Iesus Non Amat Me

Dad's internal calendar is apparently a day out and he thought today was Shrove Tuesday, so we had pancakes. Because why not? And I feel like having pancakes on Ash Wednesday is perfectly in keeping with our family.

Mum and I went blood doning today. I wasn't able to donate cos my haemoglobin levels were too low, so Mum made up for it by donating too much. We both got handy leaflets to take home with us. It was funny cos before we went we were joking that Tilly wanted me to stay home and Mum could just donate for both of us!

In my previous entry I promised a more in-depth post about the wedding, so here we go:

I'm still not sure why I was an anxious about going to this thing. I mean, yeah, I know I'm still not great with being sociable but I've made so much progress in the past 15 years. I wasn't expecting this to affect me so much, but I was shaking on the way down and on the verge of tears quite a few times. I texted Paul and made him meet up with me before we checked in so I didn't have to go in by myself. And then I felt guilty for being so clingy.

The hotel was nice, although I had an issue with my door not locking. Paul and I went to reception and they said they'd send someone up to check it. After the ceremony I decided to pop up and see if it was fixed, but it still opened without the keycard. So I went back down and they said they'd sent someone and he said it was fine. Clearly didn't do a very good job with that! The lady then moved me to another room, so I went and moved my stuff down while pictures were being taken. It wasn't a big deal, but I really didn't need another thing to worry about when I was already so anxious.

The ceremony was nice, although out of date. The officiant said that "The law of this country defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman" and I was sitting there thinking "Not any more!" The meal was good too. Because the wedding was superhero themed we all got characters on our placecards. I was Storm, although I was sat on the Spiderman table rather than the X-Men one. But that's ok. Beast and Gambit were also there with me.

The reception followed, which was where I struggled a lot. The music was so loud and overwhelming I again felt close to tears and just wanted to escape. But I stuck it out. What helped a lot was moving to a nearby room where we could still hear the music, but it was at a far more manageable level. I wish we'd thought to do that earlier, but people seemed to be having fun dancing. The groom's father made me get up and dance at one point, which I really wish I was able to enjoy but I just felt too uncomfortable and self conscious. I told myself that I'd dance again when they played my song request, but they never did.

The hotel was only a couple of miles from my house but I chose to stay over so I didn't have to worry about getting a taxi home, and I'm glad I did. It was one less thing to panic about, and it meant that I got to have breakfast with friends (including the bride and groom) the next day, which was nice.

So yeah, I'm trying to focus on the positives of the weekend (namely the fact that I went and stuck it out till the end and it was a lovely wedding) and not so much the negatives (how much I leaned on Paul for support the whole time and the fact that I was panicking about quite simple things in the first place.)

And despite the fact that it went mostly well, I still spent a lot of Sunday plagued with the idea that everyone I talked to or interacted with now thinks I'm a horrible person because of something I said or did or didn't say or didn't do. That was fun.

I just looked down and there was a wasp chilling in the handle of my scissors. Definite Do Not Want! I took him outside and eventually was able to shake him off but it took a while. The little dude did not want to leave. I wonder if he was hoping to do some arts and crafts and I have cruelly deprived him of his vocation.

It was drizzling outside, which was actually quite pleasant after the heat this morning. Although, having said that, it was really the humidity that did me in. The cash office felt like an actual sauna. And I couldn't even have the small relief of the little tabletop fan because certain people have stolen it for their own use! I should just steal it back. It was mine to begin with after all. (Well, the cash office's, but that's pretty much the same thing.)

Still, could be worse. On Friday I was helping to push three 800kg pallets up a hill. At least the weather wasn't too bad then. I think I would have actually died!

In other news, I had a good weekend. It was Rob's birthday on Thursday and Mum's on Saturday so Rob came round on Sat for a joint celebration. I gave Mum the Corkers board game, which we have now played twice and she won both times. I suppose it's only fair since it was her day. And it turns out that I don't know as much about wine as I thought I did.

Pre-packing for Ireland is going well. I have my lists and a vague idea of where everything is that I'm going to need to take with me. Can't quite believe it's only four days away!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

I carved my pumpkin on Saturday while watching Strictly Come Dancing and drinking wine. Maybe that's why he looks so happy:





Such a happy pumpkin.

He's currently sitting by the front door, ready to welcome any trick-or-treaters who might come by. So far no-one has appeared, possibly put off by the rain, but the night is still young.

I went to Starbucks earlier and tried a pumpkin spice latte. I was a bit wary at first but it was actually really nice. When I got home I made bat cookies and now I'm drinking a jack-o-lantern cocktail. It's quite strong and I still have to make dinner later. Hopefully I'll be able to stay upright.

I'm also dressed up, complete with witch earrings and Elphaba necklace. I mention this because no one else is. I'm really the only person in my family who gets excited about things like Halloween and Christmas. Clearly I need to get some children. Or find some friends who live close enough that I can force them to celebrate with me.

In other news, it's November tomorrow and that means I have to decide if I want to do NaNoWriMo and/or NaBloPoMo this year. I'm pretty certain that I won't be able to write 50,000 words, but I'm thinking it might be good to try and write something. And I hardly ever come on LJ any more, so NaBloPoMo might be difficult to achieve. Or it could be my triumphant return. I see I'm not alone in drifting away from this site though, so if I do end up posting every day I'll probably end up filling your friends pages with nothing but my pointless ramblings.

Most people just give their mother chocolates for Mother's Day. I make mine work for hers.

That's right, I gave her the Trivial Pursuit chocolate edition. She wants those chocolates, she's going to have to answer some questions first, dammit!

We played the game earlier. All four of us (Dad, who normally has to be dragged into any type of board game was more than eager when he found out that chocolate was involved.) I ended up winning the most and was therefore the overall victor, even if we did let Mum have the chocolate medal. Mother's Day and all. Only fair. I'm not bitter. Not at all.

I'm sure I won't wait until everyone is asleep and steal it back from her.

Also, I'm totally not tipsy right now.

Happy New Year to everyone who's in 2012 with me!

Greetings from the future to everyone who's still in 2011!

London's fireworks looked very impressive this year. I really liked watching them on TV in my nice warm living room while sipping champagne with my family. And now I'm going to bed because I am an old lady.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful time this evening. =D

Less than two weeks to Christmas now, so I think it's safe to say we are officially in the festive season. I've changed to the Christmas icon and theme for my LJ. If I knew where my USB fairy lights were I'd have them round my laptop screen right now, but I don't and that makes me sad. Maybe I'll find them tomorrow when I continue decorating.

Today I dressed the tree. I'm like the Christmas fairy. People left the house with a bare tree in the living room and when they came back -bam- all pretty and decorated. The good thing about being the only person to do it is that all my decorations get to have pride of place at the top. Although, having said that, most of the decorations are mine anyway. Sometimes I think my family doesn't appreciate Christmas like I do.

London was good, although the Winter Wonderland was disappointing. It was too busy to enjoy it properly and we made a quick escape without actually doing anything. But no matter, other things were good. I got quite a lot of shopping done and I met Ian Hislop and Professor Brian Cox. All in all, a pretty successful trip.

Now I think it's about time to start my Christmas viewing. I shall have to make a list of appropriate films and TV episodes that I've got on DVD and work my way through them. All I know at the moment is that I'll be watching Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve because it's my tradition and I love it.

So, who watched Eurovision last night? I did. Moldova totally should have won.

Also last night - my family and I made our own pizzas. They were delicious. (Well, mine was and I am extrapolating from that fact that they all were.) And we had home made ice cream. And it was good.

Today I dug out an old jigsaw puzzle to make up while watching Pirates of the Caribbean. (The Lego PotC game came out on Friday and Mum and I have been playing it, which made me want to watch the film again and I always like to do a puzzle while watching a film.) But alas for me, the jigsaw was incomplete! I don't know if you know, gentle reader, just annoying it is to spend hours working on a puzzle only to realise, far too late, that pieces are missing. Damn you, jigsaw! I was tricked by the fact that your box was sellotaped together. You implied that you were complete! You lied to me!

*shakes fist*

Hey, everyone! Time for my New Year's memes. My answers this year are more upbeat than I can ever remember them being previously, which has to be a good thing!

( Meme One: The Questions )

( Meme Two: The Sentences )

My parents and I have just been on the patio watching the local rugby club fireworks display while drinking mulled wine. Very impressive fireworks, not so great wine.

Tilly came out and joined us for a while. I'm sure anyone seeing us would have thought we were horrible people to have her out there, but that's the advantage of having a deaf dog. =D