I’m too exhausted to be very interesting, but I haven’t posted anything substantial in ages and I feel I’d better “give it a go,” as my Gran would say.

This last semester was an absolute bitch. There’s no way around it. Taking 18 credits and working at Do Gooders, Inc. really took its toll. I fear the final grades may be pretty dire, but I could really care less. I mean…grades. They’re hardly on the list of things that I consider very important in life. But turning thirty in the middle of that mess was hardly helpful. Nor was the fact that a very cute boy petting a very cute beagle asked me to marry him. How can one study after such a thing, I ask you? My brain was so watery when faced with the proposal that I didn’t believe him, asked him a half a dozen times if he was serious, and sort of ruined the moment.

Then there were the holidays to be faced. I had one day to do all of my Christmas shopping, and when I saw some picketers outside one of those obscene shopping complexes with signs that said, “We’re Consuming Ourselves to Death” and “Buying Things Will Not Make You Happy” I cheered inwardly, but knew that such idealism is for those without the guilt gene and grimly set about the whole Christmas ordeal. Many gifts and many more cookies later, the whole mess was over without me having a mental breakdown.

And, of course, Aud and I had to break the news about our engagement. I say “break the news” because, well, we all know that weddings are great things for some, not so great for others. One hardly likes to hear that the news of her engagement is enough to send a beloved relative to bed in tears for the day, and so I’m trying to be as understanding as possible.

My own reaction during these “break the news” moments is enough to tell me that I should probably avoid having a big wedding. When Aud made the announcement at his family’s large and traditional Christmas Eve dinner, I turned a very deep scarlet and sincerely hoped that his mother’s dining room floor would just open up and let me seep through it. I feel like I’m in the seventh grade all over again. I’m so not the attention-loving, “it’s MY day” kind of girl.

I have no idea what sort of wedding we’ll have at this point. We may just run away and elope, or have an outdoor bbq-type wedding. Last night my whiskey-fueled brain came up with another alternative that I love but may just be a logistical nightmare. It goes something like:

We’ll have an early civil ceremony outside Mather Mansion, one of the last remaining mansions of Cleveland’s once-famous Millionaire’s Row. I’ve often tried to convince Aud to get dressed up with me (me in a flapper dress, he in spats) and break into the ballroom with a victrola and dance, drink a martini, and then go outside and frolic in the fountain. He has yet to take the bait. There’s a beautiful space outside the mansion that would be perfect for the ceremony. Afterwards, we’d take photos there and then we could have a small celebration (a brunch or tea or something) with just our families (this is more so for my mother, who’s not well).

Later that night, I’d like to have a reception at an old warehouse that I went to a few years ago for an art/music exhibit. It’s pretty much just a rotted old warehouse, but with some cool lighting and a great band, it’d be perfect (I’m thinking big band, swing, that sort of thing). No sit down dinner or anything formal. Just tapas and drinks and dancing, no seating arrangements, centerpieces, garter dance, or bouquet toss. I’m not down with all that. And I want Mustardseed, my favorite local organic supermarket, to cater.

Of course, this is just one scenario. Though the whiskey has now worn off, I’m still digging the idea. Of course I’m *much* more excited at the prospect of a honeymoon. I’d always expected to go to Europe, but Aud said he’d like to go someplace tropical for a beach-type vacation. I’m rather shocked. Perhaps I can convince him to consider southern Italy? Or Greece? My first choice, if money weren’t an issue, would be to roll down a hill in a big bubble in New Zealand. Perhaps some day…

In other remarkably conventional news, I should have my ring next week, and I’m embarrassingly excited about it. Aud gave me his grandmother’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, and we’re having it reset in white gold with a simpler, smaller setting. This is all very…surreal.

And now, back to my research on mental capacity in contract-making in the foreclosure context…