And yes, the wedding is in Michigan and I'm going to the shower there cause I'm in town anyway - total coincidence.

He told me that his wife to be had been looking forward to this kind of wedding for years and he couldn't do that to her. 10+ years later, they still haven't paid it off.

Oh my god, that is just fucking foul. I mean, I think I threw up in my mouth a little.

(standard Nora disclaimer: this is not a rail against big/expensive weddings, it is a rail against expensive weddings that ONE CANNOT AFFORD even after 10 years)

Aimee, can you at least car pool with someone else that's going and maybe do one of the less expensive treatments (Emily suggested)? That will keep the costs down and still allow you to attend?

You *will* see your dear friend, at the Michigan shower, and at her wedding. You *will* be able to spend time with her.

I see her everyday. She's also my landlord.

I may very well be talking out of my prominant and ample ASS, so I apologize if I've said anything out of line.

Never.

I just know that in late August, early September, our finances will be back to what they should be and, theoretically, I could afford to go to Palm Springs. It's a 2 hour drive which I would prolly ride with her and it *would* be fun. But still, it, like someone said, grosses me out.

I may very well be talking out of my prominant

(as in noteworthy, right?)

and ample ASS

Ample, and rich in wisdom.

I keep thinking of things to say and then coming to the end of the thread and finding that someone else has already said it better, but the wisdom of Nora's ass reigns supreme above all.

the wisdom of Nora's ass reigns supreme above all.

snag.

If you don't go, she'll be disappointed that weekend, but by the times you've gone to her other shower, and the wedding, it's not gonna matter. At the MOST, she'll say to you wistfully "I wish you could've been there" and you'll agree and that will be that. However important she thinks it is right now, it's not really.

I wish I could tell her, "Sweetie. If people are spending money on facials, they aren't spending money on you."

She's your landlord (in which case she has no excuse for not understanding how big your living expenses are) and you see her every damn day anyhow? In lieu of the expensive spa, give her the present of a raincheck. Tell her that after she returns from the wedding and the honeymoon, you'll go with her to one of those little neighborhood nail salons for a $20 pedicure and massage, and the two of you can schlump down in your salon chairs and gossip about all the craxy shit that went down at the wedding.

I missed the whole "I must have this magical wedding" memo. I'm not sure what it is about getting married that causes some people's brains to leave their heads. (I got married in a very pretty meeting room on my college campus. It was decorated with magnolia leaves and holly that my friends "liberated" from campus. My sister-in-law made the cakes. My mother made the dress.)

That's great news about Em's job, David.