The %&(@*$ games. I have a cordial loathing for enforced 'fun' and anything designed to embarrass the GoH.

Word. Word word word. Out of curiosity, Anne, have you ever done the 4MAT learning styles test?

I've gotten quite nice bridesmaid gifts, as well - a nice necklace in one case, a little backpack and -- wait for it -- martini shaker! in another.

I think the most stressful parts of being the MoH turned out to be talking the bride down after a fight because the groom's friends took him out and got stinking drunk the night before the wedding and he fell asleep on the front lawn and dealing with the groom getting shirty with me when I made him wear a seatbelt and THEN I wouldn't let him smoke pot in the rental car (!)

I have issues with the groom still.

Not only did I never have a bridal shower, I've never been to one. I did go to a "couple's shower" for the COO at DH's company (the same guy who is under investigation now!) and his wife when she was his fiance. I bought the gift that we gave jointly with another couple, they got the thank you note. Not a great experience.

THis is me trying to let go of the lingering suspicion that I treated my bridesmaids badly. It was over a year ago, they're all still speaking to me, I'm letting it go.

The most important thing I did as chief bridesmaid was to get violently sick the night before the wedding. It transported the bride into an uncanny calm a few hours ahead of schedule.

The FAC brides whose weddings I was in (3 or 4; I can't remember any more) gave crap bridesmaids gifts. I went shopping with one bride for the gifts, which were really ugly $10 rhinestone earrings from Claire's that we were expected to wear with the dresses.

Another bride made earrings from plastic beads -- and we were expected to wear them, too. And that was the extent of our gifts. That's the same bride who wrote these long, meaningful letters of appreciation to all of her bridesmaids EXCEPT me, who was her roommate at the time.

I really dislike those people.

Out of curiosity, Anne, have you ever done the 4MAT learning styles test?

No, I haven't. To be perfectly honest, I'm not even sure I've heard about it (but my brain today is a big pile o' undercaffeinated sludge.)

Best friend (the one with the best wedding I'd ever been to) gave her bridesmaids Levenger goodie bags.

I gave U2 tickets to my best man and his wife (that I stood in line for two days to get). I don't remember what I gave my buddy who was the usher. His wife, the minister, we gave an antique hurricane lamp. I wasn't as involved in the decision-making on that last, as the first.

This morning while I was telling Leif to put on his underwear (we're in the middle of potty training), he responded with "Ok, Babycake". I'm not sure why he called me "Babycake".