written about how it came to be in our place...suffice it to say, it's all to due to Todd's unerringly sweetness)

Every time I sit at my MacBook, I can't help looking at it and smiling. 

Sometimes, I smile because I'm standing on top of the rock, wandering around the mansion, feeling the wind whip through my hair and feeling thisclose to the clouds.

Other times, I smile because I'm underneath the rock, letting the waves slosh up to my shoulders and buffet in frothy layers over me.  I smile because the rock remains, hovering above me, but somehow - miraculously - never with any hint that it might fall.

And finally, sometimes I find myself nearly out of the picture altogether, sailing away on a small, swift boat off into the horizon, marveling at the wonder of it all - the sea, the sky, the rock and the house atop it... 

Today, before taking my first final - Professional Responsibility - I definitely found myself in the second situation.  Except instead of a nice, refreshing swim, it was more like: seaweed in my hair, salt water in my nostrils, and a pretty strong riptide pulling me under... 

But now, I can take a long, deep breath of relief and sail off - at least for a day or so!

Todd and I are planning to see Quantum of Solace tomorrow.  I'm also trying to convince him to go ice-skating at the rink the city's just erected in Union Square, and to browse in the seven floors of Christmas-ified glory at Macy's flagship store in San Francisco.  

It's been so beautiful and warm here lately that it doesn't even feel like almost Thanksgiving!

Woo-hoo!

Todd and I have just begun the process of ordering our custom invitations through a fabulous designer on Etsy! The sample we received was great, and now it's just a matter of tweaking a few things here and there, and deciding on the wording... :-)

Wedding Nightmare

Last night, I had my first bonafide wedding nightmare.  It was awful while it was happening but when I woke up and started explaining it to Todd, I kept bursting out laughing!

It went like this:

We decided to have a tropical destination wedding instead of a Disney wedding and so the dream began with us taking a tour around the island with our families on the morning of the wedding.  But we all got so involved in seeing the sights that when we checked the time, there was only an hour until the ceremony was to begin at the hotel!

So we raced back and I said goodbye to Todd and went to change into my gown with my mom. For some reason, mom and I decided to turn on the TV in the bride's dressing room.  And before I could start to put my dress on, an episode of 'Law and Order' came on, and we both became so engrossed in it that we didn't stop watching until it was over!  Suddenly the phone rang and it was Todd asking "Where are you? The ceremony was supposed to begin half an hour ago!"  So mom helped me dress extremely quickly and we ran down to the covered area on the beach where the wedding was to take place.

When we got down there, I felt so rushed that I just immediately began walking down the aisle.  And then I noticed two things: that I wasn't wearing shoes, and that none of the members of the bridal party had walked down the aisle yet!  So I sheepishly continued walking and I heard some very loud, crashing music.  I looked up to the altar where Todd was standing and behind him, there was a huge drum set and a long-haired guy pounding out a drum solo.  This wasn't what I'd imagined as the 'processional'... When I got to the altar, I realized that our officiant was nowhere to be seen.  Before I could say anything, Todd leaned over and whispered "The cellist and the officiant both dropped out... but don't worry, the drummer can also perform the ceremony!"

And when he said those words, I began to cry.  All the guests, seeing my tears, thought they were out of happiness.  But all I could think was "The drummer?!"

Then I woke up :-)

While explaining the dream to Todd, I was cracking up at the final bit... I was laughing so hard I was crying.  It seemed really funny in retrospect!

Yes we can.

I have never been so proud to be an American.

New York Wedding Weekend! - Fall Foliage Walk

Todd and I took a long walk on the winding roads around his parents' house on Sunday morning.  There was spectacular fall foliage everywhere we looked, starting with our own backyard:

Such deep reds, all sun-dappled and dripping with color

And such dazzling yellows, making the sun seem weak by comparison

It was a great way to start the day and even though it was very brisk when we started out, by the time we walked up the hill towards home, we were both quite toasty!

New York Wedding Weekend! - Other Fun Times

We also managed to have some non-wedding-related fun!

On the morning of Aaron and Djamila's wedding, we met up with the lovely Alison and her husband Saul.  We also got to meet their fabulous recently adopted Cocker Spaniel, Harry!  Although our visit with them was short, I'm so glad we got to catch up...

We also got to see Bree and Marc's house, which they are moving into this weekend.  It looks great - from the lovely front living room to the brightly colored TV room and office room to the upstairs rooms, with their massive amounts of closet space, and beautiful bedroom furniture... I'm jealous!  They also have a lovely backyard (with included barbeque).  I just wish we were around to help them move this weekend!

And we went to Tiffany's restaurant, where Todd got to have his long-awaited ribs, and we all had a chance to kick back and relax.

New York Wedding Weekend! - Ceremony and Reception

The reception was at the Picnic House - a wonderful brick structure with huge windows, a crackling fireplace, and a large dance floor.

Todd and I right before the ceremony
Aaron and Djamila walking down the aisle together - a nice twist on tradition.  Aren't the flower girls and ring-bearer adorable?
The gorgeous yellow tree under which Aaron and Djamila were wed as we looked on.
They each wrote vows to read to one another, and performed the ring ceremony on their own.  They also wore leis to represent Djamila's ties to Hawai'i, where she grew up, and stood on a rug that several generations of Aaron's family has used in weddings. 
The ceremony was a great combination of old and new, modern and historical.  The readings were short and sweet, and a friend of the couple's officiated.  There was a beautiful cello performance as well, and the whole vibe was loving, relaxed, and happy.

New York Wedding Weekend! - Pre-Wedding Pics

While we were standing in beautiful Prospect Park, near the Picnic House (where the reception was) waiting for the ceremony to begin, we decided to take some photos.

The kids - Todd, Marc, Bree, and me

Bree & Marc - already married for over a year!
The girls :-)
Mother and daughter
The guys - notice Marc's gang hand signs!

New York Wedding Weekend! - Rehearsal Dinner

Aaron and Djamila's rehearsal dinner was at a spiffy and elegant Italian restaurant on 7th street in Brooklyn called Elementi.  There were some wonderful toasts, delicious food (with lots of veggie options), handmade leaf chocolates created by Aaron's mom (and Todd's aunt) Joann, and a heartfelt thank you speech from the bride and groom.

Aaron and Djamila:

Marc hilariously trying to get me to start eating my entree before everyone else's had arrived by pretending to eat HIS.  Seriously, he should be performing in comedy clubs... ;-)

Todd and I at his parents house before leaving for the rehearsal dinner.  It took almost two hours to get there due to city traffic!

New York Wedding Weekend! - Wedding Bands

The second thing we did while in New Jersey this weekend was visit the Image Gallery to pick out our wedding bands.  I, of course, just showed Shimon (the wonderfully talented jeweler whom Todd's family has worked with for years) a picture of the Tiffany Etoile wedding band.  He told me that he could make it easily, measured my ring finger, and then cleaned my engagement ring so that it sparkled even more brightly.  

Then, it was time for Todd to choose his wedding band.  At first, he thought he wanted a traditional yellow gold band.  However, after trying on white gold, palladium, yellow gold, and titanium bands, he decided that what suited him best was a titanium ring much like the one below (except with a brushed - or matte - finish in the middle).  

And looking at the various rings on Todd's hand, I had to agree.  He wanted a contemporary ring that wouldn't nick or damage easily, and that fit with his style, and the titanium ring fit all three of those requirements.  I love his choice but feel slightly guilty because of the fact that my rings are quite a bit more pricey.  But we're both happy with our rings, and that's what counts.

A close approximation of Todd's wedding band: 

Ah, the Etoile... I'm glad it'll be in New Jersey until the wedding.  Otherwise, I'd be tempted to wear it daily as soon as it arrived!

New York Wedding Weekend! - New Jersey Reception

This weekend, Todd and I flew to New York for the wedding of Todd's cousin Aaron to Djamila. We also did several tasks in relation to our own wedding while we were there...

First, we went to the Mountain Lakes Club.  Todd's parents are graciously throwing us a reception next September in New Jersey for all of the East Coast friends and family who won't be coming to our wedding at Disneyland in July.  They took us to the Club where a woman with a lovely South African accent gave us a tour of where the reception will be.  It was breathtaking.

The interior is two large dining spaces with a beautiful wood dance floor between them, curved ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto a lake.

The terrace is accessible through the windowed doors in the dining room.  It has striped rolling awnings (which I love) as well as a gorgeous view of the lake!
The view from the terrace.  The fall foliage looked so lovely :-)
Todd's parents, sister and husband, and us.  What a gloriously sunny day!

Wedding Dress Alterations

When I received the giant box containing my Carolina Herrera wedding gown about a month and a half ago, I began the search to find a place that could do the alterations.  Basically, the dress needs to be hemmed (for a shortie like me!), taken in about four inches through the waist, and the boning needs to be fixed in the bust area.

Todd and I were wandering about in the Marina district a few weeks ago and we literally stumbled upon Persepolis Design (http://www.persepolisdesign.com).  It was a jewel of a shop with a picture window featuring two beautiful wedding gowns and an evening gown.  There was a sign that said "specializing in couture gown alterations."  

I called the owner of the shop, Leila Van Dyke, and made an appointment to bring my dress in.

When I put on the dress in the curtained dressing room at the appointment, I was so nervous.  Nervous that I wouldn't like it anymore.  Nervous that I'd gained weight and it somehow wouldn't fit.  Nervous that Leila would say she couldn't alter it to my specifications.  But when I stepped out of the room and onto the platform so she could see the gown, all my doubts faded away.  It was still perfect.  Leila assured me that she could do all the alterations I needed, and we scheduled three additional fittings over the course of the next few months.  I'm also thankful that she'll store the gown for me during the alteration period and up until the wedding so I won't have to worry about Todd coming upon it in the apartment!  

The only issue that came up at our first appointment was the cost of all the alterations.  To tell you the truth, my breath was taken away when Leila told me how much it would cost.  Really? Just for a little hemming and taking it?  But then I thought: Do I want to go through the process of finding a more affordable tailor?  Do I want to worry about the quality of the alterations?  Do I have the time and energy to still devote to this?  Do I trust this woman?  

And I decided that - although the cost was much more than I'd expected - it was worth it.  Leila has over thirty years of experience altering hundreds of gowns.  I know she won't go out of business, or botch my wedding gown.  And I know that peace of mind is certainly worth paying a little extra.  Plus, she seems really great to work with and that's essential for someone whom I'll be spending hours upon hours of fittings with as the wedding draws closer.  So I booked her, swallowed the extra expense, and haven't regretted it since!

One more thing off the list!

Bridesmaids' Packets

A few weeks ago, I sent each of my bridesmaids - my matron of honor, Chrissie; Todd's sister, Bree; my stepsister, Flora; and my cousins, Taylor and Hayley - a packet to give them some ideas about the kind of attire I'd like them to wear for the wedding.

For some reason, bridesmaids dresses always seem to be a sensitive point - and one of great contention - so I wanted to make the process as simple and affordable as possible for my 'maids.

Basically, I have only two requirements for their attire: that they wear 1) dresses that are 2) navy blue.  That's it!  The dresses can be any length (although the wedding will be in mid-morning at the end of July in SoCal so I'm sure most of the girls will choose shorter lengths...), and the bridesmaids can wear any shoes and accessories they want.

In the packets, I included:

A letter with an attached swatch of the deep blue navy silk I used to create the ring bearer's pillow.

A print-out from Polyvore of several cute navy blue dresses - in every price range - to give the girls an idea of what's out there.  The notecards I used depicted paintings by Marc Chagall, including one featuring a bride and groom :-)

And a hanger (in Vera Bradley's "mod floral blue") so that when the girls purchase their dresses, they'll have something pretty to put them on!
I also have another of these hangers - in the same pattern - to hang my dress on when it's finished being altered, and on the day of the wedding.

Hope the girls liked their little packets!

Tampa Continued

On a Really Fun tram at the Phoenix airport. Light speed ahead!

Ben wearing a super-snazzy alligator hat :-) Notice his cuddly otter companion...

Clownfish! Every kid who went by screamed "Nemo!"
Tampa City Hall
A display of historical bubblers from fish tanks.  I loved the hippo!

In the end, we won five ballots at the NACDL competition.  We tied with two other teams for a place in the semi-finals, so they did a coin toss.  Unfortunately, we lost the coin toss.  But we were then able to relax, have a fabulous time at Guava-ween, hang out with the extremely nice UConn team, wander around Tampa, EAT, and just have some fun.  It was also great to meet Geoff's dad and stepmom and hear some truly crazy tales from Geoff's early days as a federal public defender.  All in all, it was a wonderful trip, and I can't wait for the next competition!

Downtown Tampa

A sea dragon!

A small owl common to Florida's mangrove swamps
Cruise ship filled with chic French tourists in the Tampa port
Manta ray sculpture at the entrance to the Florida Aquarium
Side-by-side
What's even funnier is that Sarah Palin was speaking at the Tampa Convention Center on Sunday morning.  We saw her motorcade and her husband Todd as well as about six hundred red-shirted supporters.  Although I was wearing a recently acquired orange-shaped "Florida for Obama" button, everyone was polite :-)