I may need to step away from the discussion, though, because I am really mad about this.

Please don't - I need my peeps! I'm mad.

She's NOT hosting the shower - her matron of honor is. Her matron of honor is flying in from Minneapolis to do this.

So you are going?

More than likely, yeah. Because I a) have no spine when it comes to her and b) well, I'm not getting her a gift for this shower since she'll get one at her Michigan shower AND I'll prolly throw the bachlorette party so I'ma treat myself to a facial.

Skipping to say -- DUH!

I'm sorting cds to sell, and I don't know why I am getting all weepy about selling them. I have them downloaded, the music isn't gone or anything. I just feel like I'm betraying them. Poor little guys. DVDs are another story. I tried, I really did. But I picked up 'Down With Love' and Ewan was just smiling at me so rakishly from the cover, and I couldn't do it. I started to pick up 'Girl With the Pearl Earring' but really, who am I kidding.

You are brilliant! I can do this and sell my CD's! You just saved me from hocking my TV! I love you!

Now, back to Bridezilla.

Oh, Aimee. Say you can't afford it, and can't dream of her letting her treat, it wouldn't seem right, and that you'll be at the one in MI. This is way the frig over the top.

Aimée, it boggles my mind how she can do this without realizing the impact on people. All I'm left thinking is, "gee, I really hope that woman gave Emma a nice gift when she was born and remembers how much Aimée did for her when Aimée's birthday comes around."

They are Emma's godparents and have spent more money on her than I don't even know what. She footed the bill for my baby shower AND bought me my glider. This is why I'm having a hard time reconciling what my gut tells me is right, and everything that she's done for us and how can I say no?

Also, they were both in our wedding an spent a lot of money on us.

how can I say no?

Because if she's your friend then she'll understand that she's asking you to spend money you don't have on material things when what makes your friendship important and lasting are a whole bunch of things you and she can't buy. She wasn't named a godparent because of what she could buy for Em, and she knows that.

She does and she wants me there cause she wants me there. If I showed up with a $10 gift certificate to Target, she's react the same as she would if I bought her her $500 Calvin Klein duvet cover they registered for. As long as I was *there*.

She does and she wants me there cause she wants me there.

I'm glad she's such a good friend, but I really think the spa thing is putting people in an unfortunate position.

Many years ago, I was a bridesmaid for a bride who kept sneaking in expenses. First it was the dress, which was about twice what she said it would be. Then she decided she had to dictate the kind of shoes. There was one thing after another, culminating in her handing us each a box of white gloves at the rehearsal and saying, "You have to wear gloves. You owe me $20." Back in that ancient era, we all had white gloves, which we could have brought with us. This drove me to a fit of compensatory ordering at the rehearsal dinner. I was "Hey, I've never had escargot" girl. You are, I'm sure, a better person than I am.