Life is in the Cards
Posted by Moose on October 22nd, 2008. Filed under: Uncategorized.The need to post here is sitting on my shoulders like an elephant. An elephant who ate too much candy corn and is wearing a fuzzy pink hat remarkably like the one I’ve almost finished knitting. My elephant is fidgeting because he thinks he looks stupid in a half-finished hat with needles sticking out the top. He’s right, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings.
Life is feeling very…alive lately. Do I win for most insightful and well-written sentence? I DO? Why, thank you. I accept. Over the past few months, my refrigerator has been a veritable train station for baby shower and wedding invitations, with more wonderful news popping up almost weekly. If you read the newspaper, times look dark. Iceland has crumbled and Sarah Palin seems to think hunting moose is a good idea and the world’s wealth is teetering over some chasm that I simply can’t fathom because I slept through most of my high school economics class and so never quite understood how money makes more money just by sitting there. But if you look at my refrigerator, life is plugging steadily – and happily – on.
Evites are a blessed invention: Less waste! Instantaneous RSVP options! But there’s something about getting a large cream envelope and opening it to a message of “We’re celebrating, and we want you to celebrate with us – as demonstrated by this large square of linen card stock.” And it feels all fancy and celebratory until I trip on my way to the refrigerator and splatter tomato juice on it. Even then it feels celebratory, only slightly less tidy.
I’m looking forward to sending out my own invitations some day, for what I haven’t decided yet – gainful employment! first date! new Tuscan villa! But right now I’m happy to plug along with my projects – new hobbies that result in half-finished pink hats, and flirting with learning Italian because I’ll need it to wrangle contractors who fix the water pump at my Tuscan villa. I jump on the train during my lunch hour to hear Sarah Vowell, a woman who makes me happy just by existing. Run errands as Roman gladiators ride scooters down Powell Street hawking yogurt. Eat strawberries that should surely be out of season now.
And fudge on my insistence that the only way to meet someone is while making a fool of myself over his poor spaniel as he says something suitably charming. It’s a nice picture, but really translates into “stare at green sneakers while ignoring all charming owners of cute dogs.” So I’m altering my expectation from Perfect Coincidence to Whatever Works, because I’m determined to find myself a date for the David Sedaris reading next Monday.
I’ll keep you posted.
Related posts:
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Please do. For this post had me smiling all the way through, and I am not sure exactly why.
I needed that.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I plan on sending an evite for my wedding (except I’m not getting married anytime soon). I am a bridesmaid for a friend’s wedding and this weekend I had to help address invitations and it was pretty much the worst experience ever. (not really, but it was NOT fun)
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Umm, the internet has suddenly and inexplicably worked for me in the dating area. I’m not talking “dating sites”, but maybe something similar? Not very romantic, but not not romantic, ya know?
Good Luck!!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I saw Sarah Vowell speak in NYC once and she was RAD. So glad you went to see her.
Um…what if you kind of cheaped out and didn’t send linen card stock invitations? Do those still count? The budget went to the food, the wine, and the…did I mention the food?
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
A & M: Honestly, I’m not even sure what linen card stock is. It just sounded good. I certainly don’t know anyone who uses it. Most of my invitations are postcards. And those are the fancy ones.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
If you do learn Italian, call me.
I had my first blog visitor from Italy who commented in English.
Sadly, I was not able to understand her blog posts written in Italian, despite five years of high school Spanish.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 am
I am seeing David Sedaris this Friday and am so excited! Enjoy it!
Am also very jealous that you’ve seen Sarah Vowell.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 am
mmm…candy corn…
i like evites…but somehow i still seem to forget about events…even when i get the evite reminder emails. if it’s on my fridge, chances are good i won’t forget about it.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
You keep us posted. If all else fails, I’ll fly out there and see David Sedaris with you. No, REALLY. Such is my love for him. And you.
October 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Ooo, good luck! And if all else fails, take the elephant. I’m sure he’ll help you start conversations, potentially with Eligible Guys.
October 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Saw David Sedaris last night in Santa Barbara. He is so great. The Q&A wasn’t good because people asked such stupid questions, though.
October 27th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I’ll save vacation time for when that Tuscan villa comes into the picture. I, too, slept through econ class and cannot decide if, at the moment, it’s a curse or a blessing.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
This gave me a great idea to send out annoucements when I get a new job! It will say:
Annoucement:
Kristin got a job
Send gifts.
Stamps cost money.
Thanks!
October 29th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Just thought I would weigh-in on the discussion of e-vites vs. paper invitations. One of my all-time favorite books on the subject of our language is:
“Alphabet to Email: How Written English Evolved and Where It’s Heading”, by Naomi Baron
If you ever want to nerd-out over such things… and see how far we’ve come, definitely check out that book.