Some poor girl is planning her quinceañera and will be wearing that. She will never live down the photos.

Especially since her mother will order the ginormous portrait in the ornate gilt frame with the museum lighting to proudly hang in the living room until it can be replaced by an even more ginormous wedding portrait.

Oh, sweet merciful heavens, Gud--

::wheeze::

I am in awe of the hideousness of these dresses.

Did I tell you that when ND and I were on the Nick cruise this summer there were about a million quinceañeras running around in floofy white wedding dresses? Okay, not really wedding dresses, but they sure as hell looked like wedding dresses. Creepy. Royal Caribbean had a night where they all descended into the main dining hall in full regalia, and we had to run and hide.

What is a quinceañera and why do women mortify their flesh in tulle in its honor?

I never got invited to a quinceañera. And I knew a lot of girls that had them! I guess they knew I wouldn't dress right.

Lord. Devi just limped, I freaked out and...I think she was faking it. Bizarre.

Quinceañera: [link]

Barb said it perfectly.

We had a more "aggressive" Pirate; however, DD didn't think it was appropriate. He doesn't like the knife in the Pirate's mouth. He thinks it sends the "wrong" message. (His personal letter head and business cards have a more nutral Pirate logo he designed)

He also thinks the "pirate" isn't an appropriate mascot for a school. The kids think he would change the mascot to the "teddy bears" or try to be regional with "Manatees". The alumni were outraged with the idea of changing the mascot.

He tries to exert final approval on ANY logo the school uses on t-shirts, etc. He is a micromanaging, hypercritical jerk.

Thanks, sarameg.

Lordy, I don't even remember what I did on my 15th birthday. There was probably a cake. I'm pretty sure tulle wasn't involved.

What is a quinceañera and why do women mortify their flesh in tulle in its honor?

A quince is the Latin equivalent of a sweet sixteen, except at age fifteen. The root of the celebration is supposed to be a young woman's transition from girl to woman, i.e., she's ready to be married off and breed. In fact, some of the rituals involve the celebrant exchanging the flats that she wears for the Mass for a pair of high heels, supposedly her first pair of "grown up shoes" and also receiving a doll, dressed just like her, that's the symbolic last toy of childhood.

But because the whole thing signifies her readiness to be a woman in her culture, that's why it's got the vague wedding feel to it. IIRC, her parents even escort her into the church for Mass.

These days, however, it's just an excuse for a big ass, expensive party with ridiculous excesses of food and showiness. Like the Quince girl being lowered from the ceiling of the ballroom in a huge oyster that opens as it gradually descends, revealing her as the young pearl of womanhood that she is.

No, I am NOT making this shit up. I swear.

Oh, Gud, you are my hero for the night. This will be one of the first photos to go on my dart board when I finally get a new job.