Summer daze

I'm still walking around in a daze after a long vacation in France. It feels like when you were little, in grade school, and the summer was almost over and the entire school year was looming over your head, and you were really worried about who your science teacher was going to be. No more lazy days at the pool and biking to the Soda Shop for a milkshake. Nope, those days are over - now it's time for waking up early, wondering what to wear, downing a Pop-Tart and catching the cheese-wagon, hoping Geoffrey the red-haired kissy monster won't be on it (by the way, there really was this redhead named Geoffrey in the first grade who would chase girls around the playground, hence the name 'kissy monster.'). That's how I've felt since I got back from my trip.

The only fun part of back-to-school was new clothes. Maybe I should do some retail therapy. Oh and buy some pens. I love new pens.

The vacation wasn't a true vacation, actually: we were very productive planning for next year. Planning a wedding has not been as traumatic as it is generally portrayed in movies or on that awful show "Bridezillas" (I can't stand those people). It's actually been quite fun (picking out the dress - the second one I tried on was it) and easy (finding the all-in-one location site). All the big details are taken care of already, and the rest of it we take care of via email. Bada-bing! I should become a wedding planner.

I don't understand how weddings have become such a big production nowadays. I just don't think it's healthy when your obsession with having a monogrammed aisle runner or matching sashes on the bridesmaids dresses have become more important than the ultimate purpose of the wedding (and what comes after the party's over). It's like it's some huge traumatic event that you're supposed to be super-stressed about. How are you supposed to enjoy your day? And I also don't understand the level of extortion that is inherent in the bridal industry. A nice bouquet of flowers at a grocery store? $12.99. Oh, but a bridal bouquet? $120.99. Some of the dresses I've seen can only be described as fugly (like a Barbie doll princess gown that a big pink bird seems to have exploded onto) but they cost upwards of $10,000 and you wear them once. Sheesh! I think I will pick the flowers myself and tie them with a pretty ribbon, thank you very much. As for the dress, it is a tenth of a price of those designer ones and a hundred times prettier, in my humble opinion.

Since coming back from France I have had to catch up on my movie-watching, namely, the summer blockbusters that I can't believe I'm paying $10 to go see:

Superbad was supercrass, and lowbrow, and terribly offensive, but I couldn't help laughing in spite of myself at the hilarity of some of the situations and awkwardness of the main characters. I say in spite of myself because I did cringe...perhaps it's because I can't really identify with the hormone-crazed teenage boy (or college guy, for that matter) whose ultimate goal in life is getting laid. And call me old-fashioned or prude, tell me to lighten up if you will, but I can't stand the p word and my ears got a full dose during this movie. I can say the movie seemed authentic in its portrayal of high school boys, and I'm really happy I'm not in high school anymore. Not the kind of movie I would go see with any of my family members. Especially my 15-year old brother (the Bourne Ultimatum was solid, though, and so was the Simpson's Movie).

Last weekend I went to a Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao, for a friend's birthday. It was a true "meat party:" all-you-can-eat meat - sausage, chicken, filet mignon, roast beef, lamb - served to you on swords by "gauchos" (ie waiters). It was truly gluttonous. And wonderfully tasty. Glad I'm not a vegetarian even though I do sometimes feel really guilty eating meat. Happy birthday Victoriño!