This I Know For Sure... I think.

Every month I get Oprah's "O" magazine in the mail, and after I skim the movie reviews, interviews, and oh-so-profound quotes about the meaning of life and other such things, I get to the one monthly feature that I just can't get excited about. I love the different writers in the magazine, have tried the recipes and genuinely enjoyed them, and have put a lot of stock in the book reviews. However, there is that one darn article that appears month after month that I just can't take seriously. "This I Know For Sure." At the end of each magazine, there is an article about a recent revelation of hers. These musings usually have something to do with the meaning of life (Oprah seems to have this all worked out) or being grateful (apparently Oprah counts her blessings daily... I can only imagine. "#1: Dr. Oz's infinite supply of botox #2. my four personal assistants without whom I would not remember to count my blessings"). The bottom line is, though, that the center of each article is something she knows "for sure." My problem with this--how many things can we really know "for sure" in life? I don't know about you, but I don't have the whole purpose of my life worked out yet. At the ripe old age of 21, I don't have a whole lot figured out "for sure." However, as they say, "don't knock it 'til you try it." And so, in fairness to Oprah, I am hereby making my own list of "Things I Know For Sure."

1. When in doubt, throw it out. This applies to suspicious leftovers in the fridge whose origins are unknown or mascera that may or may not be left over from the 8th grade formal. When it comes to things you eat or wear; moldy eye make up and congealed turkey gravy are not good for you. This I know for sure.

2. Smile. A lot. Those who know me well know I am not Miss Mary Sunshine. I am not a morning person, I get grouchy when I don't have the right amount of coffee in me at any given moment, and am generally more akin to Oscar the Grouch than cheery little Elmo. However, being the grouch gets you no where and nothing. When I can't find any ripe avocados at the grocery store, I smile, almost maniacally at the produce guy, and he is more than happy to look in the back for me. When they don't have my size in the only golf shirt that isn't a hideous pastel color, a smile is usually all it takes to get the guy in the sports store to look in back storage for me. When I'm on the phone with someone trying to get one little question answered and they keep giving me the roundabout, I put on a smile and put on my "patient" voice. People can hear a smile through the phone, I swear it's true. While it is said that flattery gets you everywhere, it's usually obnoxious and reminiscent of used car salesmen; I say, a smile gets you everywhere. And even when it doesn't, it can usually get you the only decently ripe avocado in the whole produce department. This I know for sure.

Ok, I know that's only two things I know for sure, but let's face it, there aren't many sure things in life. I DO know for sure that it is midnight and beyond time for me to get to bed, and that I will finish this list later. Those things I know for sure... I think.

Wedding Music...

Most of the time, music at wedding receptions is pretty terrible. If we're being honest here, NO one likes Shania Twain ballads and the Cha Cha Slide that much, do they? Drawing on my own experiences, I find most reception set lists reminiscent of that syrupy sweet non-music they play on the "Soft Rock" radio stations. Every song has about the same idea; "I love you, you love me, we beat the odds, now we're stuck for eternity."... Pretty bland stuff. Like retirement home food; sure, it'll do, but overall it's repetitive, grey, and flavorless. I myself plan to try to go for some old (Sinatra), some new (Alexi Murdoch), some borrowed (Elton John covering Sinatra), but probably no blues. Let's face it, some aspects of wedding planning are just plain dull. Picking the "appropriate" wordage for the invitations, narrowing down which four cousins will be ushers. I have to say, though, this whole music thing has got me pretty excited. Different songs bring back different parts of our history together; the work-out music from the gym, sneaking looks at each other across the elliptical machines...plane rides to Texas to see him after four long months of Skype dates... the long trip to Michigan for Christmas, and unbeknownst to me at the time, our engagement... the whole thing. Corny, I know, but true. Music has been a consistent player in our relationship when nothing else was. I hope we can put together some music for the reception that really "feels" like us. However, even if this little project never gets completed and we end up with an endless loop of Michael Buble and Top Forty Love Love Songs, one thing is for sure... I myself will perform a Kenny G solo on a jaw harp before I will allow the Cha Cha slide to infiltrate the playlist. You can take THAT to the bank. :)

The List.

Anyone who knows me knows, I am a list-maker. I am a planner, an organizer, an outliner; I had my first day runner at 12, and I am the kind of person who organizes her book shelf by genre. Suffice to say, I am a little on the organized side. And so it follows that I have made myself a "to do" list for the summer. On top of my daily "to do" lists for wedding planning and work, I have, in fact, created an entirely seperate "to do" list. This list, however, is different. There is no mention on this list of florists, insurance companies, dry cleaning, or grocery shopping. This is a list to end all lists, my piece de resistance... my list of things I want to do this summer.. not things I should do or things I need to do. That's right. Things I WANT to do... I am blissfully working my way through it, starting with watching the movies I never have time to watch during the school year; between student teaching, classes, work, and wedding what-nots, a thousand and one movies came and went through the theaters that I meant to see but didn't. THIS is the summer for movies! A few other things on the list; get to the top of the toughest climbing wall at Weatherford's-no more wussing out halfway up. It's time to get down to business with my climbing technique! Next on the list is scuba certification. Why not? I need more of an adventure than buying out-of-season grapefruits at the local farmer's market. Latest addition to the list; golf. I know what you're thinking... it's not simply to appease my golf-loving fiance. OK, well, maybe that's part of it. However, the driving range is less than 10 minutes away, I love an excuse to buy argyle, AND... there is nothing quite so satisfying as the sound of the iron hitting the ball and watching it sail toward the sun... even if it lands 25 feets away with a resounding plunk, taking some dirt and grass with it. :) My list keeps growing and I sometimes wonder if I'll be able to accomplish half of it before the summer is gone... but you know what they say... every journey begins with a single step! Or in my case... movie rental. :)