:::tap tap tap::: is this thing on??

I have a bunch of stuff to tell you, but not enough time to tell it all in one sitting.

I can see myself being back to daily blogging in a week or so, though.

The last two weeks have been just nuts. I took the week of August 18th-22nd off work to do some cleaning/dehoarding of the domicile. We rented a drop box so we could dispose of a ton of things that have been sitting out back... old furniture etc.

I never really thought about it, we've never had furniture to dispose of before. But last fall about this time, my cousin Kathy moved out of her great big house and into an RV full time. She sold or gave away a great deal of what she had. We were the recipients of a sofa, two end tables, a big comfortable recliner and a rolling TV stand thing. That's currently in the spare bedroom with the printer inside and the modem etc on top.

So anyway, we had this big-assed sectional. Totally worn out, dirty with dog grease up the back (Maggie rubbed on it constantly and left a big black streak.)
You can't very well cram the sofa and various parts into the garbage can to haul away. We don't own a truck to haul it to the dump, either.

So it sat. A bunch of other things sat, too. When Matt moved out, he left things that also needed to be thrown away.

So the dumpster was a necessary thing. I ordered it on a Thursday, it showed up on Friday morning at 7:25 AM because why the hell should I be allowed to sleep in? And the guy picked it up the following Friday, also a little after 7... because again, why the hell should I be allowed to sleep in? Gahhh. Beeeeeeeeeeeep beeeeeeeeeeeeeep beeeeeeeeeeep beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep while he backed up. Then SLAM and CRASH and SLAM and beeeeeeeeeeeeep beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep... I guess if I'd gone out in my t shirt and gummy hair and yelled at him I'd be the one who looked bad, which strikes me as unfair because HE was the noisy asshole... but whatever.

So we had a ton of stuff hauled away.

Then on Friday the 22nd we picked Bob up at the airport. Matt called me at a little after 9 as we were on the way there to ask me to make Amy's bouquet.

She specified 'predominantly yellow and white with some blue'. Okay. Any idea how many colors of blue there are in the ribbon section of Michael's? Holy crap. I just chose one and hoped for the best. Since you've seen the wedding photos already, you know I picked the right stuff.

And because I felt like I couldn't just leave it at a bouquet, I sat here at the table and spent nine hours on Saturday the 23rd doing flowers for the wedding. I spent about a hundred dollars on flowers, wires, floral tape, ribbons etc... Amy said that they'd priced flowers and just one corsage was 40 dollars. I was glad that Matt asked me to do something I understood. :)

I did the bouquet, a boutonniere for Matt and for the best man (who was a girl) and for the officiant who is Matt's best male friend. Three months ago, Matt was his best man, actually. I did corsages for the matron of honor, Amy's mom, my mom and my daughter. Then, when Matt and Amy were over for dinner I asked Amy if there was anyone else she wanted me to make a corsage for. I ended up making one for her grandmother, too.

Here's a box of flowers for you to see...

tools of the trade... I haven't forgotten how to do this even though it's been a long time

The ribbon for the bridal bouquet and behind that, the little newsletter thing from my cousin's daughter's wedding on July 5th. THEY did the whole schmear. Little newsletters, can cozies, formal wear...

For the matron of honor

I want to tell you about the wedding, too. It was really sweet and designed by them FOR them. I am pretty sure the lack of religious ceremony bothered a few people, but I think the ceremony and the little extras were just perfect. They seem so happy and make such a sweet couple.

Saturday morning (two days ago) Matt and Amy came over at 5:30 AM and I drove them to the airport to catch a plane. They're currently honeymooning in Orlando. I hope they're having a wonderful time.

It's pretty crowded in our driveway. My car, Matt's car, the car we rented for Eric, Bob and Lyssa to visit Eric's sister (that's a whole 'nother story.. one that will take ages to write down) and Eric's work truck.

Busy busy.

I got my site set up for Tuesday morning's school opening.
I managed to get out there last week and meet our new principal. He seems like a nice guy. He has a child in a before/after school program. He asked me something I've never been asked by a principal before... "What can I do to help you grow your program?" Which bodes well for the future, I think.

Anyway, I am done rambling for tonight. Shower, bed. Ikea in the morning, Eric and Bob are going out hot dog roasting tomorrow. BORRRRRING but I will probably go, too.