girlie-girls and girlie-men

Well, our dear governator decided to call the demos girlie-men, in attempting to say that him being a manly-man (presumably) has the qualities to get a budget through. Yet the traits of being a "manly-man" or being hard, forceful, and unflinching (traits presumed of manly-men) will utimately not get anywhere either. unlike previous governors who played politics within the halls of the capital. The governator gets to run and squeal to mommy (the people of California) when he thinks the other kids aren't playing nice. Though I've often observed the one that tattled also did something previously to provoke the situation so he ain't no victim neither. Now all we need to do is to ground all the kids, the governator for tattling and the representatives for hitting too hard. Or should we just let kids be kids and let them duke it out?

In the meantime, I'm trying to learn what it means to be a girlie-girl. D leant me a book on bridal dresses and how to pick the best style for you. I thought it was kind of funny D had this book considering she's not the first one to be running to an altar or committment ceremony, what have you. She said got it cuz well you never know, she might know someone getting married. Which again is funny, because D is a bit of a recluse and I am D's one declared girlfriend girlfriend. So, I guess in the end, this book was meant for me, to school me on my personal ineptitude for girlie-girl things. I shouldn't question or complain.

Growing up I wasn't the young girl dreaming about her white wedding. I didn't have a Barbie to play wed Ken. (Though it sounds like even Barbie broke up and went for an Australian guy). I wanted transformers and GI Joes. I didn't care that the bike scrapes on my knees would make my legs "look bad" when I wore skirts. I didn't practice putting makeup on my dolls, or styling hairdos.

It's been a slow process, learning these things and understanding how they apply to me, learning and developing a sense of personal style. From knowing what colors and styles look good on me, to knowing the difference between mascara and lip liner. It also means it's a change of style and a change in the look I give to people and the way they react to me. It's much more dressed up and in turn people have to adjust to this "new" me.

My sister is more Martha Stewart-y (minus the stock trading conviction). She emails me every couple of weeks for a new idea on reception table centerpieces. While my mother ponders what kind of jewelry and outfit she should wear and asks whether I'll get my ears pierced, because she has a pair of earrings that would match. I am told I had my ears pierced once as all Filipino girls are pierced well before they have any memory of it. But, because I would constantly lose them while jumping on mom and dad's bed, the studs never stayed in the holes long enough to make them holes.

And now, here I am, with a girlfriend date with D to go try on some bridal dresses. I don't think I'm as excited as one might think I would be. A friend of my soon to be sister-in-law will be designing my dress. He does costumes for some soap opera in LA. The bridal dress trip is part of the research. I have to tell him what kind of dress I'd like. We might even hit up a bridal fair or two in the next few months.

In a couple of weeks, the SO and I will check out a hotel for the reception and a jewelry store for the rings. It all still feels kind of surreal. Perhaps it just hasn't hit me yet. Perhaps I'm still getting in touch with my girlie-girl. It's a brand new world after all.