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---Daniella’s Favorite Things---

About This Blogger

73 Things About Me

In Real Life

John – my man
John's Website
Jenny

My Bloggaggle

The Coffee Achiever
Incoherent Babbling
Sugarmama
Aussie Daniella
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Robin's Ramblings

My Daily Reads

Cap'n Ken's Homespun Wisdom
Digital Catharsis
Geese Aplenty
Gawker
Gothamist
Greek Tragedy
The Incompetent Attorney - RIP
Leading Brand
Le Petit Hiboux
Manhattan Transfer
Tequila Mockingbird
This Fish

Occasional Reads

Ali Davis
All About Latvia Blog
American Girls are Easy
Baghdad Burning
Because I Say So
Bluejake
Broken Windows: Tales from New Orleans
Capn Design
Dooce
Illuminated Donkey
Mike Wolf
Mirth, Musings and More
Mute Complications
NYC Bartenders
Paul Frankenstein
Paul Gutman
Paul Katcher
Saddam's Blog
Skillzy
Tales from the City
The People's Republic of Seabrook
The Sneeze
The Stiletto Philosophy

Everything Else

Chowhound
Salon.com
Krewe of St. Ann
Ben Franklin HS Aumni Page
Check My Referrals

Our Wedding

Our New and Improved Wedding Website - now with our registry!

contact...
How about an email? I like to communicate.

« Obscure Logs »

On a completely unrelated note, today is six months since I quit smoking. I have zero cravings and the smell of smoke now turns my stomach. Yeah, me!! If you still smoke, you should quit! I used all the money I saved from not buying cigarettes ($15 to $20 per week) to buy shoes. LOTS of shoes!
posted by Daniella 10:54 AM

Well, I am on on pins and needles (aside: who the hell coined that expression anyway? It's stupid). This afternoon is John's last interview. If he is not offered a job this afternoon, we are officially out of options and must move to New Jersey (aka My Own Private Hell). As I'm sure you've noticed if you've been keeping up, I DO NOT want to move to New-Fucking-Jersey! Please keep your fingers and toes crossed and send really good karma our way -- we really need it!
posted by Daniella 10:52 AM

I am in a slightly better mood today and will attempt to blog about my week at the beach.

First, Tuesday was my dreaded gum surgery. I arrived in a panic that was inversely proportional to severity of the very minor procedure. I was so freaked out, in fact, that my heart was racing and I was metabolizing the novocain much faster than normal and they had to give me several extra shots of it. The oral surgeon, who was extremely nice, said that from now on, when I schedule oral surgery of any kind, I need to let them know that I am phobic and they will have me come in early and take a valium. The only caveat was that I must bring someone with me to drive which I do anyway. So, all's well that ends well, right? The procedure itself was no big deal... I don't know what I got so worked up about.

Wednesday, we left for the beach!! Oh, happy day! We spent the next several days frolicking like children among the surf and sand. The weather was perfect (mid-80's, slight breeze), the water was amazing (clear, turquoise with only small waves) and basically it all rocked! John cooked for me non-stop: grilled filet mignon, cream cheese stuffed french toast with berries, meatloaf and mashed potatos... god, I am soooo lucky! Thursday was overcast, so we did a scenic drive to the San Destin Resort (AL 182 to FL 292 to US 98 if you want to try it). John was very patient while I insisted on singing (very loudly and off key) along with every song that came on the Solid Gold Oldies station that I found the whole three hour drive (six hours round trip!). Does anyone know why he wants to marry me?

Saturday night we had dinner with my folks and their friends Richard and Susan at Ryan's Catch in Pensacola. Yes, my parents were also at the beach, but staying further down in Perdido Key. It's not that much of a coincidence when you realize that pretty much the whole city of New Orleans is at the beach for Memorial Day weekend.

We drove back Monday morning and picked up the kitties from the vet where they had been kennelled (is that a word?). Well, I got a rude awakening. Seems that little Frank Sinatra is grossly overweight and must go on a diet. How overweight, you ask? He weighs in at 19 lbs 7 oz! The vet wants to see him down to no more than 15 lbs. Cali, apparently, is fine at 11 lbs 4 oz. So, the fatty catty is on a diet. He is none too thrilled about it either!
posted by Daniella 11:14 AM

I just spent about 45 minutes writing a detailed blog entry about our week at the beach and when I went to publish it gave me an error message and the whole thing was lost. This has annoyed me so much that I am not going to attempt to recreate my entry. So there!
posted by Daniella 5:36 PM

What a lovely weekend with my sweetie who is now an "official" college graduate! We went to a graduation party at Steph and Keith's posh pad on Friday night. They had a live band on their green patio and a good time was had by all. Saturday, I took John to Brigtsen's which did not disappoint. Boy, was it fabulous! I had the Seafood Sampler Platter and John had lamb. Definitely joining the Top Ten List. Then we went to the season finale of the Louisiana Philharmonic and ran into Dr. Irv. Sunday, Mom and Dad took us to Martinique Bistro (also very good, but not on par with Brigtsen's) to celebrate John's graduation. Daddy regaled us with stories from his recent trip to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In about 15 minutes, I will be officially on vacation (although tomorrow is actually the dreaded Gum Surgery Day)... A whole week with my sweetie on the beach. Can't wait. Don't miss me too much, OK?

ciaio
posted by Daniella 5:46 PM

This blog is quickly descending into the "Blog of My Wedding Discontent"! Today was reception site research day and I cannot even begin to tell you the outrageous price quotes I am getting. One place wanted $6,000 for three hours. I asked them if anything was included in the $6K. Nothing. Not a damn thing. For $6K, you get the use of the building for three hours. Another place was $3,000 for three hours plus you had to use their catering and the minimum was $10,000. So, their minimum package was $13K! I am curious to know who has this kind of money and also, who is stupid enough to spend $13,000/ three hours for just food and booze? I mean, this does not include the music, the flowers, the cake, the transportation, the gown, the tux, anything else! Holy shit... this wedding stuff is such a racket! No wonder so many people just elope (and no, Mom, we are NOT going to elope!).
posted by Daniella 5:19 PM

I think I am in love with the author of this blog. I highly recommend that you read the section on the road signs he created, then read the section on the slow torture of the Marshmallow Peeps and then his AOL conversation with Amy the Cross-dressing Hessian. I laughed quite a lot (which prompted many looks from co-workers -- I told them the new version of the Compliance Manual had funny typos, but they would have to discover the typos for themselves!). While you peruse that blog, I am going to go out on International Take Your Fiance To Lunch Day (previously known as International Take Your Girlfriend to Lunch Day) with John.
posted by Daniella 12:45 PM

My daddy's stuck in Cuba... He had to go to Guantanamo Bay to present a bid for his company for a lucrative government contract (aren't all government contracts lucrative by nature? They of the $600 toilet seats?) and the only way to get there is via a military transport which only flies in on Tuesdays and out on Saturdays. So daddy's two hour meeting means he is in Guantanamo Bay until Saturday afternoon. The best part is that he cannot leave the base (it's Cuba, remember?) and cell phones do not work there. Hope you have internet access, Dad!
posted by Daniella 12:16 PM

This will be our next career path! Ha ha ha ha!!!
posted by Daniella 12:20 PM

Just eight more days until we are out of here for almost a WHOLE WEEK at the beach! No office, no parents, no wedding stuff, no nothin' but me and my sweetie and the sand, the surf and the sun... oooooh, heaven!
posted by Daniella 3:10 PM

For the last four months, since we found out about John's impending transfer to New Jersey (The Land of Where I Do Not Want to Live), I have dreaded telling my boss about having to leave. I don't know why I waited this long to tell him, but I finally did last week. He asked me if I wanted to go and if John wanted to go. Once I told him neither of us wanted to go, but that we were having no luck in the job search for John, he sprang into action. Now, I have to admit that my boss is a "playa" -- he knows everyone and everyone owes him a favor or two.

Anyway to make a long story short, Saturday morning we had John's best work professionally printed and brought it to Bull's house. Bull invited the owner of one of the biggest printing houses in the New Orleans and his wife to dinner Saturday night and it looks very promising for us. John may have a management position with this company in the near future (keep your fingers crossed). This is how business (or bidnuss) is done in N'Awlins... it's all who you know, baby!!

Wish us luck!
posted by Daniella 1:06 PM

Ok, ok... what does Daniella (hereby to be referred to as "The Bride") have on the brain? Well, I am at work on a Friday afternoon to an empty office (everyone, including my boss, is off playing golf or just generally loafing). So, I am perusing The Everything Wedding Organizer which I bought merely to get ideas (I know the wedding is 526 days away, so we are at the "idea" stage). I am looking at the chapter on Ceremony Music (I know, I know, there needs to be a whole chapter on this? This wedding shit is such a racket!) and there are some suggested ceremony "favorites". One of the pieces of music is "Panis Angelicus" by Franck. But what do I read? "Penis Angelicus" and I start thinking is this to calm the so-called virgin brides the day they are finally going to get some? Then I re-read it and realized what it actually said. Don't you just love the way my mind works?
posted by Daniella 4:24 PM

I don't know if the workers remodeling their house slipped "happy pills" into my parent's coffee this morning, but whatever it is, I LIKE IT! This morning I had a really nice, calm conversation with my mother and then, within a matter of minutes, a really nice sweet conversation with my dad. I especially liked it when my daddy said that he worries about me. Gawd... I'm such an unrepentant daddy's girl... I wonder if John is still going to want to marry me? This is a happy day!
posted by Daniella 12:51 PM

So, apparently, it is now John's sole duty in life to tell me, "it's going to be OK, honey" after every time I get off the phone with my monster. Oops, did I type monster? I meant mother.

I have a wonderful uncle, Dov (he's not really an uncle, he's actually my mother's cousin) who is funny and sharp and brilliant. He and his family live in Israel. John reminds me a lot of Dov and I know the two of them would get into all kinds of interesting philosophical discussions and would generally find one another fascinating. I asked my mother to let Dov know about the engagement and the general time of the wedding so that, hopefully, he can find some way to attend.

I spoke to my mother today and asked her if she told him. She had. I asked her if he would be able to come. She said, "well, I don't know if he would want to come to a civil ceremony!" I wish I could successfully convey in print the sarcastic tone in which this was stated. Blech!
posted by Daniella 4:46 PM

Can someone who is more familiar with Blogger than I, please PLEASE send me an e-mail (there's a link to send me an e-mail on the left side navigation panel) to tell me how I can get my archive settings to archive montly instead of weekly as they are currently appearing? I have tried everything. I have gone into the archive settings and changed to monthly and republished all, but it is still showing weekly... plus, some of them appear several times for the same week. Help!!!
posted by Daniella 3:29 PM

Found a great set of blogs/travelogues called American Girls Are Easy. I liked these two girls' spirit so much that I am going to put a link to this on my left side navigation. The links they are expanding! Woo-hoo!
posted by Daniella 3:23 PM

Forgot my big news... School is officially finished until August as I am not taking a summer semester! Got an A in my economics class and I think that I got an A in my Decision Modeling class (the one I hated). I got a 97.5 on the final project and the exam which was last night was pretty easy, so... after two semesters in the MBA program, I may have a 4.0! Woo-hoo! Go, me!
posted by Daniella 5:46 PM

I am finally gettng a moment to discuss the second weekend of Jazz Fest. Waaay too hot, or perhaps I am getting old.

Left work on Friday at about 1 PM and got to Jazz Fest at 2 PM. First thing I did was meet up with my lovely friend Glenda who is a former actress (see the link by her name) who is now a third year med student, a true renaissance woman, to see her brother's girlfriend's brother's band (can you follow that tenuous connection?) Colonel Sanchez. Then it was time for FOOD! However, as I was getting my crawfish sack (no, it is not crawfish gonads for you non-Jazz Fest goers), Margaret (Glenda's brother's girlfriend) fainted. It was off for medical attention... Who wears black pants to Jazz Fest anyway?

Then I ran into Russ and a gaggle of his friends from Denver (including the interestingly monikered Train who "was not pacing himself"). We saw Robert Randolph, the purveyor of the "sacred steel". He was fantastic.

Friday night, John and I pooped out. How lame is that?

Saturday, we had brunch with Jenny and Melissa at Elizabeth's. Very tasty! Then John and I went to see Al and the babies and hung out with my godson Hudson who told me, "I'm going to eat some beans and sit and your head and fart!" When I told Al what her three and half year old son had said to me, her only response was, "oh, Uncle Adam!" For those of you in the know, this is Al's brother Adam, also known as Uncle Bozo who delights in teaching Hudson Bad Things. Then it was off to Barnes and Noble for wedding books, wedding magazines and wedding headaches.

Saturday night was Los Lobos, who Catherine dubbed "the Latino Grateful Dead" because every song was 20 minutes long. Needless to say, we left early.

Sunday was a great day at the Fest. John and I spent nearly the whole day in the Blues Tent checking out the Dixie Cups, Chris Thomas King (the highlight of last year's Fest) and finally, Buddy Guy. Buddy Guy is a national treasure and a living legend.

Sunday night was dinner with Melissa out at the Lake. A wonderful weekend overall!
posted by Daniella 10:48 AM

We have set up the beginnings of our wedding website. It is bare bones at this point as we are 500+ days out. I will put it on my left hand navigation links so that everyone can check in occasionally as we move along in the wedding planning process (and, boy, is it a process!).
posted by Daniella 2:36 PM

A quickie blog before I take off to go to Jazz Fest! Can't wait to be at the Fairgrounds with the sunshine on my face. See you out there!
posted by Daniella 1:08 PM

Mama, if you're reading, this is where we are going for breakfast on Saturday with Jenny & Melissa. Check out the yummy, yummy menu. Can't wait!
posted by Daniella 5:32 PM

Found an interesting New Orleans blog... link to the yatpundit here.
posted by Daniella 1:33 PM

Wow, big, BIG, BIG step today... I have changed the beneficiary on my life insurance, my 401(k) and my pension to John. He told me that I should hire a food taster now. Well, funny guy, your life insurance policy was approved today (and I'm the beneficiary on that!). Who needs the food taster, now, huh?

Anyway, all kidding aside, this spending the rest of our lives together thing is starting to appear real to me. I mean, all the wedding planning stuff is just a natural extension of what I do for a living, planning meetings, etc. But thinking about what comes after the wedding, the actual hard work of building a life together. Wow! It's really scary and exciting and wonderful.

I'm a very lucky woman!
posted by Daniella 12:06 PM

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