I discovered more pumpkin goodness today!

1. International Delights Pumpkin Pie Spice creamer.  I was reluctant to try it based solely on its name.  But I was desperate for a little pizzazz to add to my coffee (and it's all they had at the ArkyMart this morning).  To my International Delight, it was yummy.

2. Dreyer's (Edy's in some other parts of the world) Slow Churned Pumpkin ice cream.  Sooooo good.

There was something else I wanted to write about...but now I can't remember.  Oh well, I have got to get to bed anyway.

under my feet...

Guess what?!  We just had an earthquake!  It was a moderate shaker.  Been through bigger, been through smaller.  But it's always exciting when there's movement.

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So, I love Fall.  That's no a secret.  One thing I love about fall is that pumpkin fare is back in fashion!  I've already made various forms of pumpkin spice muffins.  Mmmm.  But so far this season, it has been Pumpkin Spice Latte letdown.  Granted, I take my PSL: hold the fun (i.e., non-fat, no whip) and I've never actually had a PS: full throttle (basically so that I don't know what I'm missing).  But that is neither here nor there.  I've just not been happy with my PSL this year.  And that makes me sad.

Next stop--Eggnog Latte.

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Have you ever wondered if dreams can be in sync?  Allow me to explain. Say I have a dream that you appear in.  For that to happen, I have to appear in the dream that you're having at the same time.  I know this idea contradicts anything we may know about dreams and the brain, blah, blah, blah.  But would that be cool?!  Perhaps I'm projecting becuase I had a dream last night in which I made out with someone I had a crush on for a long time a long time ago.  Regardless, this was the thought process provoked by my dream.

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I'm still trying to get organized.  I've made some of progress, though.  A few weeks ago we got my behemouth desk out an into a consignment store.  Fella has been through Consignment Store since we unloaded the desk on them.  So far, he hasn't spotted it on the showroom floor.  We're hoping that means it's been sold.  And that would be awesome.  It would certainly help me afford a replacement piece for my 20+ year old twin bed that I want to take to the dump.

It's been this [------------------] long since I last posted.

My friend just got back from three weeks in England and was looking forward to reading my posts.  But there were none.

I don't know what it is, but I don't seem to have much to say lately.  I wake up early, drive 50 minutes to work, work all day, and get back on the road for usually over an hour.  By the time I get home, any interesting thought I may have had in my head it long been wasted on getting mad at the slow driver in the fast lane.  Or the carpooler not using the carpool lane (and not exiting the freeway anytime soon) in heavy traffic.

So anyway, I don't have much in me to write or spend much time in the blogosphere.  It makes me kinda sad, though.

The folks finally ponied up a number.  My dad wanted to do some comparison shopping before he committed to a figure.  He asked his best good friend what he paid for his third wedding last year.  He asked his 20-something colleague about his forthcoming nuptials (August 2008, I think he said).  Family friends Googled "average cost wedding bay area" and "average cost wedding oakland, walnut creek, hayward" for him.  But after wass was said and Googled, he coughed it up.  Luckily, dearest mother of the bride has already pledged some additional funds dedicated solely to The Dress.

However, the saga continues to find a reception venue.  We know where we'd like to have the ceremony.  We know who we'd like to officiate.  We know we'd like the venue to be scenic and serene, without airs of pretension.  We want to keep the location convenient for guests.  I know that I'd like to have phenomenal food and quality wine offerings (despite knowing that I may neither eat nor drink very much myself).  We know we'd like to keep the size of our guest list manageable, which in itself is rather unmanageable.  And even though we know all of that, we're still having little luck in finding the recipe that has all the right proportions.

With that said, we are determined to book a site this weekend.

Zesty's clutter has not been purged any further.  It's in a definite holding pattern.  Although last night I did slate some older publications to go out in the recycling this week.

Another thing in a holding pattern: wedding plans.  My folks are keeping word of their financial contribution close to the hip.  They're stressing me out.  And it already seems like time is getting away from me.  We're still over a year away and I already feel like it's running out.  I just want a few things finalized and set (like say, our venues/date).  Not too much to ask for, right?  And I found out this weekend that my hairdresser is getting married two weeks before me.  I'm secretly hoping she plans no longer than a 10-day honeymoon, but by the places she was talking (Italy) that hope is highly unlikely.

Otherwise, I've been doing a lot of shopping lately.  It feels good to update my closet.

I, with the much needed aid of Fella, spent today on Operation: Purge Zesty's Clutter.  In other words, instead of taking a day off from work, we undertook quite the contrary.  Much to my delight, we made a HUGE dent on loads of crap this pack rat had accumulated over the years.  Fella felt as though he played a minor role in in making that dent, but were it not for his presence, there is no way I would have trashed as much as I did today.

My folks' trash is at capactiy, Fella took away two big bags and a copy paper box full of trash.  And there's still some left to go.

Next step in Operation: PZC?  Take my ancient matress to the dump and big oak desk (drawers now empty thanks to our work today) to the consignment store. 

HOORAY!

Life has been hectic. 

Zero downtime at work = Zero Xangatime.

It also = no desire to get on my computer at home.

But regardless, it makes me happy.

Not the no time for Xanga part. 

Just the part that makes me feel useful. 

And the paycheck. 

That's actually the best part.

Am I the only person in the pop music loving world that finds Akon just awful?

Seriously, his voice makes my ears bleed.  And that is awful.

For those of you who may not know the above referenced "artist" well, he appeared (singing the woo-hoos) on Gwen Stefani's recent single "Sweet Escape."

Today I did the unthinkable: I parted ways with my lovely new finger bauble.  Only temporary, of course.  Oddly enough, although I've only had the sparkly thang a few short days, I'm totally experiencing phantom ring syndrome. 

Ring Man is lonely today, sir.

So in an effort to run away Ring Man's loneliness (and by popular demand) I'll recount the proposal in greater detail.

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As you already know, we "packed" a picnic lunch from Morucci's Deli and drove down to Monterey county to pick up our wine club shipment at Hahn Estates.

On our way down, we ran into a little traffic in Prunedale, where most vehicles were heading west towards Carmel, rather than continuing south on Highway-101 like Fella and I.  By the time we got to Hahn, we were a little bit famished.  So we pulled up a chair on the deck and ate.

And it was good.

Fella returned some leftovers to the car before we went into the tasting room.  I stayed up on the deck to admire the view of the valley.

                                                                                  Oct. 2006

I walked back to join Fella and head into the tasting room, when he pulls something out of his pocket saying, "I got you a little something...."  For a moment I wondered what sort of present he would have gotten me on account on the new job.  After all, he knows I already have three business card holders.  But upon getting a glimpse of just what he was presenting to me, I realized that Fella had other things in mind.

He opened the box and asked, "Would you make me happier than I already am now?"
"If you get down on one knee!"
Kneeling down, he then asks, "Will you be my wife?"
(We all, of course, already know the answer).

It was very nonchalant, uncontrived, and very Fella.  I didn't cry, more like laughed.  Which is more our style anyway.  And Fella was glad that I didn't cry, because that would have meant that he would have joined in on it.

A couple more times throughout the afternoon, Fella took my hand and assumed the position (on one knee).  So really, he kinda proposed to me three times on Saturday.  And I'm sure it only got easier each subsequent time.  Fella himself said that he was glad to get it over with--I know, sounds uber romantic--but it because it was definitely, definitely time.

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In other news, I got the All's Clear from my new employer.  And I start working on Thursday.  For a little while, my paranoia got the best of me.  I was a little convinced that the opportunity might fall through.  My rationale?  Balance would then be restored in the universe.  Silly paranoia of karmic retribution.

Seriously.

Offered a fab job.  Accepted offer.  Gave notice to my temp agency.  And was still asked to come into my assignment for another half day to train the new temp AND get a pedicure with the other people in the office for Associate's anniversary with the firm.  Which I'm totally OK with.

Celebrated new job with Fella at our favorite Friday happy hour spot.  Not that they have any happy hour specials per se.  Unless you count the bartender.  He's quite good at making the hours there happy.  And that makes him special!

Took a drive with Fella to Monterey County to pick up our latest wine club shipment.  Grabbed a fantastic deli sandwich and side salads to gnosh on when we got there.  And gnosh we did.  Then Fella presented me with this:

The perfect ring from the perfect Fella at the perfect place.

Shuttled around today to spread the news to the Parents Zest and the In-Laws-To-Be.  They were delighted and thrilled, respectively.

Seriously, the best week ever.

Married? 
Yes, merried.  Sheesh!