wedding panic

Sometimes it's frustrating to be a human, don't you find? So many insecurities, worries that overcome us, limitations and flaws. Or maybe that's just me. :-). I wish I could be a super-cat. I wonder why it is that God likes having us around so much. We're just so tiny and short-sighted; distracted like kittens with shiny string. I'm always amazed at how I let small details overwhelm me and gobble up my valuable time. An impending wedding naturally magnifies this tendency in me. I'm having nightmares about missing cakes and broken heels, and fretting about coffee-stained teeth and roots in my hair. Kaz is panicked, and we keep having stupid tiffs about the most ridiculous stuff. I feel like I'm preparing for the Oscars or something - like everyone is going to be examining me under a magnifying glass and critiquing my every imperfection. Well, I think its safe to say that's not going to happen! I'm going to stop this now, and enjoy time spent with the people I love. I hope you are having a more productive day than I am. I'll be here bleaching my teeth, and the floors because tomorrow is my wedding shower which will be attended by my eagle-eyed-clean-freak grandmother. :-). Wish me luck!

tartar, tiaras, trees, and tenacious men of God...

We're both feeling better! Kaz and I decided to have a dog and cat shoot in the middle of the night. Results are below. Yes, I know they are ridiculously and amazingly good - that's because they are Kaz's!!!! Boasting is not so distasteful when it's about one's husband. ;-P Tomorrow is the hilarious commencement of our participation in the Toronto Boston Terrier Meetup Group - we are all going to a dog fitness centre and spa (how urban) to give our furry children a playtime. They serve dogs Evian, and have webcams posted in each corner so dog parents can check in on their pets online throughout the work day. This place actually has seaweed wraps and full-body massages for dogs, and biscuits baked with restaurant-grade, organic ingredients. My dog likes to eat grass and cat poo, and I pray to God that I never forget that a) she is a DOG, and b) there are children starving and a million other uses for my money more important than diamond dog necklaces and claw manicures. It seems to me that the world is becoming more insane. We took our dog and cat to the vet, and left with a tube of malt-flavoured cat toothpaste and a tiny toothbrush, because the vet said Cranberry-Sue is getting tartar build-up on her minute feline fangs. Anyway, the new Morcheeba album is extremely good. I briefly considered a wedding playlist primarily composed of aforementioned artist, before deciding that's way too mellow for us. Now its going to be all trance. (Joking!!!!) We went to see Coldplay this week, but I'm not a fan, and therefore, was not that impressed. We only stayed for 2 songs because Kaz had to file the pictures and they kicked out all the photgraphers, and I just tagged along because it was the only Canadian date on their tour and tickets were well over $300. The sakura trees are almost ready to bloom in High Park, and we've been checking every day. That will be a perfect backdrop on which to shoot our half-Japanese dog. In case you are wondering, all of these dog pictures are not just for our own enjoyment - we are building our portfolios of dog photography in order to get more clients. Maybe the people who give their dogs aromatherapy massages will want portraits of their beloved pet - at least, that's our hope! I feel guilty for discussing all of this meaningless crap, as we had our good friend from Sierra Leone over last night. I will not mention his name as his case for Refugee Status is not yet finalized, but he is an incredible man of God. He was kidnapped by rebels, tortured, and held in the jungle for 3 years. He has not had any contact with his family since 1998, and does not know whether they are dead or alive, and he says that God has never left him, and all circumstances can be used for good by the God who loves us. I am blessed to know him - so, so blessed. What a powerful reminder of the reality of God - peace that defies understanding, strength not humanly possible, faith in the face of chaos and total destruction. When I was a very small child, my family had a foster child named Umu from my friend's country, and I don't know if she survived the war. I've been thinking about her a lot lately. Be blessed today, and know that He is with you.

Our daughters, on the dining room table, at 1 am. Now you know how we spend our Friday nights.......

haruby

The cutest dog ever created....

Since both myself and my Mr. Ehara have been ill for some time (that seems like months, but is probably a few days), dishes are piling up to the ceiling and I've nearly hacked out one of my lungs. My lips are cracked and bleeding, my eyebrows are about to take over my face unless they are plucked, and my darling Kaz (unaccustomed to bleach) destroyed the shower mat in a ridiculously potent bleaching soak in the bathtub, nearly causing us all to pass out because of the fumes. I know today is Mother's Day, and I absolutely adore my Mommy. In fact, the gift I want to give her is a ticket to my home to pick up a heartfelt gift from me - my deep need for her and her wonderful mothering skills!!!! Isn't that what all mothers want - to be needed? I need mine more than ever. :-). To be truthful, my husband has done an excellent job of looking after me, just as I looked after him for 8 days before I got this terrible cold. Since he is not yet a permanent resident of this country (but will be on May 20), he does not have access to our ridiculous "free healthcare" and wants to make sure he REALLY needs to see the doctor before he goes. :-). Hopefully we'll both recover soon, as I am a highly cranky and pessimistic patient. My love to all, and I hope our wedding invitations have reached you, and found you all well. If you should see me, don't let me breathe on you. :-).

Ignoring the other day's "the church locked me out" drama, (to update - mass started at 7) my Kaz, Koharu, Cranberry-Sue and I are doing phenomenally well. Wedding prep is well underway. The makeup artist came for my trial, I found an emcee (in my dearest highschool friend Jon-Jon), I booked the cake, set the menu, ordered the flowers, made the playlist with the DJ.... and discovered I didn't know how to write the invitations. How do you invite people to a full wedding when you're already married to the groom? Don't worry, I found a sneaky way. My Mommy came for the weekend, to hunt and trap the perfect mother-of-the-bride dress. Mission accomplished after many hours of marathon stiletto-clad shopping, I'm thoroughly exhausted and annoyed that I cannot sleep.

Feeling tired after the aforementioned evil deed...

Looking guilty after being caught eating cat litter...

Koharu and I