Teef.

A little while ago, I was brushing my teeth and realized that I was singing "Cotton-Eyed Joe" in my head... and brushing my teeth to the rhythm.

I also realized that once I have dental insurance, I'm gonna need to get my wisdom teeth pulled. Ask me how excited I am about that.

But for now? All is well. :) And tomorrow, I'm goin to see my man in STL. Can't wait!

Wild Subconcious

Two nights ago, I dreamed that my friend Philip from work had somehow assaulted one of our younger, female co-workers. (I think I had somehow witnessed or overheard it, but I don't remember any details, it was too early in the dreamstory). I dreamed that I was so angry about it that I cussed him out when he walked in the door and then, for good measure, slapped him in the face a few times, then took off his glasses and broke them and stepped on them, all the while SEETHING that he had hurt "that little girl".

Never mind that Philip is a great dude AND doesn't wear glasses. Nor have I ever seen or heard of him assaulting a woman.

After I battered him for several minutes, Philip walked out the back door of the restaurant and returned five minutes later with a gun. He walked through the restaurant, listless, creepy, dejected, barely aware that he was holding a gun. I saw it immediately, walked out from behind that bar and went straight for him, saying (in a calmer voice now), "Philip, no. No. You can not do this!" I remember knowing that there were other people in the restaurant, back in the dish room, and thinking "I can't let him get us all lined up like hostages behind the the bar. I can't give him that power!" And it wasn't until I was like 2 paces from the gun that I was like "Wait, I can't get shot right now! I'm getting married!"

And I woke myself up. My room was really hot and I my heart was beating out of my chest.

Last night, I had another crazy dream.

That I parked my car, Jade, in a Big Lots parking lot and jumped in someone else's car to ride somewhere. I remember being at a nice hotel, near a window for a moment, but again, I forget the earlier bits of the dreamstory. Anyway, I got back to my car the next afternoon and was shocked and devastated to find that someone had severely vandalized it.

The entire back part of my car was missing. From the edge of the back windshield to the back bumper. There was a rusted metal skeleton its place. My two back tires were gone too. I opened the door, (which was still locked, for some reason) and found the inside gutted. The dash was fine, but the radio was gone and the seats had all been ripped out and replaced with these horrible, ugly, woven brown and banana yellow bucket seats. Whoever ripped me off had been nice enough to "trade seats" with me.

I was devastated. Not because there had been anything of value in my car-- but because it's my car! And I was supposed to trade cars with Todd next week! We can't only have one car!!!

I was SO upset. Bawling. But if I remember correctly, my sweet fiance almost immediately found some kind of black Jeep on craigslist and then gave me his car.

But still... my little Jade... ravaged. It was terrible.

What's up with these dreams?!

106 Days To Go...

So we've been engaged for three weeks now.

And we've really accomplished quite a bit so far! Since June 1st, we have...

• Had my ring sized.
• Located and secured a venue for 10/10/09 in Nashville.
• Chosen the wedding party.
• Used my engagement ring/story/news to avoid a busted taillight ticket AND cell phone overage charges.
• Tried on dresses at 4 different places.
• Got to visit with Mom for a whole weekend!
• Acquired a wedding gown and a veil and shoes.
• Took said gown to be altered.
• Tasted (and opted out of) some very expensive cake.
• Chosen a minister.
• Secured a DJ, a groom's cake, and an invitation designer.
• Pondered wedding reception food and drink options.
• Begun planning a Dallas reception AND an Illinois reception.
• Freaked out about catering costs.
• Stared at hundreds of pictures of orangey-reddish flowers.
• Started marriage counseling.
• Had half the carpet and drywall ripped out of what will be our apartment in STL.
• Memorized my new address (except for the zip code... 63 something...)
• Assembled (and trimmed) a guest list.
• Set up a knot.com website.
• Looked for jobs in STL.
• Chosen a retailer for the bridal party cocktail dresses.
• Overseen the purchase of 4 bridesmaid dresses! Yay!
• Officially registered at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond & CB2.com! (Favorite items? The awesome duvet cover (click "room view" and "3"-- that's hopefully gonna be our bedroom!) and lamps from CB2, the grown and sexy toaster oven from BB&B and PS3/Guitar Hero World Tour from Target... we can dream!)
• Went to see UP with my fiance. Can't imagine growing old next to anyone else. :)
• Changed the time of the wedding from 5:00pm to 6:00pm to 7:00pm and then back to 6:30pm.
• Discussed honeymoon options.
• Considered scrapping every bit of planning in favor of eloping.
• Reminded each other that this is supposed to be fun and that the marriage is SO much more important than the wedding.
• Calmed down and decided that we're still on for 10/10/09 in Nashvegas.

It's been quite a ride. But we're doing well! I'm so grateful every day for God's provision and favor concerning our big day! I'm driving to STL on Sunday to attend August Gate's June preview service and spend a few days in the city... so excited! We're also taking our engagement pics, courtesy of the lovely KBK. I'll keep you posted.

Well, I'll definitely try. :)

Love Story

Okay, well...

First of all...

I'm engaged. :) :) :)

I'd post a picture, but if you read this, you've probably seen them all. But this is my blog, so what the heck?!

I'm engaged to the love of my life. Our first date was January 31st. And on February 6th, I knew I was going to marry him. Now, in just a few short months, we'll jump into a brand new adventure together... and I could not be more excited!!! I can't wait to wake up next to him everyday, and walk our dog together, and go to church at AugustGate and find a new job and come home to him every night. God is SO good. SO faithful, even in the midst of my doubts and impatience. He has given me more than I ever planned or imagined for myself. I could spend my whole life thanking Him and it wouldn't be enough.

So sorry I've been away for awhile. It's been a little crazy. :)

More to come... I gotta work in the morning.

Truce?

Dear Pickles,

After playing hard-to-get for upwards of 25 years, I have decided that perhaps we can get to know each other.* Over the past few weeks, you have convinced me that there are certain times and certain moments when your presence is acceptable. So we can begin this relationship, if you choose to operate within the perimeters I set for you. 

I. You are to continue being cut into spears and served on the side with things like Panera sandwiches or Saffire cheeseburgers. When you are presented to me in this way, where I can see you and choose whether or not to engage you, everything is fine.

II. You are not to surprise me. Being sliced into chips and sneaking under hamburger buns to be wilted by the heat of hamburger patties is unacceptable. You are to maintain your crunch and snap and stay where I can see you.

III. If you happen to find yourselves sliced up into chips, the only way to redeem yourself is to roll around in flour and cajun spices and then plunge yourself into a deep fryer for several minutes.

IV. Stay away from my hotdogs, my tuna and my potato salad.

V. All pickles outside these guidelines will be considered hostile, kept at arms length and be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Sincerely,

Juliette

*I know, college roommates, I know. No, I am not pregnant.  :)

Andalasian Royalty

So this cute guy comes into my restaurant tonight.

He was there with his pretty, brunette wife and two children. The son was maybe 6 or 7, with longish hair and the daughter was about 3 and wearing an Native American headdress fashioned out of a paper strip with several multicolored feathers attached to it. She wore it the entire time they were there.

As I first walked by his table, a series of thoughts occurred:

1) wow, dude is totally rocking that orange plaid shirt.

2) why does he look familiar?

3) do I know him?

4) maybe he's a country singer?

5) whatever.

So twenty minutes go by and I'm standing back by the line, about to run some food when Vinny, our sous chef, goes "Is that James Marsden at table 33?"

Surely not.

I walk by nonchalantly.

It really looks like him.

I walk by a little more chalantly.

It could totally be him!

I pretend to go up to the hostess stand but 

pretend that I forgot something in the general direction of his table and try to stare at his face without his wife noticing.

Ridiculously blue eyes.

He looks just like him. 

He cannot NOT be him.

My heart starts beating really fast. 

James Marsden is Cyclops! AND he was in a musical! Well, two really! He hooked up with (fake) Lois Lane AND "he" was "engaged" to the time traveler's wife! AND he knows Zac Efron, who I feel like I sort of know because-- well... he keeps showing up! And he can SING!!!

Which is precisely why I'm glad I didn't wait on him. 

Because instead of reciting dinner specials, some variation on that ramble would have tumbled out of my mouth. Or I would have just kept grinning like a fool, thinking about how cool it would be to have red hair and be able to move things with my mind...

So I spent the next several minutes stealing eleventy dozen more glances at his table and deciding whether talking to him could potentially get me any closer to Baz Lurhmann. And when I realized it probably would not, I left him alone. But when they got up to leave, I helped clear the table... and checked his credit card receipt.

James Marsden, indeed.  :)

Several Thousand Words

Sometimes, I really wish I could draw well enough to capture moments and personalities.

Other times I wish my camera could've clicked just one second faster.

But today? No complaining. No comparing.

Just cheers-- to a few well-captured moments.

*I hope no one gets mad at me for reposting these. 

If you find this, and you're mad because I didn't give you props, leave me a comment and I'll credit you it or delete the photo.