So I've been boycotting LJ...
This is the first time I've been back in...ye gods...forever. I'm not breaking down and viewing my comms yet, but I'll post a major update.
A lot has happened since January. On the wedding front...
AND. I'm job-hunting. My current job, well, sucks. I don't feel like I'm reaching my potential or working toward any goals. See, I don't want a career in retail. Since I've made my non-retail goals clear to everyone above me, they haven't given me opportunities for advancement even though I'm as qualified as or more qualified than those who have been promoted. So...yeah. I'm not going to stay at a job that has me locked into making $8.50 an hour in a non-supervisory position with zero real responsibility despite the fact that I have a college degree.
I started this job because I wanted something easy while pursuing my zookeeper goals. Working has, unfortunately, become my life and the zoo thing is something I can only do a handful of times a month. Also, breaking into the zookeeping field, and particularly getting on at the Montgomery Zoo, is apparently super difficult. Openings are few and far between. I have no idea when I would even be able to apply for a position, let alone get it.
So now I'm looking for a desk job that pays better money than I make now, with nice, normal hours. I'm freaking sick of 4 am.
That's long enough. I'm exhausted and I have to go to the zoo tomorrow morning. PLUS my mom and sister are on heir way to visit and help tie up some wedding things. Bed time.
A lot has happened since January. On the wedding front...
- Church, officiant, and photographer are locked in. Church costs aren't so bad, but we're splurging on the pictures. What can I say? I want awesome photos of the happiest day of my life. :)
- Engagement ring is finally back from being resized down to a 4.5. A 3-week job took twice that long. The story? A tornado hit Prattville and decimated the jewelry store that we bought it from. Good news is that the ring was already sent off, so there was no risk of it being damaged in the storm.
- Wedding band for me has been decided on and we should get it soon, as we're having a coworker of Robert's purchase it at a wholesale place. It's a 1/4 ct. round channel band in 14k white gold (engagement ring is a 1/3 ct. round solitaire on 14k white gold band) and we're getting it in a 5 so that we don't have to wait weeks for it to come in. A 5 definitely works; I wore my ring as a 5 for awhile before I finally got it sized down again. We'll worry about resizing it later.
- Dress is back from being altered. Kristen has been schooled in the art of bustling. The photographer finally got to take some pictures of me at the final fitting.
- Bridesmaids have their dresses and most or all of their accessories (I think). Kristen has to get a stitch repaired in her dress though.
- We're most of the way through premarital counseling at the church we're getting married in. I'm also transferring my membership there as soon as they get my records sent.
- I had Bachelorette Party, Part One in Panama City Beach over the weekend. It was lots of fun, but would have been more if I hadn't been a sickface sleepyhead on Saturday night. It's okay though; I'll be sure to be well for Bachelorette Party, Part 2: The Auburn Edition.
- I'm on BC to make sure I have no unexpected discomfort around wedding/honeymoon time. Yay.
- Invitations have been bought - we're printing them ourselves. We haven't finalized a design, but we know basically what we want. Hopefully we'll be able to get them out in the next 2 weeks, once guest lists and addresses are gotten.
- Some decorations/paper products/favors have been purchased by me and/or my mom. Examples: reception candles/candleholders, unity candle set, bubbles, some of the silverware/dinnerware/drinkware/napkinware, etc.
- Take engagement pics and bridal portraits.
- Talk to church organist about music.
- Get Robert and his boys fitted for their tuxes.
- Find wedding band for Robert. He wants a simple white gold band, so that part is easy. The hard part is getting him to go out and try them on to find out his size and what width of band he wants.
- Decide on florist and flowers. The only things I'm particular about are the bouquets. Everything else...not a big deal. And we're going with very few flowers aside from bouquets/boutonnieres/corsages.
- Decide on food and partial-caterer. It's light fare served buffet-style and we'll be buying our own cold platters, drinks, and utensils, so it's a lot less important than it sounds.
- Decide on cake. We know at least two people who could possibly do it for us, at a friend-discount. Robert's in charge of talking to them about it.
- Decide on wedding jewelry, hair, and makeup.
- Make wedding night plans. I'm not sure if we're staying in the apartment or not. Either way, I still need to buy a wedding night outfit. ;)
- Make honeymoon plans. We're thinking beach for a few days, leaving the day after the wedding (after a farewell brunch with the out-of-towners).
- Finish getting decorations/paper products/favors. Off the top of my head, we need a guestbook/pen set, unity candle holders, ivy vines/ chains for reception tables, a matboard for everyone to sign, cake-cutting utensils, cake topper...and I'm sure there's more.
- Create playlists for dancing portion of reception and figure out if equipment needs to be rented/borrowed/brought in. Plan out order of events/dances as well (cake cutting, toast(s), first dance, garter/bouquet toss).
- Decorate toasting flutes for "champagne" toast. The reception is at the church, so alcohol is probably out. That means sparkling cider/juice for Robert and me. Mom got us plain flutes so I'd like to add something white and feminine to mine and something black and manly to his.
- Get blood test, marriage license, etc. (but that can be done closer to the date). Figure out process and timeline for changing my name and getting a new license, social security card, and all that.
AND. I'm job-hunting. My current job, well, sucks. I don't feel like I'm reaching my potential or working toward any goals. See, I don't want a career in retail. Since I've made my non-retail goals clear to everyone above me, they haven't given me opportunities for advancement even though I'm as qualified as or more qualified than those who have been promoted. So...yeah. I'm not going to stay at a job that has me locked into making $8.50 an hour in a non-supervisory position with zero real responsibility despite the fact that I have a college degree.
I started this job because I wanted something easy while pursuing my zookeeper goals. Working has, unfortunately, become my life and the zoo thing is something I can only do a handful of times a month. Also, breaking into the zookeeping field, and particularly getting on at the Montgomery Zoo, is apparently super difficult. Openings are few and far between. I have no idea when I would even be able to apply for a position, let alone get it.
So now I'm looking for a desk job that pays better money than I make now, with nice, normal hours. I'm freaking sick of 4 am.
That's long enough. I'm exhausted and I have to go to the zoo tomorrow morning. PLUS my mom and sister are on heir way to visit and help tie up some wedding things. Bed time.