Buh...wedding bells.

So, I was just reading about bridesmaid etiquette. I found a blog blasting a poor bridesmaid who had to travel to the wedding and all other wedding stuff, in addition to the necessary gifts and the dress, who didn't go to the bridal shower because of the travel expenses. 

This weekend, I am attending my first bridal shower in my first experience being a bridesmaid. I bought a very expensive gift, and am paying another friend for gas who is driving down. Not to mention, it's on Sunday, and we're going down Saturday night and getting back late Sunday right before school starts after spring break. I got another invitation to her second bridal shower today, and after reading that blog, I'm nervous about declining. 

It's yet again on a Sunday which is really inconvenient when you're in school and the shower is four hours away. I also worry I'd be expected to buy another gift, which after the first gift really isn't in the cards, and it'll be getting close to finals time and I already know I have a bunch of school things due that week. I'm already skipping a day of classes for the wedding preparations the week before finals (which I hate doing, I skipped a grand total of five classes ever in the four years of my undergraduate career), and I know another weekend away will probably destroy me. 

But, after what these people are saying, I'd feel like the world's worst bridesmaid if I didn't go. I mean, no one asked me to support either of these showers financially, or help plan, for that matter. But, is it really selfish to not go if you are a part of the wedding party? 

If so, this whole introduction to being "twenty-something" just took on a whole different financial and time obligation. This is wedding one of two that I'm in this year, and it seems like everyone these days is putting a ring on it, or getting a ring put on, and since I know I won't have a ring on it for a while, these favors and monetary obligations are a long time coming in return. 

Would it be too much to ask people to just refrain from getting married and asking for lavish gifts and dresses and things until the recession is cleared up? Do I need to go to this shower? If I do go, do I need to purchase a second gift? Should I have three birthday parties this year to get the favors returned? (The answer to the last question should be an obvious yes)

Anyone out there with a Heigel-esque closet, please feel free to comment. Or...anyone really. Halp. 

Post Election Thoughts, Encouragement and Discouragement

In case you've been living under a rock, Barack Obama is the new president-elect of the United States of America. He is our first African-American president and stepping into too many problems for anyone who is reasonably sane to want to take in. 

But you know what? I voted for him. I was in Manassas, Va. with 90,000 of my closest friends. I lost my voice screaming like a little fan girl and chanting a lot of "Yes I Can." He brought a few tears to my eyes and to the eyes around me when he spoke and I'm glad I made the drive down there. I cast my vote Tuesday and was certain I made the right choice. 

Tuesday night, I turned my head for a split second and was startled by cheers from the entirety of Tony's. A friend ran over to me, gave me a hug and said, "We did it, Tremblay!" It was a good night to be a Democrat in America. I'm really proud of what this country as a whole accomplished this year. 

However, I'm not proud of the fall out since the election. I've heard Obama supporters referred to as socialists, communists and baby killers. People have gone as far as to imply that anyone who voted left of center this year doesn't believe in God and is supporting a terrorist. Obama supporters are not innocent in this name game, either. I'm embarrassed to report that I've heard the words racist, bigot and 'get out of the country' applied to McCain supporters. 

Really? How old are we? 

The thing is  - the last thing we need right now is red and blue name calling. There are very serious problems surrounding our country. A leader is only as strong as his or her people are and a people are only as strong as its weakest link. The same red and blue separation that we've spent the past eight years either trying to remedy or creating (I'm not entirely sure) is not going to help us out of an economic disaster, growing environmental issues or this war. 

It's been a long, difficult campaign season. Each side has made its own set of mistakes and had its own successes. There has been a lot of passion put into each campaign, so I can understand the disappointment McCain supporters are feeling, as well as the excitement Obama supporters have. Those passions have created wounds that won't heal over night, but let's go back to kindergarten for a moment, does name calling really make anyone better off? 

In two excellent speeches I heard Tuesday night, each candidate openly congratulated the other for leading a competitive campaign and re-awakening politics in this country. Each candidate urged Americans to come together under new leadership to fix problems that won't be cleared over night. Things are probably going to get worse before things get better and bitter mud slinging isn't going to help. I can't express how important unity is right now. 

I didn't vote for president George W. Bush in 2004 and I would be a hypocrite if I said never to insult the president. I have mumbled my fair share of disappointments about his leadership the past eight years. I do, however, have the utmost respect for the position of president and anyone who is in it. My mom always says you would have to be crazy to run for president, and I happen to agree. I guess what I'm trying to say, though, is that a mutual respect for each other and our country is going to be the only way out of this mess. 

Before you call someone a socialist or a racist ask them why they voted the way they did this year. You may be surprised at what they have to say. As Senator McCain said in the debates, "reach across the aisle." And...please love each other?