Seems I am eternally a mother without ever giving birth in the normal sense of the word. I have lots of projects in the works that are like giving birth though. I have the MUD which is eventually going to kidnap my attention, not to mention the new feature on my site. My fearless readers aren't big on contests, so I will just tell you: click on the In A Box link and discover my new feature. I also have piles of envelopes that need to be mailed out. I hope I have enough money for stamps.

I haven't accomplished as much as I had hoped for during the break. As always, my free time suddenly becomes not free. Everyone wants to hang out with me when I have plans. Makes for an exciting time. Perhaps, I will have more exciting news for you later, but at the moment, I have some more things to work on. Keep reading.

Well, today is the last day of my so-called vacation. Tomorrow I return to the deep joy that is work. My fiche have probably missed me more than life. And there is so much that I have not quite finished. Ah well, perhaps something exciting will happen. I know you are all looking forward to reading more later.

Today was another exciting day in my world. I spent a fair amount of time making it so people can easily find my friends the fiche. I know that everyone is excited about that. You will all be visiting and talking to fiche with deep love. Try not to rush there at once. Only so many people can fit in the room at one time.

I also spent some time socializing with my laptop. At some point, all the happy players of Horizons will see the great joy that this brings about. Speaking of social, I have a cute pick up line for you (in honor of Aravan): "I hear you like rings, so I thought I would give you one.". This is perfect for all those stalkers who want a reason to call that special victim. I may just use that later. If only I can find my phone. Anyway, no humor in me. Have a great one anyway.

I woke up this morning and faced another lovely day. My roommate's cat was busy trying to steal my cat's place as my official cuddle cutie. He failed, of course, and was pushed away as I cuddled up to Rodney and grabbed a few more z's. I didn't really need them, I don't type pizza, pizazz, or zebra very often, but I wanted them anyway.

It was another lovely day with the microfiche. I cleared off my desk and passed on the reins. Of course, the person receiving the reins is more excited than words. Not more exciting than my words, but that is subjective. I also wrote a brief textbook on how to be me, or at least, how to make the microfiche happy.

The day ended. I left a dead tree of information on my desk and wandered away from the library. After a bit of wandering, I found this stranger that I like to call bro or is it Joe, and we wandered off to claim Miss Kewl. Joy ensued as we roamed the mall. I bought the birthday present my mother had requested and the un-birthday present she begged for.

Then it was time to roam around. We looked in the dollar store, but nothing wanted to come home with us. Then we roamed through a shoe store and two pairs of semi-sensible shoes decided to follow me home. One pair had butterflies on them. Anyone who knows of my Butterfly knows that those are my flirting shoes, so get ready boys. We also made a run through Bath and Body Works to sniff things, and Lerner New York for no real reason. Then we wandered into the music store where Miss Kewl picked up some tunes.

How else could we fill our day? We went to the park to meet up with some shiny, happy people and hang out. We sat in the grass. We watched a cute little girl named Kaela slide again and again and again. We watched her play in the baby swing. We basically got ignored by some people we wanted to talk to. My bro met a million people, and then after chowing down on some picnic specialties and hanging out even more, we headed back to the 'Tute.

Miss Kewl forfeited a game of pool with me to defeat two baby kangaroos at foosball. Then it was time to come home. I, for one, am exhausted, so sweet dreams. The morrow promises me fun at a friend's wedding and I need my rest. Sweet dreams.

I guess I should start out with a big Happy Birthday for the infamous Mezon. He has another year of coding and caffeine under his belt. He should be proud. Anyway, on to more details of the fun that was my day.

I woke up to my entourage impatiently awaiting their breakfast. They proceeded to weave in and out of my legs, thinking that knocking me over would expedite the eating experience. They managed to look extremely pitiful while doing this. I fed them and hopped into the shower. Then I snuck into some clothes and was on the road.

My brother and I were on our way to a grand adventure. We headed down to my hometown where I got to spend some time with my mommy. She was very excited as she showed off her new digs. I also got to play with her kitty, who just adores strange people. Oh wait, he knows me. I guess he just remembers me as that girl who is referred to as his sister. Then we grabbed some pizza in a pizza place that used to be a 7-eleven many years ago. Ah, the stories I could tell, but that is for my autobiography.

Then, of course, the big event of the day came about. I went to my best friend from kindergarten's wedding. She looked lovely, as I knew she would. I found it interesting that one of her bridesmaids was my best friend from first grade and one of the groomsmen was one of the members of my first grade harem. Ah, the years that have gone by since then.

The reception was another example of fun and excitement. The young men (all under the age of five) were dominating the dance floor. Of course, Matthew, my oldest godson, who has not seen me since he was a couple of months old, kept running away whenever I came near him. His cousin Megan was not so skittish, however. She warmed up to me before the evening was over and even wanted me to hold her. Ah, babies love me.

And, of course, I had to have an admirer of the opposite sex. I love love-at-first-sight. Unfortunately for the poor fellow who kept following me around, I don't fall in love at the drop of the hat. I also don't tend to fall for people who decide to talk to me about alcohol. *shrugs* Having the groom and one of the groomsmen tell me how the guy would buy me anything I want did not really help his case. I can not be bought. Besides, my deepest fear is that my heart is already taken. If only my prince would claim it or perhaps I will have to claim him. Or with a lot of luck, the ice around my heart is completely intact. Well, I feel the sleepies coming on after all this excitement. Sweet dreams and much love.

I had a fear that the ice was thinning
That my world would be washed away
That once more my heart would be spinning
And I would be trapped in love's sway

I feared that the castle was fallen
That a knight at last had come to claim
A heart trapped where none can call in
If they do not bear the purest flame

I had such fears, they are cast aside
For no man exists with the bravery
To break past the gates, take that ride
To a world full of more than mere beauty

That's a little poem to speak to the hearts of we women who wear our beauty without the accouterments of make-up, the hip swing of hookers, or the body covering of a bikini model. It's rather sad that beautiful girls get passed up because men only want the girls that everyone wants. Ah, well, we all have our moments in the sun, I guess. Speaking of, I just got called and told to call my admirer. The guy meets me for like ten seconds and is smitten. I am nothing but sugar and spice to other men in my life for months even years and they think I am filth.

I did have a great day in church though. Some days, I just feel all happy and shiny despite the fact that people fall short of my high expectations. I give people credit for having more depth than they do. Unfortunately, I have depth. I have more depth than the different striations of rock that line the surface of the earth. Very few people want to dig that far, and the ones who do are packing the wrong tools. Oh well, on to better things, like posting this and maybe finding sleep in a bottle of purified water.

Too much beauty for mortal eyes to behold
Too much history to ever be told
Too much pain for any to understand
Too much fire for flames to be fanned
Too much ice creeping in to kill
Too much energy to ever be still
Too much love for any one man to claim
Too much personality for just one name

I almost posted something yesterday. It was wonderfully woven, interlaced with imagery and emotion. It was lovely and exotic and a literary treasure to be beheld, but I had to stop myself. Why? Because it would have given away too much of me. I have already given far more of myself than I should. No one wants to know me. They want to make their own assumptions about me. They want to share those assumptions with their friends and claim they know me. They want me to listen and console, which I do far too well. Empathy being among my flaws, I give of myself to ease the pain of others and basically have them spit in my face. Then I feel their pain though they have not deigned to speak to me in years.

So I shall not speak of me. Do not ask. I shall not speak poorly of others, for this, too, takes too much time from my true love. No, it is not a man. Though some seem to think I have given my heart away. I came close, but as always, men fall short of the credit I give them, so do not worry about that. Do not think about that and do not assume that. My love is vested in words. I have braided so many of them together, which you can see. So leave me alone to my words as it was meant to be.

I shall tell you all you need to know of me. I have two ears with which I can listen. I have two eyes with which I can see. I have two arms with which I can embrace. I have two lips with which I can tell you that which you most desire to hear. I have a heart empty and devoid of life though it loves and beats in ways none can understand. That is all you need to know. Bella is here, the healer of hearts. She can ease your pain, but you, no matter who you are, can not break through to the inner depths of her because when she tries to let you in, you run and scream. The door is closed. Do not knock. The door will not open. For I stand outside myself to serve you, and that is all anyone ever asked for.

On another note, I am now an aspiring astronaut. I have been playing with bright orange books full of information about conquering space. Without the help of these lovely volumes, I would have thought conquering space meant spreading barcodes and fiche across every available surface. Ah, but I was wrong. We need missiles and batteries and symposiums and consortiums. More on this later when I work my jokes out better. Keep smiling. I assure you, I shall.

TOP TEN EASY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

10. It's 10am, Sunday morning...do you know where your Mormon is?
9. Your vampire has been kidnapped. It is Friday or Saturday night in October, where is he?
8. Who loves Bella?
7. Who is fluffier than Fluffette?
6. What do cows say?
5. Hey, why do I keep beeping when I go through the door?
4. Who stole my biscuit?
3. Who put this barcode on my pants?
2. What on earth is that fuzzy, white thing?
1. Who is nibbling my hair?

If you want to make answers and post them to the message board, I will evaluate them and award a prize. Based on what? Which ones amuse me the most or are more accurate would be a good bet. If you can combine the two, I will be dully impressed.

Well, I am awake at the lovely hour of 1:30 in the morning contemplating things. First, there is the fact that it is birthday month in Bella-ville. Happy Birthday to my darling Shelby. This is my fourth official birthday of the month, unless I am forgetting someone which is always distinctly possible.

So why am I awake? Well, I feel asleep a little before seven o'clock last night. Then I woke up at eleven with this horrible craving. That's right, I'm back on the filtered water again. Then I typed up an article for the Institute newsletter while the words were flowing. Hopefully, it is accepted for publication. Speaking of publication, I had to start a new love letter. I finished the last one to the best of my ability. Someday, I may get the good news that someone besides me would ever want to read it. Then I will have to make it more perfect because I just know it needs some work. So now I am just killing some time while my eyes prepare to slip back into sleep and one of my old imms entertains me and helps me feel social. More to come when I awake again.

Look, she came back again. That's right. I woke up and dragged myself out of bed. It was another lovely day of becoming a better astronaut, right down to staring into the sun at a wee hour of the morning. That is about all I have to say. It's been a long day of working on a dozen things at once. Sadly, the people who would be interested in hearing about it already have. Have a sweet one.

Sometimes I wonder if perhaps it would be better to be blind, not just to the visual world but to those things I see in my heart. Hard to understand if you are not washed away by knowing what many would deem too much. Just below the surface, some trickle of truth always hides. No one wants to give away all of themselves. Many even deny that truth to themselves, but when that flood gate opens, there is no way to hold back the flood.

As time passes and I find disappointment in the people around me, I see also where I have fallen short of my own desires for me. I want me to break free from the bonds that bind me. I grow older. I mature. I step away from so many things, yet my past and my fears haunt my memories. I also desire not to feel so intimately the hearts of others. I can feel past those outer barriers, see through the facade, and what I often see inside breaks my already shattered heart.

I would like to be blind to this knowledge. I would like to be able to cast it aside. I would like to only see what I want in this single moment. I would like to latch on to that one thing and forsake everything else. I would like to be so wrapped in me that other people become just extensions of my reality and I can think of them however I want. I would like these things, but only for a moment. What I want more than anything, in truth, is to be me and be seen as me.

I am no toy, no pawn, no redeemer of souls. I am flawed. I am imperfect. I am a sinner. I am filled with more than I could ever hope to release. I am calm yet turbulent. I am the quiet girl in the corner and the wild girl dancing on the table. I am the shy, plain girl that no one sees and the ravishing beauty who haunts the hearts of many. How can I be all of this? Because different people perceive me differently. I just wish that they would look beyond what they need me to be to make them happy and see me as me. Yet always I remain what they want to see--a helper who has no pain, a listener who has not voice, a body that has no soul, or something more that is only one small part of the whole.

Anyway, as I have a life...Shocker!!!...People who want to spend all of my free time for me are going to have to take a number and get in line. I really do have to get to work on some projects. I also need time for me. So if you get to spend one hour with me over the next couple of months outside of church activities, weddings, scaring little children, and bar mitzvahs feel lucky. Asking me a day and especially mere minutes in advance, may not get you some time with me, so try not to be too disappointed and berating me for it will probably just make me shoot you with a dart gun. Refer back to me having a life. This also means my journal may suffer from low-updatage, we'll have to see. Anyway, I need to go work out a planner, so I can keep myself in order.

Sometimes we find disappointment in places where we expect to find some sort of solace in this world. Ah, but it is only our true friends who would never hurt our feelings. Such is the way to test them out. But that is another story. A dark story. A forbidden tale. It is something I can not say for I would be the one to be dubbed a fool because I am the one who doesn't wear a cloak of perfection over my shabby clothes. I wear my shabby cloak and my wounded soul right out there on the open, and I don't have to make a joke of it to make people think I am all better. I prefer to make better jokes.

In fact, at church today, I got to sit next to a charming family. One of the little girls had a deeply enviable sheep purse. This, of course, led my little mind to wandering, especially when she pulled a badger out of that sheep.

Diving under a hot summer sun
Feels like I am the only one
Touching bottom and pulling free
The first great oyster that I see
Return to the surface, take a breath
Hoping wealth will save me from death
Crack it open, pearl in my hand
Hold it tightly, it fades to sand
My spirit dies, no wealth can save
Or return to me, the pain I gave
Glittering eyes, diamonds and tears
Sad wailing, all one hears
When friends are lost in search of gold
We remember what we should wish to hold

It's been a good day for friendship. The friends I know I can count on managed to brighten my day and make me smile. I spent the morning in astronaut training school. Okay, so I was just working my way through some more NASA books, but it almost the same thing, right?

So I got to spend lunch with Miss Kewl. It was your average Monday full of easy MAC and hunan chicken. We also got to watch some building inspectors wander around. They seemed amused by so many young and excited happy people roaming about. Of course, I have no idea how they managed to inspect people with so many polite people saying, "Excuse me" and weaving around them. It must be a job hazard.

I also spent much of the afternoon preparing the world for Banned Books Week. You wouldn't believe how much fun librarians can have with soup cans. You also wouldn't believe how many people I see when I am bustling about for work. I saw at least six people. Not a bad haul and they all made me smile. I love my friends, especially when they surprise me.

Anyway, as I was preparing to fatten up my co-hobbit, my phone rang. It is important to feed hobbits many times a day, and as his birthday is coming up, he needed some cake. Back to my real story. I answered my phone, trying not to splatter icing on it, and listened to a very familiar voice. My sweet, humble Shelby is in for a visit and she wanted to spend some time with me. *cheers* So she joined my lovely family for a game of joy and family feud. You wouldn't believe how many people you can fit in a hobbit hole or a synagogue. I wuv ya, Shelby, and the rest of my dear friends and "children".

I feel it overtaking me, this madness in my heart
Leaving me empty, helpless, lost, torn apart
Ripped and shredded on an uncarpeted floor
Left for dead, left to be Satan's whore
But I rose from this madness, freed myself of sin
Yet still I find myself forsaken in the eyes of men
They'd rather see me naughty, begging for their grace
When in truth, I'd rather spit into their face
My soul is sickened by the very thought of this desire
To take me, break me, make me burn with shame's fire
For I will not shame myself, so they see nothing in me
And my soul calls to the one, who alone offers eternity

I tire of the game. I tire of watching it all play out around me. I tire of watching my friends weep. I tire of watching men trick each other. I tire of seeing my friends in pain. I tire of being told to choose between two loves and never being truly given the choice. I tire of being treated like I have let people down because I have more than one friend. I tire of it all and it makes feel sick deep down in my core.

And I should not feel like this. I have too much to bring me joy. I have my own non-ending bad jokes. I have this cheerful disposition that seems to make people think I am never sad, though they often mistake my concern for anger. I have many people who love me dearly, though half of them would not admit it for the world.

I also have preparations to make to be in my friend's wedding. I bought my dress, I paid for my dress, I picked up my dress, I tried on my dress, I tripped over my dress. Apparently, measuring me was just a chance to cop a feel because this dress is a good two sizes too large. Perfect for anyone who wants their skirt to tumble down around their ankles as they make their way down the aisle. Now if that would not draw attention away from the bride, I am not sure what would. So I have a week to fix this problem. Luckily, I have a volunteer seamstress. Unluckily, she isn't feeling well today *sigh*, so I shall be patient.

During my period of patience, I shall continue to study to be an astronaut. Maybe when the shuttle lands with me and some moon rocks, I will be able to glitter and shine. Have a good one.

Today's great journey began with the joy that is seeking out silver shoes. I awoke from my slumber and found my way to work, worrying about finding the perfect silver shoes to go with the purple dress that aspires to be the right size before Saturday. It's going to be a beautifully, busy week for bodacious Bella, so if I seem a little flighty, insensitive, or inattentive, you shall have to forgive me.

I did find some silver shoes. They are rather expensive, which means I shall have to find many more opportunities to wear them. So feel free to invite me to join you in my dancing shoes. If you word your invitation right, you may even get a date without having to hear about microfiche.

I also spent some time womaning the Banned Book Display. I will be back again on Wednesday and Friday from 11 to 12, so feel free to drop in. I promise not to make you read a banned book. That is, of course, a personal choice, but people should have the right to choose. Anyway, more of my personal opinions later. Right now, I am pondering the deep joy that is sleep with Hawaiian plumeria to send the Rain Goddess to rest.

The sun rises up and finds me still asleep. My cat is actively swatting at the back of my neck to try to wake me up. Finally, I manage to break free of my dreams and pull myself awake. Of course, I am late as usual, so I have to slip into some clothes in a hurry. I have a new Yoda short, so that seemed like the perfect option. I throw it on, toss on some pants, slip the new wallet that I made last night into my pocket and make my way out the door.

I had all sorts of fun at work, as per usual. I even got to wrestle with a microfiche cabinet. I did not win the battle, but with a little help, I hope to win the war. Of course, help is slow in coming in my world, but maybe I will get lucky. My place of employment also payed to have new keyboard trays installed that probably won't get used. Go figure.

Well, I am tired and I think sleep is going to overtake me, so I shall not bore you with the rest of my day. Have a sweet one.

So I have been a little quiet lately. I am sure this entry will more than make up for it. I did meet about a hundred new people this weekend and fulfill my indentured servitude to a dear friend. I was one of fourteen carefully selected bridesmaids who got to share in the fun and frolics of my dear friend, who has a twin, Stephanie's wedding (not to be confused with my Teffie). I am posting things by the day they happened in order to alleviate the amount of text on each day.

It was quite a wedding party with fourteen different women all cloaked in the same purple dress complete with sash. A brief recap of the ladies I learned anything interesting about (in no particular order) follows. Of course, there was Bella in her natural state which involves paranoia, insecurity, and a whole lot of anger towards people with no pride in their work, Becky who has already nominated herself as the nanny to any babies that the couple produces, Rebeca who is more than willing to defend herself against the moronity of others, and Yvonne a dear friend of the twins. We also had Leah and Tara who were both nice enough to keep me company and let me follow them around. Brie who is a bull rider and the hairstylist responsible for great hair from the bride's grapes err...bridesmaids, Melanie another sister of the bride who was wise enough to handle her own alterations, and Stacey a friend of the bride who is much lovelier than she gives herself credit for also preceded the bride down the aisle. To round off our astonishing display of beauty we had Sheena who is a dear friend of the bride, Jennifer who is a bit of a wild child and a lot of fun to hang out with, Sunny who I didn't get to learn much about, and Shelby who is expecting a cute little baby. (I must state this is not my Shelby though my Shelby is also expecting a baby and I am very excited, so I already started a present for the little sweetheart.)

I could regale you with information about the groomsmen, but to tell you the truth, I didn't hang out with them very much. They seemed like fun-loving fellows and were all taller than me except perhaps my escort, but I did have on three inch heels at the time, so I bet he really is taller than me.

Of course, you have all heard about my dress. I was not alone in my pain and agony of being fitted, not once but twice. Most of the bridesmaids started out with dresses anywhere from two to six sizes to large. Even Shelby had to have her dress taken in. The groomsmen were also not free of mishaps. One of them was not given any pants. I hear that he was considering going in with just what they gave him and ask if they could help him figure out what was wrong with his tux. Another guy got a cumber bun instead of a vest and tie, which makes him luckier than the guy whose vest didn't fit. Yet another gentleman, Tara's husband I believe, got a jacket that fit so tightly across the shoulders that he could barely move his arms and certainly couldn't give anyone a bear hug without ripping the stitches out of the back. Hence my previous comment about people who take no pride in their work. I would be totally mortified if I screwed up so badly, but not the lady who owns the bridal shop. She blamed it on the number of people. *shakes her head sadly* I shall not even go there.

I woke up early, showered, ran to the bridal shop and picked up my dress which amazingly fit higher up on my hips than it had the day before. Apparently, they decided I had been serious when I said it needed taken in at the waist after it was still dragging the floor when I tried it on with the appropriate size heels (actually they were .75 inches higher than the ones I was fitted in, but who's counting?) Maybe they were hoping I would gain ten pounds over the course of the week. After all, three months ago they were sure I would gain about sixty. I paid for alterations they shouldn't have had to make in good faith and found my way to bridesmaid central where our hair was poufed and our faces powdered in accordance with the wishes of the bride.

After hours of anxious waiting, inhaling of hairspray, and watching of the game show channel, we were all ready. Nails polished, face buried under false coloring, hair already kicking out the poufing and curling, I joined the troops with a CD tightly clutched in hand. As we reached the park, rain decided to come pouring from the sky. Luckily, like Mary Poppins I am always prepared with an umbrella and a bag full of everything. We darted under the shelter and watched the rain. Then the worrying began. We had a groom but no bride. We had the rain, but no sun. How depressing how terrible.

What about the wedding? Ah, the romantic hearts swell with curiosity. In retrospect, it seems so short a ceremony to honor such a lasting love. The bride appeared and brought the sun. The rain disappeared except for the puddle in the floor of the pavilion. The groom waited patiently beside the priest for the woman he loved to appear. He had an eternity to wait as fourteen groomsmen met fourteen bridesmaids just before the unity candle, linking arms to make the walk to the front of the pavilion. At last they passed him by and took their places on either side. The music began, Only Time by Enya, and the flower girl stepped forth to adorably throw real flower petals down for the bride to walk on. In her wake, the father of the bride laid down a white carpet of plastic for his daughter to walk on.

At last, the bride makes her way down the aisle. She is radiant, she is beautiful, she is like an angel coming forth to bless just one man with her love. Eyes turn toward the groom and the look on his face is so tender, so astonished, so rapturously in love that those eyes who behold it well with tears. Words with great meaning are said and the father slips his daughter's hand into the hands of the groom. She smiles and if I could draw, I would draw her face with his behind it as I saw it at that moment--both so beautiful and so truly meant to be together. Then perhaps even those who fear that love is dead could see that it is not.

After months of waiting, they make their vows. Their lips meet for the first time as husband and wife. Two lives become one and hundreds of hearts swell to know that they are a part of something so wonderful. Then the line-ups begin. Everyone rushes forth to hug the beautiful bride and her handsome husband. Congratulations are in order and the wild celebrations shall soon begin, but not before a few dozen pictures are snapped.

The rain is stayed for pictures in the woods, pictures of the family, pictures of the bride and groom, pictures of the wedding party. The rain still holds out so we all troop off into the woods and onto Cooper's Rock itself. If you have never seen Cooper's Rock you are not giggling at the thought of about eighteen women in high heels trying to walk around on a slanted rock. This number went down as I gave in to my inner hobbit and slipped off my shoes to clamber down the rock and join the rest of the ladies for more pictures.

At last, the photo op is over and we head back to the parking lot to make our way to the reception hall. The festivities there shall have to move to the next entry because this one is huge. Keep reading.

Saturday night poured forth with all the excitement expected from a wedding reception. Okay, not all, after all, we somehow got out of the chicken dance. Unless they chicken danced after I bailed out. We were treated to some delicious lasagna, salad, fruits, cheeses, and even some soda. Other people were also treated to a variety of alcohols, but I don't partake of such liquid sustenance. I was consoled for this by someone who didn't seem to see it as a personal choice, but that tends to happen. I enjoyed my sprite just as much as they enjoyed their beer and mixed drinks, probably more so because I walked in quite a few pools of stuff which no one could have enjoyed if they were on the floor.

Toasts were offered to the bride and groom before the eating began. Brian, the best man/brother of the groom, offered his toast, followed by a sweet poem by Brie, and a heartfelt, sweet toast from Jessica to her sister and new brother-in-law. Later on, we also got to hear from Melanie. This all preceded the long wait in line to be served. I was done and mingling before the last table even got to hit the food line. Somehow there managed to be quite a few leftovers, however.

The bride and groom shared their first dance to Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World, which kept recurring to me in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Then Stephanie danced with her father to LeeAnn Womack's I Hope You Dance. Then the rest of the party-goers got to dance with the bride or the groom as they chose. I got to dance with the groom after folding a dollar bill and tying it in a knot to pay for the honor. Of course, there was also the throwing of the bouquet and the removal of the garter to entertain us. A tall, blond named Keisha caught the bouquet and fellow named Randy got the garter. So they should both be throwing wild parties within the year, right?

The rest of the evening was filled with dancing, mingling, admiring the bride, and observing party-goers progressively getting more free and loose. A rather tall groomsman took to dancing on the table. He was even joined by the groom's grandmother. I hope I am half that cool when I am her age. She was dancing, kicking back, and having a lot of fun. At some point, some of the groomsmen decided to ditch their white suits and go for the tie and vest look. I am not sure what inspired that, but it did make for an interesting contrast to the ladies still milling around in our dresses.

Eventually, the night wore on and I hitched a ride with Melanie. They were kind enough to drop me off at my house though their was some confusion with directions and I almost ended up at my mother's house instead. I don't think my mother would have appreciated my random appearance at one in the morning, but I guess I will never know. I made it home and performed some interesting contortions to escape from my top before sneaking into the shower to wash away the hairspray and remnants of make-up.

Then I snuck into my bed where I was promptly joined by two fuzzy bodies. Ziggy even stayed snuggled up to my arm as I drifted off. I guess they missed me or felt my bridesmaid's fame emanating from me.

I woke up the next morning with a horrible pain in my neck. Leave it to me to sleep wrong and wake up after a party where I was one of the few completely sober people feeling as if I drank a whole keg by myself. Of course, this did not bode well for church attendance. When I did manage to get up it was to make a trip to the ladies room as pain that intense makes me feel horrid. I finally managed to take a brief nap and ease the pain in my neck. I awoke to my roommate making a command performance.

So I spent much of the afternoon thinking about scaring small children and tromping through the woods. The Hayride is going to be well worth the visit, darlings, so set aside a Friday or Saturday night in October to come see it. I also started a gift for Shelby's mini-Shelby or mini-Landon as the case may be. I'd share the secret of what it is, but she does check in from time to time, so I just can't ruin the surprise. Anyway, more to come in the exciting life of Bella. Stay tuned.

Well, it has been an eventful day. I rolled out of bed to be pursued by love-starved cats. I fed them, but they could not be so easily bribed. They still followed me around as I made my way through the house trying to throw some trash away and get my bag ready for the joy that is work.

I proceeded to learn about becoming a better astronaut or at least a better space shuttle. During the course of this, one of my co-workers wandered by with the local paper. She announced that I had made my way into it. Apparently, the interviewer who dropped by the Banned Books display found my input quotable. So I made it into the paper. Shortly thereafter, the big boss wandered through and announced that the local television station wanted to interview us in response to our recent fame.

My boss got to talk to the television people. He did inform that had I been "dressed to the nines", he would have let me have that joy. Luckily, I dressed to the tens today. Of course, it was a bit chilly so perhaps I should have dressed to the twenties. I was a little cold in my t-shirt, but I did find a sweatshirt before I wandered out to play with my children. Ah, the joys of Mormon bingo, but the hour draws late and I am tired. Sweet dreams!!!

Well, not much of interest has happened in my world today. I should warn you that the next month shall be full of scaring small children and other fun projects.This means that if you want hear more from me, you'll have to wait. Or you can come watch me at the Haunted Hayride. Another small warning, if I say I am busy, don't expect me to be thrilled if you proceed to harp at me or try to requisition my time. Bella is not owned by anyone. Thanks for reading, check back in, and help Stepping Stones by going to the Haunted Hayride next month.