Weekend Adventure Part Deux

This weekend we're back in Arkansas, visiting the Arkansas Heart Hospital. This is one swanky place. It's brand new and the rooms are HUGE! Plenty of room for two fold-out chairs and lots of floor space for pallets (even though we don't need it). The entire extended family fits, even future daughters-in-law. I'm glad to see everyone again. It's kinda like a family reunion. I'm glad I've met them all before, or else this could be awkward. I get to show off my ring, too. I know, I know, that's selfish and self-centered, but I was asked to come for comic relief. Nobody wants to focus too much on the fact that my Future Father in Law (FFIL) will have quadruple bypass surgery tomorrow morning (or the fact that they won't let the poor guy wear any pants and he's just sitting there in one of those backless hospital numbers). So I distract them with vivid descriptions of my romantic proposal. Of course, my FFIL quips that he doesn't even remember proposing to my FMIL. Everyone gets a good laugh out of that and we all know he'll be ok.

Even though, your prayers are still appreciated.

Weekend Adventure

Last weekend My Fiance' and I went to Russelville, Ar to see his parents. They don't live there, but we met them 1/2way for lunch.
If you're ever in Russelville slightly after lunchtime, you should check out Stoby's. Ask somebody, they're bound to know where it is. They have sandwiches, the Stoby and Stobyburgers. The coolest part is there's a train that runs around the entire restarurant, which is itself in an old dining car. They're known for their cheese dip. I wasn't too impressed, but it wasn't bad either.
Then, just down (read: east) the same road is Vintage Books. We're talking floor to ceiling old book smell. They had an old Bible that was about 1by2by3feet. Gorgeous pictures! The store was organized by genre with a pretty nice classics section. There's a college in Russelville, and you can tell what books are required reading by what has been re-sold to Vintage Books. They had all the books I already own, but no Northanger Abbey. I touched a lot of yummy smelling books, though. They had a pretty good sci-fi section too. Actually, most used book stores do. High prices though. That's what happens when books arent' "used," but "vintage." I reastrained myself from buying anything. I admire my own self control.
I still want those shoes, though.

Thou Shall Not Covet

I want.
And if they came in red, I'd really be in trouble.

No Gifts, Please

Do you Registrant and Co-registrant,
take BedBath&Yonder^
to be your bridal registry,
to browse and to scan,
in bed and in bath,
in cutlery and fine china,
for sheets or for towels,
for pots or for pans,
both in-store and online,
as long as you both shall shop?

"We do."

We should have read the fine print. It would have warned us that Elle* would follow us around the store with a clipboard and gun^^, encouraging us to choose our future appliances, knives, bedding, cutlery, towels, shower curtains, trashcans. She had plenty of advice, but I'm a shopper who likes to mull things over** and I don't like pressure from salespeople. Right now, I have such buyers remorse that I can't sleep. And we didn't even buy anything yet. Luckily, I can log on and delete whatever I don't like tomorrow. Plus, their return policy is top-notch. We can get cash back on anything, which is ideal.

We really don't need 1/2 the stuff Elle zapped. It's not like we're 20 years old (see previous post) and have nothing but the dorm towels someone from church bought us for high school graduation (although, I do have mine and am still using it). We both live in houses and have appliaces and cookware. I'm actually worried about fitting all of the stuff we have into the teeny-tiny-money-saving apartment we're going to rent.

What we need is camping equipment. How much "yonder" will we need to go for that, Elle?

_______________________________
footnotes:

^What my Fiance' calls it

*Name changed to protect the...I'm not so sure she's innocent. Nice girl, but gimme the gun^^ and I promise, nobody gets hurt! No wonder folks end up registering for mini-muffing pans when they've never baked a day in their life.

^^I should probably mention that the "GUN" is one of those little scanner zapper thingies to record the barcode of future purchaces. She sure was slinging it like an outlaw though.

**I once stalked a pair of peep-toe pumps for 5 months, and bought them for $.50 on the dollar, mind you!

Age Ain't Nuthin' but a Number

...and my favorite number is 17. (Technically it should be 24, since the code that B.J., Lisa and I invented in the 9th grade would make Memphis' number 24. But old habits die hard.) I mention the numbers and the age becasue my 1/2 birthday was the 14th. I got into the habit of celebrating my 1/2 birthday sometime around when we invented the code. What's the use of having a summer birthday when none of your "friends" will come to your party becasue they're all preparing their livestock for the county fair? A birthday during the school year is much cooler. You get to have a party in class and all your "friends" think you're cool for bringing snacks. (Even if it is peanut butter bars every year.) Then, when I started my whole anti-Valentine's day kick, it became even more usefule to have an alternative party on that day. No pressure, no love, no annoying toddlers w/ bows and arrows. I'd almost forgotten about my own mortality, when Mamma called to wish me a happy 1/2 birthday. OMG! I'm 28 and a 1/2! That's downhill to 29 and lurking around the corner (insert dramatic horror movie music here) THIRTY! eeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkk! What happened to all those years when I was 17? I don't feel that much grown up. Maybe getting married will help, but I doubt it. Let me tell you this: I was NOT getting married when I was 29. I would have refused. It would make me feel like and old head who barely beat the "I was married in my 20s" deadline, (a totally arbitrary deadline I made up, but admit it...there's something about 30-when you're on THIS side of it. Quit smirking like that, Carrie Bradshaw. I know you hate all us 20-somethings.) and I wasnt' having any of it. I would have proudly waited until I was 30 to become a wife. It sounds very dignified to me. I'm not waiting though. We've waited long enough and life is too short. I'm just glad I'm still twenty-eight.

Love Was in the Air

I meant to post on actual Valentine's day, but ended up in hospital with an arrow in my patootie. Long story, and I'll explain later, but let me just ask, why don't people see a toddler with a bow and arrows as the nuisance he is? I guess I shouldn't be too mad at the little stinker. He did bring me:
1 rose
1 carnation
1 tin of chocolates*
2 Valentine's pencils
1 giant Hershey's kiss*
1 mini chocolate heart*
1 Harry Potter Valentine
1 bag of chocolate popcorn*
1 long-stemmed chocolate rose*
1 tin of hummus
1 pkg. of pita.
All in all it was a good haul. I mention it, mainly, because I've never really received Valentine's from my students before. I'm glad they love me more than Mr. Smythe.

*Memphis ate all the chocolate.

Eat your heart out, Willy Wonka

Can you believe I'd rather read the chocolate book, than eat it?

Godiva Chocolatier is giving away a night's stay in their one-of-a-kind-entirely-chocolate room!

Literary Dating

A good man is hard to find. The wrong choice of mate could spell social and financial disaster. What's a girl to do?
In honor of Valentine's Day, Masterpiece (formerly Masterpiece Theatere) on PBS has created online dating profiles for each of the "Men of Austen." Who's a dream, who's a bore and who's a scoundrel? Click here to see online profiles for all of Jane Austen's suitors, from the leading men to the cads.

"Hey, I thought marty grass was only celebrated in New Orleans?"

No, that's not a type-o, it's a direct quote from a student of mine. Needless to say, our English lesson was interrupted by a mini-lecture on cultural awareness (and a French pronunciation lesson - the last part being free). Remind me not to discuss a holiday that incorporates sparkly beads and flashing girls with middle school students again. Here I am trying to educate them on Christian traditions, and all they want to know is how to get more beads. Lord, love 'em. I just discovered melted chocolate on my keyboard. I wonder where that came from? Perhaps, my own personal "Fat Tuesday" celebration? Luckily, enough youngsters were culturally/religioulsy* aware that they explained everything (saving me from breaking the "Thou shall not discuss religion in public school" law). We are now counting the days to Easter, but can't figure out what bunnies and eggs have to do with the resurrection of Jesus.**

*Is this a word? Did I spell it right?

**Tune in tomorrow to hear Jamal say, "I thought it was pronounced Hay-suess?"

Life is uncertain; always eat dessert first

My other motto is "Use the present to plan a future you won't be ashamed to call your past."
It's actually the only original quote I've ever written. Even the blog name "Eat Dessert First" was taken. Probably by the famous Olahoman, Kathrine Timlin (age 105). Okay, maybe not.
But since William Shakespeare stole everything he ever wrote, I'm not too concerned.

This blog is dedicated to the faithful bloggers who talked me into this:

Cubicle:

http://sandcastlesandcubicles.blogspot.com/

Sparquay:

http://sparquay.blogspot.com/

Lady Arden:

http://halfaworldawayandupsidedown.blogspot.com/

Also, any stressed out fiancee's with a wedding less than six months away.