LOL--I saw this sign driving home from work.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Bronzed Beauties
Two weeks exactly before Camille's wedding she and I decided to go get fake tans. The spray on kind--made famous (or rather infamous) by that Friends episode where Ross gets freakishly tanned on only one side. We thought two weeks out would give us enough time to get a practice run in and figure out how to tan to perfection. It started with me calling to make our appointments:
YoungTannedPerkySalesClerk: "You've reached the tanning salon, how can I help you?"
Me: "I'd like to make an appointment for two people for..."
YTPSC: " We don't make appointments just show up-bye"
Me: "WAIT!!! DON'T HANG UP...what do we do?"
YTPSC: "What???"
Me: "I mean, is there anything we should know...how does this work?"
YTPSC: "Well, is this an emergency?"
Me: "An emergency...uh no this is NOT a tanning emergency." (all the while thinking--what the heck exactly is a tanning emergency? Do they have a tanning emergency room???"
YTPSC: "Okay then come in and we'll spray you with our clear mist solution."
Me: "Umm we want to be tanned not lacquered."
YTPSC: (clearly annoyed with me at this point) "The clear mist darkens over four hours its our best solution---if it was an emergency I'd have to bronze you so you could be tanned within an hour. It's not as good as the clear mist, but it works in an emergency."
Me: "Ooookay -- well, what should we wear"
YTPSC: "Umm..you're just getting a tan..wear whatever you want. BYE!"
CLICK
I pass on the info to Camille, and so we decide to go over on a Sunday afternoon. I'm busy gardening when Camille arrives in a white blouse and skirt. I just throw down my spade and head off in work out clothes and my crocs. As we get to the salon we're told it's important to not be wearing any makeup and to be freshly exfoliated. Camille and I look at each other--this information would have been helpful to have earlier. We decide to try it anyway.
This sales clerk is young, tanned, but more punk then perky. Punky explains that the tanner works much like an automatic car wash. We'll climb in and 'she' will tell us where to stand and what to do while automatic sprayer things move around us. There are feet drawn on the floor of the tanning booth and the machine orders us to do things like 'place left foot on 1 and right foot on 4.' Camille goes first. I'm terrified of the whole process. While I'm waiting for Camille to tan I realize I have dirt caked on my legs from gardening. I run into the restroom and give myself what amounts to a sponge bath with paper towel to get the dirt off. I come out just as Camille is finishing. She promises me it isn't too scary and really easy to do and it will be okay. She also warns me to hold my breath while my face is being sprayed.
I climb into the machine. The outer booth is a little changing room that has a hand towel, wet wipes, and lotion. I prep and climb into the actual booth. 'She' tells me to place my left foot on 2 and right on 4' I do as 'she' says, and the sprayer moves to the bottom of the booth to spray my foot. It starts spraying. It keeps spraying my foot. I start thinking--it seems like it's spraying one foot for an inordinately long time. It keeps spraying. Then it stops and 'she' says...please get attendant. I think -- what the heck!!!
I struggle to cover myself with a hand towel (not a pretty sight!), while frantically scrubbing at my foot with wet wipe--thinking my foot will be BROWN and the rest of me pasty white. I manage to get Camille's attention and she gets punky. Punky, comes over and plays around with the machine, completely ignoring me frantically trying to de-tan my foot. After a while, she announces that the machine is broken.
She's never seen anything like this happen before and offers to credit my account. She has to tell the other people waiting that the machine has broken as I pathetically plod out - past the people waiting for their chance to be tanned - with one tanned foot.
My account has been credited, but I haven't been back yet. You'll notice from the wedding photo's that Camille is tanned and gorgeous and I am am pale and translucent-- I think that works well on me!
YoungTannedPerkySalesClerk: "You've reached the tanning salon, how can I help you?"
Me: "I'd like to make an appointment for two people for..."
YTPSC: " We don't make appointments just show up-bye"
Me: "WAIT!!! DON'T HANG UP...what do we do?"
YTPSC: "What???"
Me: "I mean, is there anything we should know...how does this work?"
YTPSC: "Well, is this an emergency?"
Me: "An emergency...uh no this is NOT a tanning emergency." (all the while thinking--what the heck exactly is a tanning emergency? Do they have a tanning emergency room???"
YTPSC: "Okay then come in and we'll spray you with our clear mist solution."
Me: "Umm we want to be tanned not lacquered."
YTPSC: (clearly annoyed with me at this point) "The clear mist darkens over four hours its our best solution---if it was an emergency I'd have to bronze you so you could be tanned within an hour. It's not as good as the clear mist, but it works in an emergency."
Me: "Ooookay -- well, what should we wear"
YTPSC: "Umm..you're just getting a tan..wear whatever you want. BYE!"
CLICK
I pass on the info to Camille, and so we decide to go over on a Sunday afternoon. I'm busy gardening when Camille arrives in a white blouse and skirt. I just throw down my spade and head off in work out clothes and my crocs. As we get to the salon we're told it's important to not be wearing any makeup and to be freshly exfoliated. Camille and I look at each other--this information would have been helpful to have earlier. We decide to try it anyway.
This sales clerk is young, tanned, but more punk then perky. Punky explains that the tanner works much like an automatic car wash. We'll climb in and 'she' will tell us where to stand and what to do while automatic sprayer things move around us. There are feet drawn on the floor of the tanning booth and the machine orders us to do things like 'place left foot on 1 and right foot on 4.' Camille goes first. I'm terrified of the whole process. While I'm waiting for Camille to tan I realize I have dirt caked on my legs from gardening. I run into the restroom and give myself what amounts to a sponge bath with paper towel to get the dirt off. I come out just as Camille is finishing. She promises me it isn't too scary and really easy to do and it will be okay. She also warns me to hold my breath while my face is being sprayed.
I climb into the machine. The outer booth is a little changing room that has a hand towel, wet wipes, and lotion. I prep and climb into the actual booth. 'She' tells me to place my left foot on 2 and right on 4' I do as 'she' says, and the sprayer moves to the bottom of the booth to spray my foot. It starts spraying. It keeps spraying my foot. I start thinking--it seems like it's spraying one foot for an inordinately long time. It keeps spraying. Then it stops and 'she' says...please get attendant. I think -- what the heck!!!
I struggle to cover myself with a hand towel (not a pretty sight!), while frantically scrubbing at my foot with wet wipe--thinking my foot will be BROWN and the rest of me pasty white. I manage to get Camille's attention and she gets punky. Punky, comes over and plays around with the machine, completely ignoring me frantically trying to de-tan my foot. After a while, she announces that the machine is broken.
She's never seen anything like this happen before and offers to credit my account. She has to tell the other people waiting that the machine has broken as I pathetically plod out - past the people waiting for their chance to be tanned - with one tanned foot.
My account has been credited, but I haven't been back yet. You'll notice from the wedding photo's that Camille is tanned and gorgeous and I am am pale and translucent-- I think that works well on me!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Jim & Camille's Wedding Weekend
What a fun memorial day weekend we had. Friday night was Camille's bridal shower at my house. We celebrated Camille and all of her favorite things. We had hors d'oeuvres of cheese, olives, peanuts, chips and salsa, chocolate covered strawberries (yes, this is an hors d'oeuvre) and much more. Then we had a main course thai themed: mandarin asian salad, thai curry chicken, green beans and tofu and spring rolls. We had a hot fudge sundae station for dessert. Delicious! We played some games and just had such a great time celebrating Camille. After the shower, Peter & I picked up some of our very favorite people in the whole world up from the airport the Begleys! Mike performed Camille's wedding ceremony.
On Saturday, we hosted the rehearsal in our backyard, then had a delicious rehearsal dinner at Marrakesh. So much fun-- 7 courses of deliciousness. And hilariously enough, I've now been to Marrakesh enough that the owner recognized me and came over to say hello. He told me I have a '10lbs laugh.' I'm choosing to take that as a compliment and not a subtle way of telling me to lower my voice ;)
On Sunday, Camille, Stacy (the other bridesmaid) and I met at the salon to get our hair done and get dressed. We also ate Chipotle for lunch at the salon. After we were all made to look fabulous-- we headed off in the limo to the church. We called Karen on the way. Karen, is another bridesmaid, but sadly couldn't make it because she was in a car accident in England. Karen--we really missed you!!! We got to the church took photos and were ready to start the ceremony.
I was the matron of honor and was thus responsible for carrying the ring down the aisle. As soon as I got to the end of the aisle I realized that I had left Jim's ring downstairs!!!! I am SUCH A MORON!!!! I looked at Stacy and said, in pure panic, 'Jim's ring is still downstairs'. Stacy just said--'don't move!!!' She gently excused herself and left the ceremony. Afterwards we were surprised at the reactions, many people were so focused on the happy couple they didn't notice, others thought she really really had to use the restroom, some thought maybe she felt sick. When Stacy left, Camille looked at me and said 'you have the ring, right' and I said 'No. Stacy is getting it' Lucky for me, Camille is so great, that instead of killing me or firing me on the spot, which, quite frankly, is what I deserved, she just burst out laughing and said 'I love you.'
Stacy returned with the ring without missing a beat. However, when Mike asked for the rings we all burst out giggling. We also sang one of the worst congregational songs known to man!!! We sang that song 'I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my pain, I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord.' Peter & Mary were leading the singing, and did an excellent job. However, the musicians (a cellist and violinist) apparently had never heard the song before and didn't have any idea how to play it. Peter just tried to sing through the funeral dirge of that song -- I thought it sounded like we were being accompanied by dying cats. It was awful-- no one had any idea what key to sing in, or pace to sing at. Those of you who know me, know I NEVER sing out loud in public. NEVER. My voice is really awful, and I can't hear keys, or notes very well so usually I just lip sync out of respect to those singing around me. This was so bad I sang as loud as I could, because I thought it would help!! Most of us were laughing at how horrible it sounded, including Jim & Camille. It's really great that they had such a good sense of humor about the whole thing.
Then they had a gorgeous reception on a riverboat that went up and down the Potomac as we partied the night away (including a wonderful first dance, bouquet toss on the top deck, and (of course) a 'first redux' of 'Trading my sorrows'...from the safety of my iPod!).
All in all, it was an amazing weekend of celebrating Jim & Camille. I'm so happy for them and felt really privileged and blessed to be a part of their special day. Thanks for including me guys, I love you!
On Saturday, we hosted the rehearsal in our backyard, then had a delicious rehearsal dinner at Marrakesh. So much fun-- 7 courses of deliciousness. And hilariously enough, I've now been to Marrakesh enough that the owner recognized me and came over to say hello. He told me I have a '10lbs laugh.' I'm choosing to take that as a compliment and not a subtle way of telling me to lower my voice ;)
On Sunday, Camille, Stacy (the other bridesmaid) and I met at the salon to get our hair done and get dressed. We also ate Chipotle for lunch at the salon. After we were all made to look fabulous-- we headed off in the limo to the church. We called Karen on the way. Karen, is another bridesmaid, but sadly couldn't make it because she was in a car accident in England. Karen--we really missed you!!! We got to the church took photos and were ready to start the ceremony.
I was the matron of honor and was thus responsible for carrying the ring down the aisle. As soon as I got to the end of the aisle I realized that I had left Jim's ring downstairs!!!! I am SUCH A MORON!!!! I looked at Stacy and said, in pure panic, 'Jim's ring is still downstairs'. Stacy just said--'don't move!!!' She gently excused herself and left the ceremony. Afterwards we were surprised at the reactions, many people were so focused on the happy couple they didn't notice, others thought she really really had to use the restroom, some thought maybe she felt sick. When Stacy left, Camille looked at me and said 'you have the ring, right' and I said 'No. Stacy is getting it' Lucky for me, Camille is so great, that instead of killing me or firing me on the spot, which, quite frankly, is what I deserved, she just burst out laughing and said 'I love you.'
Stacy returned with the ring without missing a beat. However, when Mike asked for the rings we all burst out giggling. We also sang one of the worst congregational songs known to man!!! We sang that song 'I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my pain, I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord.' Peter & Mary were leading the singing, and did an excellent job. However, the musicians (a cellist and violinist) apparently had never heard the song before and didn't have any idea how to play it. Peter just tried to sing through the funeral dirge of that song -- I thought it sounded like we were being accompanied by dying cats. It was awful-- no one had any idea what key to sing in, or pace to sing at. Those of you who know me, know I NEVER sing out loud in public. NEVER. My voice is really awful, and I can't hear keys, or notes very well so usually I just lip sync out of respect to those singing around me. This was so bad I sang as loud as I could, because I thought it would help!! Most of us were laughing at how horrible it sounded, including Jim & Camille. It's really great that they had such a good sense of humor about the whole thing.
Then they had a gorgeous reception on a riverboat that went up and down the Potomac as we partied the night away (including a wonderful first dance, bouquet toss on the top deck, and (of course) a 'first redux' of 'Trading my sorrows'...from the safety of my iPod!).
All in all, it was an amazing weekend of celebrating Jim & Camille. I'm so happy for them and felt really privileged and blessed to be a part of their special day. Thanks for including me guys, I love you!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Mickey is Coming!
It's not Disneyland in my backyard, but it's something :)
washingtonpost.com
Disney Buys Land for Future Resort Hotel at National Harbor
By Thomas Heath
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Walt Disney Co. has bought a 15-acre parcel at Prince George's County's sprawling National Harbor development, a shot in the arm for a project that opened with big ambitions a year ago, only to run headfirst into one of the sharpest economic declines in decades.
Disney plans to build a 500-room hotel resort on the parcel, providing another anchor for a 300-acre venture that seeks to rival the District as a conference and convention destination. National Harbor already includes six hotels; more than a dozen restaurants; and a giant conference center run by Gaylord Entertainment, owner of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
Business, though, has been slowed by the recession, and many of the 400 residences at National Harbor have not been sold. A Disney spokesman said the company will almost certainly go ahead with the project despite the economic climate, but the company did not provide a timetable.
"The addition of Disney as a partner to the National Harbor mix validates and fulfills the shared vision that we will be a world-class waterfront destination resort," said Milton V. Peterson, chairman of Peterson Cos., who has staked hundreds of millions of dollars on the harbor venture. "It's an extraordinary compliment in this economy."
Disney's move to Prince George's comes more than a decade after the company pulled out of a project to build a history-themed park, called Disney's America, on 3,000 acres of rolling farmland near the Manassas battlefield. Disney scrapped the project after months of opposition from politicians and citizens' groups
Peterson has been wooing Disney in the years since then. He even hosted Walt Disney president and chief executive Robert A. Iger on a visit to the site.
"I have been working on this Disney project with Milt for four years," said Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D). "Milt has been working on it for 10. There were times when it looked like it wouldn't happen, but the perseverance paid off."
Tourism brings nearly $10 billion annually to the Washington region, though summer convention bookings and hotel reservations in the District are off about 5 percent from last year. District tourism officials projected a 2 percent decline in tourism this year.
With its thousands of hotel rooms and huge public spaces, National Harbor has been a subject of speculation on whether it complements or cannibalizes the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and other conference centers in downtown Washington. Plans for a large new hotel at the convention center, considered a requisite for boosting business there, remain on the drawing board.
But, eight miles south of the District on the Potomac River, National Harbor has been a relatively bright spot, one of the few projects to go forward. It is anchored by the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, which spots an 18-story glass hall, 2,000 hotel rooms and 470,000 square feet of meeting space, making it the largest center of its kind on the East Coast.
One hospitality source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the source is not an official spokesman, said about 60 percent of the convention business at the Gaylord center has been new to the region. The rest is groups that had previously booked events in Washington.
"Yeah, sure, we're in a downturn right now," said Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive of Gaylord Entertainment. "But three years from now, life will be a lot different."
Although Disney is best known for its animated films and theme parks, the entertainment conglomerate also includes ABC, ESPN, live-action films and cruise ships.
Disney's resorts unit is buying the National Harbor parcel for $11 million. The company also has an 800-plus room resort under construction on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. That resort is due to open in 2011; will cost about $800 million; and will include a spa, saltwater snorkeling, a replica volcano and wedding facilities, according to reports.
Disney would not disclose the exact size and construction date for its National Harbor plan, "but it will be a project of significant scale and put a recognizable Disney footprint in the Washington area," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Rasulo added that the project is not an attempt to build another Disney's America.
"The National Harbor resort is a completely different kind of project," Rasulo said. "It's specifically zoned for hotel, residential and other commercial development. This project is a hotel resort. It is not by any stretch of the imagination a theme-park project and never will be. We have no intention of building a large-scale theme park in the Washington area."
The new project might dovetail with Adventures by Disney, which offers guided tours that include a mid-Atlantic tour through Philadelphia, Williamsburg and Washington. The D.C. leg of the tour includes a guided bike ride around the National Mall and private tours of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, and a lunch trip to Mount Vernon.
"This is what we think about as a fun-filled new destination for local visitors, which can also serve as a base camp from which others can explore the increasingly inspirational stories from our nation's capital," Rasulo said.
The property Disney has bought sits on a rise at the top of a tree-lined promenade named American Way, which is fashioned after the main street in Barcelona, called Las Ramblas. The Disney site overlooks the National Harbor complex and the Potomac and faces north toward the District. Visitors can see the Washington Monument in the distance.
Rasulo said Disney has to weigh "lots of factors in the coming months and the coming years" before deciding when to break ground.
"We wouldn't be buying this property if we didn't think this was a great location for a Disney resort hotel," Rasulo said.
washingtonpost.com
Disney Buys Land for Future Resort Hotel at National Harbor
By Thomas Heath
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Walt Disney Co. has bought a 15-acre parcel at Prince George's County's sprawling National Harbor development, a shot in the arm for a project that opened with big ambitions a year ago, only to run headfirst into one of the sharpest economic declines in decades.
Disney plans to build a 500-room hotel resort on the parcel, providing another anchor for a 300-acre venture that seeks to rival the District as a conference and convention destination. National Harbor already includes six hotels; more than a dozen restaurants; and a giant conference center run by Gaylord Entertainment, owner of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
Business, though, has been slowed by the recession, and many of the 400 residences at National Harbor have not been sold. A Disney spokesman said the company will almost certainly go ahead with the project despite the economic climate, but the company did not provide a timetable.
"The addition of Disney as a partner to the National Harbor mix validates and fulfills the shared vision that we will be a world-class waterfront destination resort," said Milton V. Peterson, chairman of Peterson Cos., who has staked hundreds of millions of dollars on the harbor venture. "It's an extraordinary compliment in this economy."
Disney's move to Prince George's comes more than a decade after the company pulled out of a project to build a history-themed park, called Disney's America, on 3,000 acres of rolling farmland near the Manassas battlefield. Disney scrapped the project after months of opposition from politicians and citizens' groups
Peterson has been wooing Disney in the years since then. He even hosted Walt Disney president and chief executive Robert A. Iger on a visit to the site.
"I have been working on this Disney project with Milt for four years," said Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D). "Milt has been working on it for 10. There were times when it looked like it wouldn't happen, but the perseverance paid off."
Tourism brings nearly $10 billion annually to the Washington region, though summer convention bookings and hotel reservations in the District are off about 5 percent from last year. District tourism officials projected a 2 percent decline in tourism this year.
With its thousands of hotel rooms and huge public spaces, National Harbor has been a subject of speculation on whether it complements or cannibalizes the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and other conference centers in downtown Washington. Plans for a large new hotel at the convention center, considered a requisite for boosting business there, remain on the drawing board.
But, eight miles south of the District on the Potomac River, National Harbor has been a relatively bright spot, one of the few projects to go forward. It is anchored by the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, which spots an 18-story glass hall, 2,000 hotel rooms and 470,000 square feet of meeting space, making it the largest center of its kind on the East Coast.
One hospitality source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the source is not an official spokesman, said about 60 percent of the convention business at the Gaylord center has been new to the region. The rest is groups that had previously booked events in Washington.
"Yeah, sure, we're in a downturn right now," said Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive of Gaylord Entertainment. "But three years from now, life will be a lot different."
Although Disney is best known for its animated films and theme parks, the entertainment conglomerate also includes ABC, ESPN, live-action films and cruise ships.
Disney's resorts unit is buying the National Harbor parcel for $11 million. The company also has an 800-plus room resort under construction on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. That resort is due to open in 2011; will cost about $800 million; and will include a spa, saltwater snorkeling, a replica volcano and wedding facilities, according to reports.
Disney would not disclose the exact size and construction date for its National Harbor plan, "but it will be a project of significant scale and put a recognizable Disney footprint in the Washington area," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Rasulo added that the project is not an attempt to build another Disney's America.
"The National Harbor resort is a completely different kind of project," Rasulo said. "It's specifically zoned for hotel, residential and other commercial development. This project is a hotel resort. It is not by any stretch of the imagination a theme-park project and never will be. We have no intention of building a large-scale theme park in the Washington area."
The new project might dovetail with Adventures by Disney, which offers guided tours that include a mid-Atlantic tour through Philadelphia, Williamsburg and Washington. The D.C. leg of the tour includes a guided bike ride around the National Mall and private tours of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, and a lunch trip to Mount Vernon.
"This is what we think about as a fun-filled new destination for local visitors, which can also serve as a base camp from which others can explore the increasingly inspirational stories from our nation's capital," Rasulo said.
The property Disney has bought sits on a rise at the top of a tree-lined promenade named American Way, which is fashioned after the main street in Barcelona, called Las Ramblas. The Disney site overlooks the National Harbor complex and the Potomac and faces north toward the District. Visitors can see the Washington Monument in the distance.
Rasulo said Disney has to weigh "lots of factors in the coming months and the coming years" before deciding when to break ground.
"We wouldn't be buying this property if we didn't think this was a great location for a Disney resort hotel," Rasulo said.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
NapQuest
Two years ago, I went to the Frederick Marathon to cheer on Alina. (Read: Alina dragged my lazy bum out of a bed at 4:00am, to drive her to Frederick so she could be there in plenty of time for the 6:30 am start) I saw her off—cheering wildly as the marathoners took off, then promptly toddled off to my car. I stowed away a pillow and blanket in the backseat, in hopes I could make up some of my lost sleep while she ran. And while, she ran mile after mile, I had one of the best napping experiences of my life! It was a fabulous nap—comfortable, and I woke up so refreshed. It is one of the great memories of my life—that nap!This year, Peter decided to run the Frederick Half. I planned on going to cheer him on, but also in hopes that I could recreate that great napping experience. I had two primary concerns: 1) had I built up that nap too much and 2) Peter is really really fast, would the decrease in time ruin the length of my nap
I drove up with Peter and saw him off. Then headed back to the car for my nap. It was another great napping experience!!! While I was asleep, it started raining very hard—the sound on the roof gently and gradually woke me up in time for the finish. Making this nap experience, while shorter, maybe even better than the last.
Also, my super fabulous and fast husband finished 13.1 miles with a new personal record (in the pouring rain)! Congratulations, Peter! ☺
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