Chocolate Fountains...

I forgot to mention- Dave and I went to Jen Launi and Michael Dell'Aquila's wedding on January 21st...
it was absolutely gorgeous. She chose to do the black-and-white thing, which I thought was really excuted elegantly... her flowers were simple but beautiful and the whole atmosphere was just awesome.

The chocolate fountain... now THAT was the best part of the whole damned thing. A multi-tiered molten milk-chocolate cascading stream... with dozens of goodies surrounding it that you skewer and bathe in the delicious brown lava. MMMMMMMM.
We are DEFINITELY having one of those at our wedding! However, I will not get near it without a full body suit of armor; with my luck I'll get chocolate on my dress without even getting near the damned thing.

The real reason for this addendum to my earlier entry was because I had to say just how amazingly awesome Dave is, and how evident that was, visibly, at Jen's wedding. Jen, as most of you who are likely reading this know, is my exboyfriend Todd's sister. She and I have maintained a relatively close friendship even since the disaster formerly known as Todd was a part of my life... and I value every second spent with her. But going to her wedding was making me nervous. I wanted, more than anything, to watch her and Michael exchange their vows and celebrate their love for one another, but I did not want to have ANY confrontations with Todd whatsoever. Well, go figure... the Tuesday before the wedding I ran into Todd and Andrea at Appetites on Main... he was there playing cards, and she was there, in all her four month pregnant glory, slogging Coronas and smoking Newports. It made me sick. I asked her if she was going to quit... and she said it was "too hard for her." I tried to gently remind her that she wouldn't be quitting for her... but realized it was really a moot point.

Anyway- she and I were friendly enough to one another, and we parted ways saying, "see you at the wedding on Saturday!" Sure enough, Saturday rolls around, and Dave and I, looking QUITE dapper I might add, roll up to the church with only a few minutes to spare. And, ever so ironically fittingly... Todd extends his arm to me to walk me to an available pew. We exchanged a bland, friendly, "hi how are you," but that was really it. Ugh.

So Todd then proceeds to seat Andrea next to Dave and myself. And it was then that I looked at the relieved, almost smug look on Dave's face. The poor guy had been DREADING the moment where he'd come face to face with my nemesis... and realized as soon as he set eyes on all 5 foot nothing of Todd that it had all been for naught.

Anyway, the afternoon goes on, Andrea sticks to me and Dave like glue because she doesn't really know anyone else that isn't involved in the wedding itself, and and she admits, because "at least I know you guys won't give me shit for drinking... everyone else in the family and bridal party will." WHAT?! Of course they'll give you shit! You're carrying their future grandchild/niece/nephew/brother/sister/etc... I swear the girl had a glass of wine, of a different color, mind you, every single time I saw her the entire night. I'm not even going to mention the other things I know in which she was indulging that night... it's just too digusting to even say.

At one point, when the bridal party convened at the Dell'Aquila's house before the reception commenced, Todd and Andrea were standing outside smoking a cigarette, and I was listening to the way he was talking to her... some things just absolutely never change. He is still always right about EVERYTHING, he is still ignorant and a smart-ass and snappy... and thinks the world of himself. I have not had doubts for years about breaking up with him... in fact, it was only during the initial healing process that I ever shed a tear for that fuckface. I think I was just sad to be alone- I would have dated Big Bird at that point if he was available... my self esteem was so shot and I was convinced that I'd never ever meet someone again, and Todd was my only and last hope. And that the fighting and bullshit and all the heartache he caused me was simply a price you had to pay to be in a relationship.

BOY was I wrong.

As I watched Todd skulk back to the bridal party bus, his shirt untucked and sucking down the last of his grimy nasty Newport, I just squeezed Dave's hand tighter, and looked at him so proudly and so affectionately... he is 1000000 times the man Todd Launi will ever be, or could ever even try to be. He is magnificent, and I am just so excited that, out of all of the people in the world, Dave chose me to be his partner in crime. And what a wise wise decision he has made. I don't think he has any idea just how smart that was on his part!

Not that I needed to see Todd for my mind to be made up... my mind was made up in August of 2004, even before any of this ever became a reality! But any confidence I was still lacking because of how that asshole treated me for so long was gone as soon as I was able to spend five minutes in the same room as both of them... Dave is nicer to me in five minutes than Todd ever was... and I can't believe I put up with that shit for so long. And it's the most comforting, overwhelmingly uplifting feeling to know I'll never ever have to worry about that again as long as I live, because Dave treats me like a Princess! David, I love you! You are the BEST!!!!!!!

All things February...

It's been over a month since I've last blogged (and, EUREKA! I didn't begin my post with So... !!!) and I decided it was about time to check in again.

Things are better than ever now, save for the fact that I'm broke. But that too shall pass.
I started my new job at Pennrose Management Company... I've been here almost 5 weeks, and I really am enjoying it! It makes me think, and keeps me busy, which is nice because the days fly by.

Dave and I are moving into Phoenixville in a little over 3 weeks, and we're very excited about it. we've since bought a couch and a bedroom set, so we have the beginnings of what will be a very lovely home, I'm sure! We're both so psyched... as much as the legacy of Fatti and Fatty will be sorely missed, it'll be really nice to live together officially. We even have a phone number now! Granted it won't be working until February 18th, but it exists!

The whole being engaged thing has been a lot of fun and very exciting, but reality has sunk in. As a matter of fact, I'm really not all that excited about planning this wedding right now- with everything else going on, it seems like a hassle. I mean I'm sure it'll be wonderful and fun and a great bonding experience for me and my mom, but I'll give it a few months before I really worry about it at this point. Lin and Pete are having an engagement party for us in April, so maybe by then I'll be a little more wedding-minded. The first month was blissful, but now it's time to face reality and realize that we're not getting married for 17 months, so maybe we should focus on some other stuff! (and by we, I mean me... because Dave could hardly care less about the details! Ha!)

He just started his new job this week at ING, and so far, loves it! He's excited because for the first time in a very long time he's using his skills in math and his brain, and he feels confident working for a big company that hopefully will allow him to go places eventually. That, and his real estate classes are great and he is just so excited about the whole process. I am just so unbelievably proud of him, watching his life turn around like this. I never would have imagined I'd live to see the day that David Rolston motivated so much and got his life together, and now he's working so hard to get where he wants to be. He took his real estate class midterm and kicked its ass, so that helped to boost his confidence and self-esteem. Yay for David!