Did you ever stop to think...

... that the phrase "son of a bitch" is really a dig at someone's mom?

Just sayin'.

Anyhow, I'm fairly certain no one has ever said that about blogmom. (In fact, most of the derogatory things I've heard about blogmom involved my guy friends making perverted comments about wanting to "get wit" her.)

If you don't regularly read her comments on posts, you should. Blogmom never fails to entertain.

So, on this day devoted to celebrating maternal fertility, I say HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, BLOGMOM! Love you!

(And happy "almost" Mother's Day to my pregs sissy!)

Counting my blessings (but not my bad dates)

This is a great time of year to reflect on all of the wonderful things in your life: your friends and family, your health, your ability to eat Melt on a regular basis without gaining weight. (I'm blessed with the first two, but definitely not the last.)

I was honored to share in the special days of two of my very best friends this year. Two more bridesmaid notches under my belt, two more incredibly happily married friends.

We were able to start the wedding season festivities by doing the robot at Carrie's bachelorette party:


And having a ton of fun on her wedding day (this is one of our fancy shots of the day):


Then came Molly's bachelorette party (featuring penis straws, as modeled by me here):


And her awesomely wonderful wedding day:


And sprinkled in between all of my bridesmaid duties were vacations with my college friends (who are now spread out all over the Midwest and East Coast):


Any my family (not pictured, but also on vacay: blogdad, my brothers-in-law and Brissy):


And while I celebrated all of these occasions without a significant other to share them with, I still never lost sight of the wonderful people who are in my life each and every day.

(Plus, I just thought it was really funny to post this many pictures with people's faces blacked out.)

So I guess I just want to say thank you to all of my holla-awesome friends and family (and readers! I think you rock too!), and wish everyone an even happier, more joyful and blessed 2009.

And, please, for the love of all things holy... keep working on that finders' fee! :)

Much happiness in the New Year -




Always a Bridesmaid


P.S. See? I did listen to all you guys about how I should wear my hair for Molly's wedding. (That's where this pic is from.)

P.P.S. I'm heading to Philly for a few days to celebrate NYE with a couple of the college roomies pictured above. Blog to you in '09!

The finders' fee

It just occurred to me that I have not yet posted about the finders' fee. Seeing as The Coach date was a direct result of the finders' fee challenge (and I'm guessing future posts will reference it), here's the deal.

I issued a $1,000 finders' fee to anyone who introduces me to my future husband. Could be friends, family, friends of friends, work associates, (you?), etc. The check will be handed over at my wedding reception.

Why? I'd rather go out with someone who is at least semi-vetted by someone I know (vs. randomly going out with someone from the bar, trolling for guys online, etc.). This way, the potential finders' fee awardee knows my general likes/dislikes in a guy, my personality, the kind of guy I generally gravitate toward, and so on.

Here's what I usually tell people I'm looking for (in no particular order):

1. Makes me laugh (which usually requires a sarcastic sense of humor and a very quick wit)


2. Is family-oriented


3. Has a job (or better -- a career) that he likes


4. Is Catholic (not required, but a definite plus)


5. Is polite to servers at restaurants (I've found that guys who are rude to servers have other tendencies I don't usually like)


6. Metrosexual (as in, he is a good dresser, doesn't have dirt under his nails and just generally keeps up his appearance... but that doesn't mean he isn't into sports or can't fix a leaky faucet)

It's modern-day matchmaking!

And I'll tell you what. I have never been introduced to so many people as I have since I issued this silly finders' fee. And as my friend Molly likes to remind me... it only takes one guy.

So, the offer still stands. Do YOU have someone in mind?

The stats on The Coach

So, I went out with The Coach on Wednesday nite. Met at a cozy little bar in Westlake after an after-work event I had to go to. Grabbed dinner and drinks and had a nice conversation, but was in and out in about an hour and a half.

But that's sort of it. It was... a nice conversation. No real sparks to speak of (and I am a believer in sparks from the start). And, there weren't really a ton of laughs -- which is a MUST for me -- except for the times when I was laughing at my own jokes to keep the conversation moving.

That said, he really was a very nice, sweet guy (my friend Sarah was right) and seems to come from a great family (also a big plus for me). But I'm just not sure "the spark" was there. Too bad. I think he might just be one of those guys who is great on paper, but then there's something missing in person.

Unfortunately, I think it might be "game over" for The Coach.