An update

I hate starting an entry with "it's been a while", but it truly has been a while, and so much has happened! Lots of ups and downs. So, let's begin:

WEDDING UPDATES
- We attended our food tasting and were quite disappointed. Our venue has an excellent reputation and is changing us out the wazoo for the food, so we expected to be blown away. However, the steak was cooked to the point of obliteration...I would have sent it back at an Applebees. The lobster was excellent. The hors d'oeuvres were disappointing. We made some changes and hope that this will improve the situation. However, it was a fairly negative experience (as I had hoped this would "redeem" our venue for past sins...it did no such thing)
- Venue needs to be redeemed over terribly miscommunication and (dare I say it) funny business on their end. Thought we signed a contract for a minimum of 80 people at $200 a head = $16,000. So that's what we budgeted for. When it looked like we would only have about 65 people (due to unexpected drop offs) we thought, fine, we are over per-head by about $47. $247 a head for 65 guests = $16,055. GREAT! Not great. The venue wants us to stick to our original agreement of a MINIMUM of 80 people at $200 a head. The final cost didn't matter. And if we don't get 80 people, we have to pay $2000 for room rental. GAH! So, we had to invite an extra 15 people, and reduce the amount we spend on each of them. It's miscommunication, but it has really shaken our already tumultuous relationship.
- First dress fitting finished. I look supa!
- I have three attendants. My sister, E, my oldest friend K, and my brothers girlfriend L. I still haven't received payment for half of L's dress. 2 months and counting!
- Our wedding rings are under construction with a lovely artisan who keeps on forgetting about us, missing meetings and deleting my emails. Will we have rings on the day? Stay tuned!
- We have ordered our favours (boring chocolates!) and they are simply the most divine thing I have ever put in my mouth!
- I have had the last laugh with MF, who challenged me making 70 invitations back in October when we were only inviting 80 odd people. The invitee list has now risen to 102 due to huge amounts of unexpected "no's" and we are almost out. Who's laughing now!!
- Need to pick our wedding music by tomorrow (eeek!)
- All the lovely fiddly things now begin: manicures, creating seating plans, tanning, haircuts, guest books, first dance music, and keeping people apart who wish to kill the other.

PERSONAL UPDATES
- PMS-ing continues in earnest. Getting progressively worse. Prone to mood swings and bursts of tears, especially when my family (for the 18th time) criticize or joke about the wedding / my groom / me.
- Upswing in moods creates euphoric bursts of energy that help me make it through the day.
- Work putters along at a snails pace during this holiday break.
- Christmas was not exactly disappointing, but it just wasn't quite right either. Missing home. Stupid, I know.
- On fourth stage of interview process with another company. Writing an intensive marketing plan. V. exciting. Will submit Jan. 3rd!
- Gained a few pounds (and not from Christmas binging either) through slow descent back into poor eating habits. Shows particularly on skin and around the waistline. Am drinking gallons of water and eating soy beans.
- I've got a headache.

Think that's it for now. Will try and be more up-to-date...it's my new years resolution!