In my last post I threw a fit about caterers not adhering to my demands that they respond within minutes to my inquiries, and also make up a song about me and send flowers to me. Ravishing Raddish just got back to me today, a billion weeks later. No good, guys.
I issued a challenge to Shooby Doo Catering in that same post, and to my delight, they have come through for me. I got an email four hours later (at 2 a.m.) from one of the owners with an itemized quote AND answers to all the questions I had rattled off. It wasn't a cold profeshonal email, either... there were exclamation points!!1!one
We have an appointment to meet with them this Saturday to discuss the menu. And that's how business is done.
I picked up my dress today. It's mine, my very own! I was a size 20 when I tried their sample on a few months ago... but I was a small size 20, and the salesgirl was confident that I could be laced into an 18 if they had one on hand. So I got ambitious and ordered a 16.
Now it's now and I'm a solid 22, and I was dreading the dress pickup because I wasn't going to be able to try it on. It had also been a shitty day and I just walked in to Alfred Angelo pissed off to begin with. But magically, as if to deliver me (if only for a moment) from traffic and rain and all the other things going wrong, the size 16 fits over my hips and can be laced loosely enough to fit myself in it. I could not lose any weight between now and July and still be able to rock this bitch down the aisle, ya'll.
Moral of the story: that's why you always get a lace-up wedding dress.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Time for Wedding Talk
Random update: the NPO is paying me a wee bit o' cash for work during November, so I'm not homeless and starving yet. They're going to review my contract at the end of the month after the big fundraiser, and see if they can continue to use my help. It hasn't been glamorous pay, but it keeps me blissfully busy and lets me leave my stress at the office... so that I can come home and devote all my worry to the wedding.
We have a venue that is not at all what we thought it would be! The Theater Off Jackson just never got back to us, so we gave up hope. After scouring the city multiple times for places to get hitched, a random new place popped up in my searches. Within Sodo is an event space within Sodo (hur) that looks like a warehouse with an art collection in it. It has a rooftop deck with a view of downtown Seattle and the Starbux building, and enough random things hanging from brick walls that it doesn't feel empty. Also there is a fish tank full of koi!
We started talking to the manager, Brian, back in August and he's been great to work with. The date we booked is July 14, 2012. Here are some reviews.
It was thanks to Within Sodo that I stumbled across photographers that we are going to reserve before anyone steals them away. I was searching for pictures of the venue because I can't complete my OCD-level accurate floor plan without a vision of what the walls will look like or whatever, and I came across this wedding inspiration shoot that had happened right there AND WAS GORGEOUS.
Oh neat! It looks like JayLee traveled forward into the future and caught my sister and I enjoying a sibling moment at my wedding! (Kidding. The original foto is (c) and (tm) them.)
We're still deciding on a package with them, but we met them in person and I was overwhelmed by adorableness.
You know who hasn't completely impressed me with their personalities or at bare minimum an interest in my business? Caterers. I understand that my price point is only slightly higher than Taco Bell, but if I were to serve 120 people Chalupas and fountain drinks, that would still be $400 that CATERERS WILL NOT GET FROM ME.
Celebrations Catering was my top runner because they catered a baby shower I went to and the food was delicious. Also the price was not awful. I had talked to them at person during my last job, and when I emailed them an inquiry for the wedding they sent me the standard response with pricing info and etc, including a lovely note that the consultation and tasting would be included in the cost of the event. I reminded the contact that I had discussed all of this with her in person and asked how much those would set me back if we decided to go with someone else. Two days later I got an email telling me that tasting dates were available in January and completely ignoring my question. I don't think there was even a salutation.
I get that it's the pre-holiday season and caterers are swamped. But I would have liked a quick "Sorry, can't talked, up to my neck in cranberry sauce, will get back to you soon with more details!" I don't think I'm a priority for them, and now I'm paranoid that my previous employer blacklisted me from all the caterers she knows, and I will truly have to serve Chalupas at my wedding.
Also, Dear Ravishing Raddish, I filled out your e-form a week ago. You are now also off of my list.
Next try: Shooby Doo Catering. They were recommended by a friend who ate their awesome appetizers at Wine World. I have filled out their online form justnow, so we'll see what response I get. I hope they want to talk to me - their food looks amazing.
And I really don't want to have to resort to Taco Bell.
We have a venue that is not at all what we thought it would be! The Theater Off Jackson just never got back to us, so we gave up hope. After scouring the city multiple times for places to get hitched, a random new place popped up in my searches. Within Sodo is an event space within Sodo (hur) that looks like a warehouse with an art collection in it. It has a rooftop deck with a view of downtown Seattle and the Starbux building, and enough random things hanging from brick walls that it doesn't feel empty. Also there is a fish tank full of koi!
We started talking to the manager, Brian, back in August and he's been great to work with. The date we booked is July 14, 2012. Here are some reviews.
It was thanks to Within Sodo that I stumbled across photographers that we are going to reserve before anyone steals them away. I was searching for pictures of the venue because I can't complete my OCD-level accurate floor plan without a vision of what the walls will look like or whatever, and I came across this wedding inspiration shoot that had happened right there AND WAS GORGEOUS.
We're still deciding on a package with them, but we met them in person and I was overwhelmed by adorableness.
You know who hasn't completely impressed me with their personalities or at bare minimum an interest in my business? Caterers. I understand that my price point is only slightly higher than Taco Bell, but if I were to serve 120 people Chalupas and fountain drinks, that would still be $400 that CATERERS WILL NOT GET FROM ME.
Celebrations Catering was my top runner because they catered a baby shower I went to and the food was delicious. Also the price was not awful. I had talked to them at person during my last job, and when I emailed them an inquiry for the wedding they sent me the standard response with pricing info and etc, including a lovely note that the consultation and tasting would be included in the cost of the event. I reminded the contact that I had discussed all of this with her in person and asked how much those would set me back if we decided to go with someone else. Two days later I got an email telling me that tasting dates were available in January and completely ignoring my question. I don't think there was even a salutation.
I get that it's the pre-holiday season and caterers are swamped. But I would have liked a quick "Sorry, can't talked, up to my neck in cranberry sauce, will get back to you soon with more details!" I don't think I'm a priority for them, and now I'm paranoid that my previous employer blacklisted me from all the caterers she knows, and I will truly have to serve Chalupas at my wedding.
Also, Dear Ravishing Raddish, I filled out your e-form a week ago. You are now also off of my list.
Next try: Shooby Doo Catering. They were recommended by a friend who ate their awesome appetizers at Wine World. I have filled out their online form justnow, so we'll see what response I get. I hope they want to talk to me - their food looks amazing.
And I really don't want to have to resort to Taco Bell.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
No, really: sometimes these things are for the better
I apologize for my unholy hiatus.
A quick recap of the past few months: I have quit my job (again), I am back at the nonprofit (again), and for some reason, Mr. Fiance has not run from my apparent need to cry about everything (still).
What to discuss first? I started this blog talking about the lofty reasons why one must quit a job if it becomes more trouble than they can bear. This was That, Version 2.0. Bad relationship with boss. Felt bullied in the workplace. Led to increased anxiety and panic attacks.
The common denominator is me? Don't think I haven't considered it. That was probably the most stressful thing about it - thinking that I should be able to handle it, and not handling it somehow indicated laziness or bad social skills or some other problem on my part. But after a lot of therapy and support from friends/family and some AMAZING pills that make it easier to breathe when I can't, I realized that no one can treat me like that, even if I am lazy or socially inept or whatever. Which I'm not.
So I quit, in somewhat less of a fiery blaze of glory than the last time, but it was still glorious. I feared ostracism in the Japan community here, but so far I've had no backlash. In fact, on Day 3 of Funemployment, the NPO I used to work for called me up, and it went a little something like this:
NPO: "Hey, whatcha doin'?"
Me: "Not much. Lookin' for jobs. Hanging out with the cats."
NPO: "So our biggest fundraiser is coming up in six weeks, and it turns out we have no idea what to do AND can't use databases. Would you happen to know about databases?"
Me: "Sure, I'll come in a few days a week and fix all your ish."
I was very glad to have something to do besides Craigslist and kittens. Secretly, I felt like a superhero, being the one person in the right situation able to assist them with what they need. They may end up paying me for the work I'm doing with them; one person called me about it today, but I didn't answer because I've been afraid of the phone for the past few weeks. Irrational?
The first time I stepped into that office and sat down at the computer, all the parts about the job that I loved came racing back to me. The graphic design, procuring auction items, and DATABASES. I love a motherfucking database, and I realized that being able to say that without a hint of sarcasm meant I should probably look into some sort of class, or a series of classes.
It's been a few weeks since then, and this Life Plan that I'm developing is constantly in a state of evolution, but here's where I stand so far. I feel better, mentally, than I did 3 months ago. I have found some Database Admin certificate programs at local schools and online, and I'm thinking I need to get in on that, as soon as possible. I've got some sort of income for the next month, and after that, depending on what sort of DBA course I take, I can get a part-time job or something to bring in a little extra cash while I learn what, exactly, SQL stands for.
I have no idea how this is going to pan out. I worry that going from a fluffly liberal arts education and a background of office assistance to a hard technical career will be too challenging. Hell, I'm worried that any course I take will be too challenging. And then I remember that the thought of being a receptionist or anyone's assistant, ever again, makes me want to shoot myself in the head. And then I go read course descriptions for UW's DBA program, and giggle to myself because it sounds so interesting.
More on wedding plans later. I've got my life to think about.
A quick recap of the past few months: I have quit my job (again), I am back at the nonprofit (again), and for some reason, Mr. Fiance has not run from my apparent need to cry about everything (still).
What to discuss first? I started this blog talking about the lofty reasons why one must quit a job if it becomes more trouble than they can bear. This was That, Version 2.0. Bad relationship with boss. Felt bullied in the workplace. Led to increased anxiety and panic attacks.
The common denominator is me? Don't think I haven't considered it. That was probably the most stressful thing about it - thinking that I should be able to handle it, and not handling it somehow indicated laziness or bad social skills or some other problem on my part. But after a lot of therapy and support from friends/family and some AMAZING pills that make it easier to breathe when I can't, I realized that no one can treat me like that, even if I am lazy or socially inept or whatever. Which I'm not.
So I quit, in somewhat less of a fiery blaze of glory than the last time, but it was still glorious. I feared ostracism in the Japan community here, but so far I've had no backlash. In fact, on Day 3 of Funemployment, the NPO I used to work for called me up, and it went a little something like this:
NPO: "Hey, whatcha doin'?"
Me: "Not much. Lookin' for jobs. Hanging out with the cats."
NPO: "So our biggest fundraiser is coming up in six weeks, and it turns out we have no idea what to do AND can't use databases. Would you happen to know about databases?"
Me: "Sure, I'll come in a few days a week and fix all your ish."
I was very glad to have something to do besides Craigslist and kittens. Secretly, I felt like a superhero, being the one person in the right situation able to assist them with what they need. They may end up paying me for the work I'm doing with them; one person called me about it today, but I didn't answer because I've been afraid of the phone for the past few weeks. Irrational?
The first time I stepped into that office and sat down at the computer, all the parts about the job that I loved came racing back to me. The graphic design, procuring auction items, and DATABASES. I love a motherfucking database, and I realized that being able to say that without a hint of sarcasm meant I should probably look into some sort of class, or a series of classes.
It's been a few weeks since then, and this Life Plan that I'm developing is constantly in a state of evolution, but here's where I stand so far. I feel better, mentally, than I did 3 months ago. I have found some Database Admin certificate programs at local schools and online, and I'm thinking I need to get in on that, as soon as possible. I've got some sort of income for the next month, and after that, depending on what sort of DBA course I take, I can get a part-time job or something to bring in a little extra cash while I learn what, exactly, SQL stands for.
I have no idea how this is going to pan out. I worry that going from a fluffly liberal arts education and a background of office assistance to a hard technical career will be too challenging. Hell, I'm worried that any course I take will be too challenging. And then I remember that the thought of being a receptionist or anyone's assistant, ever again, makes me want to shoot myself in the head. And then I go read course descriptions for UW's DBA program, and giggle to myself because it sounds so interesting.
More on wedding plans later. I've got my life to think about.
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