next best thing

Love does not come last. Uh uh. (I defy thee, credit-free online quizzes.) But until it strikes ... okay fine, until I-find-it, weekends like this provide adequate distraction.

In addition to our usual Saturday morning Q-time, N and I spent the evening together - which we don't do very often, my bad. We went for a scenic drive, strolled through Sup Ct Gardens, sat in the foyer of my future workplace, avoided festive (read: drunk & disorderly) folk, stumbled across to the Swan Bells, and made our way back to the car without anyone having to carry anyone else (am glad those formidable years are behind us). The night was still young, so we dropped in at the "Red"-iculously Groovy Nite line-dancing extravaganza where mum was shakin' her booty. The yummier food had already been devoured, the sight of a bunch of post-menopausal women dressed in all shades of red (some of whom with better figures than I) was too much to bear, so we nicked off home for sweets + The Wedding Planner (I'm certainly doing my bit to set N on the straight-&-narrow, aren't I?).

When we'd been assured that the heroine and the hero would together live happily ever after, and mum had returned, I sped to Belle's post-hen's-night at Burswood. It wasn't as if I had to take N for the night and hence couldn't make it to the harem party, but at this stage of my life an entire evening with a group of strangers expressing our collective joy and envy (however heartfelt) for our mutual friend's imminent marital bliss is something I recognise as being optional. Still I feel awful for the option I'd taken, especially since I ended up seeing Belle for only 10min in front of the Money Wheel (the identity of which had previously been unknown to me; there are many wheel-shaped apparatuses at a casino and all of them seem to be concerned with $).

Sunday. N's Tumble & Splash birthday party. I've been to so many of these as to be incapable of making any interesting observations about them. Suffice to say a good time was had by all.

You know you have a friend for life when s/he shows up uninvited to your baby sister's b'day do, present in hand, to provide supplementary entertainment, take over the photography work, and fight the invited guests for the chicken nuggets. In 1 day I found out that I have at least 2 such friends. Although, I wasn't sure whether 1 of them giving the other's phone number to the cute Party Leader was entirely appropriate; it's my job hooking my husband up with the remaining few desirable-&-eligible's in this tiny incestuous town!

Speaking of Hubby, I couldn't have demanded greater enthusiasm from him for our 1st anniversary. We celebrated at Nero's (recommended to the cheapskates amongst you :p instead of tablecloth they give you paper and crayons with which you can get as creative you want), with some company and a Merry Monk (sweet Italian wine which no straight guy would buy by the dozen). The rest of the night involved me declining to visit a strip club, him failing to keep his HB from falling asleep before 9pm, and us having more success coercing his sister into go to the Court for the 1st time. Not much new there, so I'll leave you with the Story of Us.

One year ago on yesterday in an unremarkable suburban cafe, across spag marinara and chicken caesar salad, Girl wearily came out to Boy, whom she has loved and been loved by for some years. 'Wearily', for she had made the spiel too many times in the preceding months to experience any more adrenaline rush but not quite enough to be completely unawkward about it.

Boy grinned the biggest grin that Girl had ever seen him grin, and seemingly froze in that position for what felt like minutes. Eventually Boy came to and chirped something to the effect of Me Too. Once Girl had gotten over the initial classic-histrionic reaction of "How dare you upstage me?!", which did not take very long, she said to Boy that they had just had a moment they were never going to forget.

They embraced and started a new chapter of their lives together. Ever After or no, things haven't been the same since - and will only become curiouser and curiouser.