Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Runnin' Around.

Getting married is a real cornucopia of details, no matter how you slice it. You might say to that, "No duh." But somehow I figured that by avoiding a wedding party, a band (thank you iPod), assigned seating, a lot of guests, etc. etc., that would mean free n' easy nuptials. Not so much. Among the details: What do you say to each other at the altar?

I did not want to say "'Til death do us part." There was some momentary friction on that one. I'd rather ignore the fact that I'm going to die as long as possible. Doesn't "all the rest of our days" sound so much more noncommittal toward death? I thought so too. All the rest of our days... that's like zillions and zillions of days! Right?

Well, this is probably the least composed and most inelegant post so far. Please forgive me, it's my wedding week (quote from Sex and the City: "You get a day. One day."). After this, it's Hawaii for 10 days. Cliche honeymoon destination but easy (if bank-breaking) and I've never been.

More upon return...

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Sur-Living.

Have you ever gone through periods where you're just a little too interested in someone else's life?

It brightens my day to surf on over to tha pbdotc or Verbungle and get some thought-provoking musings, and often a laugh -- that's fine. But lately, I've become a bit too zealous in checking Restaurant Girl and Viva La Vida.

I feel a twinge of discomfort when I read these blogs, because at the heart of my bookmark-check is a belief that these two people are living more satisfying lives than I am.

Like, while I crop yet another photo at work or take myself for a gerbilly jaunt on the StairMaster, Restaurant Girl is harvesting grapes and going to underground dinners and playing basketball until 4 a.m., and the author of Viva la Vida is making projects with palm leaves on a Honduran island with her boyfriend. It all leads me to the question: Where did I go wrong -- or did I?

When it comes to seizing the day versus ruminating about it, my track record is mixed. On the seize side, I have: lived in London for a year; gone skydiving; gone to work for Club Med; sung in front of 500 people; biked 60 miles in one day for charity; quit a job I hated even though I lived alone in NYC and had no other job lined up; ended my dysfunctional love-hate relationship with NYC by leaving; pitched aside (almost) all my fears to move across the country and get hitched.

On the stuck side, I have: failed to take a vacation anywhere cool in the last several years; put my immediate comfort over my long-term best interests; stayed in a line of work I have known for a long time is not for me; wasted time with people I didn't actually like all that much; put off learning to cook and play drums way too long; not bothered to really pursue writing.

So when somebody does exactly what they want to do, and has a ton of fun in the process, it makes me jealous -- but also confused. How did they do it? What sacrifices are they making?

Whose life do you most admire?