That would only put a DENT in the suffering you've experienced. Throw in an iBook and a year's worth of music from iTunes, and we're approaching a just penance.

I'm also very cheap.

The heavens opened up just a while ago, it stormed very hard and then stopped. This morning it was kind of windy on my way to work.

And we had a brief power outage after a limb fell across three power lines and took out one of the grids. I think that might be Katrina's fault.

To be on the safe side some of the coastal areas near here that were just hit went ahead and evacuated.

Aims, I'm waiting for the dirt on the shower, man! Spill it!

I'm looking at a reporter on the corner of Bourbon and Bienville. It's torn up a bit but not under water. I'm tearing up from the relief that the Quarter has likely been spared.

But so many other places, so many people... its still pretty heartbreaking. Those poor souls.

The left side of my neck and shoulders just started hurting. It's annoying, and I would like it to stop now.

Ok, it started Friday night. MoH and SiL arrived at LAX at the same time, they all came back to the house, SiL waved at me through my window and they all proceeded up stairs to B&G's apt where they whooped it up and laughed and had a grand old time and didn't invite me up. I got upset, began to bake cupcakes, and realized I was out of veg oil. I went upstairs to M&E's apt (next door to B&G) to borrow some. TUrns out they didn't have any, but when I got back to our place, Joe said, "You weren't gone a minute and ahlf and they called inviting you up." I smirked. My nefarious and passive agressive plan worked. I went up there, hung out with them and one of the other out of town guests and had a decent time.

MoH is....nice. She's not someone I would choose to be friends with, but it occured to me at the shower that (I believe) the reason we kept clashing is each of us is juealous of the other's friendship with B. MoH has the history, I have the present. Each is important and valid and strong, but based in different things and it's hard to come to terms with that, for me anyway. I WANT TO BE THE ONLY AND MOST IMPORTANT FRIEND!! [See previous post re: being 4 years old] She's a bit conservative and uptight for me to hang out with all the time. For instance, one of the BM's wanted to play "Kiss The Bride" during the B'lette portion (each person kisses the bride-she has to guess based on the lip prints). MoH made BM alter it so the we had to kiss post-it notes and stick them on her. At one point, B and I were singing "Defying Gravity" at the top our lungs while we were getting ready for dinner and MoH screeched at us to turn it down and not be so loud cause we might get kicked out of the room. Yah - it was 6pm and there was a HUGE party in the courtyard outside our room. Plus, sweetie, this is the St Regis, not the Holiday Inn. They don't kick people out. If we don't destroy the room and set it on fire, they're happy. Come on. (I think it came from jealousy - Wicked is total A&B thing and we showed it off.)

All in all, once I pulled my own head out of my ass and stopped convincing myself it was going to suck, it was a good time. There is something to be said for lounging in a crystal clear pool, staring at the ocean with the sun warming my back and sipping a fresh, blended mai-tai, brought to me by a hot pool boy.

Bride was exceptionally grateful. She cried several times during the evening and thanked everyone profusely. I didn't stay the night and the only person I really wanted to kill was our neighbor, who got so drunk, she wouldn't stop talking and get ready to go. We didn't get home until 2:30 am cause she wouldn't shut up.

My bridesmaids can have their hair done if they desire, but I am not going to require it. Whatever makes them most comfortable. I won't be at the salon for a bit (makeup is being done at a different place), but I'm having a light brunch set up so they don't go hungry. I haven't required them to spend a dime on a shower or bachelorette party, and I found dresses that were half of the sticker price if we ordered online. They're already spending enough with flights and hotel, and I'd feel guilty about asking them to do any more than I already have.

It's like you're not even getting married. Are you sure that's legal?

I'm glad it was fun, Aims. At least you and MoH have met so maybe now she'll lay off in her emails.

What I found most interesting was watching Bride try to reconcile the different parts of her personality that she shows different groups of friends. Her personalities with me vs MoH are total polar opposites. I know every stinking detail about her sex life with Groom, she watched me give birth and all that that entails. She's way more toned down with MoH. One girl (see: drunk neighbor), got her and Groom a pair of "love handles" - bondage stuff - and neighbor had modified it with extra cord for more tying up options. It was funny watching her pretend to be appalled at the shower and then last night, talk about how they can't wait to use them.

I'm glad it was fun, Aims. At least you and MoH have met so maybe now she'll lay off in her emails.

There shouldn't be any more. We won't need to talk until the wedding.