Somebody That I Used To Know

It started with this:

Where on EARTH did they get the idea to even try this? So amazing to watch talented musicians really, actually be inventive. There really IS something new under the sun… Or was, until they covered this Gotye song.

And then, I sauntered on over to the original…

And HOLY CRAP.

There is just something about this song that is literally, right now, making me sway my shoulders at my desk. It’s beautiful and haunting and GOD, can I relate to the song.

Here’s the lyrics (in particular, the part I bold really resonates with me): (And then an update on me lately)

Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it’s an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end
Always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I’ll admit that I was glad that it was over

But you didn’t have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened
And that we were nothing
And I don’t even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger
And that feels so rough
You didn’t have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records
And then change your number
I guess that I don’t need that though
Now you’re just somebody that I used to know

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I’d done
And I don’t wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go 
And I wouldn’t catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know…

But you didn’t have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened
And that we were nothing
And I don’t even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger
And that feels so rough
You didn’t have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records
And then change your number
I guess that I don’t need that though
Now you’re just somebody that I used to know

I used to know
That I used to know

Somebody…

Soo… What’s new with me?

I found someone to make my wedding dress. It looks like it’s going to be a little bit cheaper than buying a dress only to totally deconstruct it for the necessary alterations. I went dress shopping with Nancy and Devon on Sunday which ended up being more like, style shopping than dress shopping — looking at hemlines and shapes and fabrics, etc. We went to regular stores and laughed as I put on this corduroy red dress at Anthropologie that made me look like the lower half of my body was stuck inside a hamster ball. Then we went to an ACTUAL bridal shop and the dresses were super beaded and sequined and long and ruffly and not my style at all. Nevermind that they were GREY in the armpits and that bottoms looked like someone had dipped into giant ashtrays.

Are engaged women really THAT dirty?

I am also into my second week of working out. I landed some free/discounted zumba classes at my friend’s local studio and, omg, I love them. I’m converted. It started here and it ended last week in a Zumba class. I also took a “Butt ‘n Gut” class on Tuesday and HOLY CRAP MY STOMACH MUSCLES HURT. It’s a strange thing to complain about it because I’m all, “Colin, my stomach hurts.” And he’s like, “What did you eat?” But it’s not that kind of stomach problem.

Speaking of stomach problems… We’ve gotten down to the bottom of the Case of Colin’s Gut Issue. He’s developed a lactose allergy/sensitivity. At this point, we’ve ruled everything else out and he’s moving into week two of no dairy (AT ALL! Bless his heart!) and also, no issues. It’s been a huge boost for him which is saying something because, initially, learning that he might not be able to have lactose — butter, milk, ice cream, STOUT BEER — it made him really sad. As a chef, there’s not really much worse than that. But he’s on the upswing now which makes my swing also… go… up.

Work is great! I’m using BaseCampHQ to manage my projects. What a life saver. I’m not sure how I was able to get anything done before BaseCamp. That, paired with Toggl, my time-tracking tool, I’m a machine now. Have loads of open projects and speaking engagements out the ying-yang. Happy, happy girl.

(I’m still dancing to Gotye’s song, thanks to InfiniteLooper)

Dipping My Toes In Familiar Water

I got an email about a week ago and, when I read it on my phone, I chuckled to Colin, “Get this… Somebody wants a blog and they want it up in two weeks.” He joked, while sauntering over to me to wrap me up in his arms, “Get the bacon, baby!”

So I waited until I had a moment to call this person back and what do you know, it was a project I could really wrap my brain around. A woman, fifty years old, widowed for five years from the love of her life… And she’s going to start dating online and writing about it. As we chat and she gets me up to speed on her project, I’m furrowing my brow and, “oh honey”-ing her because god… Do I remember dating online.

The endless emails. The deceitful pictures. The pendulous genitals. The deep, hidden issues. The bed wetting.

And as she’s talking to me, it dawns on me, I should tell her about Date Wrecks.

“Have you ever read Date Wrecks?”

“Oh god, yes!” she said, quite enthusiastically.

“That’s my blog.”

Radio silence.

“That’s how I got started in this whole business, learning it myself.”

“OMG,” she said. Repeatedly.

We shared a chuckle over it because, for me, it’s still kind of hilarious and amazing when these little tiny morsels of INTERNET FAMOUS spring up. Heh.

So, I’m building her blog. And I’m quite excited about it. Quick and easy job. I’m really looking forward to watching her progress.

So I got to thinking… I really do miss blogging, for fun. For humor. To make people laugh. This place, Freak Bacon, this is a beautiful space for me to work out things in my head and keep track of events in my life. But this isn’t like a funny, ha-ha kind of space. This is more like one of those bars that sometimes has open mic nights and how, most of the time, the stuff you hear is terrible but every now and then, something really beautiful spills out.

So I’m considering making a blog like Date Wrecks, but about the wedding industry.

Because seriously… There is some kind of really fucked up disconnection between what brides want and what compels us to buy things and … this:

Like… Seriously? I can’t even SEE the dresses what with the no-neck, twisted broad, the maxi-pad/shoulder-pad wearing cross-dressing ginger and the unusually tall girl practicing a very elegant remake of Thriller. What the fuck are you guys thinking, wedding industry standard-setters?

So… As with any project… All I  need to come up with is a title… The material is there… And will write itself, for sure.

Glad to be back, flexing, writing, making fun of people. All the things I do best. :)

Wedding Planning for the Anti-Bride

I’m a little defensive about my “bride” status. I totally want to marry Colin. I can’t wait to be his WIFE. But the business of being a bride feels a little sour to me. It’s such an overly-marketed industry. Brides-to-be are assaulted by a constant barrage of magazine and blog articles that tell them what they should be doing, thinking, checking off their lists… There’s pressure to spend, diet, stretch and obsess over the entire process of planning a wedding.

What’s your theme?

Where’s your ring?

Where are you getting married?

Are you doing a unity candle?

Who is officiating?

Who is catering?

Like… SHUT UP. If you want to know all these details, work hard to be on my good side so that you get invited, fool.

No, seriously.

I am trying really hard to follow my gut and my heart, not what the current trends are. I don’t usually have any trouble being non-traditional.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen? No thanks. I’d much rather my closest friends not feel pressure to have to pony up money for fancy clothes and make them stand with locked knees, risking an oh-my-god-she-fainted embarrassing experience.

Father giving me away? I’m sorry, I’m 30 years old and I’ve been married once. I’m also pretty sure that I was never something that my father would ever consider giving away. I’m his daughter and I always will be…

Overpriced bouquet? How about wildflowers instead? Or just a whole crap load of baby’s breath tied with twine? Or maybe no flowers for me at all. What if I just carry an axe? Or a whomp-’em stick?

White dress with train and veil complete with faux-virginity? What about a cute yellow dress instead? How about something I’ll feel beautiful in on THAT DAY and any other day I decide to wear it?

Colin has to consistently reel me in. He’s more traditional than me, but still a very creative person who doesn’t feel like he has to do any of this “their” way… But he has to pull me back down to earth sometimes.

It’s going to be interesting planning this wedding. Our budget? Nearly invisible, it’s so tiny. Our plans? Big. Beautiful. We’re going to make it happen and I’m excited to share exactly HOW we plan to do it. So…

Enter the new blog category, Anti-Bride.

And holy crap — getting married in just over ten months, y ‘all!